The Christmas Party. In the years I have lived in Buffalo, each year I would pack my suitcase, shut down my dorm room or apartment, and head home to Syracuse for the holiday season. I would return and hear every single one of my friends talk about "The Christmas Party," although never in full-detail. This party, in my eyes, became a wintertime enigma.

While my school books are collecting dust in my closet, I have entered the real world. Although I will miss my month long vacation from responsibilities, and this year I'll have to wake up at the crack of dawn on Dec. 26 to head to my day job, I am ecstatic that The Christmas Party is an experience I will finally have.

What seems to be the most wild holiday party of the year has just been announced by MNM Presents for 2013.

Welp, this will come as a real treat for all you bass-heads out there. Tonight, Shaun Brockhurst, aka Doctor P, will be dropping a full set at Town Ballroom (courtesy of MnM Presents), As a performer, he knows how to work a crowd, as a producer, he has generated a lot of widespread buzz, garnering acclaim as being one of the most exciting names pushing the dubstep movement forward today.  And tonight, all of us in the area have a chance to experience him at his prime as he tears the Town Ballroom up with his concoction of dubstep, "bro-step", moombahton, and drum & bass. He'll be joined by Notixx and MITIS. 

Door open at 8PM at tickets are $25 in advance. See you there.

The evocation of emotions brought through music is a wonderful thing; it tells a story. Ellie Goulding, known for her swooning and light-hearted vocals, has covered other musicians and been remixed by many. Jamestown native Notixx, the producer and DJ also known as Ryan Sinatra, recently remixed Ellie’s newest release “Burn,” a song about elated and confident romance.

The beauty of a remix is the artistic freedom and ability to set the original song to a new vibe. This rework of “Burn” is one that says something else. With Ellie’s lyrics and angelic voice, it makes you feel love is really all you need to keep that strong connection. That nothing else matters. She says “we don’t have to worry about nothing,” but the the vibe generated by Notixx's rework says maybe you should.

This remix is heavy and disturbed. The buildup is, as per usual when it comes to exploring the wonders of another soul, light and joyful. Suddenly, an undertone of darkness, an uncovering of secrets, sets in. It shows the lying, deception, and utter fuckery. The new shadowy instrumental tweaking as the base, sparkled with such beautiful lyrics, is the epitome of someone with a mouthful of diamonds. Her lyrics inspire promises of fidelity and hope, but somehow the remix steals away Ellie's golden intentions. This track is when the fire goes out and the only things burned are bridges.

The remix is now up for free download on SoundCloud.

Remember when you were a kid and you'd bring home a paper or test, and on top would be 100 circled in red. Maybe your Papa threw you five bucks or your Mom secured it with a magnet on the fridge? It's been apparent from the beginning that life is about keepin' it one hunnid.

Local DJs and producers Shooter McNappin and Buzz Trillington, from the duo SwaggleRock, released some original tracks on the exclusive EP by music blog Do Androids Dance. You may be an avid fan. You may remember them from Omega Lounge before it closed, and if you ever go to Duke's Bohemian Grove Bar you've definitely seen them. Maybe you were at Town Ballroom waiting for [insert beloved headliner name here] to hit the stage and were blown away by them as they warmed up the floor. Buzz Trillington and Shooter McNappin have opened for big names like Rusko, Brillz, Flosstradamus, DJ Craze, David Heartbreak, DJ Sliink, Donald Glaude, Cobra Krames, and that's just to name a few. Now with a little traveling under their belt, just last month they made their way to Baltimore for a Dicksquad rager. These Niagara Falls based boys stay turnt up.

You may recognize another familiar name on the EP, Notixx. He opened for Caspa a couple months ago and has some heavy releases on his SoundCloud. Perhaps you caught Pickster One when he came through for Field Day last year. Also featured on We Keep It EP is Phoenix based Riot Earp, and also H-Town's Ape Drums.

Show some support for the 716. Explore some new music. And most importantly, always keep it 100.

And if you don't remember to, just listen to track three. You won't forget. 

Tonight, Caspa returns to Town Ballroom for round two. Last year I was blown away by the show, you can read my full review here. An originating DJ and producer of dubstep, Caspa is OG. Reading through the article and thinking about how phenomenal the show was, I have no doubt in my mind that his performance will be incredible once again. His remix of deadmau5 and Kaskade's "I Remember" still gets me all wildly emotional; it's a classic that I'll never stop listening to. Caspa and the other DJs opening the show are bound to bring a spectacle.

Opening the night will be duo Claw and Richie August, otherwise known as HULK, in addition to local performances from the ever talented Notixx and also DJ Stuntman.