Weekend Weapons: DJ Sneak

Weekend Weapons: DJ Sneak

22 October, 2010 | 6.52AM

• Written by: Justin Jack
• Filed under: Music News: dj sneak, weekend weapons

Few artists have the kind of versatility or longevity of Chicago legend DJ Sneak; even fewer have his ability to play the big stages and clubs while maintaining their connection to the underground. In fact, Sneak’s burst of renewed energy over the past couple of years is introducing a whole new generation of dance-music lovers to the tough, jacking style of true-school house that he helped invent.

In recognition of his longevity, clubbers can celebrate Sneak’s 40th birthday on Friday, November 5 when he presents his annual Sneak’s Birthday Beats bash, with Fries & Bridges and Ricardo Villalobos on hand to assist in the celebrations.

Read on to find out some of the tracks Sneak will be playing to get the party started. And since he’s too humble to mention them, we’ll do it for him: don’t forget to check out his own labels Magnetic Recordings and Oomph, purveyors of stripped-down funk in the finest tradition of jacking Chicago house.

Stan Garac & Piek, “La Gondola EP” [Clarisse Records]

This early summer banger came to me at the right time. I was headed to Europe to play a five-festival tour with some Ibiza dates in between, and this track ended up being a hit for me. It’s a real monster, it starts with a BANG, horns driving the beats, with the simplest arrangement but with big-room impact that is hard to get these days. This track is just that good, it breaks down from time to time and the moment everything drops the whole place goes insane! Top of my list for 2010!

Pezzner, “Chuiso Per Ferie” [Freerange Records]

Hats off to this west coast dude from Seattle Washington called Pezzner: he has been delivering some seriously groovy and tech house hypnotic music. This particular track is also on the top of my selections for the road. This hypnotic, almost mind-controlling rhythm comes through the Funktion One systems like a hot knife through butter; it’s got a sick-ass beat and interesting transitions that make you lose your head!

Armbar, “You’ll Never Know (DJ Homewrecker Redub Mix)” [Look At You]

This remix of “You’ll Never Know” from DJ Homewrecker seems to work all over the place, I have dropped this funky ass track at almost every gig in the past six months. The rhythms in this track are absolutely house jackin’ a la Chicago. You will instantly start dancin’ when you get all the beats and grooves going, and when the bass line drops you will recognize it from a very old house classic—Studio 45’s “I Like the Sounds"—which you can drop with this new redo. Armbar has been dropping some interesting and truly house driven tracks that are worth checkin’ out!

Max Piske, “Boogie Jama” [Niveous Records]

Ok, I know I have just dropped three serious bangers, but this one does not fall short and it should be high on the chart too. This House BANGER, like I love to call these types of tracks, is a dancefloor stomper. It consists of hard beats, driving bass, and some fun vocals to spice it all up. I have been killing this joint for a while now and it never lets down. The beats, groove and bass on this track are super sick!

Fries & Bridges, “Just Because feat. Hector Moralez” [Robsoul Recordings]

Let’s all stand up and support some of house music’s underground talent! These boys have been busy and turning in some serious dancefloor heaters. Fries & Bridges (Phil Weeks & Hector Moralez) are coming hot off their last single, “Forever This,” which has been killing it all year long. Their new single, “Just Because,” is one of those tracks that make you think and feel something fresh about underground house. It’s something new and different and it has the potential to get the love it deserves. Every single time I have dropped this track I get people asking me what it is and where they can get it. You should not sleep on this great combo of American and French flavor.

Kenny Larkin, “Sketches (Shlomi Aber Mix)” [Ovum]

Ahhh Yeah!!!  Everybody make some room for this straight jacker! This track will get anybody in the jackin’ mood. This is another track that has been in my circulation of weekend weapons and will get the party totally raging. The Shlomi Aber remix is bananas and it really did justice to the original track.

Butch, “No Worries” [Cecille]

Nothing starts a good party like a great-ass record to set it off. “No Worries” is straight out of the vaults into the clubs, afterhours, and festivals of today, a very good throwback house track made like they were made in the ‘90s—with balls, grooves, and hooky vocals that you can repeat over and over again. This track has been played all summer and it still works every time.

DJ Sneak, “Southern Boy” [Scion A/V]

This is a straight-up great track with great remixes; the Radio Slave Remix is killing dance floors across the globe. This crazy remix project has been able to restart the fire under people’s butts and has got them getting crazy on the floor. It has also become an Ibiza 2010 favorite among DJs this summer. It’s a must-have if you want to get people groovin’!

Sneak Tracks to watch out for in near future:

* Shlomi Aber, “Tap Order” [Ovum]
* DJ Sneak, “No Challenge” [Desolat]
* Chris Simmonds,"How I’m Feeling” [Robsoul]
* 2 Bears, “Work It Out (Sneak Remix)” [Southern Fried Records]
* Stereo Gangstaz, “Keep Em Dancin’” [unsigned]

DJ Sneak’s House Gangster Beats Chart

DJ Sneak

Magnetic Recordings

Oomph

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