Last Night: Red Bull 45s

Renee McMahon

Tilson, left, of The Saturday Knights, with DJ James Pants

I might as well just throw this out there and get it over with: I am not entirely sure who "won" last night's DJ battle, which was not really much of a competition anyway. I think I either missed the announcement when I was in the bathroom, or it never really happened. If you know, let me know. But as far as I'm concerned, our DJs (Las Vegas' John Doe, our own Supreme La Rock and Jake One, and James Pants from Spokane) all picked great party music-- mostly funk and soul-- that got everyone to dance all night long. Which was the evening's real reward.

Though it doesn't look like it when you first walk in, Trinity is a pretty sizable club with two stories and a huge dance floor, and the place was still jampacked. And yet, people were still shoving their way through the crowd to get to each DJ's table (there was one DJ set up in each corner) to watch them pick their 45s; basically, the DJ on the hot seat would put on a record, then frantically dig through his collection to find the next jam and put it on before the current one ended. I'm not sure if I had a favorite, but I think it's safe to say that Jake One killed it. Which should not surprise anyone. And of course, DJ Nu-Mark of Jurassic 5 spun a great set after the "battle" was over.

The transitions between DJs tended to be a little rocky throughout--matching those beats is no easy task, especially without the help of any beat-matching programs, per the rules -- but Tilson, of the Saturday Knights, filled any sound gaps (which were minimal) as the Master of Ceremonies, reminding us all that this year is the 60th anniversary of the birth of the 45. MC is a great role for him: all he has to do is wander around being his charming self and people gobble it right up. Anyway, we've got photos of the event coming up shortly; in the meantime, go put on one of your favorite 45s and try to imagine a world without vinyl. Can't do it? Me neither. If you missed out last night, never fear-- I am pretty sure this is at least an annual tradition.