- In Texas, techno DJs don't get locked in the bathroom because, as everyone knows, we use outhouses made of old rotting wood and barely functional door latches. We're all cowboys here, too, so a DJ has to hold his ground behind the turntables or be brushed aside. Will Wagon Repair's co-creator Konrad Black remember this now that he's experienced it? What about his gig in Texas on February 12 will stand out for him? Will he remember returning from a bathroom break during his Black Valentine's party to find drunken local DJ Chris Calix playing with the mixer in a fit of excitement? Calix says Black asked him to watch his tracks while he was away, which may be true, but spoils the fun of his hilarious faux pas.
So Black might forget the Lone Star State after all. The sound at the downtown venue, Jet Lounge, faded noticeably just yards away from the DJ booth despite the length of the place being only a few yards longer. Black has traveled the world from Vancouver to Berlin, playing at legendary nightclubs such as Panorama Bar along the way. Houston's crowd filled Jet Lounge and danced all night but was a small crowd.
But considering the paucity of great techno parties to experience here, Houston's Reverse crew did their part to create a fresh musical event. Reverse have lent a hand in making their sprawling urban mess of a city the destination for techno tourists in Texas (though El Paso has emerged as a strong contender) by hosting major artists from some of today's hottest labels, including Adultnapper, Houston son Tim Xavier, Ida Engberg and Inside Out, who have all played events here just this winter.
Houston's Guigo Cueto and Henry Chow warmed up the night at Jet, ramping up the vibe until the dance floor was full. Black went on just after one in the morning, looking alert behind the tables, and using his laptop to help deliver a set from which I could only identify a mix of Lil Louis' "Club Lonely" and Nicolas Jaar's "Time for Us." That last track was an answer to a sincere crowd begging Black to "gimmie three more" tracks." Instead, Black gave us quality, a sexy track on a (manufactured) lover's holiday.