Tonight...READY STEADY GO!

Don't forget those drinking hats because tonight we're gonna get ready to READY STEADY GO! at 751 on Queen St. W! Last week, even a tornado watch and some pretty spectacular lightning couldn't keep you guys away so let's hope the same rings true for tonight. I'm coming equipped with some rockin' tunes and I'll be bringing both my drinking hat and dancing shoes. See you there!

Media From Halloween 2010

I can't believe I never posted this, oops! Here's a blog entry by photographer Edward Kwan from The Nightmare Before Halloween last year at The Phoenix. It was a crazy night, the club was packed (over 1100 people!), and I had a blast DJ'ing. Here are some of the highlights from that night, as well as the above video I took of the dance floor shaking with some of the best costumes anywhere in the city. 


According to Edward Kwan:
"Twas the nightmare before Halloween and all through the club, not a ghoul was sober, not even a Robocop?!? The club was filled with some spectacular looking costumes and the energy throughout the night was electrifying. DJ Misty made sure that everyone was on their feet and having a blast. The costume contest was fun for all, especially for the winner. Congratulations to all the folks that came out to party in costume and all those that were part of the costume contest, you all ROCK!"


Check out Edward's entry with ALL the pictures from that night RIGHT HERE.


Tell me...should I DJ again this coming Halloween? Or just get all dressed up and party with everyone else?? No matter what I'm doing though, I can't wait!!

Mixtape Monday: TGIF

It's back! Mixtape Monday's have returned to get you out of your beginning of the week slump. With a new host (sound cloud) you'll be able to listen to the mix tapes as they were intended, mixed in one consecutive track as if I were actually dj'ing them live!


This first week's mix tape is simply titled, 'TGIF' for the love of Friday's. I had so much fun dj'ing the G33KPRON launch party, partially because I got to play some of my favourite weekend tracks. This is a typical set from my Edge Friday night's over at Velvet Underground where I got to play a mix of new rock, alternative, retro & punk. This is one of the new rock/alt. sets meant to get the dance floor to start moving. These songs almost always never failed me (especially the Crystal Castles & Robert Smith track!) on a Friday night so maybe they will be able to have the same effect but on a Monday morning? Let's hope!


 TGIF by djmistyrocknroll 


You can also check the mix out by going to: www.soundcloud.com/djmistyrocknroll/tgif


TRACKLIST:
1. The Black Keys - Howlin' For You
2. Peaches - Boys Wanna Be Her
3. Crystal Castles ft. Robert Smith - Not In Love
4. Neon Trees - 1983
5. The Killers - Human
6. Peter Bjorn & John - Young Folks
7. Phoenix - Lasso

G33KPRON Launch Party or DIE!

Saturday night, this is gonna be awesome!! Come to the Hard Luck Bar and fulfill all your g33k fantasies, and you WILL be able to...there will be hot babes who love all things g33ky, raffles, bands, live art and two DJ's! You will regret missing this, so I suggest you don't. Straight up.

Check out www.g33kpron.com to see what I'm talking about or you can get more info/RSVP on the Facebook event located RIGHT HERE.

Let's Go To The EX!

Wednesday night was host to one of the most spectacular lightning shows I've ever seen though when it was accompanied by the pouring rain and a tornado watch, I was a bit worried that it wouldn't bode well for that night's READY STEADY GO! or that the weather would prevent us from going to the CNE on Thursday. Well, neither were anything to worry about as it ended up being one of the busiest READY STEADY GO!'s yet and the weather was perfect on Thursday.

 Upon arriving, it was important to get a tasty snack that you can't just get all the time. Dippin' Dots was the winning choice, here's mine with a chocolate/choc. chip cookie dough combo.

Then it was off to the midway and rides, I always stop and stare like I'm stunned when I first enter the midway...so many flashing lights, things happening, games, toys and shouting carnival workers. 

First it's the staring and contemplating where to begin, and then it's serious picture taking time as you can see in the next image. This is my serious picture taking stance.

The haunted mansion was always a favourite growing up. I'm not sure why I never go on it anymore, maybe I'm afraid I won't get scared like I used to? Although, I was never *really* scared, I would just pretend so that I could grip my dad's shirt really tight and he could feel tough.

 Another ride that used to be one of my favourites is the Starship 4000. The last time I went on it there was no line so I rode it a whole bunch of times in a row. When the ride started spinning I would position myself upside down to prove how fearless I was and while I may have been my stomach did not agree. This is the ride I can say I have rode until I puked. Yep. Never again.

The other highlight to going to the CNE this year was for all the deep fried food. I mean, the CNE has always been a heart attack waiting to happen with treats like chocolate covered bacon but this year vendors were pulling out all the stops with deep fried everything. Butter, chocolate bars, macaroni & cheese, cheese curds, Coca Cola, Kool-Aid and who only knows what else. Here was one of the deep frying stations where we looked and I swear I gained about 500 calories just smelling the stuff we were NOT brave enough to eat.

Inside the food building were these haute couture corn doggies. HEY little buddies! NICE HATS!!

I don't eat corn dogs, though, but I do love corn. So this was my CNE treat of treats. Mmmm...

And that just about wrapped it up. I also bought a candy apple because I regretted not getting one last year and I did not want to make that mistake again. The important lessons we learn.


(photos by me and R.F.)

Shakin' All Over 751 for Ready Steady Go!

Earthquake be damned! Let's SHAKE this Wednesday night at 751 for READY STEADY GO!

RIP Jack

Members of The Toronto Roller Derby League pose for a pic at Nuit Blanche with the late Jack Layton and Olivia Chow circa 2007.

It's been almost two days and the devastation of losing NDP leader Jack Layton has been overwhelming. I can't read an article about his life or death without crying and I feel like Canada has lost not only an amazing politician but an amazing man. His commitment to social justice and his activism will live on throughout the NDP party and his involvement within his community will be remembered always through pictures like the one above. 


I remember how exciting meeting him and his wife, NDP MP Olivia Chow was during Toronto's all night art show/party Nuit Blanche in 2007. I was there with other member of the Toronto Roller Derby League handing out promo materials when Jack and Olivia approached us wanting to get their picture taken with some roller derby girls. How cool is that? He was incredibly down to earth and accessible to all who were around him. In fact, most of the people I know have had a chance to meet Jack Layton at some point or another, which is certainly more than I can say for politicians like Michael Ignatieff or Stephen Harper. He really was ingrained in the country that he represented.


Jack Layton's passing is a huge loss for Canada. He was an inspiration, role model, ally and advocate to many; myself included. He inspired me to get out and vote, modelled compassion and was always in the corners of the folks who may not have been able to stick up for themselves. My sincere condolences go out to his family and friends, as well as to Canada for losing an incredible leader. RIP, Jack.

A Sad Day For Canada

"A sad day, both for Canada and for those of us on the Left. Jack Layton, leader of the NDP has passed away." -Billy Bragg

"Love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And together, we'll change the world." -Jack Layton (1950-2011)

Why Does Tonight Feel Like Monday?

READY STEADY GO!  was a blast on Wednesday night! This is shaping up to be quite a fun weekly event. I think I mostly like it because it's really low key, like I said before Wednesdays are my Fridays so by the time they roll around I'm looking for something good to do. This is it.


I'm getting my passport, finally. How it is that I don't have one is beyond me but when I say I haven't been on vacation in YEARS I fucking mean it. It has been well over ten years since I've stepped on a plane and that's pretty sad if you ask me. Thankfully I'm changing that and going to Florida with the bf in a couple of months. We're going to meet his dad & step-mom (yikes! but awesome) and go to freaking DISNEY WORLD. I don't even care that I'm almost 30, this will be amazing. We are going to go to Universal Studios, too which is also going to rule. I'm basically a kid here, we'll see how long I make it before I start counting down sleeps.



This is the passport photo, I went today because I thought I looked sorta babely, but then of course put me in front of a stark white backdrop, tell me I can't wear lip gloss or smile and this is as good as it gets. The girl at Black's told me there was a possibility the photo could get rejected because it looks like I'm smiling. I can't help it. THIS IS JUST MY FACE, OK? So maybe I was trying to channel a little Tyra with an attempt at 'smiling with the eyes' because really? I'm not a criminal, I don't want my picture looking like a mugshot, thanks.



This tee shirt is pretty much every reason why I indulge in my inner mall rat from time to time. It's a tee shirt with a pug wearing huge glasses. It is incredible AND incredibly comfy. Double win.



This is the last thing I have to talk about. If you dig what I do, you can vote for me as 2010's best local DJ here in Toronto via NOW Magazine. I don't know if I actually have a shot at winning this thing, and that's alright but it'd be sweet to get a bunch of votes and make NOW realize that there are not just dance beat/electronic DJ's, but awesome rock DJ's too. I can make a packed dance floor move all night just as well if not better so hey! It'd be cool to get a lil' recognition around here. 


What you do, is go to THIS PAGE RIGHT HERE and vote DJ Misty Rock n' Roll under the Best Local DJ category. Alternately, you can just go right from www.nowtoronto.com to the BEST OF > Music section and vote from there. If you do, thank you!

READY STEADY GO!

Well, I woke up at a healthy 4:30pm today, fucking overnight shifts I tell ya. But thank goodness, tonight is READY STEADY GO! over at 751 on Queen St. Rob & I are dj'ing, and he's already got his drinking vest on. Where's yours? There will be drink combos a go-go, 1/2 price nachos & quesadillas plus retro video games and movie trailers. How can you go wrong? Right, you can't. See you there!

Help Me Stay Awake

Loyalty Is A Lost Art

Overnight at the shelter makes for sleepy looking eyes. I'm wide awake but you wouldn't have thought it if you saw me before I left for work tonight. I was curled up with my little dog and after a day of walking around the Annex, we were both beat. The shelter's been emotional the past couple of days, I think it has something to do with the full moon we had two nights ago. Whenever the moon is full, emotions seem to run high in the shelter but I think that happens anywhere. I've been finding myself doing more counselling than usual the past couple of days but hey, that's what I'm here for. I'm glad I can lend an ear.

Here I am enjoying my pre-work dog snuggles, I would never trade these for anything in the world.

I wonder if it's because the astrological sign is in Leo right now, but a topic that keeps coming up in both life and conversation lately is loyalty or rather, disloyalty. That seems to be the underlying cause of a lot of the heartache I've been hearing about from the women here in the shelter and in my own life as well. Extracting family and/or friends from your life because they prove to be disloyal time and time again is never easy, although almost always necessary. But as I tell the women who reside here, the hurt does go away especially when you don't allow someone to continue to be fair-weather. I wish it could be easier, of course but such is life.

Rare Arthur Lee Doc

Untitled from Django's Ghost on Vimeo.

Whoa, whoa whoa whoa! My love it comes in colours!! Vivid colours filled with interviews and live Arthur Lee/Love footage. Incredible. This will be my viewing pleasure this evening (and perhaps yours as well) courtesy of a mystery man named Crimson Crout and www.dangerousminds.net

Whatcha Gonna Do? Ready Steady Go!

Don't forget this Wednesday night you can READY STEADY GO! at 751 (Queen St. W.) to all your favourite punk rock tunes and the music that spawned them. If you dig The Nashville Teens, The Clash, The Sonics, The Cramps, Gene Vincent, The Temptations, Otis Redding, Etta James, The Stooges, Janis Martin, The Dead Boys, Dion & The Belmonts, The Kinks and a whole lotta other awesome tunes by the obscure and the famous, then be there daddy-o or you will most certainly be square.

Back To The Nightly Grind

Back on the midnight shift at work for the next couple of months. It will be interesting to document my descent from sanity as I begin to run my routine backwards from the bulk of society. I actually don't mind the late nights, I think I'm a nocturnal person for the most part and can stay up fairly easy but once the sun starts to rise, I start to lose it a little. But it's really not bad, as one of my co-workers put it, the worst part is travelling home feeling tired from the end of your day as everyone else is fresh and starting theirs.


I don't really talk a lot about what I do aside from DJ'ing on this blog like I'd promised, so I will a little bit now. I work full time at a women's shelter with women who have experiences with homelessness, mental health and addictions. I'm a front line staff member/case worker which means that I do everything that assists with the everyday running/functioning at the shelter like basic housekeeping and cooking (for 30!) although I mostly do more in depth work which includes counselling, crisis intervention and assisting women with things from hygene to recovering missing I.D. to finding employment and housing.




Some days it's tough, I can't sugar coat that. There are days where I want to tear my hair out. But for the most part, I love coming to work and hoping that I can be a positive change or at least a friendly smile for the women who stay here. If I can lend an ear, be an advocate, play a game of cards or do work with the gals in the garden up on the patio I'm a happy camper. But these overnights...oh man, wish me luck. 

READY STEADY GO!

Ready Steady Go! kicks off tonight w/ DJ Rob. Don't miss it!