Zeb Resman

These days, you’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t like the Junior Boys. Since forming in 1999, they’ve been cranking out their own unique brand of electronic pop while earning praise from both critics and fans alike. Recently though, the group, consisting of Jeremy Greenspan and Matt Didemus, have put their live shows on the back burner, trading in their instruments for a pair of turntables as they embark on a string of DJ gigs, which is nothing new to these veteran jocks.

"[We started DJing] way before [Junior Boys formed]," Greenspan says. "Matt and I used to have a residency playing house and jungle at a club when we were teenagers." They haven’t totally abandoned the live show this time around though. "Well, we are only doing a very small amount of live shows because we're really busy recording a new record," he continues. "The DJing is really easy to coordinate and do for fun, whereas playing live is a major commitment of time and energy."

Before they release their highly anticipated follow-up to 2006’s "So This Is Goodbye," the duo have a mix CD coming out March 11 on the Get Physical label. "Body Language Six," which will feature tracks from Matthew Dear, Radio Slave and a brand-spanking-new Junior Boys track, should be able to tide fans over until the arrival of their new full-length album.

So, is there a method to the live-mixing madness? Greenspan, who will touch down in Chicago on Friday to spin at Smart Bar, prefers spontaneity to a planned set list. "I do nothing to prepare," he says. "I show up with records, and I play what I want to hear." One thing you definitely won’t hear though is Greenspan's own tracks. "I won't play Junior Boys...something douchey about doing that I think."

And don’t expect him to be hiding behind a laptop all night either. When asked whether he uses traditional vinyl or a Final Scratch rig, Greenspan answers point blank, "Total old-school baby...there ain’t nothing sexy about a laptop."

The Junior Boys’ Jeremy Greenspan drops a DJ set, with Popstatic and Mother Hubbard at Smart Bar, 3730 North Clark, (773)549-0203 on February 29, 10pm-4am. No cover before 11pm, $10 after.

(2008-02-26)

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