Ill Things Considered, Volume 3

You know life is a funny thing.

I spent the better part of three months preparing for Oranje this year. I put together three separate mixes, of widely varying genres, over the course of those three months. I set deadlines for myself and, amazingly, met those deadlines. I edited tracks. I dug up hard to find tracks. I concocted my own remixes. I was in the zone.

By the night before Oranje, I had two mixes out for the masses (here and here), and I had crafted a fine-tuned, 45 minute set to unleash for the big event. I wasn’t even mad about having the first set of the night; I was looking forward to being the first artist to perform for this very special occasion. I had friends there. I had family there. I was more than ready to go; I was over-prepared. I was going to deliver the perfect slice of myself and my style to the crowd, and then spend the rest of the night fully enjoying every last minute of the 10th anniversary of Oranje with a tremendous feeling of accomplishment and pride in the hard work that I put in to making my small part of the event as memorable as possible.

These pictures seem to indicate a happy ending, don’t they? Well, as they say, “Looks can be deceiving.”

Some also say “Shit happens.”

Not 10 seconds in to my set, the sound system went out. And then again. And then again.

I started… and restarted… and started again.

I got into the second song, and then barely into the third, and then the sound went out again. And again.

There was no bass for my entire set.

An amp had blown, and that was that. Thankfully, the awesome folk of Indymojo.com tracked down a replacement and were up an running before too long, and the rest of the performers were spared what I had to go through. And, as always, they had an awesome lineup who played marvelously.

Unfortunately, there was no saving my set.

I was, to say the least, INCREDIBLY disappointed that my set was ruined. All my hard work seemed completely wasted. To me, it was.

But then, a funny thing happened. I walked around Oranje. I saw some friends. I had a drink. I listened to some music acts I was familiar with, and some I had never heard before. I bought some art. I soaked it all in, and… I had a great time. I didn’t let something out of my control ruin my entire experience.

Oranje only happens once a year, and I get to create and play music every day. I am blessed to have friends, family and a few fans who enjoy what I do, and I am thankful for the opportunities that life has afforded me.

45 minutes of bad do not outweigh a lifetime of good.

Without further ado, here is 45 minutes of good. This version of my set was recorded the night before Oranje. Thankfully, I had the presence of mind to keep it… just in case, you know, shit happens.

Enjoy.

“Ill Things Considered, Volume 3”

Track List:
The Beatles – Because
The Pixies – Where Is My Mind?
The Pixies – Where Is My Mind? (Bassnectar Remix)
Stagga – That’s When I Jacked It
Natural Born Chillers – Rock The Funky Beat (Urban Takeover Mix)
Mudkids – The Ecosystem (Balance of Nature)(Mike B’s Moombahklong Remix)
Pigeonhed – Battle Flag (Lo-Fidelity All Stars vs. Pigeonhed vs. Lionrock vs. Mike B. Free-For-All Mash)
Beastie Boys – The Negotiation Limerick File (The 41 Small Star Remix)
Excision & Downlink – Reploid
Breakestra – Getcho Soul Together (Part Two)
Chemical Brothers – Block Rockin Beats
Grateful Dead – Shakedown Street (Mike B.mix)
Architecture In Helsinki – Heart It Races (Trizzy’s Rusty Tin Can Mix)
Queens Of The Stone Age – The Lost Art Of Keeping A Secret (Mike B.’s Cut To The Chase Edit)
After The Fire – Der Kommissar (Mike B.’s Danmass Mash)
Feed Me – Raw Chicken
Dragonette – Volcano (Zed’s Dead Remix)
Ou Est Le Swimming Pool – Dance The Way I Feel (Armand Van Helden Club Mix)
The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown – Fire
Radiohead – Feral
Smashing Pumpkins – 1979 (Mike B.’s Karate Chop Remix)