by RAF KATIGBAK

That’s right folks, it’s time for the Disko Mailbag! A new, irregular feature of the column, where dance-music fans write in with their questions and I use my infinite wisdom, vital industry connections and something called “Google” to answer them. The first question comes from Marco Simonsen, from Montreal, Canada, who writes:

Say, Akimbo,
Did you find out what the fuck was wrong with the Juan Maclean last night? They didn’t seem to mess up the songs so bad, but they could get pretty scary between songs. Were they just completely drunk/stoned/(...), or did we just witness a band falling apart? Juan pissed off at his musicians? Any leads?
-Marco

Great question Marco, thanks for writing.

Before I answer, let me just say that I thought the Juan Maclean’s show on Sunday was absolutely bananas. Y’all know I’ve been on DFA’s jock ever since I heard Felix da Housecat drop the Rapture’s “House of Jealous Lovers” at Sona back when electroclash wasn’t a dirty word, but there’s really nothing like a live set of angry acid-house disco-rock to put the boogie back in yer butt.

For anyone who didn’t make it out to the show last Sunday, there was indeed a palpable tension. Between songs, Mr. Maclean would often shoot some dagger-eyed glances at his supporting band and there would often be some inter-musician “banter” (some might also call it “yelling”).

I had a chance to ask them what was up later on at the Wunderbar afterparty (major big ups to Tim Sweeney and an exhausted Juan for playing killer DJ sets and making the entire bar scream like Rob Halford). Here is the answer, straight from the source: Sunday night was the toughest night of the tour. Just before crossing the border, Juan found out that he was obligated to have his passport to cross into Canada (a recent development with Canada Customs). After a whole rigmarole to get it (I think someone had to fly it from somewhere like Portland), the band, hung over from an extremely late night of partying, spent an hour and a half at customs, arrived late to the venue and didn’t even finish soundcheck before the doors opened. The fact that Juan is already quite the cut-the-bullshit, outspoken, surly, perfectionist type didn’t help things on stage.

That said, I thought that added a certain exciting tension to the music. Fuck this PLUR shit, I want to see more dance music shows where you have no idea what’s going to happen. Maybe someone will storm off mid-set, or an analog synth will get cracked over someone’s head, or the singer will go flailing into the octopads... who knows? Although the show was great, hopefully they’ll be able to return under better circumstances—I know they definitely want to. Somebody book these guys for a warehouse party, already! n

EVER WONDER HOW RECORDS ARE PRESSED? OR WHAT R.O.A.R MEANS? OR WHICH CIRCUIT-PARTY DJ POSSESSES THE MOST NUMBER OF SHINY MUSCLE-TEES? ASK ME! Diskoakimbo@sympatico.ca

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