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Every DJ has one: that unique gig they always talk about at birthday parties. This episode of MY MOST MEMORABLE GIG Australian Christian Barbuto a.k.a. DJ/producer Barbuto, who resides in Australia these days. Barbuto shares his dream gig: "'Would you be interested in opening for Carl Cox?'"
“As much as I’d love to tell the story of my outdoor festival gig, I have to choose another one. Okay, very briefly then – this festival gig stood out because, while I was playing, a nest of daddy longlegs suddenly fell from a tree right on top of me. Hundreds of spiders crawled over my face and body, but I had to act as if nothing was happening. After all, I was on stage, and the crowd had no idea what was going on. That was quite intense.”
Legendary 1015 Folsom nightclub
“But the gig I want to talk about here is my dream gig. It took place just over a year ago in Austin, Texas, where I shared the lineup with the one and only king of techno, Carl Cox. This gig was special, first and foremost, because Carl Cox is such a legend. But for me, it was even more significant because the first real techno event I ever attended was a party from his label, Intec, in 1999 at the historic 1015 Folsom nightclub in San Francisco.”
A childhood vision
“I had just started DJing at the time but was still searching for my musical direction. Back then, in San Francisco, Carl Cox was at his peak – he was the world’s number one DJ. Smashing it for four hours straight on three decks was just another night for him. The moment I saw him play, my passion for techno ignited. Right then and there, I had this almost childish vision that, one day, I would open for Carl Cox. Over the years, that vision kept resurfacing.”
Luigi Madonna
“Fast forward twenty years to 2020 – Real Music Events in Austin announced that Carl Cox would be stopping there on his Carl Cox & Friends tour. Luigi Madonna was booked as the opening DJ. How awesome! Of course, I was also a little disappointed that I hadn’t been asked to open, realizing my dream probably wouldn’t come true.”
Meet & Greet
“A few days before the event, I returned from a gig in Tulum, Mexico. I messaged Andrew Parsons from Real Music Events, offering to help out with the event. At the very least, I hoped it would lead to a quick meet-and-greet or maybe even a photo with the king.”
A healthy dose of nerves
“Andrew responded immediately. ‘Uhhh, are you in town?’ he asked. I replied, ‘Yeah man, I just got back from Mexico’. Andrew then asked if he could call me. Suddenly, I was hit with a wave of excitement. When I answered, he got straight to the point. ‘Hey Christian, Luigi Madonna can’t make it to Carl Cox & Friends. Would you be interested in opening for Carl?’ Of course, I didn’t have to think twice! Less than 24 hours later, my dream of opening for my favorite DJ became a reality—and I stood next to Carl in front of a sea of fans.”
A trendy venue
“The event took place at a trendy venue in downtown Austin called Fair Market. With 1,700 people, it was completely sold out – although, by Carl Cox’s standards, it was quite an intimate affair. Andrew from Real Music Events set the mood perfectly before it was my turn to take the decks. Since I had barely any time to prepare, I played a totally random selection, but it turned into an amazing opening set. You can listen to it on SoundCloud.”
Exceptionally kind
“I played for an hour and a half before Carl Cox walked into the booth. He was escorted by a friendly but rather intimidating tour manager – definitely not someone you’d want to mess with!” (laughs) “Carl greeted me warmly and gave me a heartwarming hug. He truly is an exceptionally kind person. He took a moment to chat and take some photos with me. Nervously, I told him about my visit to that Intec techno party twenty years earlier and how his performance had inspired my career. Carl said he remembered the event. We also talked about our shared love for Ducati motorcycles.”
Contagious energy
“Carl’s presence is contagious and powerful. Not everyone in this industry is friendly, so it’s a relief – and incredibly inspiring – when the greatest of all time turns out to be such a fantastic human being. Every DJ should take notes from Carl Cox and learn to be kind.”
“The rest of the night speaks for itself. Carl was phenomenal, blowing the roof off for three hours straight. This was the last major event before Covid shut down the world, so maybe the techno angels were watching over me. I can now say: techno dreams do come true!”
This interview met Barbuto is originally published in April 2021 on This Is Our House.
Who is Barbuto?
The location was Sydney, Australia. An influential member of the techno monarchy was born. Christian Barbuto’s skill set and musical prowess would be discovered over 20 years later upon relocating to Austin, Texas. It was here, in the live music capital of the world, where industry protégé Christian Barbuto would fully realize his creative ability and duty to the underground.
It didn’t take long for Barbuto to righteously find his place at the forefront of Austin’s club circuit. One may say the stars had aligned with the opening of Kingdom Night Club. Barbuto found himself standing tall in the DJ booth, further refining his skills behind the decks. A venue that’s been touted by world class techno talent as one of the best clubs in the country to play, Kingdom Night Club is a techno arena and Barbuto is the undefeated champion.
His ever-evolving sound remains loyal to the dark, bass-hungry attributes of techno. Watch in awe as Barbuto’s sets cast a spell upon the dance floor. Weaving crowds in and out between moments of deep, infectious groove to minimal modulation, Barbuto approaches each performance with intellect and vivacious energy. Keeping audiences transfixed for hours upon end, Barbuto sets the bar for all others to strive for.
This edge is exactly what has landed Barbuto on many of the industry’s prestigious imprints including Octopus, Transmit, Funk n’ Deep, Phobiq and Natura Viva among others. He’s hypnotized the dance floors of WMC, The BPM Festival, CODA (Toronto), Avalon (Los Angeles), Space Miami, Tree House (Miami), The End Up (San Francisco), Spin (San Diego), Jet Lounge (Houston), Quality Control (Salt Lake City) and dozens of underground parties across North America.
