GigMaven

It seems as though great music and rollerskating have gone hand in hand now for quite some time.

Twelve days ago, The Daily Swarm displayed this picture with a post about a Moodymann DJ gig in the UK. I hadn’t heard about him, but the picture was funky enough to investigate.

It looks like “Soul Skate” is  an event hosted by Kenny Dixon/Moodymann that takes place every year during the Detroit Electronic Music Festival. Take a look at this XLR8R video from a while back to get a feel for this vibe.

“Skatin’ is my art. It’s my soul. I do this once a week. If I don’t do skatin’ I can’t do nothin’ else.” -The Guy in the Video

Watching this, I think you’ll agree that the value of roller skating is clear as a set of clear roller skating wheels

• -For the roller skater, it’s a mode of physical/bodily/artistic expression
• -It’s easier than dancing, and more importantly, less demanding. If you can’t think of a move, just glide along and one will pop into your head and out to your body
• -It’s more stylish than walking
• -Men who roller skate get the rare occasion to wear funky James Brown/Bootsy Collins/Rick James-style heeled boots that just happen to be on wheels
• -Spending a night at the roller rink can be a good way to exercise

-I have a little Remy Martin goin’ on when I’m skatin’, a little Bud Light

• -As per the gentleman’s reference in the video (3:15), drinking at a roller rink can be a health-neutral night out
• -Like driving a car and listening to tunes, roller skating to music let’s you slip into a state where you start to think that the track is being played just for you

Here’s a standout roller skating track I found on YouTube by Moodymann.

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I’m envisioning a dude on roller skates. It’s the early 80s, and he’s got a close-cropped, hairsprayed do and an impeccable mustache. He’s got fairly short shorts on, light-yellow with red white and blue stripes down the sides. His socks are tall and his skates are black, and he leans forward with his hands clasped coolly behind his back as he decides whether or not he wants to start skating backwards during the next drum break.

Did that give you the chills too?