November 15; 2010: East Village bar HiFi announces debut of redesigned EL DJ

HiFi is thrilled to introduce the new EL DJ —its one of a kind PC jukebox re-imagined and redesigned for 2010 and beyond.

EL DJ was built specifically for HiFi and first launched when the bar opened its doors in the fall of 2002. This modern day jukebox is the brainchild of HiFi’s owner; music industry veteran Mike Stuto.

Created at a time when digital music was still controversial and I-Tunes was a Mac-Only application, EL DJ caused quite a stir when it first appeared. Music fans streamed into the bar to take a look and esteemed publications including Wired, The New York Times, The Village Voice, Time Out NY, NY Press, and The New York Post all praised EL DJ in their pages.

The upgraded EL DJ is rebuilt entirely from scratch and is improved in many ways — the track ball navigation system is smoother; the user interface allows for easier artist search; related artists are combined (e.g. click on Luna and you will also find Galaxie 500, Dean & Britta, and Damon & Naomi); easily over-looked compilation tracks now appear alongside full-length albums by their respective artists; the kiosk is leaner and wall-mounted; and during down time EL DJ shuffles from a list of over 3000 handpicked tracks.

EL DJ’s library is culled from Stuto’s personal music collection and features 3500 albums and nearly 50,000 songs. While focusing on indie, punk, alternative, electro, and “alt-country” rock, there’s no lack of classic rock, soul, reggae, and old school hip-hop. While it may not be the only jukebox that had the new Arcade Fire album available on its release date, its certainly the only one on the planet that also houses two “Nuggets” Box-Sets and 24 full length albums by The Fall.

EL DJ is particularly relevant in this location – which has a storied musical history. As far back as 1989 the space at 169 Avenue A was known as Brownies – a 200 capacity live music club that, under Stuto’s direction, saw the first NYC performances by artists such as Spoon, My Morning Jacket, Death Cab For Cutie, Bright Eyes, The New Pornographers, Supergrass, Elliott Smith, Sunny Day Real Estate, Son Volt and thousands more. Throughout the 90s and until its closing Brownies was the go-to showcase club noted by all for its excellent bookings. Mostly known for “indie rock”, Brownies’ programming was in truth as diverse as EL DJ’s library.

In the summer of 2002, right in the middle of the wave of NYC rock that saw the rise of bands like Interpol, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs (both of whom played numerous shows at Brownies) and The Strokes, Stuto tired of the rock-club grind. He replaced his stage with a pool table and transformed the space into HiFi. The bar immediately became a destination for album release/listening parties, late-night TV viewing parties (many bands come to watch themselves on Letterman or Fallon), and as a treasured locale for people with discerning musical tastes.

HiFi is open 365 days a year and is available for private events.

contact: Mike Stuto
info@thehifibar.com
212-420-8392
www.thehifibar.com