From Russia with love

Current mood: calm Category: Parties and Nightlife

Note: Resident gig for the month of July 2007 at HSPTL CLUB

07.05.07-07.09.07
I hope all's well around your way. I wanted to take this time to get in touch with you all and give you a short update on my stay in far eastern Russia and feedback about the gigs at http://www.hospitalclub.ru.
Well first i need to say the flight was crazy long, I left Munich Germany on Thursday July 5th at 7:30 am sat for 3 hours to Moscow, waited 4 more hours for the next flight out to Khabarovsk. It wasn't so bad considering, I had my trusty old macbook to keep me busy and my helpful assistant Dima (Dimitri) who was assigned to me by the Hospital club management. Dima knew all the loopholes on how to pass swiftly through the airport bureaucracy and boy that was a breath of fresh air.

Finally I was ready to board, next stop Khabarovsk. The flight was a grueling 9 hours but I had no problem sleeping through most of the flight. Upon arrival i was greeted by Tom the booker of the club, dropped of my things at the apartment, got something to eat and then off to the Hospital club to meet the rest of the squad. Wow the club was really a sight for sore eyes, you could really see these people had passion for good music and entertainment.

Ok its now friday 6pm and time to get some rest. After I awoke slowly worked my way to the club, which by the way is 50 meters from the apartment, that makes things nice as well. I walked into the club at 12 midnight to find the place packed wall to wall, yes sir, nice vibe. I worked my way to the decks and got busy playing my groovy pumpin house set next thing I new it was 4am and time for the resident Roma to take control. On Saturday july 6th, i did nothing but eat & rest then off to another wonderful evening at the club.

I cant wait to do some running and the tourist thing this week. Well I will keep you all posted as the trip continues.

Roberto Out

Monday July 9th, week two in Khabarovsk begins with an early morning stretch and run along the beach. I figured a daily run would be great for the body considering its almost impossible to do so later in the day do to the hot weather conditions. Ok now lets shower up and then off to Chocolate for another time regulated meal, I quess your wondering what a time regulated meal is? Well to receive my complimentary breakfest 8am-10am, lunch 12pm-2pm and dinner 6pm-8pm, I have to be punctual at Chocolate, one minute later and it could get very costly by month's end.

At 11:00 am I head over to the club office to say hey to the staff Tom, Roma, Suki, and Katya and began surfing the net to catch up on some news, shopping for music, checking myspace and emails. This routine will be the daily ritual that will continue through out the month. Hours later I got back to the apartment and began setting up my mini studio equipment with the the trusty mac book, abelton,logic audio and a ozone midi keyboard. I figured this is a perfect time to clean up the external hardrive and lay down some ideas for a remix project for Carlos Mendez label soulmassaka due in september.

I could go on babbling about some boring details that went on for the rest week but ill sum things up for you. Tuesday thru Thursday I did the tourist thing each day with a different person each tour. The places visited: Ploshchad Lenina, Kolmosomolskaya Ploshchad and a famous church with dome like architecture that is made of real gold. I did some shopping for some small things I needed for my late night snack time at the apartment. Im still waiting for the day I can see the country side and take a cruise on the local tourist boat.

07.13.07 Its friday the club gig was on slam it seem that everyone was in a great mood. Again I opened the club and played till 3 am then Roma finished.

07.14. 07 Its Saturday i arrived at the club at 1:30 am and Roma had the club pumpin with the local club hits and rave anthems, it seems he cant miss with his with this music program. I come on and as usual I break it down to a respectable pace and take things from there my club hits for the evening was Samuel L Session "Stick up" , Axwell, Laidback Luke, Angello, Ingrosso " Get Dumb", Ben Westbeech " Hang Around and Express 2 "Im like a child" Carl Craig mix.

07.15.07 Sunday now a day of rest. Till Next blog. Rob Out 07. 17. 07 it's Tuesday 1pm and due to my DVD marathon the night before, I slept like a baby after breast feeding(Nice). My mission today is to relax, go meet Suki and the dancers for a early dinner and a short tour on the town with the beautiful and talented Lena, the HSPTL club model and choreographer. We walked for nearly two hours, she showed me 3 different D&G adverts that featured her. Ok enough I got a taxi back to the apartment. not a bad day, very nice.

07. 18. 07 Its 11 am wednesday morning and Im off to the HSPTL club office to to check emails and to buy new tracks for the weekend gigs. Then off to the barber to get a hair cut, collect my wash, deo, finger nail clippers, fan and hangers, for the apartment. Its nice that the club has kind fellows like Tom and Andre who makes sure i have everything I need.

07.19.07 Its 11 am thursday morning and Im off to the HSPTL club office to to check emails and to buy new tracks for the weekend gigs. I found a couple of really cool sounds but the best choice of the day was Amp Fiddler Feat. Corinne Bailey Rae "if I dont -Wookie Remix. I love when I find exactly the right tracks for the gig. Opps its 2pm and time for lunch with Suki the clubs chef, take a walk on the beach then back to the apartment to work on music.

07.20.07 Its 2 pm and Im off to the club to have lunch with the staff, check emails, then listen to the tracks Ive been working on for the last week or so, after the sound check I thought Id listen to the new tunes I bought on the net and do some fine tuning for the evening. Ok back to the apartment to get some sleep. Its 11:20 pm I entered the club hum it seem to be quit slow. I set up my lap top and prepared my records and got started playing, I opened with express 2 rmx by Carl Craig. Soon enough the club was half full with 90% women. I created a awesome vibe for 3 hours then Roma the resident played the clubs hits till close.

07.21.07 Its 3 pm, boy what a beautiful sunny day. I head over to Chocolate for lunch then I return to the apartment, I grab a seat on the terrace to get some sun and listen to the recorded set from the night before. Its now 6 pm I pass out for nearly an hour and a half woke up and decided to work on the the SoulMassaka remix , damn this techy groove is sounding kinda nice, Im feeling that shit baby.

Its nearly 11 pm, the direction of the mix is going as planned but its time to shut it down, get a little more shut eye, then off to the club. I get started at 3 am and it was time to break the music down to a comfortable pace, I decided to start things off with Beanfield "Tides feat. Bajka -Ripperton mix on the compost label, the people slowly adapted to the minimal but soulful builder and the party was pretty much on till 6 am. At 7 am I had not many people left so I was asked to play the last track, which was Jay Denham feat. Roberto Q. Ingram "Ghetto on Disko B.

07.22.07 Its Sunday Im taking the day off. Cheers to the next blog. Rob Out