“The Happy Dictator” is an earworm. On the few occasions that I’ve been able to play the Gorillaz song at a club, I’ve woken up the following day with it stuck in my head. This morning is no different. I played it early at Underground last night and now it’s lodged in my brain, with Damon Albarn and Russell Mael trading off vocals on a loop.
I don’t plan sets at all. I just drop 24+ hours of music on my laptop, sort it by BPM and then figure it all out as the night goes on. So, it’s only in hindsight that I can say that last night’s set at Underground was probably influenced by being at the anti-ICE protest/march in downtown Los Angeles earlier in the day. “The Happy Dictator,” “Police on My Back,” (We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thing,” “Shout to the Top,” “Tubthumping,” blah blah blah. Whatever is stuck in my head makes it into the set and then the set gets stuck in my head. That’s a DJ brain for you.
Anyhow, thanks to those of you who made it out to Underground last night. It was a blast as always. See you next Friday! Set list is below. New-ish songs link back to previous mentions here.
Depeche Mode – The Sun & the Rainfall
Love and Rockets – So Alive
Human League- Do or Die
Chelsea Wolfe – House of Self-Undoing (Boy Harsher Remix)
Gorillaz, Sparks – The Happy Dictator
Elastica – Da Da Da
Fontaines D.C. – Here’s the Thing
Interpol – PDA
Siouxsie and the Banshees- Christine
Stereolab – French Disko
Editors – Munich
The Cure- In Between Days
Joy Division – She’s Lost Control
Bloc Party – Banquet
Franz Ferdinand – Michael
Ladytron – Playgirl
Crystal Castles – Vanished
New Order – Bizarre Love Triangle
Yaz – Situation
Purple Disco Machine – Dished (Male Stripper)
Daft Punk – Around the World
Justice, Simian – We Are Your Friends
CSS – Let’s Make Love (And Listen to Death from Above)
Kittin, The Hacker – Frank Sinatra
Pixel Grip – Reason to Stay (Request)
Eurythmics – Sweet Dreams
Chromatics – Shadow (Maceo Plex Remix)
Phoenix – 1901
Bronski Beat – Smalltown Boy
Trans X – Living on Video
Soft Cell – Sex Dwarf
She Wants Revenge – Tear You Apart
The Strokes – Juicebox
The Clash – Police on My Back
Heaven 17 – We Don’t Need This Fascist Groove Thing
Depeche Mode – Everything Counts
Hercules & Love Affair – Blind
Blur- Girls and Boys
The Rapture – House of Jealous Lovers
Peaches – Fuck the Pain Away
Basement Jaxx – Where’s Your Head At?
Confidence Man, Jade- Gossip
The Flirts – Danger
New Order – Blue Monday
Boy Harsher – Pain (request)
Ultra Sunn- Keep Your Eyes Peeled (request)
Depeche Mode – Personal Jesus
The Killers – Mr. Brightside (Jacques Lu Cont Remix)
Future Islands – For Sure
The Smiths- Bigmouth Strikes Again
Le Tigre – Deceptacon
N8NOFACE – Everything We Thought We Knew
Joy Division – Digital
Franz Ferdinand – Take Me Out
Chumbawamba – Tubthumping
Amy Winehouse- You Know I’m No Good
Fontaines DC – A Hero’s Death (Soulwax Remix)
Depeche Mode- Enjoy the Silence
Pulp – Common People (request)
Robyn- Dancing on My Own
Gorillaz – On Melancholy Hill
The Horrors – Something to Remember Me By
Q Lazzarus – Goodbye Horses
The Smiths – There Is a Light That Never Goes Out
Style Council – Shout to the Top (request)
Soft Cell – Tainted Love
Human League – Sound of the Crowd
OMD- Enola Gay
Joy Division – Love Will Tear Us Apart
The Cure- Boys Don’t Cry
Fontaines DC – Starburster
Pixies – Wave of Mutilation (UK Surf)
Liz O. is an L.A.-based writer and DJ. Follow on Instagram or sign up for the weekly, Beatique newsletter for updates on new stories and gigs.
Listen to the January, 2026 Beatique Mix.
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