Last saturday marked the 5th anniversary of Austin’s longest running 2×4 DJ setup (you know, 2 DJs on 4 turntables). And if you are a true hip hop fan, Saturday nights at Plush should be hailed as your church. From Wu-Tang and A Tribe Called Quest to UGK and Outkast, Austin’s own Table Manners Crew has been traversing the hip hop spectrum up and down, left and right, in and out and even diagonally. Finding new ways to bring the masses into their music filled universe every week for the past 5 years, TMC has successfully solidified a loyal music-loving crowd: people who are not afraid to lose their voices while singing along to their favorites jams over the speakers, people who don’t mind being in a packed room, getting sweaty, and getting their feet stepped on.

The whole family was in attendance: DJs Nerdy Harry, Tats, Digg, Crown, and Kid Slyce. Going back forth, passing tracks to one another, there was actually only 1 DJ on the whole time, the TMC Voltron was in full effect and people loved it. For the first time in a while, the spot was packed and jamming by 11pm. Over there, a group of people forming the smallest dance circle ever but yet jamming as if they were paid by the ounce of sweat. In that corner, 3 or 4 people nodding to the Table Manners Sound as if they kept being asked are you liking this? over and over. In the back room, people sitting around talking but who were still reminded that they were in the presence of some the best hip hop this city has to offer and did not hesitate to make their way back to the main room.

Each member brought their A-game. We were glad to hear the sounds of the original DJ Nerdy Harry, dropping the old school joints. DJ Crown took us even further with one of his funkiest sets. Then Master Chef DJ Tats cut the tracks back and forth like he was making the best sashimi ever. Digg, equal to himself, came to bless us all with track selections not even from this world. And of course, Kid Slyce was there to represent as the only DJ who has no problem spinning shirtless. They all called and the crowd responded. I think if you can have a packed room, not a single head at rest, people screaming at the top of their lungs everytime one of their favorite tracks is being played, and 2+ DJs for the price of 1 (actually for no price at all most of the time), and all that on a weekly basis, you can safely consider yourself one of the pillars of Austin’s nightlife.

And of course, all the usual suspects were there to support their favorite DJ bunch. And I am sure that even people who randomly decided to check out Plush that night had the ball and will remember that night. I sure will…until the next anniversary that is.

You’ve kept good form and behavior on the decks 5 years strong. Congrats to Table Manners Crew.