#djstep

I’m leaving on a jet plane this week - catching a flight to NYC to attend #Blazercon.  It’s a soccer-specific convention hosted by the NBC Sports duo Michael Davies + Rog Bennett, The hosts of the television broadcast “The Men In Blazers”.

Spearheading a late Monday night time slot on NBC - Rog + Dav-o (as they are affectionately referred to) crack jokes and recap the weekends matches from England + tackle a wide range of leagues and pop culture points in their weekly podcast.

I’m headed out to spend time with family, but also get to hear from a wide range of soccer figures and learn more about their narratives through the beautiful game.  Understanding the past, and present of what’s going is clearly a way I can help plan for the future & strengthen the soccer culture out here in Chicago.  I also get to meet a ton of very dope people and lay the foundation for some really cool collaborations that I will share with you guys soon!  Plus there is beer - HOLLLLLLLERRRR.  

So to get hyped for the weekend - I created an eclectic spotify playlist of tunes inspired by the panelists and events happening in Brooklyn for the con.  I also included some liner notes below on why I made these selections.  Here’s to a fun weekend of friends, family, and football (Soccer). NO SLEEP TIL BROOKLYN!

Track 1 - Orson “Bright Idea”

I’ve spent a life-time watching crap soccer movies because for some reason all the compelling directors decided to write about Notre Dame Football or Friday Night Lights.  “Goal” was the first movie besides “The Big Green” that inspired or made me feel connected me as a soccer player - this record is from the soundtrack to that movie.  Still gives me chills 

Track 2 - Rush “I Think I’m Going Bald” 

No, This is not me subconsciously telling you something - my follicles are still fluffy and with a bit of luck I will still have hair for the next few years.  But Rog + Dav-O are not as lucky.  The two bald Englishmen traditionally make a conscious effort to target those they refer to as “Bald deny-ers” or those that have not quite admitted the cut of their coif.  Here is their TRUE ANTHEM! 

Track 3 - Churches “Trace of Me”

The Men in Blazers had Churches Keyboardist Martin Doherty on the Pod a few months backs - I imagine an adaptation of this song called “Traces of a Man” that represents Dav-o’s despair as a Chelsea fan in the EPL this year : ) 

Track 4 - Sting “Englishman in New York”

This is a bizarre song - Sting refers to himself as a “legal alien” not sure if that’s the Star Wars or Star Trek version, but it is a great way to describe folks like Charlie is a Red, who is making his first trip to the states.  COME ON UNITED!

Track 5 - Beastie Boys “No Sleep til Brooklyn” 

RIP MCA - This song speaks for itself.  I’m super excited about this weekend - Won’t be sleeping much.  SO much love for the Beasties.

Track 6 - The Who “American Woman”

The World Cup Winning USWNT will be in the house on Saturday.  This song is a bad ass tribute to them.  It was also used in an incredible Nike ad in the lead up to the big tourney. Check it here.

Track 7 - Mos Def “Brooklyn”

The samples on this make it one of my favorite Mos records - So much boom bap, See you guys in Brooklyn!

Track 8 - US3 “Kick This” 

The Drums and horn sample give it a distinct latin flare.  It was also featured on EA Sports FIFA 07.  

Track 9 - Manu Chao “La Rumba de Barcelona”

Yeah this is an American Soccer convention, but arguably my favorite sportscaster Ray Hudson will be there. His coverage of La Liga + specifically his love for verbal gymnastics and Lionel Messi will always have a special place in my heart. Vamos Ray! 

Track 10 - The Givers “Up Up Up”

New York based group has some funky jams, I love the music video and I envision Rog yelling “Up the Cherries” during the guitar riffs on this.  Big fan of his documentary on the Bournemouth premier club.  Their chairman Jeff Mostyn will be speaking at the conference. Did I mention a Chicago company owns part of the club now? That’s pretty awesome news for a Chicagoan like me. 

Track 11 - Paul McCartney “Flaming Pie”

There’s been talk that this was a result of a vision Jon Lennon had about pies. Probably a results of some popular stimulants during that era.  We all know Men in Blazers love of the gameday Pie, so I felt this song was VERY fitting the conference. Shot out Dub Pies! 

Track 12 - The Four Clefs - “I Like Pie, I like Cake”

So now that we’ve established our love of a traditional gameday meat pie... Can we expand our fascination to cake? How many licks does it take to get the center of a tootsie roll pop? Same answer - The world may never know. 

Track 13 - Amsterdam “Does this Train Stop on Merseyside”

Not a fan of Liverpool or Everton necessarily - but I know Rog is.  Here’s a tribute to all the Evertonians out there!

Track 14 - Pat Woods “The Guinness Song” 

MY GOODNESS! MY ___ . Guinness is a sponsor of the event this year. I’m looking to try that Nitro IPA at the conference. Will report back on how it tastes. I love a good drinking song.

Track 15 - The Stiffs “Bring on the Chelsea Girls”

Poor Michael Davies - Tough year for Chelsea fans, but hoping this can cheer you guys up. This wasn’t on spotify - but you can listen here.

Track 16 - White Stripes “Fell in Love with a Girl”

We all know Rog + Dav-0 have been huge supporters of our ailing brothers - the footballing aka soccer playing ginger community.  This White Stripes song about falling in love with a ginger is a sonic ode to this support and I approve of this.

“Red hair with a curl mellow roll for the flavor and the eyes were peeping can't keep away from the girl”

Track 17 - Alexi Lalas “Battle Cry”

All this talk of gingers can only mean one thing - the next song is dedicated to the king of the ginger soccer movement here in the states.  Was expecting this to be real audio assault on my ears, but it’s quite pleasant! Alexi is dope! Check it out. 

Track 18 - Featurecast “Got that Fire”

Ok so I DJ for the Chicago Fire out here in the Windy City - this is me losing the battle to not include at least one song with a loose fire reference. It’s also on EA Sports Fifa 2013 (O retro!) COME ON YOU MEN IN RED! 

Track 19 - Run DMC “My Adidas”

Stripes baby! When I land I will be in Queens and since the soccer gods our one of the sponsors this just gets me in the right mood! “JAM MASTER JAY KING OF THE CROSSFADER” RIP

Track 20 - New Order “Blue Monday”

Undoubtedly how I will feel after the convention and flying home.  The Truest “Sad Nap” that ever was.  : (

There is a contagious emotion that trumps all others in the spectrum of human interaction.

It’s the feeling of creative inspiration.

You know that sensation, that rush of joy or sense of discovery when you lock on to an idea that seems to defy the laws of social reason.  It’s equal parts crazy and equal parts intelligent with a dash of spontaneity. It’s a metaphorical middle finger to the way society wants you to act or behave, and it’s an idea that helps you carve out an existence that straddles the line between the reasonable and the radical.

 This is where I want to live.

You’re not re-inventing the wheel when you feel this way.  It’s the success you may feel when you realize a quicker route to work, or figure out a way to sort laundry faster. You could even be inspired to change from a well-written book or a movie.  The light of inspiration flickers on and off for a wide variety of reasons and in a myriad of ways, but the age-old question remains…. How can we remain inspired?

From a personal perspective – I struggle with this a lot.  I often feel like my life is disjointed – and I naturally compartmentalize things so I can make sense of how life works.  

What this quickly boils down to is some activities become “work” and others become “fun” or creative and the more I’ve meditated on this subject, the sillier I think the concept is.  When things become “work” the opportunity for any learning seems to fade – it’s replaced by the concept of getting from point A to Point B without major physical or emotional injury.  Let’s be honest work then becomes stress.

To me, we have this entire process backwards.

When I got out of school about two years ago, this mental separation between work & play, creative and structured was a process I grappled with constantly.  I struggled to maintain a life of balance with equal parts work (for financial reasons) and equal parts play (for creative and soul-feeding human interaction).  I now have the chance for both.

Recently I made a mix video with the help of my friends Ben + Dan that gave me the opportunity to start sonically curating matches for the Chicago Fire… An organization that is historically very important piece to Major League Soccer.  The sport itself has long since been a huge part of my life, and now to be able to combine two life-long passions into what some would characterize as a “job” – is truly an incredible experience.  

Spark at Toyota Park

HUGE GAME AGAINST SEATTLE TODAY! LEGGGGOOOOO!!!

DJ STEP - Spark at Toyota Park (Chicago vs. Seattle)