Review: DJ Dan delivers appealing set at Spundae

Spundae at Circus finds its own niche in Los Angeles’s
crowded nightlife landscape ““ it provides an opportunity for
the mainstream and the rave subculture to find common ground. The
whimsical and communal aspects of a rave are still there. People
are more at ease with each other and eager to interact. Others will
have their glow sticks in hand, ready to dance up a storm.

Spundae also provides a place where people who are not into the
rave scene can enjoy the music and mingle. Those interested in
learning about more obscure dance artists or the next big DJ may
find someone with the answers. And those who aren’t tired
when the music cuts at 4 a.m. will find someone with directions to
the nearest afterparty.

A good indication of Spundae’s stature in the world of
electronica is its ability to draw big name acts, and the crowds
that go along with them.

Known as one of America’s top touring DJs, DJ Dan has
gathered a huge following all over the country with his unique
blend of hard and funky tech house. His return to Spundae this past
month coincided with the release of his first CD on
Moonshine’s “Mixed Live” series.

DJ Dan’s performance two weeks ago satisfied
attendees’ expectations of a world-class DJ. His mixes were
clean and each track had its own unique flavor but never detracted
from the overall “get yo’ booty on the floor”
chunky house vibe. Dan was engrossed in the turntables, hunched
over the mixer as if it would run away if he took his eyes off
it.

Though mixing for a crowd of hundreds takes energy and
concentration, it seemed as if Dan needed to remind himself to have
fun between mixes. Despite his apparent aloofness, Dan still
whipped the crowd into a frenzy, the cheers of the engrossed front
section nearly drowning out the quieter moments of the set.

The “Mixed Live” CD and DVD combo features a live
set recorded by Dan earlier this summer in San Francisco, complete
with the screams of the crowd in the background, in Dolby Digital
sound.

Dan’s meticulously executed set was a sharp contrast from
fellow performer Cody Lee. A local DJ in a Homestar Runner T-shirt,
Lee played crowd-pleasing house and breaks anthems in an earlier
time slot. Though his music was the equivalent of playing radio
hits at a bar mitzvah, his enthusiasm made up for his lack of
originality. He was smiling, dancing, and moving his arms and head
to every tiny variation in his songs. Dan let the music speak for
itself, whereas Lee let the music come alive by setting an example
for real dancing behind the decks.

Spundae happens at Circus Disco every Saturday night at 6655
Santa Monica Blvd. Tickets are $10 before 9:30 p.m. and $25 after.
Visit www.spundae.com for more
info.