Playlist – 2 Jun 2018 – Wedding
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 well to the Beatles 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 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
