Samples at Burning Man

SUPERGOODMUSIC Colorado writer and crunk, glitch-electro-hop producer Samples is heading to Burning Man and throwing it down for the bartering community for a few days. For the uninformed, Samples, better known as Ben Samples, is one half of the live remix project Fresh2Death (other member is Greg Fisk) and a member of the Denver Bass Squad. In just 4 years since becoming a weekly radio show DJ, Samples has electrified the Denver/Boulder scene with his hybrid club hip-hop countless times.

This weekend he brings his remixing shenanigans to northern California for the yearly Burning Man Festival.

His first performance is tonight at 10 pm at Nexus 10:00 & E and then at 4 Am - False Profit 4:30 & E.

Samples plays again Wednesday night at 2 am - Bass Camp 2:00 & D. Thursday night, same time, different place - False Profit 4:30 & E.

After taking Friday night off to enjoy the festivities, Samples throws it down again after the burn around 4 am at Portal Patch 3:00 & H.

You can learn more about Ben Samples and download some of his music on the "choose your own price" model at http://bensamples.com/

FUNKMOSPHERE = Weekend Hangover Cure

Did you wake up with a case of the Mondays this week? Pining for the weekend fun that just ended? Wishing you had just one more night to kick it to some good music and have a few libations? If you did, you should have gone to Funkmosphere at Carbon last night. AND, we basically recommend you go there every week...

For 4 years, Dam Funk, the rising Stones Throw artist, has been holding down Carbon in Culver City, CA on Monday nights with a plethora of electro-funk boogie records. B-boys routinely show up to display their talents and battle with both friends and dance foes. 45 fans and electro-boogie-funk lovers line the bar with $5 or less beers and flat brims while they absorb the 70s sounding grooves and observe the flailing bodies on the dance floor. Once the clock strikes midnight, you're certain to see someone get served - and quite possibly by one of the spectacular b-girls that gracefully whip the competition into shape.

The night is always FREE, and on this particular Monday - the Funkmosphere crew was celebrating Egyptian Lover's birthday. As seen above, Peanut Butter Wolf was in the house and spinning the fire for the mostly 'regular' crowd along with Dam Funk.

What is remarkable about the Funkmosphere event is that it is an untapped resource of awesomeness; despite its 4 year tenure, the amazing music and ambiance - it doesn't get to capacity. It certainly gets crowded (usually by regulars) and it can get hot indoors if it weren't such a cool summer, but there is always enough space for the dancers to put the moves on.

So, if you are looking for something to cure your weekend blues or simply spice up the start of your week - we have no better recommendation than Funkmosphere. If you are looking to meet some cool people and possibly new friends who could teach you some amazing dance moves - go there. The crowd of 21+ electro boogie funk lovers are a friendly bunch; their love for the music is infectious and they are happy to share their appreciation with others. The DJs love for the scene, especially the host's, is infectious too. The dancing is absolutely breathtaking - it makes you wish you were remotely close to that good. Combine all those elements at a cool, relatively inexpensive bar and you just got one Damn Funky event.

Funkmosphere is a FREE electro-funk boogie event that takes place every Monday at Carbon on Venice Blvd. - 9300 Venice Blvd. FYI, If you were a fan of the old Starshoes bar on Hollywood Blvd. and the funky shows that would go down there with DJ Miles, this is a similar substitute BUT with better dancing.

Sunset Strip Music Festival Skeets Off at The Roxy

As you can see, DJ Skee, Skee TV and all their guests (Xzibit, Paul Wall, Strong Arm Steady) seriously threw it down to start off the amazing weekend that is the Sunset Strip Music Festival.

The Roxy played host to the star studded event that was the third installment of Skeetox and there were a handsome lot of notable characters in the audience. Surprisingly, the room was not at capacity despite the twitter publicized announcement that both Xzibit and Paul Wall would be there. But, hey, that made for a way more comfortable environment.

Enjoying the choice crowd, I mingled for a while before Skee and his band took to the stage. Once there, Skee's band brought a nice selection of recent and old hip-hop hits to the party and added their own live flavor to the DJ set. Although not The Roots, this live hip-hop medley band is fun to watch and very energized on stage. Playing a host of familiar music, it was really easy to enjoy their performance. They had me questioning why I don't go (or possibly form) a hip-hop cover band....

After DJ Skee and his band finished riffling through chart toppers of yesterday, Strong Arm Steady were the first guests to grab the mic and massage the crowd. Playing in familiar stomping grounds, SAS delivered a quick dosage of their L.A. flavor before handing the microphones over to more accomplished MCs.

After Strong Arm Steady, Paul Wall came to the stage with his quintessential iced grill and painted arms. Starting late, perhaps because he had drove slow, Wall reminded the crowd why his Southern drawl and swagger can still rock a room, leaving the crowd pining for more.

Wall, although a veteran, is not as senior as Xzibit. Long before Wall's "Ride Slow" or his own TV show Pimp My Ride, X was killing the West Coast with his poetic flow on tracks like "Foundation" and "Papparazzi." No longer really acclaimed for his MC abilities (he does more acting and voice overs; his last album release was in 2006), Xzibit exhibited why he still deserves credit amongst his rapper brethren. He was energetic, enthusiastic and passionate on the stage. You could feel the energy rise when the took the mic and you were itching for more when he finished his performance.

Thanks to The Roxy and DJ Skee for making it happen. It was dope. We can only hope that the rest of Sunset Strip Music Festival week and weekend is this good.

Purple Melon Unofficially Kick Off SSMF At The Viper Room Thursday

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Outside Lands Picture Gallery