Listen to the bands our local DJs picked for your summer playlist!

Editor’s note: This page will be updated throughout the week with expanded interviews with the DJs featured in our Summer Music Issue as well as streaming summer jams from their favorite local bands. Check back here daily for more!

SOME DAYS

MORE WITH . . . FRANKIE ALVARO
Frankie Alvaro recommends you dig on “Wig Slap” by Some Days this summer. “Mainly because it’s about trannies slapping each other with wigs,” he says.

As for his most memorable DJ gig? “All of the ones where I walk away thinking, ‘Fuck! I am the best DJ ever!’”

Some Days plays Sat., July 25 at Mr. T’s Bowl. Check out “Wig Slap” here:

Frankie Alvaro spins at the Secret Affair at Alex’s Bar on the first Friday of every month. myspace.com/thesecretaffair

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MORE WITH . . . DJ LOU SCREW

THE COMMOTIONS photo by David R. Estrada

Lou Screw’s pick for your summer playlist is “The Recipe” by the Commotions. “It just exudes summerness: light, poppy and a little soulful,” he says.

We also chatted with him about Long Beach, overplayed bands, and Fourth of July:
What’s the best part about Long Beach in summer? Lotsa parks, relatively clean beaches (not the water!), good touring bands, drunken parties and plenty of short shorts and halter tops.
How did you spend your Fourth of July? Walking Otis (Sneaky Tiki Boutique owner Jen’s white Boxer) and being hungover from DJing the previous night at the Pike Bar. Boring. Sorry.
Most overplayed summer jam? Anything by Sublime. Sorry, bros, but I’ve never dug any white boy reggae, except for the Clash, who did it first and best.
What’s the best record you’ve scored for $1 (or less)? Clint Eastwood singing “Burning Bridges,” the theme song from Kelly’s Heroes. (He doesn’t sing it in the actual movie.) Fifty cents at the old Alternative Groove in Hermosa Beach back in the late ’80s.

The Commotions play Aug. 29 at DiPiazza’s. Listen to “The Recipe” here:

DJ Lou Screw spins at the Pike Bar, Puka Bar and more. myspace.com/louscrew32

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MORE WITH . . . DENNIS OWENS

FREE MORAL AGENTS photo by Matt Wignall

DJ Dennis Owens was upfront about his choice for your summer playlist:

Free Moral Agents‘ “North Is Red.” Why? Because I play bass in the band, and it’s our upcoming release. Shameless self-promotion!

Free Moral Agents play next on Sat., July 25 at the Prospector. The band provided us with Tony Allen’s remix of “North Is Red.” Listen here:

Dennis Owens spins at the Good Foot at Que Sera. goodfoot.org

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MORE WITH . . . DJ LITHUANIAN PRINCE

GREATER CALIFORNIA photo by Aaron Giesel

Lithuanian prince, aka Valdas Karalis, selected Greater California as his band for your summer listening pleasure. “They just released an introspective third LP, All the Colors. The track ‘Them the Downs’ sounds evil, dark and murky-beautiful,” he says. “Plus, when I listen, I can hear the group harmonize, ‘They them downs cuh!’”

Listen to “Them the Downs” here:

Lithuanian Prince spins at the Pike every second Monday. myspace.com/youknowapparitionsofthepast

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MORE WITH . . . DJ MANVNATURE

GRAND ELEGANCE photo by John Gilhooley
DJ Manvnature (aka Tom Child) picked Grand Elegance as his band to listen to this summer. “No matter how hot it may be in the room, by the end of the set you will be covered in a refreshing shower of beer and sweat, and not necessarily your own,” he said. “As for a song, I pick ‘The Rain Song’ because it’s rain I miss the most during this interminable season.

We also chatted about Long Beach, Fourth of July and Sublime:

Best part about Long Beach in summer? I think this city has some of the most reasonable summer temperatures of anywhere in the world—just hot enough to annually renew your appreciation of its filthy beach, but not so hot you feel compelled to kill someone.
Where did you spend your Fourth of July? I was watching at least four different professional fireworks displays (and one angry helicopter trying unsuccessfully to intimidate the amateur pyrotechs down on the beach) from a second-floor balcony out on the Peninsula, because that’s how DJs party, motherfuckas.
Most overplayed summer jam, and why? I’d have to say “Badfish.” I know Sublime is a divisive subject in this town, but even the fans have got to admit that if you lean your head out of a Long Beach window anytime during the summer, you’ll hear this song playing. It’s practically Belmont Shore’s anthem.

Grand Elegance play Aug. 31 at the Echo with the Growlers. Listen to “The Rain Song”:

DJ Manvnature spins at {open}, Kitsch Bar or department stores anywhere. myspace.com/manvnature

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MORE WITH . . . DJ SCOTTY COATS

BLANK BLUE photo by Jacob Connelly

DJ Scotty Coats had this to say about his summer selection, Blank Blue’s “All the Shallow Deep”:

I can imagine myself living on the oil island Grissom and playing this song really loud for all of Long Beach to hear, sort of like Neil Young does with his barn/house sound system.

We also asked him about his best record store scores for under $1:

There have been quite a few, but recently I got B.W. Souls’ “Marvin’s Groove” in a Long Beach thrift store for 25 cents. I was happy about that one.

Blank Blue play tonight at the Que Sera with Free Moral Agents and can be heard tomorrow on KPFK during Future Roots Radio. Dig “All the Shallow Deep” below:

Scotty Coats spins at M.E.S.A. in Costa Mesa on Thursday nights and Avalon Costa Mesa every Third Saturday. myspace.com/wescoats

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MORE WITH . . . CRUCIAL SOUND SYSTEM‘S DJ GREGORY-G

THE DIVINE CRIME photo by Jenifer Conroy

We asked DJ Gregory-G, one-third of Crucial Sound System, for his favorite local band of the summer. His answer? The Divine Crime. Here’s what he had to say:

Some of the members are from Long Beach. They are just about to put our their first CD—a female-led band mixing rock, dub, pop and reggae. They are an amazing live performance!

We also chatted with the Crucial crew about cheap record finds and the tie between summer and reggae:
What’s the best record you’ve scored for $1 (or less)? Gregory-G: I’m a bit scratchy on that, but it was “Bad Case of Lovin’ You (Doctor, Doctor)” by Robert Palmer, with a killer B-side track, “Love Can Run Faster,” that was produced by Lee Perry. It was the only one of his productions that made it out of session. Sonic Dread: It’s gotta be a James Brown record. “Sex Machine.”
Which came first, reggae or summer? Sonic Dread: I don’t know.
Well, what do you think it is about reggae that goes so well with summer? The weather, the sun, all of that! All of that kind of thing!

The Divine Crime play July 25 at Big’s Bar & Grill in Fullerton. Check out Gregory-G’s pick, “Here Me Call”:

DJs Gregory-G, Virginia Slim and Sonic Dread spin at the Prospector the first Saturday of every month. 21 and over, call for cover. myspace.com/crucialsoundsystem

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MORE WITH . . . DJ ELLE JAY

THE TIJUANA PANTHERS

Elle Jay (aka Linda Russom, this issue’s cover model) selected the Tijuana Panthers‘ “Crew Cut” and Dengue Fever’s “Ethanopium” as her favorite local songs for the summer.

She also more to say, including this sage advice:

Is there a record that should never be played during summer? Probably, but you should definitely never leave your iPod out in the sun.

Duly noted!

The Tijuana Panthers play in Long Beach at the Prospector on Aug. 11 with Wounded Lion, Gestapo Khazi and Frustrations. Listen to “Crew Cut”:

Dengue Fever, appearing July 26 at the Hollywood Bowl with Grace Jones and Of Montreal, released this version of “Ethanopium” exclusively via Zune. Listen now:

DJ Elle Jay and Professor B-Rad spin at the Tough Titties benefit at the Pike Bar & Restaurant. Sat., Aug. 15. 21 and over, free. (Donations accepted.) Drink specials and the “Tough Titty” cocktail all night. All proceeds benefit the Orange County Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the cure. teamtoughtitties.blogspot.com, ockomen.com

Tags: blank blue, crucial sound system, dengue fever, dennis owens, DJ ELLE JAY, DJ LITHUANIAN PRINCE, dj manvnature, frankie alvaro, free moral agents, grand elegance, greater california, GREGORY-G, LINDA RUSSOM, Long Beach, LONG BEACH DJS, lou screw, scotty coats, SOME DAYS, SONIC DREAD, STREAMING MP3, the commotions, The District Weekly, THE DIVINE CRIME, the good foot, the prospector, tijuana panthers, VIRGINIA SLIM