The SF debut of Detroit’s best kept secret: Bruce Bailey – interview by Eric Cloutier

Housepitality presents the SF debut of Bruce Bailey - Detroit's best kept secret
Housepitality presents the SF debut of Bruce Bailey - Detroit's best kept secret.

At Housepitality we are devoted to providing you the best dance music talent available on a Wednesday night. We have booked world wide and local recognized talent that draws serious midweek dance music crowds (professionals) and the booking of Mr Bruce Bailey is a story that needs to be told. Expect nothing short of the best as the honorable Jason Kendig plays the slot before him and Victor Vega warms up the floor. It is also Leo J’s birthday party in the Slow Groove Lounge as well as a sickly curated show by Habit.

The story on how we booked Mr. Bruce Bailey:

In early June our dear friend dj Victor Vega returned from the Detroit Electronic Music Festival or Movement as its called these days, raving about this dj named Bruce Bailey who apparently blew the roof off the Made in Detroit stage during prime time slot right before Delano Smith. We had never heard of Bruce before so we didn’t take it very serious, however Victor had already taken the steps to contact Bruce for a gig in SF.

A few weeks later I spoke our friend Joe Babylon, original member of Plug Research and owner of Roundabout sounds. Coincidentally he also brought up Bruce Bailey and mentioned that he had one of the best sets at the DEMF all weekend. Joe had not heard of him before but was definitely very impressed.

Immediately after this we saw that Bruce Bailey was booked to play at New York City’s cult underground party The Bunker.  Bruce Bailey kept coming up everywhere we looked.

I spoke to Eric Cloutier, The Bunker resident and our Housepitality headliner on July 26th of this year and asked him how did Bruce Bailey get booked at The Bunker? Eric replied: “we saw him at the demf and were blown away.”

Immediately after Eric Cloutier’s epic set at Housepitality I was speaking with our homegirl and past Housepitality headliner  Christina Chatfield about random stuff. Suddenly she cuts me off and changes the topic and says: “Dude, you know who you should book? BRUCE BAILEY, he was amazing at the DEMF. You wont be disappointed.

OK, so I have Victor Vega, Joe Babylon, Eric Cloutier and Christina Chatfield, all of whom we respect dearly confirming that Bruce Bailey, an unheard of name from Detroit should get booked at Housepitality, DONE.

So, for the first time ever, coming off his epic set at the DEMF and his New York debut at The Bunker, we present to you the one and only Mr Bruce Bailey, Detroit’s best kept secret.

Eric Cloutier was nice enough to put together 5 well poised interview questions for Bruce Bailey in anticipation for his show on Sept 14th.

01. do you have any recollection of the moment when you realized house music was something you wanted to be a part of, more than just as as a spectator?

Make no mistake I’ve always been a huge fan of music! In my earlier years I just started collecting vinyl like once a month (which eventually turned into weekly) and the stuff just started accumulating. My entrance into the biz ironically started as a party promoter.  We’d hire name DJs… I’d feel the energy the disbursed to the crowd & one day I said to myself I’ve gotta be a closer part of this!

02. your set at the demf this year was an eye-opener for many – both to people who had never heard to you, and to those that are your biggest fans – what kind of thoughts ran through your mind after playing such a gorgeous set at such a crucial timeslot?

I really take the time to prepare well for my sets.  I had been sitting on a boatload of overlooked tracks that have never been heard… at least at an event of this magnitude.  Blending them together is effortless – I just wanted the crowd to hear them the exact way I do.  Playing such a critical timeslot i knew globally people would be more than curious… then once I got going the crowd and I became one & history was made!

03. as someone who grew up in detroit and has seen its many sides, where do you feel electronic music is at these days in the birthplace of techno?

Detroit is so thriving musically now!  Major events are much more commonplace.  The fest (DEMF) has opened up eyes worldwide that the birthplace is doing its thang!  Worldwide artists are collab’n with local vets & new comers creating multiple events for our residents and visitors.  Year round you can here some fantasic music – musically Detroit has not lost a beat!

04. of all the particularly interesting new characters that are coming out in house music these days, who do you think is the most promising producer?

What I tell everyone nowadays is there is too much music (laughing).  I personally have been following Manoo his stuff has been killin’ my sets for a while.  But, locally kats like 3 chairs, Delano Smith, Pirahnahead & Kyle Hall have been setting the world on fire.

05. rumour has it you’re quite the poolshark – is there anyone you’d like to challenge, and why?

I love my crafts and pool is one of them.  I don’t get to play as often as I’d like but challenge…  Let’s just say I have a little rivalry with a couple jocks outta The D (mike huckaby & rick wilhite) that keeps we occupied.  The last thing they here outta my mouth when we play is “eight ball in the corner pocket” …
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Check out Bruce Bailey live at the Metroplex 25 year anniversary party:

bruce bailey live @ metroplex 25 by DJ Bruce_ Bailey

Bruce Baile’s official BIO:

“Hot off his legendary set at The Metroplex 25th Anniversary Event DJ Bruce Bailey is not just raising the occasional eyebrow anymore but becoming much more of a sought after talent.  The former resident of the longest running house music venue (Club 246) in Detroit history – Bailey went on to build a national following at the recently closed “Lola’s” in midst of Detroit’s Harmony Park Area.  Bailey is now resident DJ @ TV Bar in Detroit for “Mecca” the cities premiere house music weekly.”

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The deets:

Wednesday September 14th 2011

Michael Tello & Miguel Solari invite you to

( ( ( ( HOUSEPITALITY – HIJAK SESSION V6 ) ) ) )

Come early and enjoy some free Champagne from 9pm-10pm and enjoy the art show curated by Habit.

Were also celebrating our resident Leo J’s birthday in the Slow Groove Lounge… Mixing up the best handmade pisco, bourbon and tequila cocktails is the wonderful Kira Buck!

Get ready for another epic night at Housepitality!

Main Room: Art Show By: HABIT

BRUCE BAILEY (Tandem, Detroit)
JASON KENDIG (Honey Soundsystem)
VICTOR VEGA (TRBL)

Back Room: Black Pancake Records Monthly residency & LEO J’s Birthday Celebration!!!

LEO J (Black Pancake Records)
KIMMY LE FUNK (Black Pancake Records)

Resident Bartender Kira Buck

FREE before 11pm with RSVP at www.housepitalitysf.com

Located at Icon Ultra Lounge
1192 Folsom St. at 8th St.
9pm-2am, 21 +, $5 before 11pm