Yesterday’s wedding was my first at Oakland’s Doña Tomas, a restaurant I’ve long wanted to visit. I lived most of my adult life in Oakland, but somehow never made it there before yesterday. The space is ideal for a wedding, with a long dining room, great bar, and a large outdoor patio that is a perfect place for dancing.
The bride and groom asked to walk in to Dance All Night, after which they wanted some some mellow, downtempo indie rock sounds for a couple hours of mingling and cocktails. I had a sense of their favorite bands and songs, and came up with this as the cocktail hour(s) unfolded:
Dance All Night – Ryan Adams & the Cardinals
That Much Further West – Lucero
Punk As Fuck – The American Analog Set
Mythological Beauty – Big Thief
Desert Island Questionnaire – Conor Oberst
Needle and a Knife – Tennis
Make You Better – The Decemberists
Desire Gets in the Way – American Football
Places to Go – Owen
Better Man – Leon Bridges
I Love You, Honeybear – Father John Misty
Reconstruction Site – The Weakerthans
Edward 40hands – Mom Jeans.
Lotus Plaza – Monoliths
Never Meant – American Football
Skinny Love – Bon Iver
The New Year – Death Cab for Cutie
Paul – Big Thief
Aside – The Weakerthans
Aaron & Maria – The American Analog Set
Hairdresser on Fire – Morrissey
Herd – Hard Girls
I’ll See You When We’re Both Not So Emotional – American Football
Fall in Love – Phantogram
Let Me Get There [feat. Kurt Vile] – Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions
Tonite – Jarvis Cocker
Stay Young Go Dancing – Death Cab for Cutie
Shut Up Kiss Me – Angel Olsen
The Only Living Boy In New York – Simon & Garfunkel
Hurdy Gurdy Man – Donovan
White Winter Hymnal – Fleet Foxes
Chin Up, Cheer Up – Ryan Adams
Our Red Door – Jay Som
Stuck Between Stations – The Hold Steady
Aphasia – Pinegrove
Sandra’s Smile – Blood Orange
Real Love Baby – Father John Misty
You’re a Wolf – Sea Wolf
Mykonos – Fleet Foxes
Ritual Union – Little Dragon
Dinner was in a separate area, which gave me a bit of downtime, during which I was able to sample the great Doña Tomas food. Once dinner ended, it was time to dance.
I feel like most every time I DJ I do a great job of reading the crowd and providing a mix of music that makes people happy, and keeps them dancing, and at the risk of sounding boastful, I receive a lot of positive feedback every time I perform. That said, last night it seemed like I was locked in with the crowd even more than I normally am. People were making appreciative comments throughout the night, and when I finished I received high fives, compliments, and thank you’s from many guests, both young and old, and even a hug from the groom. It’s a great feeling being a part of one of the happiest days in a person’s life, and to know that I played a part in making it fun.
And here’s what I played to accomplish that:
First Dance: Stay In – Tomemitsu
Father/Daughter Dance: How Sweet It Is – Marvin Gaye
Mother/Son Dance: In My Life – The Beatles
Everyone seemed to be grooving so hard to the Beatles that I thought, “Why not give everyone a chance to dance to them?” I thought correctly, because pretty much everyone in attendance immediately took to the dance floor and it didn’t seem like anyone left until the last song finished.
I Saw Her Standing There – The Beatles
Respect – Aretha Franklin
Kiss – Prince and the Revolution
Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
Ice Ice Baby – Vanilla Ice
Bust a Move – Young MC
Got to Give It Up – Marvin Gaye
Dancing Queen – ABBA
Stayin’ Alive – Bee Gees
Feels So Good – Mase
Gettin’ Jiggy With It – Will Smith
Jump Around – House of Pain
Intergalactic – Beastie Boys
Hypnotize – Notorious B.I.G.
…Baby One More Time – Britney Spears
Wannabe – Spice Girls
It Takes Two – Rob Base & D.J. E-Z Rock
Men In Black – Will Smith
Vogue – Madonna
Here I Am (Come and Take Me) – Al Green
I Want You Back – The Jackson Five
Such Great Heights – The Postal Service
Suedehead – Morrissey
The Reasons – The Weakerthans
Slow Motion – Stef Chura
Kids – MGMT
I Love It [feat. Charli XCX] – Icona Pop
#Selfie – The Chainsmokers
Put Your Hands Up for Detroit [Club Mix] – Fedde Le Grand
September – Earth Wind & Fire
Sorry – Justin Bieber
Mouthful of Diamonds – Phantogram
Into the Mystic – Van Morrison