‘Star’ is born: local DJ mix revives eighties music
Bar offers cover band alternative
By Jeff Roedel, Revelry Writer
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Dust off those old Z Cavaricci’s and walk like an Egyptian to the Spanish Moon because the decade of MTV, pizza delivery and Reaganomics is alive and kicking on Thursday nights. DJ Chris Culotta is resident mix-master for Star 80 –named after the Margo Hemingway film — which is on tonight and most Thursdays at the Moon.
“I’ll always try to play The Cure, which people go nuts for, and Madonna is a big one,” Culotta said. “I play a lot of new wave, but towards the end of the night I’ll get into a little bit faster music, like The Ramones, to keep the party livened up.”
Culotta has been Star 80’s master of ceremonies for nearly two years with his 2nd Anniversary celebration coming up on Thanksgiving night, Nov. 28.
“Well, tonight will be the official party, ’cause for Thanksgiving all the students go home,” Culotta said. “But we are going to be open for Thanksgiving, if people do want to come out. And if it’s only four people there, then it’ll be just like the first year.”
General studies senior Kara Miller thinks the fashion and music of the ’80s is more popular now than a few years ago. She says Star 80 and the Spanish Moon are the perfect venue for a retro celebration.
“The Spanish Moon always has a great mix of characters,” Miller said. “And everybody loves the ’80s, even though they don’t want to admit it.”
Culotta echoes Miller’s thoughts, saying the Moon is filled with “all walks of life.”
“It’s not a frat bar, and it’s not a sophisticated wine bar,” he said. “It’s everything melded into one. Everybody gets along, and it’s perfect.”
Culotta says the idea for an ’80s night originated in a conversation he had with a local promoter concerning the lack of unique activities in Baton Rouge. The two began brainstorming on ideas and soon settled on ’80s dance music, an idea Culotta says another local bar was not developing to its potential.
“It’s a good alternative to cover bands,” Miller said. “They play quality ’80s, good stuff that’s also obscure. It’s songs you always want to hear, but nobody else plays.”
Culotta, who reserves a Star 80 segment for “danceable glam rock,” always honors requests for popular tunes. But mostly he enjoys introducing patrons to lesser-known songs from the neon era.
“I play Peter Schilling, which not too many people know, and things like The Jam and the Psychedelic Furs. Once they hear it, people really dig it.”
Introducing people to quality music is a thrill for this first time DJ, as is setting the mood of the crowd.
“[A DJ] can control people’s emotions by what they play,” Culotta said. “If the people aren’t having fun, you can put on just one song, and it’ll change the whole thing. It’s amazing.”
Though Culotta spins music earlier, Star 80 draws large crowds around 11:30 p.m.
In the spirit of Andy Warhol’s “fifteen minutes of fame,” the DJ says he never advertises for Star 80 because he wants the event to remain an underground attraction, growing only by word of mouth.
“People tell me I ruined their Friday mornings because they were late for work,” Culotta said. “They live for Thursday nights.”