In a dark bar not far from campus, a young DJ tucks himself in the corner at the counter, head phones cocked across the back of his head, concocting a blend sounds from his laptop.
Harvey Herr, musically known as DJ Bad Weed, shatters the molds of musical stereotypes. With an unlikely mix of dance, techno, reggae, African, American and Latin, Herr manipulates the atmosphere and captivates his audience like a true artist.
“I play all genres and styles of music. I explore the hubs of ingenuity being recognized all over the world,” said Herr.
The eclectic and inspiring music has streamed out of the Dyer Street Bar for the past few Wednesdays. Students and locals dance everywhere and anywhere in the bar, or they simply soak in the grooves with a drink and a cigarette. Two jimbay drums idle nearby, left for the active listener to play along with the electronic sounds. The attitude is exhilarating and relaxed; it is anything the listener wants it to be.
“It’s got a grassroots feeling to it, very rare in the DJ-ing scene,” said Hillary Whitehead, a senior marketing major.
“Instead of loud, pumping, can’t-talk-to-the-person-next-to-you music with $7 beers and a $10 cover, it’s a relief to find kids playing drums, dancing to a mix of electronic reggae and just having a good time.”
In this open ambiance, Herr welcomes anyone to the table with suggestions or a desire to mix for themselves. He performs for his own fulfillment, but the greatest elation comes from audience reactions.
“The most rewarding part of mixing is when people build moods and behavior around your sound,” Herr said. “I am perpetually amazed to discover the myriad of ways that music positively affects the human being.”
During most nights at the Dyer Street Bar, several other DJs join the electronic music alliance. Alex Jimenez, known as Lil’ Fresh One Jimenez, mixed music for last Wednesday’s session. Jimenez and Herr work together with like-minded goals.
“Performing is my passion and I love interacting with crowds; it’s what I live for,” says the SMU alum.
Jimenez grew up with musical influences in his family and began playing various instruments at an early age. The young DJ has progressed from playing the guitar to mixing vocal house tracks.
Beside the weekly rave sessions, Herr organized a concert in March with DJ Killtronix, another SMU DJ; The Off Button, an SMU fusion band and Northern State, a female hip-hop group from New York. As many students might remember, the unusual mix of bands brought people in droves to the little-known bar. Inspired after this success, Herr continues to bring a fresh mix of styles and genres to his audience.
