DORIAN GEIGER
Arts Writer

Prior to Team Canada DJ Crew’s Jan. 29 show at Scratch, the venue’s Facebook page read, “Changing the world — one dance party at a time.” They delivered on their promise in Saskatoon.

When Team Canada DJ Crew descended on the nightclub to put on a dance-tastic show, the true meaning of Scratch’s party-business maxim came alive. Bass reverberated off the walls and cheers echoed out onto 2nd Avenue well into the morning hours as music you would never expect to hear mixed together was turned out to the power of 10 in terms of awesomeness. If the Pittsburgh-famed DJ act Girl Talk had an illegitimate Canuck cousin, it would be Team Canada DJs.

Despite recent buzz surrounding long lines and shady crowds synonymous with the likes of The Odeon showing up at Scratch, Team Canada attracted a combination of Broadway, university and downtown folk for their show and kept an upbeat, fun atmosphere well past 2 a.m. Even a former English professor of mine was taking in the sonic greatness of Team Canada’s irresistible, dance-inspiring electronic beats that were often mixed and mashed up with mainstream rock and hip hop. Minutes later, after witnessing the full exposure of an intoxicated hipster’s breasts in a graceless attempt to bum a smoke off a friend, I realized Scratch had congregated a perfect blend of various crowds.

Scratch is emerging as the exclusive DJ bar in Saskatoon, excelling past other downtown spots like the Spadina Freehouse or Barking Fish. Though boasting house DJs Gaff and Charlie Hustle like other downtown venues, Scratch is becoming recognized nationally as the premier venue on the prairies for touring DJs to hit.

Scratch is emerging as the exclusive DJ bar in Saskatoon

On their way to the Olympic celebration in Whistler, B.C., Team Canada DJs were playing at Scratch for another special reason. Friends with owner Neil Malik, Team Canada played in conjunction with Malik’s 30th birthday celebration. Malik used the mass turnout for his birthday bash to raise some money for Haitian earthquake relief by setting up a contest that would end in a staff member shaving their head for the cause.

Relative to their unique sound, the origins of Team Canada DJs are interesting. Initially a DJ battle between DJ D.R. One and producer DJ Grandtheft in Montreal, the two party-starting turntablists realized their similar ear for spinning and remixing and established the DJing group in late 2004. Soon after, Team Canada’s mixtape debut Classic Material Volume 1 dropped and would establish the duo as one of the top contenders for best remixing DJs in the country.

Since breaking onto the DJ scene, Team Canada gained popularity and added The Eh! Team by signing four of the best Canadian DJs: Hedspin from Vancouver, Pump from Calgary, Jr. Flo from Toronto and Illo from Ottawa make this exclusive group of collaborating DJs a nationwide turntable force.

Fame seems to be finding this four-turntable act with relative ease. Team Canada recently played at one of Paris Hilton’s birthday party. Team Canada has also recently signed with the late DJ AM’s Los Angeles label. On a recent 22-track mixtape, Team Canada legitimizes their claim by having Canadian hip-hop mogul Kardinal Offishall to host and drop a few samples. The mixtape merges the hip hop sounds of Drake, Three-Six Mafia and Ying Yang Twins with rock ballads by the likes of the Tragically Hip, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Maroon 5.

Without a true sense of Canadian humour their new mixtape would not have been complete. Listeners will find that Team Canada mixes are comically sprinkled with brief anecdotes from Will Ferrell flicks and poutine quotes about Canada from the infamous Broken Lizard film, Super Troopers.

In addition to a few jokes about beaver, Team Canada DJs’ high tempo and upbeat remixes will make you feel a hell of a lot more patriotic than the Olympics are going to trick people into becoming in approaching weeks.

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photo: Matthew Stefanson