The Bus Stop is back

This week's news for locals only includes the return of a legendary hip-hop night, another Myspace music competitor and more

by Peter Holslin

March 2, 2011

12:00 AM

After a three year break, The Bus Stop is back. A hip-hop showcase that ran for six-and-a-half years starting in 2001 at now-defunct Downtown club Martini Ranch, The Bus Stop featured big names like DJ Rhettmatic and J.Rocc of the Beat Junkies DJ crew. Eventually, Martini Ranch dropped the weekly showcase and the event bounced around to different venues before fizzling out. “It was kind of losing its flavor a little bit,” says DJ Charlie Rock, one of the organizers.

Now, Rock and Cros1 are reviving the event at El Dorado, where they'll host hip-hop DJs once a month. “Right now, it's the most ideal spot to do it at. It has the right size, it has the right crowd, it has the right vibe and it has the right support,” Rock says. “We wanna break the six-year mark. I think we can do it.” Ikah Love and Matta will be The Bus Stop's resident DJs. Wu-Tang Clan affiliates J-Live and hip-hop producer DJ Truemaster will kick off the showcase on Wednesday, March 2.

Sleeping Giant Music, the local DJ talent agency, has developed a new competitor to MySpace: Simply Gigantic, a website that lets paid subscribers build a profile with a music player, a calendar, e-mail and other features. The site is currently in beta. “The site will first be opened as a trial version to limited users,” says Sleeping Giant's Brittany Harb, “then the waiting list will take over and it will slowly extend to the public.” To sign up, head over to simplygigantic.com.

Reggae artists Subliminal Trip will celebrate the release of their new CD at Sound Wave on Saturday, March 5. Reason to Rebel and Mean Dinosaur also play.

Punk outfits Spider Fever and Jungle Fever will mark the release of their debut 7-inches at Tower Bar on Saturday, March 5. The Lumps also perform.