[Dynagroove] Defining moments in LA

[BadIYE at aol.com]

Since for most of the 90's I was living that "Swingers" life style (yes,  the 
movie is EXTREMELY accurate about that era in LA/Hollywood. It freaks me  
out!) I don't have many defining moments that I have in common with y'all about  
the house scene.  I do remember ending up @ after hours house parties but  
when your senses are obliterated by the 10 martinis and 6 patron shots  you've 
had in a matter of 2 hours, it's difficult for one's mind to  register anything 
meaningful about these parties (although playing Stella as the  sun came out 
had by then become de rigueur for many DJs).
 
Two defining moments for me in LA are:
 
1. The opening of GIANT.  I know, I know, crap mega DJs etc...but  I got to 
see Carl Craig, Josh Wink & Carl Cox and that's some  extremely awesome techno 
that blows you away.  It was a gateway for me  towards: 1. buying my own decks 
and mixer; and 2. discovering that  house music is where it's all at.  
 
2.  Illegal hotel parties my friends and I pulled off:  the best  one was at 
The Standard Hotel downtown:  We rented the suite there and  snuck in decks, 
mixer and JBL speakers.  Paid off a couple of security  guards, told a bunch of 
peeps that we have decks and the party is there.   Panoramic view of downtown 
was behind where the DJ was spinning.  Next  thing we know, the room is 
packed.  I spun a set high as kike, got blitzed  some more and then every time I 
looked up, a new DJ would be behind the  decks:  Oliver Twist, Cody Lee, Atomic 
Mike, James Kay.  Five O'clock,  we got busted and kicked out....only to start 
the whole thing again @ the  bonnaventure hotel.
 
So even though I missed out much of the fun stuff y'all are  mentioning, I 
was still inspired by the free spirit that embodies  the house scene as I saw it 
from the prism of my small illegal  parties.  Soon after we started the 
INVITED parties where I met, among  many others, Joplin, Zack Hill, Ben Annand and 
Cade...and that's the way it  was!  Long live house!
 
Imad.