Le Twist is a popular recurring weekly dance party held in Sacramento, founded and hosted by a rotating crew of local DJs led by Sam I Jam.[1][2] Built on an open-format, "eclectic" musical concept, it pairs resident DJ sets with rotating special-guest performers, and is known for free admission and for booking cutting-edge touring acts alongside local bands.[1][2] Its guiding philosophy is "No trendy gimmicks. Just great music."[3] The series spans electronic, indie, shoegaze, and dance music — a genre scope confirmed in 2019 promotional materials.[3]
At a glance
- Recurring local dance night, originally a Tuesday-night party.[1]
- Launched at downtown Sacramento's Dive Bar on January 10, 2012;[4] moved to the Midtown venue LowBrau (1050 20th Street, in the MARRS Building) around early 2013.[1][5]
- Hosted by local DJs Sam I Jam, Adam Jay, Taylor Cho, and Roger Carpio.[1][3]
- Open-format / "eclectic" concept; free admission, 21-and-over, typically starting at 9 p.m.[1]
- Curator Sam I Jam used the night to introduce Sacramento to numerous touring bands plus guest DJs and local acts.[2]
What it is
Le Twist is a recurring DJ-driven dance party hosted by local DJs Sam I Jam, Adam J, Taylor Cho and Roderick Carpio.[1] Its defining idea is an open-format approach in which the hosts and guests share and perform music they personally find "eclectic."[1] As described by curator Sam I Jam, the night functions as a vehicle for introducing Sacramento showgoers to cutting-edge touring bands alongside guest DJs and local bands.[2] The events have consistently been free and 21-and-over, with the Tuesday-night incarnation getting going at 9 p.m.[1] A 2019 event listing describes the night's scope as covering electronic, indie, shoegaze, and dance music, with the tagline "No trendy gimmicks. Just great music."[3]
Venues and history
Le Twist launched at the downtown Sacramento bar Dive Bar on January 10, 2012, according to Submerge Magazine.[4] The night relocated to the newly opened Midtown venue LowBrau (1050 20th Street, in the MARRS Building) around early 2013.[1][5] The move was reported in early 2013, indicating the night had already established itself as a "popular recurring Tuesday night party" by that point.[1] LowBrau co-principals Clay Nutting and Michael Hargis were described as longtime advocates of the Le Twist concept, and the space became a hit with attendees.[1]
By June 2019 — roughly seven years after its 2012 founding — Le Twist had hosted over 100 live events, according to Downtown Grid.[3] By 2018, the night was still active and Sam I Jam was characterized as a local DJ and event curator "known for his Le Twist parties inside LowBrau."[2]
The resident DJ roster has been listed under several variant spellings across sources. A 2019 Downtown Grid event listing names them as Sam I Jam, Adam Jay, and Roger Carpio;[3] earlier Submerge Magazine coverage (2014) consistently uses "Adam J" rather than "Adam Jay."[4] The spine's listing of "Roderick Carpio" may similarly be an imprecise rendering of the name confirmed as "Roger Carpio" in the 2019 source.[3]
Notable shows and guests
Across the documented run, Le Twist regularly featured special guests at its LowBrau home:
- Feb. 26, 2013: Sacramento-origin dance-punk act !!! (Chk Chk Chk) was billed to "hijack" Le Twist.[1]
- March 5, 2013: 8th Grader.[1]
- March 12, 2013: Litanic Mask.[1]
- March 10, 2015: Portland dream-pop band Wild Ones, presented as part of "Le Twist Tuesdays" (a free show).[5]
- Jan. 20, 2015: Haunted Summer, an LA husband-and-wife dream-pop duo (John Seasons and Bridgette Moody), made their first Sacramento appearance at LowBrau, presented by Le Twist.[4] According to CapRadio, the show was on a Tuesday and marked the duo's Sacramento debut.[4]
- Dec. 6, 2016: local duo Trophii (Lindsey Pavao and Richie Smith) held a free album release party for Vitamins and Flowers presented by Le Twist, with Doombird also performing.[6]
- Dec. 19, 2017: the Le Twist Holiday Party hosted the EP release for Death Party at the Beach (Absence), free and starting at 9 p.m., performing in support of a DJ set by !!!'s Nic Offer and Mario Andreoni.[7]
- June 27, 2019: a free show at LowBrau featured Ben Browning and Gloamie (live) plus Le Twist resident DJs Sam I Jam, Adam Jay, and Roger Carpio, running 9 p.m.–11:30 p.m.[3]
The recurring involvement of !!! / Nic Offer as a guest DJ across multiple years (2013 and 2017) underscores the night's tie to Sacramento-rooted dance-punk figures.[1][7]
Local status
Le Twist is treated throughout the corpus as a homegrown Sacramento institution: it is described as a "popular recurring Tuesday night party," hosted by named "local DJs," and curator Sam I Jam is repeatedly identified as a "local DJ and event curator."[1][2] Its through-line is bringing touring acts to Sacramento, which positions it as a local presenter rather than a touring entity.[2]