Hey DJ! Friday Q&A: DJ M3

If you've cruised along Upper Market lately, you might've noticed a cool little dance club opened recently right off Octavia, directly across the street from Martuni's. The bar's called the Triple Crown, and it's a cozy, classy spot to soak up your beverages 'n' beats. Adding to Triple's cred is the local history of its owner, a man who has spent the past decade-plus working in the music industry as a booker, record store owner, and DJ, among other hats (an accessory, by the way, it seems the dude is rarely without)

DJ M3  is a name folks know from his various outlets, from the underground house crew Green Gorilla Lounge to his ownership (along with Galen of Sunset/PacificSound and Green Gorilla's Anthony Mansfield) of Lower Haight DJ outpost Tweakin Records since 2006. We mostly chatted with M3 about his work as a DJ, though -- work which connected him, for one night at least, with the legendary Rick James. Check up on DJ M3 below, and if you hit the Triple Crown on Saturday night, be sure to wish the guy happy birthday.  

Name: DJ M3

Club night(s): Green Gorilla Lounge monthly (check greengorillalounge.com for info on that party). Every Wed: Down Like This @ the Triple Crown, and you can check greengorillalounge.com for upcoming gigs.

Style(s) of music you spin: Dirty, funky house, tech house, electro, downtempo, disco, rock, soul......

Name of a track you can̓t get out of your head: Grace Jones' "William's Blood."

How you got your start: In 94, we needed a DJ on a Wednesday night at a club I used to book in San Jose called the PHONIX Jazz Club. It just happend. I never wanted to be a DJ. People just started asking me to play out, and it grew from there.

What first hooked you into house music? The very first Gathering that I worked security at. But before then I was a dancing fool and would go to SUB Club (Lipps) and watch Steve Master and Doc Martin (after he was done doing security at DNA, and he would come and DJ under the stairs there). And DJ Spun -- before he was DJ Spun--and I would dance the night away.

How has the SF house scene changed over the years? The only thing that has changed is that it's in the clubs now--and everywhere in SF. And it has made SF a stronghold for DJs, better then any other city in US. We are spoiled now. But that works for me ;)

Is there anything you miss from the early '90s club scene? More people used to sweat and come early to the parties, but now they're spoiled and come about 12:30 a.m.

You just opened a new bar, The Triple Crown. What can you tell us about the space?
It's going to to be more then a club; it's going to be a place were straight people, gay people, the suits, and the vacationers, where they all feel at home. It's a pub, club, and event space.

How will running a bar change your work as a DJ? Well I have a GM and I'm only DJing there once a week, so it's not DJ M3 247 (Boring)

Musical mantra: Quality

Favorite DJ experience:Opening for Rick James, at his first show out of jail.

Worst request: Hip-hop as I'm playing to about 2,000 people at Ruby Skye and the place is pumping. My motto: "NO FUCKING REQUESTS EVER!"

Most treasured vinyl score: Every week at Tweekin Records (at 593 Haight St.)... :) LOL. All my Screamin' Jay Hawkins on vinyl -- good morning music.

What other music-related projects are you currently working on?
I'll be busting out an album this year

Question we didn̓t ask you but you often ask yourself: When are you going to stop playing vinyl? NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! COMPUTER DJs can't hang!

Next time we can see you spin: This Sat. night (Jan. 24) at the Triple Crown. It's my birthday -- come and get some.