Legends of House
Legend 2: DJ Pierre
02:00
A hefty bear hug is exchanged between the two music buddies. The DJ transition goes smooth and so much unannounced. Onstage stands a full-haired man working the musical hardware. He appears far younger than his age. A closer inspection reveals fine wrinkles that spread like branches of life from his eyes. He has charm, a jovial wit that radiates as bright as his smile. House legend number two takes aim. He appears ready to please.
Heavy-charged techno thumps are exchanged for hissing snares of sexy house meant to inspire more lounging than fist pumping. Five-minutes later, sensuality is shattered by divas wailing boldly over bouncing keys. The instantly recognizable Todd Terry featuring Jocelyn Brown and Martha Walsh’s classic makes mouths sing “Keep On Jumpin’.” As the hook plays the bottoms drop and the big room sound floods the dance floor. Never has the crowd heard the song played with emphasis. The classics continue on Meli’sa Morgan’s “Still In Love With You” (MAW Mix) that brings out house dancers not previously noticed during the party. With one armed out stretched and the other arm folded behind her head, she vogues as her dance partner squat walks around her.
Four months earlier, a defining shift occurred in the city’s underground party scene. A global-acclaimed DJ debuted his Phutur3 party, named after his late 1980’s Phuture guise. The monthly series set to showcase local and global DJ talent. The party proved an underground alternative to the god-complex DJ that rules mainstream nightlife culture, and has since drawn a steady stream of growing faithful supporters of the afro-acid movement.
For those familiar with acid house, DJ Pierre springs to mind. After all, he is considered one of the patriarchs of acid house. Pierre’s origin began in the Windy City where as a young child his attention shifted from repairing electronics to studying music. During the mid 1980’s, when Chicago had as many house/techno DJs as churches on street corners, Pierre followed suit and became a fixture playing warehouse parties. From there he tried his luck at producing and remixing songs. His luck paid off on the critically acclaimed “Acid Tracks” that led him to working at Strictly Rhythm records in NYC for fifteen years before relocating to the dirty south for family matters.
“Look at the stage.” Another former Chicago DJ points out. A vast array of rumps shakes and swings onstage. Smartphones capture selfies as smiles shine for group photos. “Hate to burst their bubble but this ain’t no Boiler Room broadcast.”
DJ Pierre continues to put the P-in-the-air. If house music ever had a subgenre called P-Funk DJ Pierre would be god. “Never, Never, Never………” squeals a high-pitched soprano at the top of her lungs. The man-of-the-hour warps the vocals and grinds out a gospel dub of Floorplan AKA Robert Hood’s “Never Grow Old, that takes the dancers to chucccch. Hoots and hollers spew from the mouths of babes. Cue Robert Owen’s “I’ll Be Your Friend” that gets grimy. Eddie Amador’s “House Music” receives a down and dirty remix that drops knees to the floor. The legendary producer/remixer is not done yet. He pulls out the big guns on “Big Fun” from the party’s predecessor Kevin Saunderson. The sounds of programmable drums, Roland TR-808’s, hover over the crowd like buzzing helicopters. Spitfire splatters of drums rapidly assault the dancers like military soldiers spraying tear gas at Ferguson protestors. “Acid…Breathe In, Breathe In” a lowly voice whispers into ears of dancers dripping beads of sweat. Perspiration becomes an accessory that drapes the neck and chest. As the music intensifies so does the room’s thermostat. “Time for an adult beverage,” notes one drenched dancer. Only the bar can keep frantic pace with the music. As Pierre drops hit after hit, bartenders pour drink after drink. Ringing cash registers sounds like extra instrumentation to the beat. The music goes edgy and darker with slashing synths and beefed-up BPMs. Hardcore acid. Neo-techno/EDM heads be schooled at how the 20th century paged today’s Electro and said, “Give me back my beats.” Yesterday’s originators inspire today’s generators as evidence on Osunlade’s “Idiosyncracy,” with its techy undertones and robotic overtones. Whopping guitar riffs and orchestrated strings swirl over a looped four-on-the-floor that pronounce disco house’s revenge. Paying homage to his beloved hometown roots, DJ Pierre closes the party. The time reads 3:30 am.
“Whew, what a night. I reek of smoke.”
“Me too.”
“The smell is all over my clothes. Not to mention trapped in my hair.”
“I hear ya. Although, I must admit, this event was worth every cigarette smoked.”
Words by AJ Dance
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Tags: acid house, Atlanta, deep house music, Detroit techno, DJ Pierre, house music, KEVIN SAUNDERSON, Phutur3, techno