Local DJ faves Jesse Tittsworth and Will Eastman and a group of partners are opening up their own space on U Street, the Going Out Gurus report at The Post. Expect the 250- to 300-capacity U Street Music Hall to open early next year at 1115 U St., formerly the Cue Bar. “The whole place is going to be a dance floor,” Eastman told the Gurus. “There will be a few booths and bar stools, but it’s a dance club. It’s for dancing, not sitting.” Eastman will still be hosting dance nights elsewhere though, like his popular Bliss night at the Black Cat.

From the Dept. of Ex-Washingtonians: Ted Leo And The Pharmacists, whose last two labels stopped releasing music, are now signed to Matador Records. And the dubby, noisy group Mi Ami—which, like Leo & Co., was on Touch & Go—has signed with Thrill Jockey. The San Francisco outfit includes two members of the disbanded Black Eyes.

The Kennedy Center announced its 2009-2010 jazz season, Jazz Times reports. Highlights include Mavis Staples on April 23 and a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald on Jan. 24 featuring Dee Dee Bridgewater, Al Jarreau, Janis Siegel, and the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band.

In other jazz news, the Congressional Black Caucus is hosting a free jazz (but not Free Jazz) forum and concert tonight in Ballroom A of the Convention Center. The evening features lots of local names, and caps off with a tribute to Miles Davis‘ Kind of Blue, in celebration of the album’s 50th anniversary this year.

Area DJ Dave Nada and engineer Matt Nordstrom’s Nadastrom project dropped a digital EP today.

Aural Suppository has some videos from the Black Cat’s recent 16th anniversary show with Dead Meadow and The Shirks. Including this one:

Dead Meadow performing at the Black Cat’s 16 anniversary in DC from Denman C Anderson on Vimeo.

Photo courtesy of Mi Ami’s MySpace page.

• Eric Felten Jazz Orchestra. Blues Alley. $25.
• L.A. Guns w/ Mis-Fit, Tilt, Sinner’s Trail, Bitter Pill. Jaxx. $18/$20. +21.
• Sheryl Crow, Ari Hest. Filene Center at Wolf Trap. $30-$48.
• TheoryCast, ReVeL, Fight The Bear, Conshafter. Rock and Roll Hotel. $10. All ages.
• DC Summer Extravaganza w/ Tittsworth, Nadastrom, Will Eastman, Bobby Jae & Ken Lazee, Dmerit. 9:30 club. $10. All ages.
• Canda, Bobbie Allen, Mila Levine, Michelle Murray, Treevibes, Lulu Fall, Vox Pop, Lux Operon, Peter S. Pinocci, Liberated Muse, Rob Wolcott. Artomatic. (For more info, see our Artomatic Manual)

Saturday

• 40th Annual Smoke-In: Human Rights (HR of the Bad Brains), See-I, Christos, Telesma, The Package, The Omsteaders, J.B. Bevereley and The Wayward Drifters, and DJ Bedroom. 23rd and Constitution Avenue NW. Free.
• National Symphony Orchestra: “A Capitol Fourth.” US Capitol, West Lawn. Free.
• DJ Regal, Fort Knox Five, All Good Funk Alliance. Black Cat. $10. All ages.
• Independence Day Noon:30 Release Party w/ The Laughing Man, Achtung Panda, Ghost Light, DJ Natty Boom. Velvet Lounge. $3-$8. +21.
• DJ Dk. Cafe Saint Ex.
• NoiseHouse, BLOODSHOT, HeeBeeGeeBees, Jeremy Steinhaus, Machines of Living Death, Anil Rock, Copper Rose & Bone, Julie O., Fat Roberta, Princess of Controversy, C.O.M.P., Mother Courage, The Very Small, Mambo Sauce, Zip The Uncanny, Vmasta & Cortez, Glasgow Tunnel, The FiF. Artomatic.

Sunday

• Blues Jam with the Idle Americans. Bangkok Blues. Call for price.
• Jay Reatard, TV Smith. Black Cat. $12. All ages.
• The Scare, Energy, Fallen From The Sky, Ante Up, Debaser. Velvet Lounge. $8. +18.
• St. Croix Virgin Islands Reggae Tour 2009 w/ Batch, Ras Attitude, Empress Ima, Jah Empress. IOTA Club & Cafe. $12. +21.
• Smithsonian Folklife Festival: Only Men Aloud! Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. Free.
• Triple Staccs, Mzery Loves Company, Mary Battiata & LITTLE PINK, RC Rex & the Progressionals, SAW Showcase, Seth Barna, House of Echo, Rob Wolcott, Dark Electric Showcase II, Sesshin No-Fi, Sarah Fridrich. Artomatic.

“A Capitol Fourth” 2007 photo by boboroshi, Creative Commons Attribution License.

Will Eastman fired the opening salvo for his anticipated label release on Kindercore Records by sending out this special teaser track. A remix of Ruby Isle’s “So Damn High” with fat laser beats? It’s no wonder why Will is a dance floor favorite in the District.

Will Eastman’s remix of Ruby Isle’s “So Damn High”

Here’s what Master Eastman had to say about “So Damn High”:

The “So Damn High” remix is inspired by French House and keyboard melodies from Prince’s “1999″ album. I come from a indiepop song writing background so when I do a remix I tend to focus on building around hooks and melodies. In this case, the original song was perfectly tailored for a dance remix. The lyrics are all about listening to music, dancing, getting up with your friends and getting crunk and drunk. You can’t really ask for more with a dance remix.

I re-sequenced the vocals to concentrate on the best sections for the dance floor and tried to create a narrative with tension, build, and release. I’ve been playing this at Bliss for a few months now and the response has been good. It’s helpful to try a remix out on the floor then take it back and tweak it before sending the final version to the label for mastering. It comes out officially in May on Kindercore records on the single for “So Damn High” with several other remixes and will be available on Beatport, iTunes, etc. Most of the work was done at Dmerit’s studio here in DC and big shout outs to Micah Vellian and Outputmessage who jumped in on production and Jesse Tittsworth for his helpful feedback.

In addition to the track, Will and Co. will be celebrating their 100th Blisspop at the Black Cat on Saturday with guest DJ Jackie O.

DJ Will Eastman brings another night of dance grooves to the Black Cat. I caught a set of his a couple of weeks back at Saint X and enjoyed it so much I overimbibed and fell down. Twice. Here’s how Will described Bliss to me:

Bliss is a no attitude, just fun party where people can expect insane dancing. The music ranges from indie and electropop to house, club, alternative, and classics. There are always a few left field things, too, like a random Phil Collins track just to keep people guessing, and, well, to tell the truth, I like Phil Collins. People who are passionate about music, have a good sense of humor, and don’t take themselves too seriously are pretty much who one will meet at Bliss. Our guest DJ Saturday is Ed Dudes of Velodrome and This Ain’t No Disco. This month, we have Bliss 8 year anniversary t-shirts for sale, too! A portion of proceeds go to the Obama 2008 campaign.

BLISS dance party
Saturday September 27
Black Cat back stage
1811 14th Street (@ S Street)
9:30 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
All Ages $7
BLISS is a monthly dance party in Washington, DC hosted by resident DJ Will Eastman and friends. BLISS likes Bass Ale, Daft Punk, and has an agenda. Its mission is to get you 1) in trouble 2) intoxicated 3) in love.

DJs spin indie, electro, club, Britpop, pop, 80s, house, alternative, rock and everything that makes you move.

http://www.blisspop.com
http://www.myspace.com/djwilleastman

Visual deelights by Kylos

Guest DJ: Ed Dudes (Velodrome, This Ain’t No Disco)
Three years ago, DC got a whole lot better. I mean, a whole, whole hell of a lot better. You see, Ed Dudes moved to DC three years ago. Since then, he’s been regaling the city with the finest dance music south of NYC. Ed’s residencies, Velodrome and This Ain’t No Disco, are unlike any other in the district. Velodrome is the only night dedicated to Italo, post punk, proto house and techno, with a live band every month. His other residency, This Ain’t No Disco, is the night to hear the spacey and weird side of disco and house. One thing’s for sure: seeing Ed play is an unquestionable trip to space.
http://www.myspace.com/eddudes

So I suppose we’d be remiss not to mention that show in this space; but more than that, there’s no way I’m missing Extra Life in the flesh. Fans of tuneful, accessible avant-rock, you know who you are… if you haven’t gotten your fill at 611 Florida on Saturday, come up to Comet on Sunday.

I’ve never seen live music at Comet before–rumor has it the show should start around 8pm, but I’d take that with a grain of salt. There’s also a closing DJ set after Extra Life and Tussle are done, courtesy of Will Eastman.