Yes, the date on this post is accurate. This is an actual set list from a gig I did over 20 years ago! I happened across it just now while looking for something else on my computer. I don’t recall why I saved this particular set list, but there it was tucked away in a folder within a folder within a folder: “Triangle Playlist 8/7/4.”
While I can’t say I remember the exact night, I do recall the Triangle Lounge. I’d bet dollars to donuts that it’s no longer open for business, knowing what I know about San Francisco night life and real estate. And yes, a quick check of the internet tells me that the Triangle Lounge has indeed closed its doors for good. Anyway, back in 2004 the Triangle was a dive bar on Fillmore just off Lombard, a rapidly gentrifying area.
Triangle Lounge was just down the street from another place I used to DJ, MatrixFillmore, a swanky ultra-lounge opened by future-mayor/future-future-governor Gavin Newsom. That place was indicative of what the Fillmore would become, having replaced the hippie era rock & roll mecca The Matrix, where Jefferson Airplane was the house band and Hunter S. Thompson was a regular. As MatrixFillmore’s first resident DJ I played acid jazz, downtempo electronica, and Brazilian music, but when I’d play down the street at Triangle Lounge, it was all about hip hop, funk, and R&B, with maybe just a little bit of pop and ’80s thrown in for the hell of it. I wasn’t a fan of DJ’ing either venue, to be honest, but I did my job with a smile and kept the paying customers dancing.
While I don’t recall the specifics of the night, I do recall my stint at Triangle Lounge in 2004. My good friend was their resident DJ, but had been put in jail for month for eating a burrito on BART. Okay, there was more to it than that, including his taking it on the lam to Indonesia for 2 years, but that’s another story entirely. The point is, he called me from jail and said “Greg, please cover my Saturdays at Triangle for the next month.” And so I did. Here’s what I played on one of those Saturdays.
Where It’s At – Beck
History Repeating [feat. Miss Shirley Bassey] – Propellerheads
Ch-Check it Out – Beastie Boys
Atomic Dog – George Clinton
I Need You Tonight – INXS
Da Funk – Daft Punk
Block Rockin’ Beats – The Chemical Brothers
In Da Club – 50 Cent
Thoia Thoing [Remix] [feat. Youngbuck] – R. Kelly
One More Chance – Notorious B.I.G.
When Doves Cry – Ginuwine
Summertime – DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
What’s Luv? [feat. Ashanti] – Fat Joe
Bitch Please Bitch Please [feat. Xzibit] – Snoop Dogg
Superstition – Stevie Wonder
Mary Jane – Rick James
I’m Gonna’ Love You Just a Little Bit More Baby – Barry White
Can We – SWV
So What’cha Want – Beastie Boys
Musicology – Prince
P.Y.T. – Michael Jackson
Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You – Lauryn Hill
You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) – Byron Stingily
Ooh Aah… Just a Little Bit – Gina G.
Shake It [Remix] – M.C. Shy-D
Crazy in Love – Beyoncé
Rock Your Body – Justin Timberlake
Rump Shaker – Wreckx-n-Effect
Vivrant Thing – Q-Tip
Watch Out Now – The Beatnut
Tipsy – J-Kwon
Right Thurr [Remix] [feat. J.D. & Trina] – Chingy
Magic Stick [feat. Lil’ Kim] – 50 Cent
Nuthin’ But a G Thang [feat. Snoop Doggy Dogg] – Dr. Dre
Game Recognize [feat. Mac Mall] – J.T. The Bigga Figga
Hypnotize – Notorious B.I.G.
P.I.M.P. [Remix] [feat. Snoop Dogg & Bishop Don Juan] – 50 Cent
Slow Motion [feat. Soulja Slim] – Juvenile
I Like That [feat. Chingy, Nate Dogg & I-20] – Houston
Yeah [feat. Lil Jon and Ludacris] – Usher
Dance Floor – ZAPP
Kiss – Prince
Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
Funkytown – Lipps, Inc.
Let’s All Chant – The Michael Zager Band
Groove is in the Heart – Dee-Lite
I’m Too Sexy – Right Said Fred
Start Me Up – The Rolling Stones
Push It – Salt-N-Pepa
Hey We Want Some Pussy – 2 Live Crew
Baby Got Back – Sir Mix-a-Lot
U Can’t Touch This – M.C. Hammer
Super Freak – Rick James
Blue Monday – New Order
You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) – Dead or Alive
Ditty – Paperboy
Hip Hop Hooray – Naughty by Nature
Jenny From the Block – Jennifer Lopez
You Gots to Chill – EPMD
Ain’t No Fun (If the Homies Can’t Have None) [featuring Nate Dogg, Warren G, Nanci Fletcher and Kurupt] – Snoop Doggy Dogg
Naughty Girl [Remix] [feat. Lil’ Flip] – Beyoncé
Wat Da Hook Gon Be [feat. Jermaine Dupri] – Murphy Lee
Shake Ya Tailfeather [feat. P. Diddy & Murphy Lee] – Nelly
Freaks of the Industry – Digital Underground
Dude [feat. Ms. Thang] – Beenie Man
Get Busy – Sean Paul
Toxic – Britney Spears
We got the Beat – The Go-Go’s
Mickey – Toni Basil
Girls – Beastie Boys
Big Poppa – Notorious B.I.G.
Bonita Applebum [Hootie Mix] – A Tribe Called Quest
Move Bitch [feat. Mystikal & Infamous 2.0] – Ludacris
So Sexy [feat. R. Kelly] – Twista
Dirt Off Your Shoulders -Jay-Z
Let’s Get it On – Marvin Gaye
1999 – Prince
Beat It – Michael Jackson
It’s Raining Men – The Weather Girls
Bust a Move – Young M.C.
Funky Cole Medina – Tone-Loc
You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC
Word Up -Cameo
Gigolo [feat. R. Kelly] – Nick Cannon
Burn – Militia
Lean Back – Terror Squad
Burn Rubber – Too $hort
Hey Ya! – Outkast
Milkshake – Kelis
Hotel [feat. R. Kelly] – Cassidy