Continuing a recent trend of electronic music seeping into the mainstream cracks of local music, Drum & Bass DJ J. Smooth comes to inspire the Crowbar, 420 E. College Ave., into a dance craze.
DJ production company Bluedude put together the show. Rebecca Brumberg, one of Bluedude's organizers, said expectations are high because of the success of previous shows. Bluedude most recently featured national DJ Nigel Richards at a show on Jan. 25 at the Crowbar. That night saw the largest crowd at any of Bluedude's concerts, and according to Brumberg, they only expect things to get bigger and better as local appeal heightens.
The growing interest in electronic music in State College allows more national acts to perform locally. This enthusiasm will carry over for J. Smooth, a Philadelphia-based DJ with a unique style.
Melting a Drum & Bass style with hip-hop elements, J. Smooth (aka Joe Candidi) sports a form of music that has been developed over the years, beginning at age 11 when he began playing guitar. After falling in love with funk over the subsequent years, Candidi formed the band GFS. Initially an instrumental funk trio, the band morphed beyond genre lines and started playing music ranging from punk rock to hip-hop.
Things changed though when Candidi's fell upon turntables. Spinning then became his new passion and after gaining some experience, he began acquiring shows in Philadelphia. After remodeling the disbanded GFS, he built a studio and began recording mix tapes that also grew in popularity.
J. Smooth quickly developed in the Philadelphia DJ community, according to Brumberg who also began Bluedude in the same area. Since then, however, his unique style has caught onto a more national — and even international — audience. J. Smooth has also began touring, most recently performing a series of shows across the West Coast and even traveling as far as Japan. Brumberg attributes this mass fascination to his fusion of genres that people of different tastes can enjoy.
"The music is not only going to appeal to techno kids but also those that like hip-hop," Brumberg said.
The spinning will ensue at 8 p.m. Monday. This all-ages show is $12 at the door and will run until 2 a.m.
For tickets and additional information, contact the Crowbar at 814-237-0426 or at www.crowbarlivemusic.com.
