Last night marked the first time that I have ever played a proper club gig outside of Los Angeles (I've played a couple private parties in the IE and San Diego, respectively, but not a club). Hell, in ten years of DJing, this was one of the few times I've played outside the hipster ghetto extending from WeHo to Downtown (never played either Valley or the South Bay and have played on the Westside twice).
The first thing I noticed about Riverside is that it's far, but not too far. The cd in the car didn't lapse during the course of the drive, but we were driving for miles, passing Buena Park and Chino Hills and thinking "How much longer?" Then we hit the Magnolia exit and circled around the El Torito/Red Lobster/Black Angus block before I called B. Monsoon on his cell and found out that the club is actually behind El Torito.
The second thing I noticed about Riverside is that, simply put, the crowd is fucking awesome. I haven't seen a club that packed and out of control since Bang! in 2001, when brand new songs by bands like Ladytron and Le Tigre were forcing people to dance on the tables. Unlike Los Angeles, the Riverside crowd does not stand around and wait for an 1980s flashback that they are too young to remember or Britney Spears. In fact, the 80s songs didn't go over well at all, save for "Blue Monday," which is perfect for any occasion. This was a crowd that craved newer sounds and that makes for a great gig.
Here is the set, deciphered from my chicken scratch notes made while running back and forth between turntables, cd players and folks with requests (most of which were played, save for the guy who asked me if I "even know who Brian Eno is"):
Franz Ferdinand-- Matinee (Headman Mix)
Pet Shop Boys-- West End Girls (Bobby O. version)
She Wants Revenge-- Tear You Apart
Bloc Party-- Two More Years (MSTRKRFT Remix)
Fallout Boy-- Dance Dance (Tommie Sunshine Mix)
The Bravery-- Fearless (Richard X Mix)
New Order-- Blue Monday
Depeche Mode-- A Pain That I'm Used To (Jacques Lu Cont Mix)
Le Tigre-- After Dark (A Touch of Class Mix)
White Label-- Benny Benassi "Satisfaction" vs. "Short Dick Man"
Digitalism-- Digitalism in Cairo
Mylo v. Scissor Sisters-- Drop the Numb
Audio Bullys-- We Don't Care (Extended Version)
Dead 60s-- Riot on the Radio
Dexy's Midnight Runner-- Geno
The Specials-- Gangsters
IMA Robot-- Black Jetta
Panic! At the Disco-- The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide is Press Coverage (Tommie Sunshine Mix)
Starsailor-- Four to the Floor (Jacques Lu Cont Mix)
Stardust-- Music Sounds Better with You
Madonna-- Sorry (PSB Mix)
The Killers-- Somebody Told Me (Mylo Mix)
Goldfrapp-- Ooh La La (Benny Benassi Mix)
Royksopp-- What Else Is There? (Thin White Duke Mix)
Annie-- Heartbeat (Alan Braxe Mix)
Flat Pack-- Sweet Child O' Mine (Mylo Mix)
James-- Laid

Of course, after I finished, I realized that there were more things that I was dying to play, but didn't (Editors, Delays, Melody Club, The Presets, The Glass). That always happens and it was definitely an incredible night regardless of what I forgot to play. Thanks to Mantastique for making this happen.