By Paul V.

The Mash Up Zeitgeist

This issue's column is a little different, as today we focus on zeitgeist -- a German word that describes "the spirit of the age or times,": or an intangible essence of a specific historical period. As some of you know, I've sort of become the "mash up guy": over the last few years. I've incorporated tons of them in my club DJ sets, and since last November, I've been presenting new mash up tracks on-air at Indie 103.1 FM, with their "Mashup Of The Day": feature, and my weekly DJ "Smash Mix": every Friday. It's been very successful and the listener buzz has been fantastic. Still, the whole concept of a mash-up confounds some people: "Why did they mess around with those two songs like that?": The answer? Why not? Aren't mash-ups just the technologically advanced version of how pop music has been covertly devouring and purging itself for decades anyway? The difference is that even kids with the right computer software can create "bastard pop": right in their bedrooms. And perhaps mash-ups reflect our culture as a whole. We're so bombarded with new images and hype and celebrity and gossip, et al, that our attention spans have imploded, and we constantly need new stimuli to feed our voracious entertainment appetite. Thus, why listen to Britney and BeyoncŽ or Madonna and Missy one way, when you can hear them in a thousand different ways? It's all DIY and illegal/illicit so you can't just walk into Tower and buy 'em. But you can become a part of the massive online bootleg community to check it all out. Hell, just Google the word "mash up": and see/hear what surprises pop out. In San Francisco (which is fast becoming the mash-up epicenter of America), a tenacious duo by the name of Adrian & The Mysterious D created a monthly club event called Bootie -- America's first all mash-up, all bootleg dance club. With the spunk of two eager teenagers -- and their trademark genius flier images that morph two pop-star faces together -- A+D have helped put mashes on the map and Bootie's become a world-famous success (they celebrate their second anniversary next month). So it's only natural that A+D are spreading the love and bringing Bootie LA to you, on Saturday, July 30 at The Echo in Echo Park. We'll all be there spinning these wild mixes, along with fellow Bootie SF compatriot Party Ben (he the super-creative creator of the Green Day/Oasis/Travis mash that blew everyone away last year). So break into Seinfeld's mansion, steal his pirate shirt, wear an eye patch like Pete Burns, and come down to dance and feel the bootleggin' love at Bootie LA. For more information, visit www.bootiela.com.