My "Set Me Free" Trance Mix pays tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

In observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2010 my January 2010 SET ME FREE trance mix samples two excerpts from Dr. King's 28 August 1963 "I Have A Dream" speech with this tracklist.

My January 2010 KISS THE RAIN Dance/House/Trance (26th MAL Weekend) Mix

Of equal importance to the music mixes that I create is the cd cover that I design for each mix. Which in most cases feature my photography and, sometimes, writings.

In celebration of the 26th Annual Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend 2010 event my KISS THE RAIN January 2010 mix is a special tribute to Ken Clark and Mark Thompson who celebrated their 30th anniversary in November 2009.

The cover photo was taken (of them) on P near 22nd Street, NW, Washington DC during the 5 June 1994 Capital Pride Festival.

Click the cover to listen and/or download the January 2010 KISS THE RAIN mix which as the 2nd of two MAL 2010 mixes features this dance, house and trance tracklist.

My "Now That We Are Free" Trance Mix in celebration of MAL Weekend 2010

First, let me start by stating that there is absolutely NO CONNECTION between me nor my music mixes and Mid-Atlantic Weekend. Other than the fact that I have attended some of the events over the years.

Secondly, I am NOT A PROFESSIONAL DJ but, since the early 70's when 8-tracks were in format, have created my own music mixes.

Thirdly, whether through photography, writing or mixing ... I regard my body of work as documentary. And while each mix has a theme and, of course, some connection to my personal story ... without apologies ... my hope is to record, document and reflect dance music that is associated with gay and lesbian culture and heritage.

What some refer to as a bedroom dj it has only been since the fall of 2008 that I have uploaded mixes to the Podomatic podcast site.

Similar to my Saint-At-Large Black Party 2009 series which was followed by a GLBT Pride 2009 collection and, more recently, the End of Year / New Year compilations ... click the above cd cover to listen to and/or download the first of two special mixes that will celebrate the 26th Annual Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend 2010 event.

Which titled NOW THAT WE ARE FREE features this trance tracklist.

Since last fall, as each mix is completed it has been uploaded to the Elvert Xaiver Barnes Mixology podcast at Podomatic. However, when storage space is needed for more recent mixes the older ones have been removed.

Though still under construction, here is the Elvert Barnes Mixology archives.

I Spent Last Weekend With ...

Though I had planned to take a ritual Friday Night /WDC photo /video walk since I wanted to put the final touches on my September 2007 NYC - IN SEARCH OF THE SUN video /dvd projections project which had been in development for a year - I stayed in and THANKS TO JustCircuit.com/Music I spent last weekend with DJ Frank Wild and DJ JST.

In fact, in recent months, it has been over the weekend that I have spent much of time listening to the ever growing list of DJs featured at JustCircuit.com/Music.

It is for this reason and in attempt to bring attention to these and other progressive and cutting edge djs that I launch the new but now ongoing "I Spent Last Night With ..." or "I Spent Last Weekend With ..." series.

Having already listened to the music of many of the DJs listed at JustCircuit.com/Music I searched the list for those that I had not observed or listened to before.

Let me start by saying that I regard DJs as one of the most underrated professions and art forms in the world. And when I listen to a mix by a particular DJ I try to 'step into his / her world' and 'allow them to take me onto a journey' that if you JUST LISTEN that in most cases will shed light on their personal story. Or perspective of the world.

One such DJ that I became acquanited with through JustCircuit.com/Music a couple of weeks, or so, ago and that I wanted to blog about but have not yet done so is DJ Conspiracy. Not only did his compliations throw me up against wall but the artwork that he creates for each mix with track listing deserves much attention, as well.

I always appreciate it when a DJ provides track listing and artwork for his/her compliation. You can tell a lot about a DJ who goes that extra mile. And while I now do not now recall wihch weekend it was that after first listening to the music of DJ Conspiracy and then revisiting the work of DJ Herbie James ... it has been since then that I have contemplated the launching of "I Spent Last Night / Weekend With ...".

And it has been since that weekend that I often revisited the music of DJ Conspiracy and DJ Herbie James. And while DJ Conspiracy's mixes throw up against the wall and have me wanting for more ... a bit older and wiser Herbie James' mixes are nothing short of mind fucks and musical journies!

And while I have not found track listings nor artwork for his music his blog and podsite are of equal historic importance and tells a lot about the man as does the artwork of many of the younger DJs.

So, I'd like to apologize to those JustCircuit.com/Music DJs who in the past month or so that I spent the night or weekend with but have not yet blogged about but, rest asure, when time permits - I will.

After spending late Friday night / early Saturday morning listening to DJ Frank Wild's Makes Me Dance (and sometimes dancing around the apartment) I was so circuited up but with no where to go ... while putting the final touches on my September 2007 NYC project ... I spent the rest of Saturday and much of Sunday listening to six mixes by DJ ST.

After spending last weekend dancing with DJ Frank Wild and being mind-fucked by DJ ST I'll being going back for more.

Thanks to JustCircuit.com/Music I don't even have to leave my front door.