So it’s saturday night, and i’m thinking to myself, “self, why is it that you give up EVERY saturday night of your life to sit and play music in a little room all by yourself when you could be out parting it up with some of the finest girls milwaukee has to offer,  seeing great bands, or getting a lil tipsy with some friends?”  is it the money? let me dispel that myth right away – if i worked at a GAS STATION, i would be getting paid more.  is it the fame and notoriety? umm – do you even know my name?  didn’t think so.  is it all the girls that call the request lines and flirt with me? i’m 33 – on a saturday night, most of the people who call are 12.

so while i was thinking about all this, “Bow,” by Ray Nitti came on, and i cranked up the speakers in the studio.  i figured it out – i LOVE music!  i mean, DUH, i know that’s obvious and everything, but… when i DON’T work at a radio station, i sometimes don’t get to appreciate all the new songs that come out, because i get too busy with life… so here are SOME of the reasons i currently work at Kiss:

Katy Perry – Teenage Dream

Bruno Mars – Just the Way You Are

Trey Songs – Bottoms Up

(i reserve the right to be SO SICK of songs like “love the way you lie,” “airplanes,” and “impossible” though – i’m only human!

-shakes

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wow… so where did summer go?  oh yeah, it went to summer school, state fair, and playing with my band.  and it was a BLAST!

so, in the three and a half years i’ve worked at Kiss FM, i’ve RARELY gone to concerts or meet-and-greets, and i pretty much don’t ask for anything like t-shirts or things (trust me – i got my FIRST KISS FM T-SHIRT during state fair THIS YEAR!).  i ACTUALLY WENT to meet Ke$ha, and was a little disappointed in how it was handled.  i went by myself, and when it was time to get my picture taken with her, her road manager or whoever it was said “no single pictures.” i’m not one to make a scene, so i just ended up being on the OUTSIDE of a picture with our promotions department.  thanks for a memorable evening….  for all the wrong reasons.  (oh, and she only played 8 songs).

aside from that, we are playing some songs i LOVE on Kiss right now.  Bruno Mars – Just The Way You Are, Katy Perry – Teenage Dream, Usher – DJ Got Us Fallin in Love, Flo Rida – Club Can’t Handle Me, and even Ke$ha’s Take It Off…  LOVE them!  Makes it a little less painful to give up every saturday night of my LIFE to be on the air!

find me on facebook - facebook.com / djshakeskissfm

-shakes

I know that “howdy” sounds cheesy and country, BUT… when I logged in to update my blog, it literally said, “Howdy, DJ Shakes.”  Besides, we’re in the middle of State Fair, so… “Howdy” isn’t AS unacceptable as it normally would be.

So, being a DJ is a unique job that not many people get to experience.  Radio DJ’s while ego-driven and attention-seeking, are generally nice people, and fun loving.  Please don’t confuse us, though, with a DIFFERENT category in the music industry – the WEDDING DJ.  See below…

Enjoy… and happy August!
-shakes

I can’t believe summer is half over already!  I’ve been busy with summer school, and all of a sudden I looked up and it was almost AUGUST!

State Fair is right around the corner.  Looking forward to eating something on a stick.  Wait – that didn’t come out right…  well, you know what I mean.  I always enjoy broadcast live from the State Fair… We sit in these tiny little studios the entire year, talking to people on the phone, online, and through texting.  This is a fun chance to meet people FACE to FACE.  I guess if I was there EVERY DAY of State Fair, it might get tedious, but… I am only there on the weekends, so…  FUN FUN FUN!  Come out and see me August 7th, 14th, and/or 15th from 6pm-close at the Fair!

People also ask a lot about my band, Lake Effect.  NO we are NOT playing at the fair this year.  We were offered 2 difference shows during State Fair, but because I’m broadcasting live with Kiss, we couldn’t do it.  I’d love for you to come see us some time though!

Currently Loving:

-David Guetta “Getting Over You”

-T.I/Keri Hilson “Got Your Back”

-Ke$ha “Your Love is my Drug”   YES STILL – I am STILL not sick of this song!

Thanks for checkin the blog!  Find me on facebook – d.j. shakes.

Okay, so it’s finally June.  School’s out, SUmmerfest is right around the corner… it’s about time!

My new band, Lake Effect, will be playing in the area soon – keep an eye out for us.  It’s really nice to be SINGING and playing guitar in this band, as opposed to playing bass as I have in former bands.  It just…. FEELS right.    And thanks in advance to Matt Cooper and anyone else who jumps in and covers a Saturday night show for me!

I’m thinkin this is gonna be the summer I spend at the lakefront and the clubs… it’s been a while, and I need to let loose a little bit.  I DO have summer school through all of July, so I gotta be a LITTLE responsible….  eh…. NAH.

On a different note, can we PLEASE be done with the construction on the freeways?!?!?  HELLO, ZOO INTERCHANGE?  You have become the bane of my existence.

MUSIC: Digging David Guetta “Gettin Over You”, Ke$ha “Your Love is My Drug”, and Travie McCoy “Billionaire.”  May have to add them to the Lake Effect set list.

e-mail me or look me up on facebook – D.j. Shakes

HAPPY SUMMER!!!

So, I got to work today and checked the schedule, and found ONLY THE MAY schedule posted.  I asked, “Where is THIS month’s schedule?” “May IS this month!” was the response I got.  Ok, so…. I’m sorta dumb.

Only 5 weeks til SUMMER VACATION!  WEll, I have summer school too, so there’s another MONTH of summer gone, but…  at least the WEATHER is finally starting to get nice.

THIS summer you’ll probably start to hear about my NEW band called LAKE EFFECT.  I Used to play bass in a band called Liquorish, which split up after New Years.  In LAKE EFFECT, I am the lead singer and I also play rhythm guitar.  We also have a FEMALE lead singer.  Shows are gonna be HOT, and we’ll start booking in June.  Keep an eye (and an ear) out for us!

Also, for those who don’t know, Milwaukee has a special alternative school for pregnant and parenting teens where I also work.  The MPS school board is considering closing it and putting all the girls into Custer high school.  PLEASE HELP STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING!  If you have facebook, search for “Save Lady Pitts” and join the group to show your support.  OR you can call or write your school board member.  Everything helps…

Congrats to all the winners of the Iron Man II Sneak Peek tickets this weekend!  Hope you have fun at the screening!

-shakes

Dang – just looked to see when my last blog was posted.  FEBRUARY.  And March is almost over already!  Crazy…  Actually, I’m GLAD that March is almost over.  For one thing, my spring break starts April 2nd.  For another, can we PLEASE not have to watch or hear about college basketball all day long!?!?

Aside from that business… for those of you that know, I played bass in a band called Liquorish for a few years, and our last show was New Year’s Eve.  I took a few months off, and now am starting a NEW band where I’ll be singing and playing rhythm guitar.  It’ll be called “Lake Effect.”  Keep your ears open and come see us some time… and, by the way, we’re still looking for a female singer, so… if you got the goods – hit me up so we can schedule an audition!

As far as Kiss goes, summer is right around the corner, and we LOVE summer.  Busy days, warm weather, and great music!  My current fav’s – BEP “Rock That Body,” Timbaland/JT “Carry Out,” Trey Songs “Say Ahh,” La Roux “Bulletproof,” and Rihanna “Rude Boy” (which I really DIDN’T like but it’s just…. different)

As always, feel free to drop me a line via the website here or find me on face book “Deejay Shakes.”

Thanks to the few of you who knew that my birthday was this past Wednesday.  I try not to make a big deal of it, but… a few of you snuck some birthday wishes through facebook, and I appreciate it.  So…  here’s what I got for my birthday:

1. a $50 gas card

2. a George Webb hoodie

3.  the fish that sings “Give me back that filet-o-fish!  Give me that fish!” from the McDonalds commercial.

What can I say?  My friends and family have a strange sense of humor.

Current fav Kiss song: BEP “Rock That Body” – I can’t tell you how loud I crank that in the studio!  Also loving Jason Darulo “In My Head.”

Well, another Valentines day is here.  I…. am single.  So, for all you SINGLE people out there, here are some things to be happy about this Valentine’s Day.

Reasons for the LADIES to be Single on Valentine’s Day

• You don’t have to deal with him pretending to smile
• You don’t have to return his “thoughtful” but idiotic gifts
• You don’t have to share your box of chocolates.
• You can wear your worn-out, comfortable pj’s all day.
• Bad hair day?  Who cares?  Nobody needs to see.
• You don’t have to shave your legs.
• Your cat is probably better company.
• You don’t have to be one of those girls whose man forgot all about Valentine’s Day to begin with.

Reasons for the FELLAS to be Single on Valentine’s Day

• Go to see “Dear John”?  I don’t think so…
• You can stay home and drink beer.
• Shop at Victoria’s Secret?  Only to check out the chicks…
• Shave?  Nah…
• T-Shirt and basketball shorts…  enough said.
• You can watch UFC fights all night.
• You won’t have to answer questions about your feelings.
• Two words:  video games.
• You can even take the money you MIGHT have spent on her to buy more video games.

Happy Valentines Day to everyone!

-shakes

Ok, so i REALLY have no IDEA who’s going to win, so rather than try to figure out who “THEY” think should win… i’m just gonna tell ya MY favorites.  Here ya go…

RECORD OF THE YEAR – Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling

ALBUM OF THE YEAR – Lady Gaga – The Fame

SONG OF THE YEAR – Lady Gaga – Poker Face (How is this different than RECORD of the year?)

BEST NEW ARTIST – The Ting Tings

BEST FEMALE POP VOCAL – Katy Perry – Hot and Cold

BEST POP PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP – Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling

BEST POP COLLABORATION WITH VOCALS – Jason Mraz and Colbie Callait – Luck

In general, Black Eyed Peas and Lady Gaga will clean up.

On a side note, I’m looking for female musicians to start a new band here in Milwaukee.  You play?  Know somebody who does?  Hit me up!

Happy saturday.  Til next time…

-shakes