Get ready for a time warp this Saturday when local musicians create the sounds played by legendary Pittsburgh DJ Mad Mike Metrovich. Mad Mike is known for playing strange and obscure music on air, stuff that was typically overlooked by others. He had a knack for hearing and finding this music all over the country. Imagine a DJ stumbling across the Nox Boys song “Military School” or The Me Toos song “Relate” in the bargain bin at a Pittsburgh record store and playing it on air in their little hometown. People would be blowing up the phones trying to find out who these bands were. That is what it was like when Mad Mike would play his music, though he would never tell who the bands were.
Michael Devine better known as DJ Zombo helped organize this event. Although not from Pittsburgh himself he learned quick what it was like to be a DJ in Pittsburgh. ” I’d play “Camel Walk” (Saxons) and the phones would light up. What Pittsburgh DJs played seemed even more important than the artists!,” said Zombo.
Mad Mike would also DJ dances that would draw thousands to hear his wild new sounds. Rumor has it that one of his dances at West View Park’s Danceland attracted more people than an upstart Rolling Stones that played next door.
You’ll be sure to hear Mad Mike favorites like “Camel Walk,” “The whip” and “Moogoo Muck” performed by Pittsburgh bands, The Me Toos, The Specters, Th’Royal Shakes, The Hi-Frequencies, Sun Hound and special guests like the Nox Boys upstairs with the bands rotating downstairs for 1980’s music by the B-52’s, The Go-Go’s, The Fall and others.
This 21+ show starts at 8pm at Cattivo in Lawrenceville. Admission is now free but donations will be accepted.
