So I've been commissioned to dj a new years eve party by this old guy who owns like 5 bars in my town. I djed for him on halloween and he reeeeally liked all the garage music I played and wants more of the same. But its a private party for him and all his old ppl friends - and one thing I've learned as a dj is that ppl (especially old ppl) want to hear either familiar, danceable, or crappy music. I won't play crappy music - but what are some suggestions for some slightly aged hepcats from the 60s who want to party down? I've got a lot of stuff but any ideas might help. Mitch Ryder? Trashmen? And part of my condition of doing this was that I would NOT play the beatles. at all. ever.

Excellent! Smash it up tonight! Jannell said:

Ah man AWESOME suggestions guys. These are hitting the nails on the HEAD! Yeah Yeah Yeah!

Ah man AWESOME suggestions guys. These are hitting the nails on the HEAD! Yeah Yeah Yeah!

Not even Beatles stuff like "I Saw Her Standing There", or their versions of stuff like "Slowdown", "Bad Boy" or "Long Tall Sally" (I really loved the comp ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC VOL. 1)? Seriously though, you also got some cool stuff by Paul Revere and the Raiders and the Kingsmen, and The Young Rascals are pretty cool, I think, at least in their first year's worth of material. I know this sounds like blasphamy but you could do a quick scan of Little Steven's playlists archives for suggestions. You don't have to be a member to look at the playlists, only just to listen to shows. He actually has some GOOD familiar tunes, not just your standard oldie moldies.

Hope that helps a little.

I respect & endorse your conditions - gotta have standards. I’m pretty old (55) and still love some of the old stuff (but love the new stuff more to be honest).
Trashmen would be great, followed up with the Cramps would be awesome – hopefully your client is a little bit adventurous. Mixing up the “eras” is always fun. I’d do some old Animals, Kinks & Stones with some good old Sex Pistols, Clash, Ramones & the Zeroes. And Devo’s “Satisfaction” is always good for a bridge to yesteryear. Here are some other bands whose stuff is still fun to hear – Standells, the Count Five, the Sonics, Nashville Teens, Moby Grape (just the rockin’ stuff), Syndicate of Sound, Yardbirds, Them, the Seeds, there’s more I’m sure but my old memory is fading fast . . .