DJ Lowdown: RC Lair

After establishing himself in the Vancouver scene in the 1990s, RC Lair made a detour through Arizona before coming back to our fair city, where he’s become a premier taste-making DJ. Alongside fellow residents Tyler Johnson and DJ Timeline, Lair presides over Stereotype Fridays at Celebrities, the city’s biggest and best dance-music weekly for two years running. The Straight recently caught up with the Saskatchewan native to get his thoughts on the past, present, and future of local nightlife.

CURRENT RESIDENCIES
Stereotype Fridays at Celebrities
Glass Box Saturdays at Republic

CRAZIEST GIG
“It was for [a party called] Peep Show at the Icehouse in Phoenix, Arizona—New Year’s Eve 2000. I was the only DJ on the flier, and got to play all night long to 1,600 people.”

DREAM GIG
“No cover, free coat check, a Formica dance floor, no wallflowers, nobody making stupid requests, smiling people dancing all night long, no cops called, no curfew, no lineup for the super-clean washrooms, very dark, a couple of red lights, a good-looking, half-naked crowd, Erol Alkan and Kissy Sellout on the decks, free water, free booze, no puking, great sound, lots of bass, one room, one vibe.”

CURRENT TOP 5 CHART
Flou “Je Prends Les Gens Pour Ce Qu’ils Sont (Designer Drugs Remix)”
Mystery Jets “Young Love (Shoes Mix)”
The Presets “This Boy’s in Love (KIM Mix)”
Crookers “My Penny”
Clark Able “Lemonhead (Hijack Remix)”

RECORD THAT NEVER LEAVES YOUR BOX
“Nobody plays records anymore! But seriously, anything by Lifelike.”

FAVOURITE LOCAL BAND
“The Good News. I will be doing a remix soon if those schleps will finally get me some parts.”

WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT STEREOTYPE?
“We have consistently amazing international and local talent—all at the best club in the city.”

WHAT MAKES VANCOUVER’S NIGHTLIFE UNIQUE?
“The unique thing about Vancouver is that it has laws that won’t allow a huge, thriving club culture to explode as it has in most other major markets.”