D. Ramirez USA Tour // Part III // August 2009
D. Ramirez // Houston Texas
D. Ramirez // Houston Texas
Thursday 13.08 (Houston Texas)
Today we fly to Houston a day early to hang out before my gig on the Friday night at a club called Rich’s. Our flight is at 1 pm and it’s a 3 hour flight with a 2 hour time difference so we are scheduled to arrive at 6 pm but as we board the plane we are told we have to sit on the plane for another hour as there are storms in Houston preventing any plane from leaving. The hour turns into another hour then the captain gets on the tannoy and say’s it’s going to be another hour so we can get off the plane if we want.
It’s straight to the lounge for Margaritas of course and then back on the plane. It’s now 9 PM and as we arrive there’s nobody to meet us so i get on the phone to the promoter who has forgot that i’m getting into town today. It’s all sorted though so we head off to the hotel but our plans to hang out are ruined somewhat by the fact that it’s now 10 pm and there’s nothing happening. We want to go for a walk around the area and as we step outside the heat literally hits you like a brick! Its hotter than a rattle snakes arse. It’s so hot and humid that it’s actually hard to breathe, talk about a tropical climate.
Houston is so hot and humid that it’s become the most air conditioned place in the world – phew. The area is filled with really swanky bars and every second car is a Lambourgini or Ferrari. This place obviously has allot of money. We end up catching a drink in the bar of our hotel – as we try and avoid the sugar daddy’s and their blonde entourages.
Friday 14.08 (Rich’s Houston Texas)
We are up early in the morning to catch a bit of Houston and look around the city. Its a place I’ve been interested in for a while, but have not managed to visit yet. The lovely Grace, the promoter, sends us a detailed itinerary of what to check out and we head over to a huge shopping centre called the Galleria. This place is massive and has really great shops like Fendi, Gucci and Saks Fifth Avenue. This is obviously the place for me! I manage to find a pair of Prada trainers in Saks, the hottest trainers I have ever seen and i have to have them. Needless to say I end up spending the most money i’ve ever spent on a pair of trainers ever. It’s a difficult decision that lasts all of 20 seconds. I then head over to a traditional Western Shop and try on some Stetsons. Yeeha!!
Grace takes us to a beautiful Sushi restaurant in Downtown Houston for some amazing food. The place is packed to the rafters, much the same as my stomach once i’ve finished eating. It’s now off to the club, i’m excited as i’ve heard nothing but good things about the place. My friend Randall Jones of Tigerhook fame is spinning before me and i haven’t seen him for years. The club is pretty full, always a good sign. They take us up to the VIP room and i meet a huge 6ft Texan drag queen named Anita Bump who is a real card! We hang out in the VIP room talking to some very cool Houston folk.
Down at the bar I get a chance to chat to some of the clubbers before my set. Im stoked at how many people in Houston know and are fans of my productions and also got so much out of the video tutorial I did for Future Music Magazine. Thanks Guys.
I get onstage and start to spin, the place is packed out and everyone is going wild! There are some crazy Venezuelans who are having a ball, jumping around, punching the air having a great time. I take it slow and bring it down a bit so i can take them on a bit of a journey. The set goes down really well and I think it was a great night had by all.
D. Ramirez Tequila Bar // Vermont Los Angeles
Saturday 15.08 (Giant at Vanguard Los Angeles)
It’s the day of my birthday party and we meet 20 of our LA friends in a cool tequila bar on Vermont. This place has over 200 different types of tequila! A really interesting group of people comprised of a famous classical composer, a big film director, a porn director and some very cool people – the 3D group. We have our fair share of margaritas before we head over to Giant at Vanguard to play. Beth Phares, the promoter, has very kindly organised me a VIP area arranged specifically for us – It’s gonna be a fun night, that’s for sure! Its great to travel with such a huge entourage – i feel like a proper rock star -)
The club is packed and the DJ before me Lazarou Cassanovar is spinning some amazing tunes, nothing too big which is the perfect warm up for me. I go set up my Serato kit which is relatively easy this time (not like sometimes where there’s nowhere for power or for for your laptop) and i start to play. Immediately as i go on i notice my 30 or so friends down at the front of the stage which gives me a huge boost and a massive feeling of confidence. The set goes down a storm and near to the end of my set Beth gets all my friends onstage and brings out two trays of cupcakes with candles in them. I blow out the candles but in my excitement i accidently knock over one of the trays and they all splat on the floor – ooops!
I later find out that Beth has spent all day baking these wonderful cup cakes only to have some drunken fool knock them onto the floor – Sorry Beth!!!! After i finish i meet up with my friends down on the dancefloor and we all head off to a seedy bar on Hillhurst for a few after hours drinks. It’s a dark, dinghy, grimly hole but we are all up for another drink and it’s like we are all oblivious to the surroundings. We stay there for a few hours and then decide that the night has to finish at some point and we all go home. I’d like to thank everyone who came and made my birthday, one of the best 29th birthday parties i’ve ever had -) You guys all rock my world! I’d also like to thank Alden and beth from Giant for organising one of the best gigs i’ve ever done – you guys also rock my world!
Sunday 16.08 (LA)
I lie in bed , eat every bit of food in the fridge and wash it down by 2 very strong headache tablets….. ouch!!
