DEMF!

Tomorrow night, I’ll be heading off to Detroit for my very first visit to the Detroit Electronic Music Festival and, to be honest, I couldn’t be more excited. I’ve always thought about going, but always had a reason to skip it. This year, I made my business not to have a reason to miss Hart Plaza on Memorial Day.

So, what I’m looking forward to:

DAY ONE
Believe it or not, I’m kinda excited to see Moby DJ. He does it so rarely, compared to his live gigging, that it’ll be nice to see what he decides to break out of his bag. Or laptop. I’m sure there will be an old classic or two. When I talked to him recently, he also made mention that I need to check out Joe Louis’ fist sculpture. (That’s what is pictured above.)

Otherwise? Most techno producers put on really boring live shows because, well, you have your songs and they often sound pretty much the same. So, it’s kinda like going to a DJ set where the selector can only pick one artist’s work. Not that fun, right? Well, Alex Smoke puts on a phenomenal live show, not least because his work is so varied. He’s one I’m not missing under any circumstance. Also on Saturday: Joris Voorn, Egyptian Freakin’ Lover and Peanut Butter Wolf.

DAY TWO

I feel like all I do is listen to and write about Carl Craig these days. He’s worth the time. His recent mix CD, Sessions is a great primer and eMusic contributor Philip Sherburne recently did an amazing interview with him at The Wire, which should give you an insight as to how intelligent he really is. Another Detroit guy I’m eager to see is Kenny Larkin, who is actually living in LA right now. Trying to make it as a stand-up comic. If his music is as good as his…do I have to finish that sentence?

DAY THREE

My favorite live act right now, Cobblestone Jazz, will be playing earlier in the day on Monday. If I can drag myself out of bed after the Dennis Ferrer show that promises to go on until about 4 AM, I’ll be there. After that? None other than Philly’s Josh Wink. After that? Capping off the festival will be one of the Belleville Three, Kevin Saunderson.

Oh. And that’s not even mentioning the afterparties—aside from the Ferrer thing. There will be those too. My two picks? Soul Skate ’08, which features Moodymann DJing for a skating rink complete with free soul food while supplies last and Derrick May playing later at that night at the former Music Institute(!) with Quentin Harris.