Follow the DJ
Ten of San Francisco's hottest underground DJs tell us where they're at, what they love, and what they're looking forward to this spring and beyond.

By Marke B.

IN THE BEAUTIFUL chaos of clubland, there are a lot of gorgeous catastrophes. The space is right, your look is tight – but your cute little ass hasn't moved all night. Now you feel overly tipsy and all talked out. Maybe you need a new DJ, one who'll put a spring in your step to go with those neon green Pumas you just got. To help you shop around, we asked 10 of San Francisco's hottest body-rockers, each hyping his or her own wildly different style, to dish their sound, their gigs, their guilty pleasures, and their future goings-on. Find one or two you like? Grab ahold and don't let go. Someday they could save your nightlife.

Tom Thump
www.tomthump.com

What's he like?

Who better to look into the future than San Francisco's very own master of electro-funk, Tom Thump – selected as one of Urb magazine's "future music 100"? His champagne-bubbly mixes combine bootyful, hip-hop beats with jazzy melodic strains that sound equally at home at massives, on satellite radio, or in the tiny venues of the Haight. Long associated with the lounge-perfect Mushroom Jazz and atmospheric drum 'n' bass movements, he perfectly straddles both those left-field styles with a quick step and sidekick sound scenesters call "the Wobble."

Where's he at?

* Budonkadonk, Saturdays at Milk – – – 1840 Haight, S.F. (415) 387-6455.

* Rotating at Wish, Bubble Lounge, Tunnel Top, Sushi Groove, Hotel W, and Frisson.

What's he love?

"Milk on Mondays for Ted Shred. Rx Gallery when they have cool people like Norman Jay and Ayro. Frisson for the great atmosphere, and Bimbo's for a good live show. Tommy's Joint for the buffalo stew, and Pete's BBQ for the chicken! I recently went to see Yam Who? at Pink and loved it – they're a soulful production duo with a lot of buzz right now. Absolutely great."

What's he looking forward to?

"Gang of Four coming in concert in May! The opening of promoter Michael Anthony's new Miami-style restaurant-lounge Supper Club on Harrison in April, where myself and Cool Chris will be residents. I'm also hopefully playing at the Montreal Jazz Festival and touring Australia and New Zealand this spring."

Frenchy Le Freak
www.frenchylefreak.com

What's he like?

"I'm all about making people dancing," says Monsieur Le Freak, San Francisco's favorite French cup of thé. Since hitching here from Toulouse with a bag of vinyl, a backpack of his favorite club outfits, and $200 in his pocket, Frenchy's established himself as the maître d' of funky eclecticism, combining the smooth, acoustic sounds of the Côte d'Azur with the sensual, sweaty rawness of the Paris underground – and he's not above throwing a little Cassius or Stereolab into the mix to keep your little mustache twirling.

Where's he at?

* Every other Thursday (next one Thurs/10) at Butter – – – 354 11th St., S.F. (415) 863-5964, www.smoothasbutter.com/current/html.

* First Saturdays at Fluid – – – 662 Mission, S.F. (415) 615-6888, www.fluidsf.com.

* Second Saturdays at Element Lounge – – – 1028 Geary, S.F. (415) 571-1362, www.elementlounge.com.

* Ze Lounge, one Saturday of the month (check the Web site) at Zebra Lounge, 447 Broadway, S.F. (415) 788-0188, www.zebrasf.net.

What's he love?

"The other DJs I adore are Ellen Ferrato, Pseeko DubFunk, David Harness, DJ Hanick, and of course, my partner – why not? – Hideo Kobayishi. When Gotan Project or Kaskade perform, I always go to see them. I love eating at Fresca and my friends' new restaurant, Chouquet's – it's like a great French restaurant but not with all the big heads."

What's he looking forward to?

"I'm in the studio a lot soon, making some excellent records for you. On March 19, I'm spinning a Miami warm-up party at Zebra Lounge before I go to the Winter Music Conference there, and then I go back to France in April. I'll be hanging on Ibiza listening to all the wonderful, different styles of music there to bring back."

Lisa Bang

What's she like?

The gorgeously unflappable Lisa Bang has been leading the motor-rock DJ pack for some time now, adding a touch of glossy pink lipstick and whiplike pigtails to the gender-blending leather and punk scenes. With her carefree (and could-care-less) style, she easily combines hair band excess with bare-boned '70s screamers, all with a cigarette dangling from her mouth and a bevy of hot nymphs at her feet. Rock on, Ms. Bang!

Where's she at?

* Beer Bust, Sundays (3-7 p.m.) at Hole in the Wall – – – 289 Eighth St., S.F. (415) 431-4695, www.holeinthewallsaloon.com.

* "Various other private functions you'll never be invited to."

What's she love?

"The Eagle Tavern, the Powerhouse, the Rod at Underground S.F. – DJs Bus Station John and Jef Leopard are two of my favorites. Besides those, I really enjoy glamour boys, bike pirates, porn punks, celesbians, faggot bear trash – oh, and the House of Prime Rib."

What's she looking forward to?

"This spring I'll be recruiting and planning rides for Heavy Pedal, San Francisco's leading drunken bicycle gang, including a rock 'n' roll ride to the Oakland Coliseum to meet my buddies Sixx, Mick, and Tom during the Red, White, and Crüe tour. I'll also be judging the GayVN Awards – the Oscars of gay porn. I'm hoping for nice weather."

Bus Station John

What's he like?

Where Giorgio Moroder Street meets Klaus Nomi Avenue, just past the entrance to Afrika Bambaataa Freeway, there lives the vinyl purist Bus Station John. He's usually wearing a fur coat, a porkpie hat, and a skinny tie, but you'll know it's him for sure if a sudden wave of Casiotones grabs you by the moon boots and shakes you all the way down. His grooves are rarer than rare (he won't play a track if he thinks you can buy it), and his sound combines yellow brick road-era gay bathhouse classics and early New York downtown-scene electro with disco tracks from Pluto (or a storage space in Berlin) – and right now he's hot with three ts. "I'm taking the people who know down memory lane and introducing retro-homo music to a younger generation," he says.

Where's he at?

* Tubesteak Connection, Thursdays at Aunt Charlie's Lounge – – – 133 Turk, S.F. (415) 441-2922, www.auntcharlieslounge.com.

* The Rod, second Saturdays at Underground S.F. – – – 424 Haight, S.F. (415) 864-7386, www.undergroundsf.com. Note: this information has been updated.

What's he love?

"Shall I be frank? How about 'nowhere'? The contemporary gay nightlife scene has become hideously enervating. You know things suck when even free booze doesn't help. I can only hope my music offers some blessed relief from the din of the modern mainstream. That said, I do enjoy the Eagle Tavern beer bust on Sunday afternoons, as well as weekend nights with the incomparable Hot Boxxx Girls at Aunt Charlie's. Otherwise, I've retreated to the past, where I dwell happily with my pre-AIDS, pre-crack, pre-MTV, pre-PNP vinyl collection. Greetings from 1981! Visitors are welcome."

What's he looking forward to?

"I'll be taking up club hostess Juanita More's slack on select Sundays at the new Cafe Flor this spring and spinning at her big do on Gay Pride Day. I'll also be doing a benefit for Creativity Explored on April 28 at 111 Minna and some upcoming gigs in L.A. and New York. I'm devoting a lot of thought to how I can help the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people of Jamaica in the near future – it's really bad for them right now."

Queen Agnes B.
www.djqueenagnesb.com

What's she like?

This fierce-ruling cover girl from San Francisco's Sister and FemmeDJ coalitions has more tricks up her sleeve than a barrel of monkeys. If only I could mix metaphors as well as she mixes records. Deep, progressive house and disco-feelin', funky breaks flavor her sets, but she's not above hitting you below the belt with some Latin beats and good ol'-fashioned beat-scratchin', either. Wear your stompers when she's on, because the floor will pump you hard.

Where's she at?

* Motion, fourth Sundays at Red Eye Lounge – – – 1337 Mission, S.F. (415) 437-1337. Note: this information has been updated.

* Ishta Music Happy Hour, biweekly (check her Web site) at 111 Minna Gallery – – – 111 Minna, S.F. (415) 974-1719, www.111minnagallery.com.

What's she love?

"I love being around positive, good, and creative people. I love deep, rolling, and pumping house music as well as funky, groovin', and new-skool breaks. I love to sing and to create. Oh yeah! I love the fairly new club space called Mighty. Great sound system, layout, people, and of course, the vibe. I had a blast spinning there a few weeks ago at the Mighty Breaks event."

What's she looking forward to?

"I'm looking forward to sharing my musical creations instead of just DJing and spinning other peoples' music. I'm definitely looking forward to a new shift in the 'events' department here in San Francisco. I'm also looking forward to more touring and traveling."

J-Boogie
www.jboogie.com

What's he like?

Dub, reggae, hip-hop, dancehall, African beats, and Latin jazz – they all come together in the seamless beats of J-Boogie's DJ sets and his live performances with J-Boogie's Dubtronic Science. Perfect with a glass of Courvoisier or a deep red claret, his sound will have you shaking your belly ring on the dance floor or grooving in the plush banquettes. For 10 years he's been the guy on the flyer you know will guarantee a great evening and a laid-back crowd of gorgeous, smiling faces grooving with their eyes closed.

Where's he at?

* Remedy, Fridays at DNA Lounge – – – 375 11th St., S.F. (415) 626-1409, www.dnalounge.com.

* San Fiasco, third Fridays at 26 Mix – – – 3024 Mission, S.F. (415) 826-7378, www.26mix.com.

* Beatsauce, Sundays (6 p.m.) on KUSF, 90.3 FM.

* Dub Mission, Sundays at the Elbo Room – – – 647 Valencia, S.F. (415) 552-7788, www.elbo.com.

What's he love?

What's he looking forward to?

"This spring you'll find me in the studio! I'm working on my second album for Om Records and beats for Sun Ra, Crown City Rockers, Romanowski, and more. My next track will be on Mark Farina's Mushroom Jazz 5. I'm also jazzed for the Winter Music Conference in Miami, Coachella, the Mushroom Jazz Tour, and more sunshine in S.F.!"

Derek B.
www.jacktheclub.com

What's he like?

No, that big, cute blond behind the decks isn't Big Bird in a trucker cap – it's Derek B., the infamously crushworthy house head with a heart of gold and a mishmash style combining the latest in groovy indie rock with the fallout from electroclash, all on a bass-heavy plate of disco and techno funk. He's currently pioneering the return of acid house, and you'll always find him jacking the tab with the city's trendiest drag queens, club kids, and dance-floor hotties. You want sexy? Derek's got it. Too bad he's taken, boys!

Where's he at?

* Trannyshack, Tuesdays at the Stud – – – 399 Ninth St., S.F. (415) 252-7883, www.studsf.com.

* Jack the Club, Thursdays at 222 Club – – – 222 Hyde, S.F. (415) 440-0222.

* Fridays and Saturdays at Lime – – – 2247 Market, S.F. (415) 621-5256, www.lime-sf.com.

* The Club Scene, first Saturdays at the Endup – – – 401 Sixth St., S.F. (415) 646-0999, www.theendup.com.

What's he love?

"There's so much going on right now; I wish I could do it all. I love anything that Heklina, Peaches Christ, and cabaret mistress Veronica Klaus do. I went to Bus Station John's club, Tubesteak, in the Tenderloin and was blown away. The Unisexy folks are great too. My boyfriend's part of the Crimson Club, a theater troupe with Spencer Day, so I'm into that. Otherwise, just hanging around my neighborhoods – Lower Haight and the Panhandle."

What's he looking forward to?

"I am so stoked that there's finally a hot, young generation taking over the scene. The crowds from Macho and Arrow Bar are really exciting. I see this total wave of electro-house and danceable rock coming over us this spring, and the clubs full of fresh, stylish faces with more to offer than the latest lounge pout."

Seraphim
www.djseraphim.com

What's she like?

Face it, you miss breakbeats. Well, meet Miss Breakbeats, DJ Seraphim. She's one of the up-and-coming Sister DJs, and her sets are on fire with mind-blowing rhythmatics and funky tonal shifts that bring the trance, electroclash, and ghettobeat scenes to mind. She's also so cool you can hardly touch her. Sharing the bill with famous beatbreakers DJ Craze, Red One, Disco D, and Dom and Roland is no prob for this angel on the tables – but when she takes over, the floor moves one step up to the roof. Her latest CD, Electro Peep Show Vol. 1 (produced under her nom de groove, Sarah Delush), shows you just how sexy a little bass-shakin' can get.

Where's she at?

* Kiss Kiss, Fridays at Hush Hush Lounge – – – 496 14th St., S.F. (415) 241-9944, www.hushhushlounge.com.

* Blown, Tuesdays at Beauty Bar – – – 2299 Mission, S.F. (415) 285-0323, www.beautybar.com.

* Qoöl, Wednesdays (6-10:45 p.m.) at 111 Minna Gallery.

What's she love?

"I dig the Frisco Disco scene at Arrow Bar on Saturdays and the great vibes at Delirium. I love to eat at Warakubune because it's the bestest sushi place in town – big, yummy, fresh pieces of fish. I also hang at Tommy's Mexican Restaurant because it's got amazing food and tequilas from all over the world."

What's she looking forward to?

"Warm spring weather, outdoor parties, sunset, and touring in Europe with the Electro Peep Show Tour, promoting my CD!"

Ren the Vinyl Archeologist
www.true-skool.org

What's he like?

You need to find a DJ who can rise above the hit parade yet still be there to save your life with something you can really feel. You need someone who can educate as well as motivate. Perhaps you need a vinyl archeologist. A prime-time player in the '90s roots and conscious scenes, Ren has blown up big-time with his roving club, True Skool, to become one of the Bay's foremost curators of hip-hop culture, scoring umpteen legendary artists to appear at his events. Despite the props to heavy science dropped in his DJ moniker, his skillz come off more Indy Jones than Leaky. He mines his crates for crafty gems, rocking solid gold and soulful academics into mixes aimed to spark your thoughts and move your feet.

Where's he at?

* True Skool, at the Elbo Room; DNA Lounge; Club Six – – – 60 Sixth St., S.F. (415) 531-6593, www.clubsix1.com.

What's he love?

"I enjoy all the nightlife productions by my Bay Area family: Massive Selector, Flavorgroup, DaJoint, Future Primitive, On the Corner, and Dee Cee's Soul Shakedown."

What's he looking forward to?

"True Skool is hosting an MC battle Friday, March 18, at the Elbo Room called 'Mama Said Knock You Out.' Eight talented contenders vying for supremacy and $300 in cash, including featured finalists Infinite from Felonious and Subverse. The audience picks the winner by makin' noise, Showtime at the Apollo-style. After that, we've got the Big Payback coming at DNA Lounge Saturday, March 26. It's a giant showcase of the Bay's finest hip-hop DJ talent – all for a measly five bucks."

David Harnesswww.loveslap.com

What's he like?

David's been spreading his world-famous deep house love around the city for 15 years, from the airwaves of KMEL-FM to the dance floors of DV8, DNA, and beyond. His tunes are lush, orchestral, and tinged with soulful R&B – but he knows how to drop the top down with some stripped-down African rhythms and old-school 303. Lately he's been adding slight elements of chromatic polyphony to his mixes, going all Doric scale on our asses. The result is a sound located somewhere between Chicago and Mars by way of Nigeria – and all San Francisco.

Where's he at?

* Taboo, Tuesdays at Pink – – – 2925 16th St., S.F. (415) 431-8889, www.pinksf.com.

* Fag Fridays, Fridays at the Endup.

* Sunday T-Dance, Sundays at the Endup.

* Once a month at Remedy, Fridays at DNA Lounge.

What's he love?

"I just went to Sugar at the Stud, and they were pumping some amazing house up there. I try to catch Patrick Wilson from Nulife Records when he spins at his club Remedy at DNA Lounge. I'm a huge fan of local visual artist Debbie Green. Oh, and I'm crazy for the mac 'n' cheese at Blue, that restaurant up in the Castro."

What's he looking forward to?

"I'm about to go on a world tour for my new CD, Heartbeat, on my record label, Loveslap – Seattle, New York, Italy, the U.K. Also the Winter Music Conference in Miami is gonna be wild this year. But don't worry – I'll be coming back in between to spin for the S.F. kids. They're off the hook in springtime!"

A club kid gadabout and unabashed drama queen, Marke B. has scandalized the nightlife noblesse since the dawn of Detroit techno. He currently writes the biweekly, slightly hungover Super Ego club column for the Bay Guardian.