Holding Back The Years...

Morning,

And I write this morning, not from the iPhone or anything that involves me typing on a screen but from the laptop - the same laptop where some 25 hours or so ago - I was finishing a rather eclectic set at Bar Vasa here in Folkestone - well actually, tell a fib - its in Sandgate - but hell to accuracies - its 2am!

For the last hour or so, apart from marvelling at the ever continuing greatness of Mr Mohamed Farah, (soon to Prime Minister, under my new regime) - I have been on You Tube listening to songs and tracks that formed part of my childhood - and one thing came to me - particularly listening to Simply Red's Fairground - just how downtrodden music has become right now.

Back in 1995, when Fairground was released - there was an air, that Britain was getting somewhere - the Tories wouldn't be long in power, as Labour was finally getting its backside in gear and the country was beginning to enjoy itself, knowing that the crap from the previous 15 years was behind it. The deal for a catchy tune was a bouncy beat, positive vibes and lyrics and a feel-good video.

Fast Forward to now, and its anything but that now. Which is a shame. Last night, I played a set which was exclusively of music before the year 2000, in fact, I think the youngest song I played was Armand Van Helden's remix of Professional Widow - good, quality music - none of the synthetic carp which is churned out of the warehouse that is Simon Cowell's mansion.

We need to get some of that feel-good vibe back, and quickly.

The Olympics gives us as a nation and as a world to do just that.

Lets take it!!!

Bob Bob :) xx

PS: That set down Bar Vasa, could well be the first of a monthly set down there - as well a few gigs in other parts of town - onwards and upwards me thinks!!!

Getting Creative.

Afternoon,

Having been finally getting used to Ableton and doing some edits on there, and I have to say - I can understand why DJs use it.

It's very well presented with everything all separated and in it's own area and it allows you to decide how you're gonna work - so I can use it in the sideways arrangement that I have done with all of my life - with the exception of Music Generator on the PS2!

Doing my first edit was rather laborious - a basic edit of Wolfgang Gartner's "There and Back" took about an hour to get all pro'd up to the sort of edit that I am happy to play out. One thing I have started doing with the last couple of edits which I have done is using third-party loops and samples in my edits - something that just wasn't possible when using Mixmeister Fusion - so that's a bonus and again after a long and frustrating few hours of finding everything - have used a few effects as well as loops in one of the edits which I've done this week.

I think the next thing to do is to get a Premium soundcloud account so I can get a few of these edits online!!!

It's Total!!!

04/08/12 - Bar Luxor, Folkestone!!!

Fucking Yesssss!!!!!

Questioning Myself (Part 48)

Here I am, up my Mum's in the loo - waiting for last night's booze and various other crap to leave the system - it was a good night - that cannot be denied - however - I have to stop drinking myself into oblivion.

It was something that Norman Cook said in a recent interview about his career - whenever he wasn't in the studio he was drinking himself stupid - I cannot help whether DJs and creative people in general are susceptible to such weaknesses due to the fact that we tend to be depressive in general compared to others.

And I think that this is the problem that I've got right now - as I get down so easily and quickly and so I have to find a way to get gigs - even if that means going out of my comfort zone and start looking at producing - which is something that I have tried to do in the last few years but with not much joy!

But that and mashups seems to be the way forward for me!

Still Nothing...

Some eight weeks after paying nearly £1000 to that fucking cunt - there are no decks. And no refund.

Even though I have advised the prick that the police are looking into this.

Livid.

Fucked Over.

So my former club of residency have reneged on the agreement of me coming back later this month.

At least I know where I stand.

Gonna offer my services elsewhere me thinks.

Meh.

Dark Times

Am feeling a certain sense of helplessness right now.

Skuba has not come back to me with any sort of news regarding going back there to gig - I have made my own conclusions from that. None of them positive.

Which means one of two things. Either I look outside of the box or call time on it.

And still no news regarding my refund.

Standard.

Still Waiting...

Fucking hell.

Still waiting for a refund for my phantom decks.

Still at least the relevant authorities are now aware.

Being Pissed Around...

Had another chat with the supplier of my new decks this evening - according to him - he's sold the Nexus 900 mixer which he'd agreed to sell to me previously - before asking for another payment from myself.

Obviously, rather pissed off right now, said fuck right off - not in those words! But he's now said that the original deal is back on.

But frankly I will believe that only once I see the scanned receipt that shows that the bastards have been sent!

Another chat is due about 9.30pm tomorrow. If there is no substantial progress - there's gonna be a rather upset yours truly!

Shit Happens...

As I mentioned in my previous post - some changes have happened in recent weeks - most importantly - losing my Saturday gig - on a temporary basis due to the fact that they wanted shitty music for the period around the Fucking Jubilee and they wanted to get a more family friendly crowd. Hilarious! And that was the view of everyone without exception I've spoken to since then!

I was told this on the Bank Holiday Monday after doing a 4 1/2 hour set the previous night - the crowd seemed really on for it - meh!

What it has done however is focused the mind on where I want to take this - whether or not to keep this as a hobby/passion or do I take it further. Going by my actions with my wallet it seems that I'm going with the latter - having agreed a deal to pay some £900 up front and then £75 installments for 12 months for a second hand pair of CDJ-2000 and a DJM-900 mixer having originally agreed to purchasing a second hand pair of MK3 1000's for £700.

Am eagerly awaiting them with baited breath. Been waiting over two weeks already for them!! But I have been reliably informed that the dealer is legit - he runs a speaker making company in North Yorkshire and so is in a position to be able to get stuff for reduced prices - so I think I've found a bit of a winner there!

Supposed to be going back to gig at Skuba in early July, we'll see what happens then!!

Try to post tomorrow - hopefully we'll have some news on the decks then!!!

Bob

Neglected!!!

Afternoon fuckers, Apologies for the lack of posts in recent weeks, have had a lot of things happen, some not good at all - so haven't been in a position to post any substantial posts. Will send a further post later this evening. Rob

Bob Bob's Promo Set - April 2012

Bob Bob's Promo Set - April 2012 by Bobbob5482 on Mixcloud

Get The Fuck On This!!!

Classic and Forgotten Trance–Mixed By Bob Bob

Classic and Forgotten Trance - Mixed by Bob Bob by Bobbob5482 on Mixcloud

Crazy Times!

Apologies for the lack of updates in recent weeks, but what with my 30th birthday and countless drinking sessions, not to mention planning for my Saturday residency at Skuba - as well as many other things - including the purchasing of Traktor!

There are many reasons why I've decided to add this tool to what I already use - mainly from a professionals point of view, it is the market leader and so there is a part of me which feels that I do need to be competent in it!  From the outset - there is one that does set it apart from VDJ - and that is of course the GUI which is nothing short of breathtaking - though with VDJ 8 on the horizon - I predict that isn't going to be the case for much longer!

I've also bought just a few days ago my flightcase for my beloved VMS4 - one slight advantage of this is that - if I was to upgrade to say, the S4 in a few months - which is a possibility - I don't need to get a replacement flightcase as they both fit! Also, the flightcase that I ordered wasn't in stock, so they have offered me a custom-made VMS4 case for no additional charge full of the bells and whistles!!!

Win!

Magic Eight–April 2012

Magic Eight - April 2012 - Mixed by Bob Bob by Bobbob5482 on Mixcloud

Getting That First Track Done!!

Morning - have been on FL studio for some of the day - as I am wanting to try and get a track down before I have to get back to work (real work - that is) next Friday!

It's an odd one - it's got various glitches and deep tones and kicks - it could be classed as Deep House, with some Tech elements!

I'll get a sample up once I'm happy with what I've done!

B

Heading Into My Thirties

Oi Oi!

Am to celebrate my 30th birthday this week.

It's only a number. Isn't it?

Getting Better And Better

Big up fuckers!

Had a immense set on Saturday night @ Skuba - am starting to get a rhythm and a groove and a distinctive way of constructing and doing such long sets - which is good and also makes the regulars realise what time of the night we're at!

And the compliments and love keep on growing! Love it!

Nighty, Night

B

New Promo Mix Pending!!!

Just a quick msg that I'm gonna do my promo mix for this month tomorrow afternoon - once I get back from work - have got an idea of what I'm going to do this month - just bought a load of new stuff - quite a bit for a Monday to be honest - which shows that there is a lot of quality coming out right now!!!!

There'll be a bit of everything that's influencing me right now, from Deep to Tech to Electro to Funky - that is how we fucking roll bitches!!!!

Also have done my second and third edit this evening which shows just how quick and easy they are to do, once you get your head around the parameters! And they are getting slightly better and better as I keep on doing them. The third edit tonight - has two somewhat different effects in it - you never know, you might hear it in March's Promo Mix!!!!

Nighty Night!!!
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Editing, Remixing and Bootlegging

Have decided that now my mixing and track radar is pretty much bang on - am starting to introduce myself to adding my own stamp on my mixes. Purely this means a bit more work at home on the laptop but long term, its going to add another edge and dimension to my sets.

Have already done a edit of Duck Sauce's Barbra Streisand with some dirty effects in a edit which is just under 3 minutes - I'll post up a link to it later this evening.

I have already done some edits for my mixes - online and at my Saturday residency at Skuba - nothing unusual in that - but with the possibility of some private gigs alongside my residency at Skuba - it is time to start adding some sprinkle to my sets!

All good!!!

B
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Something New.

Apologies for the lack of posts in recent weeks, but I have been rather busy - more about that in a moment!
 
The sessions at Skuba on Saturdays are going rather well, I didn't play there last weekend as I was up at Cream seeing Oakenfold, Corsten and Harris amongst a stellar line-up - one of the most intense nights of the past 12 months for deffo!  My housemate was due to come up with me, however he decided to bail out at the last minute, unlucky! 
 
Going back to being behind the decks and as you would have no doubt seen I have purchased a new laptop, which is over time going to usurp the current baby - I've had the eMachines one for the last two and a half years - and with my bonus from work being rather good, felt it was only appropriate to get a new Acer Aspire lappy with a faster processor (three times as fast with a turbo boost - as its one of those new i3 processors!)
 
What it means is that for the first time ever - I'm in a position where I can streamline my old laptop to make it a purely gig machine only - which has its distinct advantages!  For one thing, VDJ would be the only program on it - as well as the drivers to make the VMS4 work with it - which should help in regards of CPU usage which is notoriously high on such programs!
 
Which is rather problematic, because I have been using VDJ with my new laptop and the difference in the quickness and effortlessness of it is rather something to behold!
 
I've also purchased the new MashUp program by the people that gave the world MixedInKey - which does exactly what it says on the tin, and have already done my first mashup of sorts - link will be up soon regarding that one! 
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Controllerist Hell!

Last Couple of days....been pissing around considering what to piss my bonus from work on - have been considering CDJs - but that idea seems to have gone to pot - so am looking for a pro-grade controller - options I think have been put down to three - the Denon MC6000, Numark Mixdeck Quad and possibly the narrow favourite - the Vestax VCI400.

Decisions, Decisions.

Back On The iPhone

Well, fucking well!

Got this offer from a housemate for an iPhone 3G late this afternoon for 60 notes - knowing how much I adored my last iPhone before a slight accident in a Reading street some 12 months ago - it was a bit of a no brained!

Also means I'll be able to check my mixcloud account as well as the general fluidity that you get with an iPhone!

Win!

Drained...

Just finished my shopping online - having bought a couple of new tops and more importantly a new pair of V500s - I know, but I've used them for the past seven years - and the pair that I play with has been by my side for some five of those years - they need replacing - nevertheless I will still use the old pair - purely to practice on!

Have done six sessions at Skuba now, and have now done three radio shows on radio.virtualdj.com - on a Sunday evening - and its been quite surreal that strangers are finding and knowing about me via my sets and mixes and my djing in general - I do sometimes wonder whether some people are genuine in their support or not - but hey that's always going to be going thru anyone's mind!!!

All I do know is this, I'm not bad!!!
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Bob Bob’s Promo Mix–February 2012

Bob Bob's February Promo Mix by Bobbob5482 on Mixcloud

Bob Bob’s Promo Mix–January 2012

Bob Bob's Promo Mix - January 2012 by Bobbob5482 on Mixcloud

Exciting Times

By time I've probably written this - it'll be Monday morning - so I'll be fucked if I greet in the normal way! Had a great set at Skuba last night, probably the best one that I've had since starting - and I've also been advised of the possibility of further gigs on different nights - Fridays have been mentioned as a possible!

So, that's probably more coinage into the Bob Bob benevolent fund!

Second great point of the day was my first online set on VirtualDJ Radio which was at the beginning rather nerve-wracking when the link seem to break down - but after those technical difficulties - the set was rather good - the feedback that I got from fellow DJs from around the world was amazing - nothing condescending - something that I was always worried about when deciding to take the plunge to start playing publically - so that's going to be happening every Sunday between 7pm and 8pm for my favourite tracks and cuts and various other bits that have graced the decks in the past week or so!

B
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Bob Bob's Drum 'N' Bass Promo Set (17/02/12)

Bob Bob's Drum 'N' Bass Promo Set (17/02/12) by Bobbob5482 on Mixcloud

Editing and Creating

Evening!

Taking some time out of the bedroom watching some footy at the end of my weekend-slash-day off from work - have had my first two residency gigs at Skuba here in Folkestone - both of them more than enjoyable and not that many requests which in itself is a very good thing.

Its also making me realise what the crowd is wanting in general - when I have had requests its been from a group of people not individuals - but that is to be expected. Had the inevitable requests for Rhianna in particular - but that was easily manoeuvred with some chunky extended mix of 'We Found Love' - so that was all good. Had some of my mates from work in the bar as well and so their requests for various Dubstep cuts were catered for as well as a ridiculous suggestion (at 11:30pm it was a mad suggestion - perhaps at throwing out time, PERHAPS!!) for Ray Charles' Shake Ya Tail Feather.

But still it was catered for in part thanks to Virtual DJs capability of being able to rely upon the support and database of Grooveshark's 12 million files - so I was able to cater for that last song in advance (it was asked for at work last Tuesday afternoon). I fear it might not be the last time I play that...

Back at work tomorrow - quite looking forward to hearing my workmates comments on the set from Saturday - from the comments left on FB - they were more than complimentary!!!

Nighty Night!

B
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Bob Bob's 10 Bullets For January 2012

Magic Eight–14/01/12–Mixed By Bob Bob

Magic Eight - 14/01/12 - Mixed By Bob Bob by Bobbob5482 on Mixcloud

Shattered But Relieved

Well these are interesting times in my life, with my residency at Skuba in full-flow and various ideas I've got to improve my sets that bit more, beginning to come into reality - the edits are building up slowly but surely - which means I can be that bit more inventive but also can get more variety into my sets - if I am able to create a four minute edit out of an eight minute original!
 
...saying that tho - that does come with a bit of drawback - and can I say at this point, that being asked to play such nonsense such as Jason DeRulo or Katy Perry does sometimes feel a bit soul-destroying but on the whole, Saturday night went as well as it could do, considering it was the first Saturday after the new year and a lot of people, me included felt a bit shattered after the week before and that amazing night that was NYE!

B
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Magic Eight - 05/01/12 - Mixed By Bob Bob

Magic Eight - 05/01/12 - Mixed By Bob Bob by Bobbob5482 on Mixcloud

Highlights Of NYE 2011–Mixed by Bob Bob

Highlights of NYE 2011 by Bobbob5482 on Mixcloud

The Night After The Night Before…

Evening and Happy New Year,

It was about this time last night, that I was throwing some really good sounds down at Skuba here in Folkestone, and the vibe and atmosphere was quality in all regards.  Didn’t get many requests, just a few requests for tracks that I’d thrown on earlier in the night but hey that’s not bad going for a first public gig.

Photos from the night are on Facebook here!

Haven’t had a bad word said about the set, which went from just after 7.15pm, till 2am – first track was Netsky’s remix of Swedish House Mafia’s “One”, whereas the first track when the party officially started at 8pm was Solu Music’s Fade.  The aim of the night was to keep people dancing and happy and keep a steady rhythm on proceedings without any sudden changes or drops!

The midnight fun worked, though I didn’t quite do what I planned, however it probably worked better because of that – syncing the 24 theme clock with the sounds coming off my decks with imagery of Big Ben and London’s fireworks, whilst some folky remix of “Auld Lang Syne” played in the background, until I pulled the brakes on that!

Then, Daft Punk’s “One More Time” came on.  A special moment, which got a few nods of approval.  Beautiful.

Hopefully, this will lead towards something more concrete where I am gigging on a regular basis.  Having got the playlist on VDJ – and with a request from one of my housemates to record the set, I’m going to redo part of the set in the week and record, and get it on Mixcloud for all your listening pleasure.

Fantastic night!

B