Vintage Vanguard
Like many artists, DJ Frankie Alvaro wears a number of hats. By day, heNs a master stylist at Salon Pop in Long Beach. By night, he supplies the sweat-glistened, booze-fueled masses with rock N roll of the vintage-N60s variety. On Dec. 10, heNll be presenting a rock show at AlexNs Bar featuring New Fidelity, the Champanties (of which heNs a member) and Dante Vs Zombies. Is he chasing a waterfall with the whole vintage thing? Perhaps. Does he exhibit a prolific work ethic based on a foundation of passion? Undoubtedly. Originally moving with his family to Orange County from Lima, Peru, the now 26-year-old made his way to Long Beach before plunking down in Echo Park. We tracked him down to hear what was crackling.
OC Weekly: What can someone expect from a typical DJ Frankie set?
Frankie Alvaro: I play a lot of Northern soul. I like to play a couple of N60s hits as well, so people know whatNs going on—so itNs not too obscure. A little bit of garage, a lot of Motown. Always N60s. When people come see me DJ, they know what to expect.
What would you say has fueled your obsession with this type of music?
Growing up, I had a pretty strict [upbringing]. We were only allowed to listen to K-EARTH 101 or, like, Frank Sinatra or Benny Goodman. So when I was in the fourth and fifth grades, those were my favorite bands. When I hit middle school, I got into Nirvana, and I tried to branch out and rebel. But as soon as I got into my later teens, I just kind of went right back into it. ItNs just where my heart is. ItNs just what I love.
Where do you spin regularly?
I do a lot of shows in Long Beach. I put on Secret Affair, which is a dance club at AlexNs Bar the first Friday of every month. I put on a club in LA at the Medusa Lounge the second and third Thursdays. Those are my only two big residencies right now.
Can you compare the differences between spinning at a place like AlexNs and a club in LA?
Secret Affair has grown into something that I never would have thought it would grow into. [Originally], it was just friends and people who enjoy soul; [now], thereNs all these people who are so eclectic and people I would never expect to see. But theyNre all loving the music. It was really mind-blowing, really flattering. Yeah, in LA, its mainly our friends and people you would just see at shows.
What can you say about the Long Beach scene right now?
ThereNs so much great music coming out of Long Beach. It was actually kind of freaking me out. INm like, “This is all going on, and no oneNs recording it.” So INve been video recording all these shows because maybe one day I can make a zine or I can just have this on file.
KROQNs Rodney Bingenheimer has endorsed the New Fidelity song “Blue Eyed Girl” via National Public RadioNs show Off-Ramp, but weNve heard very little about the Champanties and Dante Vs Zombies. What can you say about them?
INm actually in the Champanties; I play the organ. There are three girl singers harmonizing; itNs a doo-woppy, N60s, bubble-gum, Shangri-Las type band. Friday was our first show at the Redwood, and it went over extremely well. Dante Vs Zombies are Dante and Jeff from Starlite Desperation, plus Gabriel Hart and Jada from Jail Weddings.
When you DJ, what do you use—a laptop or turntables?
INve always, always been all-vinyl. No CDs, no iPods, no laptops. For me, if I walk into a bar and the guyNs deejaying, and INm like, “Oh, this is a rad song,” and I run up there and see him playing a computer, well, fuck you, I donNt care. ItNs completely irrelevant. But if youNre playing vinyl, you actually hunted for it. You spent money on it, and itNs actually meaningful to you, which makes it that much more exciting for me.
DJ Frankie Alvaro presents New Fidelity, the Champanties and Dante Vs Zombies at AlexNs Bar, 2913 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach, (562) 434-8292; www.alexsbar.com. Thurs., Dec. 10. $5. 21+.
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