Rex Dart enjoys playing ‘thinking’ music
His record collection is way better than yours. So check out Rex Dart of the Bargain DJ Collective and get hip to some vital vinyl.
What does Rex Dart sound like?
“Well, I like to think I play the greatest music never heard. Meaning, you won’t hear Top 40 or techno, but an amazing blend of music from throughout history and from around the world. P. Moss (owner of the Double Down Saloon and Frankie’s Tiki Room) has used the phrase ‘punk-funk-Sinatra’ to describe my style. I like to think I play ‘Thinking Man’s Music.’ Not that you need a degree to enjoy my stuff, but it makes you feel like you went to the library and found ‘The Greatest Music of All Time’ section.”
To the uninitiated, what’s the Bargain DJ Collective all about?
“The Bargain DJ Collective is a group of like-minded DJs that play music left (or right) of center. Basically, it’s my support group. Everybody in the crew has their own style of music that they play and somehow we all fit together like a chain-link fence. It also is a proving ground for up-and-coming DJs and record collectors. I still will allow anybody, as long as the music fits, to join me on the turntables Mondays at the Double Down.”
You spin a lot at the Double Down, where there’s always characters in the house. Share some of your favorite moments from your time there.
“Well, I gotta say one of my favorite moments was a few years ago. A band called The Lords of Altamont was scheduled to play with me. Now, I was already a big fan of this amazing motorcycle/surf rock band, but had never seen them live before. A few minutes before they went on, the bass player came over to the pool table I was DJing on and asked if I had the song ‘Blues Theme’ by David Allen and the Arrows. He said they open every gig with that song and their CD copy was damaged beyond repair. So I reach into my crates and just happened to have it both on a 45 single and on a full-length album.”
A lot of DJs can get the party started, but it takes a particular skill to end it. What’s best for clearing the room at the end of the night?
“Tough question, because I never see myself winding down at the end of the night. I like to play a lot more ballads towards the end of a set, I guess. I just found a really great version of ‘Fever’ by Nancy Sit that kills me and leaves everybody humming it for the next three days. That seems to be a pretty good one to end with.”
Name a few of your go-to records.
“I’ll give you my current top five. Each one of these will make you get up and dance no matter where you are:
1. ‘Castin’ My Spell,’ The Johnny Otis Show
2. ‘Radical Businessman,’ Japanther
3. ‘Farmer John,’ The Premieres
4. ‘Adidas to Addis,’ Cut Chemist
5. ‘Danger Buds,’ Chris Joss.”
Check out Rex Dart at http://rexdart6.tumblr.com/.
Contact reporter Jason Bracelin at jbracelin@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0476.
