Party Illegal & Blends With Friends: Building Durham’s DJ Pipeline

Host Tony Technique celebrates the Vinyl Underground Podcast’s one-year anniversary and welcomes Matt, Peter, and Patrick from Durham’s Party Illegal, organizers of Blends With Friends open decks. They trace Party Illegal’s origins at The Pinhook, beginning with plans in late 2012 and the first event on New Year’s Eve 2013, its four-year monthly run, and a shift in 2016 to less frequent one-off events featuring artists from outside the area. They explain how Blends With Friends began in 2021 during COVID, moved from Quarter Horse to The Pinhook in 2022, and expanded to Boom Club (formerly PS37) with regular nights. The guests discuss providing access to club gear, a welcoming space to learn and make mistakes, the Blender DJ contest pipeline to first paid gigs, community-driven equipment crowdfunding, and upcoming events including Wax Museum vinyl night at Stanchics, Mood Board at Boom Club with open decks, and Peter’s Arcana residency and new music as Bardo Bloom. 00:00 Welcome and Anniversary 01:18 Meet Party Illegal 02:19 Durham Scene Origins 03:07 Party Illegal History 05:07 Blends With Friends Begins 08:39 Open Decks Mission 11:35 The Blender Showcase 14:11 Community and Crew 15:58 Peter on Organic Growth 20:30 Open Decks Around Triangle 21:51 Mood Board Announcement 23:37 Beyond Genre Philosophy 28:15 Promoting Realities 33:11 Changing Nightlife Economics 34:27 Local Talent vs Headliners 35:30 Touring Costs and Legacy 37:54 Themed Raves Rise 38:38 Triangle Scene Visibility 39:55 Finding Events Today 43:54 From Musician to DJ 45:26 Arcana Monthly Residency 45:56 Blends and Party Illegal Origins 47:53 Low Barrier DJ Era 50:08 Crowdfunded Club Gear 54:37 Priority Nights Inclusion 56:43 Youth Workshops Garner 58:40 Upcoming Events Plugs 01:04:10 Final Shoutouts Wrap