Here’s What I Played at Club Underground’s New Year’s Eve Ball

Club Underground New Year's Eve Ball December 31, 2023 (Photo: Liz Ohanesian)
I probably should take pics, but I don’t, so here’s a screenshot from some video I got during “Tren al Sur.”

It was such a 2023 ending to the year. I was upstairs DJing at Underground’s New Year’s Eve Ball and preparing for the countdown. My stupid iPhone does everything but count down the seconds to midnight. So, I find a website with the time in L.A. down to the seconds. We’ve got 15 minutes to go. I slow things down with “Por Que Te Vas” so people can get their drinks. Keep it mellow with “Tide is High” and “Rock Steady.” We’re about three minutes away from midnight when I work in “E.V.A.,” then one minute, then 30 seconds. Then the website crashes, because, of course that’s what will happen at the end of the year where everything stops working. We got through the countdown regardless, but I’m adding  “watch with a second hand” to the list of antiquated things I need to get this year because nothing new works. 

Anyhow, I’ll probably continue my rant about things-that-don’t-work in another post. For now, I just want to thanks to Larry G. for the parties that were highlight of 2023 for me. Special thanks to all of you who spent New Year’s Eve at Club Underground. I’ll be back on January 12 for Bowie Nite. Tickets are already available on Eventbrite and Dice

Oh, yeah, and thanks to the movie that revived “Murder on the Dancefloor.” Happy to bring that Sophie Ellis-Bextor jam back into my sets and I’m not totally annoyed by the fact that it’s been stuck in my head all morning. 

Here’s the set list. 

(Want some of this music? Some of these tracks link to their corresponding listings on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases made from the links in this set list. Thanks for your support!)

Set 1: 

Talking Heads – Girlfriend is Better

Holy Ghost!, Nancy Whang & Juan Maclean— I Wanted to Tell Her

Hercules & Love Affair – Blind

Tame Impala – Is It True (Twin Sun Edit)

Daft Punk -Around the World

Bronski Beat – Smalltown Boy Vs. Why (Ethan Wood Remix)

Purple Disco Machine – Bad Company (Original Mix)

Pet Shop Boys – It’s a Sin (Disco Mix)

Chromatics – Shadow (Maceo Plex Remix) (Original Mix)

Gorillaz featuring Stevie Nicks – Oil

Interpol –  Cmere  (Josh Patrick Remix)

Set 2:

Los Prisioneros – Tren al Sur (Basic Remix)

Jeanette – Por Que Te Vas (David Kust Remix)

Blondie – Tide Is High

Aretha Franklin – Rock Steady (Danny Krivit Edit)

Jean-Jacques Perrey – E.V.A. (Fatboy Slim Remix)

(Countdown to 2024)

Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Murder on the Dancefloor (Jewels & Stone Mix)

The Bucketheads – The Bomb! (These Sounds Fall Into My Mind) (Armand Van Helden Re-edit)

The Rapture – House of Jealous Lovers

Confidence Man – Angry Girl

Set 3: 

The Killers – Mr. Brightside (Jacques Lu Cont’s Thin White Duke Remix)

Future Islands – For Sure

The Smiths – Bigmouth Strikes Again

Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons – Beggin’ 

Asha Puthli – I Am Song (Sing Me) (Yuksek Remix)

Jessie Ware – Freak Me Now (Extended Mix)

Stardust – Music Sounds Better with You

Steve Monite – Only You (Monsieur Van Pratt Boosted Edit

The Dynamics – Seven Nation Army (Patchworks Holiday Inn Remix)

Liz O. is an L.A.-based writer and DJ. Read her recently published work and check out her upcoming gigs.

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