SURVEY SAYS DJ Devlin & DJ Tonic
BY MARLI GUZZETTA
“Popularity and trend rarely correlate with quality in dance music.”

DJ Devlin and DJ Tonic will spin top-shelf House music on Fridays at the Rose and Crown as part of their winter Revolution.

That’s the tagline behind “Revolution” — a new series of House music sets that will be spun on island by DJs Devlin and Tonic, known at their day jobs as Peter Devlin Ahern and Tony Camilo, respectively. You may have witnessed them stealing the show from behind the turntables at The Muse this summer, even bringing in live percussionists for their Afro-Cuban sets. This Friday at the Rose and Crown, they launch what they plan to be the first of many Friday night dance sessions at the R&C to help Nantucketers shake off the snow this winter.

The two 31-year-old DJs want to change the way Nantucket hears and dances to its electronica, and they’re quite careful in selecting their music — tracks from some of the most respected DJs and electronica acts in the country and the world, including names like Herbert, Bent, Royksopp and Zero 7.

“There’s nothing wrong with Top 40, but we’re not doing it,” Nantucket native Ahern said.

“With this, we want to influence people’s perception towards House music,” said Camilo, who hails from the Dominican Republic. “House music is not only a repetitive bass kick over and over with a faceless diva chanting in the back.”

To enhance the Revolutionary experience, Camilo, a graphic designer, has been infusing his imagery into promotion materials, onto CD faces, all over posters — anywhere the eye may wander. The idea is to present a concept, and this concept, “Revolution,” has been pinned up all over Nantucket on posters bearing classic Communist propaganda imagery. (The night is in no way political — it’s just a visual heuristic.)

The net effect is a DJ package that falls in line with what you might find in promotions for larger clubs in big cities — where electronic music is in many ways embraced as the jazz of its generation, and not looked at as a vehicle for partying.

“You come to any of our parties and you’ll find something really important, which is respect. People love to be dancing. They enjoy their night. Most of them don’t even drink alcohol. It’s all very positive,” Camilo said.

Ahern, who just completed something of a musical pilgrimage to Europe, where electronic music is king, stressed the universality of House music — which incorporates everything from American Hip- Hop, to Afro-Cuban, to Baroque classical, to rock and pop.

“People from all over come to our shows,” Ahern said. “I’m from Nantucket. Tony’s Dominican. My girlfriend’s Slovakian. So we have a huge mix of people come, and they all get along, because everyone gets music.”

The boys think the proof was in pudding — they had the walls stretched at The Muse this summer with locals; why not keep it going through the winter?

“Now that we’ve done it, we want to keep doing it,” Ahern said. Of the top of your head, what are your favorite acts of all time?

Ahern: Wu Tang Clan, Thievery Corporation, The Roots, Roni Size and Shy FX.

Camilo: Sigur Ros, Zero 7, Groove Armada, Thievery Corporation and Cpen.

What are you doing after this interview?

Ahern: Drinking beer and playing records.

Camilo: Working on graphic design projects; I have to tie up some loose ends.

Where will you be 24 hours from now?

Ahern: I will be at dinner at American Seasons.

Camilo: I’ll be sharing with a friend.

If you had one superpower, what would it be?

Camilo: To cause orgasm just by touching someone with a magic wand.

Ahern: I can’t top that. How can you top that? Go back in time?

Camilo: That’s a good one.

Ahern: Yeah, then I guess I’d go back in time. ... That would be dangerous, really dangerous. But I’d like to try it.

What’s the sexiest item of clothing you own?

Ahern: My Diesel jeans. At least, they better be sexy for $200.

Camilo: Maybe my chastity belt.

What’s your favorite CD right now?

Ahern: There’s one of Tony’s mixes that I’ve been listening to. The other one is Lupe Fiasco’s “Food & Liquor.”

Camilo: I downloaded “The Definitive Young- Holt Unlimited.” Old R&B and jazz. And it’s just killing me right now. It’s blowing me away.

What’s the most embarrassing CD you own?

Camilo: I’ll tell you this. I used to sleep with my Milli Vanilli record under my pillow, so it could go straight to my soul. I am not kidding. But that’s not my most embarrassing one. I sold them all. If I realize that it’s embarrassing, I sell it or give it away. I’m proud of everything I have.

Ahern: I’d have to say the same. I’m proud of everything I have. Because the older you get with this DJ thing, you have to be really selective.

I DJS SHOW
When: Friday, Dec. 15, 10 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Where: Rose & Crown, 23 South Water Street
Cost: $5 (Subsequent shows are intended
  to be free.)
For more information, call 228-2595.