Hey hey hey – DJ Carl Michaels here. I’m excited to be back in the fray here at PGC. In this little space, I’m going to share my music-related thoughts here and there, from the DJ’s perspective. Over the course of time, if you feel like there is something I am ignoring, please hit me up and I will try to get it covered. And always check out my web site for DJ gigs and info like that. Thanks!

“Pop Music Will Never Be Low Brow” – Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga cut her teeth as an East Village New York nightlife entertainer, and is now wowing people from here to Asia with her over-the-top performances. Her current single, “Just Dance,” is currently the #1 purchased song on Itunes, and her album “The Fame” is coming out soon on Interscope Records. Her performances are the stuff of legend (video below), and make no mistake that Gaga will be around for a while – she just wrote two songs on Britney Spears’ new album. She’s a proud pop princess, but doesn’t regurgitate the nonsense that we see coming out of most major labels. Lady Gaga’s music pushes boundaries, but it’s also refreshing to hear her talk about her music – “It’s not rocket science,” she says. Rocket science or not, it’s fantastic and you need to hear it.

The video below is one of the most fun performances I have seen in a very long time. It’s a segment from Logo’s NewNowNext Awards, so you’ll just need to stomach your way through Michelle Williams’ intro to get to Lady Gaga’s unreal performance:

Sundae hits the spot

No disrespect, but a lot of people who take in Philly’s gay music scene don’t realize that there is anything to do outside of the Gayborhood. Currently taking place in the open-air courtyard behind (and inside of) University City’s Bubble House, DJs Lee Jones, Dirty and Bryon Stout have been turning out the hottest deep house tunes on Sunday evenings for years now at various fabulous venues. In the summer and fall, there is nothing more relaxing than having a cocktail (try the sake sangria) and grooving out to some funky deep house music – a nice respite from the Top 40 stuff you hear in most gay clubs. But music and drinks do not a party make – and Sundae has the most diverse and open-minded group of people you could hope to find – you’ll find all races, male and female, gay, lesbian, straight, bisexual and transgendered. People even bring their kids. I say check it out! More info at www.sundaephiladelphia.com.

Back In The Hood

There’s also a ton of stuff coming up in September at your local favorites – Woody’s, Pure, Bump, Tavern, and all of the bars have some great things up their sleeve for when the beach bums hit town again. Look for recommendations right here in the coming weeks!

My Top Ten

Note: This Top Ten is reflecting what I am currently enjoying, but it’s not all necessarily all brand new. Part of a DJ’s responsibility is to resurrect stuff that brings people back.

1. Mastiksoul – Macaron
2. XPress 2 – Muzikizum
3. Lady Gaga – Just Dance (HCCR Remix)
4. Madonna – She’s Not Me (Code Mix)
5. Katrina Ruiz – Your’e Gonna Miss Me (JP’s Club Mix)
6. Kim Sozzi – Break Up
7. Scanners – Bombs (Young Americans Golden Hearted Rebels Mix)
8. Miss Kitten and The Hacker – Walking In The Sunshine
9. Act. Sense – Arritmia
10. Bimbo Jones – And I Tried