• Clearly this week’s biggest local EDM news is that the fine folks from Fixed, the NYC stalwart underground party thrown by JDH and Dave P are bringing down Simian Mobile Disco to U Street Music Hall tonight. Of course, linked above is their major hit from 2006 with gimmicky French hipster ear openers Justice “We Are Your Friends.” They have a plethora of other hits as well, as Jas Shaw and James Ford have extrapolated their work from electro house band Simian into a wonderful concept. The duo, upon announcing the development of new label Delicacies have announced a new album named for the imprint due at the end of the month, and also are now quarterly residents at the Fixed party, hence playing U Street Music Hall as well. Here’s to hoping for great attendance so that the progressive techno and house duo will continue to make the trip to the capital city.
• In major local news, keep an eye out for the upcoming Party Bros release from Chris Burns and newly minted ANC 1A11 Commissioner Gavin Holland. Working alongside Burns and delving deeper into his own sonic interests has allowed Holland to evolve into a much more comfortable and expressive producer, and in hearing his latest tracks at Nouveau Riche last week, his progressive house leaning are 100% stronger than ever before. Chris Burns has been working feverishly alongside NYC house master Mike Simonetti of indie imprint Italians Do It Better to finish his debut EP for Baltimore’s Deep Sugar Records, and alongside the Party Bros work should be in line for progressive improvement in his developing career in 2011. Youngsters Sami Y and TJDJ, the Pacemaker DJs of the WIld North crew are expected to have remixes as well. Their Wild North parties are deep, strange raves that have energized youth EDM culture in the city and deserve a ton of credit as well.
• Steve Angello of personal favorites Swedish House Mafia is at Fur this Saturday. “One” is the fist pump anthem of the year, pulsating synths falling like Thor dealing thunder from the heavens. If a fan in any way of electro house or wanting to be hip and cutting edge on the mainstream, his releases Size Matters a compilation from his imprint Size mixed with his brother AN21 and the soundtrack to Swedish House Mafia’s documentary Take One, Until One which features the finest work of Angello, Axvell and Sebastian Ingrosso are the two most important releases of the year as house music yet again surges mainstream.

• The first quarter of 2011 got really interesting as Winter Music Conference organizers announced yesterday that the grand slam event of the EDM year will be occurring the week prior to SXSW this year from March 8-12, 2011. I’ll be at both bizarre scheduling notwithstanding, but take a look at the above flyer and if you can’t make WMC, do check out the 4th Annual BPM Festival in Playa del Carmen, Mexico from New Year’s Eve to January 9, 2011. It’s a great vacation idea and with a lineup including Adam K, Air London Showcase with Nick Curly & Simon Baker, Behrouz, Boris, Carlo Lio, Chus & Ceballos, Crosstown Rebels with Damian Lazarus / Seth Troxler / Jamie Jones / Art Department, Davide Squillace, Dubfire, Hernan Cattaneo, Laidback Luke, Lee Burridge, Loco Dice, Marco Carola, Richie Hawtin, Saeed Younan, Sean Miller,  Steve Angello, Steve Lawler and Hernan Cattaneo, it sounds like a truly impressive event.
• Disco never died. We’re starting to really feel this statement as we listen to local stalwart Will Eastman, but we know it’s true when we note the work of Tensnake (yes, his DC debut is rescheduled for November 23rd at U Hall) and important to me, Aeroplane. Now a one man show, Belgian producer and remixer Vito De Luca has had an incredibly busy year as debut album We Can’t Fly has dropped and the blend of balearic beats, French filtered house and Giorgio Moroder inspired Italian disco has truly flipped the world on its collective ears. Take a listen to Vito’s mix dropped on Aeroplane’s Soundcloud for October 2010 for proof of sonic excellence.

Aeroplane October 2010 Mix by Aeroplane (Official)

• DC’s own LA transplant Dave Nada is back in DC for the holidays. He’s on the New Years Eve bill for U Street Music Hall with Matt Nordstrom as Nadastrom, and he’s confirmed to open the year at DC’s Good Life Social party at Recess thrown by the Rock Creek Social Club every Tuesday night. Good Life blends hip hop with EDM for a party that is an unusual look for DC, as it brings elements of LA’s legendary Do Over and Chicago’s Superfun Party to a city that is slowly stretching its weekday party legs. In Dave’s words, you’re a bama if you’re not following him on Twitter these days as he conquers LA with his typical punk rock panache.
• Check U Hall on Monday night for Richie Hawtin. If at all a fan of techno, the DJ/producer is a legend and perpetual ground breaker. Having been a key influence in the Detroit scene, he has since relocated to Berlin, staying cold, dark and minimal all along the way. His releases as Plastikman are some of my favorites and definitely deserve a listen. 88DC has also brought Paco Osuna to DC this year, and have done a wonderful job in ensuring that the more minimalist sounds have had a home in the city as local weekly spinners and major underground acts trend harder, heavier and louder. A completely worthwhile trip.
• Get familiar with local DC DJ Cam Jus. His style errs toward hip hop, but on the dance music realm, he’s really influenced by reggae, dub and funk and is presently in the midst of defining his sound. His Soundcloud is home to a body of work that is truly impressive and indicative of a professional who is silently on his way to becoming a dominant weekly spinner on the local scene. His dedicated work with his Friday gigs at Tabaq, monthly second Thursday at Wonderland Ballroom and imporiving work as a moombahton producer has earned him a slot as an opener for Will Eastman’s Bliss on 11/27. While opening likely won’t let him spread his wings, the DJ, who counts local top dogs like Afro-funk stalwart DJ Underdog as influences deserves notice and praise for an excellent 2010.