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House is not a business; it's a community of people who like to dance. In order for the community to maintain and grow, the people that make up this community have to continually contribute. And that contribution can be anything from coming to dance to the music, to introducing others to this sound, to providing a night for the community to gather, to producing the music, or from a DJ standpoint, playing the music provided by the community. It is circular, and is essential for survival, because without one of those elements it cannot continue.

The Tempest Lounge's House Blend shows - featuring a community of DJs spinning house music - have built a community every first and third Saturday. For this Saturday's version, DJ Bilori Howard, along with DJs dAb and Sticky J, will spin house during the "House Blend CD Release Party" beginning at 9:30 p.m. I caught up with DJ Bilori for a quick chat.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: When did you start spinning?

BILORI HOWARD: I received my first pair of decks in 1999 for my birthday from my girlfriend at the time. We were really into the underground house/techno music scene in Seattle.

VOLCANO: Who were your influences?

HOWARD: I have to say my biggest influence was by DJ Mark Farina and his ability to seamlessly blend track after track keeping the energy at a peak level, where you could literally dance all night. I grew up listening to various styles of music from jazz and blues, new wave, rock and roll - but I was a major hip-hop head for years.

I told you it was a quick chat.

Free promo CDs will be handed out tonight, too.

To grab a taste of DJ Bilroi's talents, check out his SoundCloud page here. He downloaded several mixes including my favorite T Town Lounge - a collection of downtempo/trip-hop tracks.

House Blend CD Release Party

With DJs dAb, Sticky J and Bilori
Saturday, June 5, 9:30 p.m., no cover
Tempest Lounge, 913 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma
253.272.4904

LINK: Facebook page for tonight's event