By Shelley Arnusch
Who: DJ John Howard
Where: Tommy Africa’s
When: Sunday, Oct. 31
Tickets: $5
"I definitely had a revelation the first time I played records ever. I don’t know about a beam of light," laughs the man who cut his chops in San Francisco alongside big timers such as Mark Farina.
He’s since moved on to New York City, but he still remembers the early days.
There was no literal ‘beam of light,’ but he remembers that DJ-ing was the first thing he found that gave him the same satisfaction he had gotten from skateboarding. A budding pro with a Marin County shop sponsorship he suffered repeat injuries to his knee and had to give up the dream.
"When I first started DJ-ing, the first time I ever started mixing I felt like I had found that thing that gave me the same sort of satisfaction as skating. Like you’re doing the right thing in the right place," Howard says.
Being in the right place has sent John Howard all over the world. He’s currently embarking on a series of club dates that will take him into the New Year.
A longtime friendship with DJ Czech has made him a regular at Soul Kitchen over the years. This Sunday, Whistler’s longest running club night is hosting Howard once again for their All Hallows Groove party. Howard will be on the decks playing funk, breaks and house party beats as only a jet setting super DJ can. Scott Arkwell will also be on hand to warm up the room. The party features $1,000 worth of prizes for best costumes.
For more information go to www.tommyafricas.com.
