How Local DJs are Redefining the Long Beach Music Experience

By Jenna Birdwell

Photographed by Auberon Webber/@obi1og on Instagram. Nick Aguilar spinning vinyl. 

Music is one part of history that has consistently stayed relevant: from live bands to vinyl  and CDs, to streaming through fancy earbuds, it remains an accessible form of media for  all to enjoy.  

Long Beach is thriving with underground gems and experiences on every corner and most  of what goes on here has a bit of the “if-you-know-you-know” element attached to it, which makes the area so special. Long Beach contains a bounty of bars and events that are  jumping with music, and the city owes a large part of its music scene to the DJ culture. 

One of the many special places on Fourth Street, also known as Retro Row, hides a quaint  record shop, Third Eye Records, which is filled to the brim with music memorabilia. 

Nick Aguilar, also known as DJ Nick At Nite, frequently inhabits both Third Eye Records and  Twelves, another Long Beach record store. He is fortunate enough to work at both—whenever he isn’t on the road playing drums for bands such as the electric Frankie and the  Witch Fingers. He spends much of his free time digging through vinyl that he hopes to spin for his DJ sets all over Long Beach. 

Photographed by @megs.miller; Nick Aguilar 

He says he felt inspired to get into DJing because of a particular dance party that holds a residency at the bar he works at.  

Good Foot Long Beach happens every third Friday at Alex’s Bar and one would think they traveled back in time with the swoon worthy soul and funk that echoes throughout the bar.  

Good Foot hosts all-vinyl DJ parties: Aguilar has been obsessing over vinyl since he was 12 years old and after listening to Good Foot DJs, he knew that was exactly the kind of energy  he wanted to give and receive. 

The most enjoyable part of Djing, for Aguilar is simply making people dance. 

“It’s a great feeling,” says Aguilar. “So that’s why I really do it. I want to spread the love of music and, I want to make people feel good.” 

Not only is the energy from the crowd what keeps him spinning vinyl, but it’s the spreading of music that has become less popular due to the inevitable changing of times. 

“People don't really want to hear that stuff these days, they want to hear stuff that's more modern,” admits Aguilar. “Subtly convincing people of a certain kind of music that you think is dope is truly an awesome feeling.”  

He appreciates all forms of music—except passionately disliking Nu-metal—and also  appreciates the other side of DJing, which is much more progressive technologically.  

Photographed by @7ishheaven on Instagram. Alex Harris DJing out on the water in Long Beach. 

Alex Harris, a Long Beach local who began his DJing journey only about two years ago, went to school to pursue audio engineering and now knows the ins and outs of DJ technology. His passion for music is enough to keep him performing despite his full-time job and other life responsibilities.  

He works with Secret Service LBC, a local community that shares their love of music  through hosting parties and events. Through Secret Service, Harris DJs and produces mixes of house, disco and techno. His passion for performing is apparent and his favorite moment DJing was at an afterparty for a larger festival that happened during the day.  

“I closed it out, so I was the last person to play. It was magical honestly,” Harris says. “It sucked because it was ending with me, but at the same time, people went just as hard because they didn't want to go home yet. They were partying until the end with me.” 

Photographed by @7ishheaven on Instagram. Alex Harris DJing for Secret Service LBC. 

His passion for DJing is not only channeled through personal dedication, but he has found community within the city as well.

“The culture down here is definitely driven through the love of that music,” Harris added.  “Other places like LA can be a little fake in a way. People are there to maybe show off to their Instagram versus in Long Beach it's not about that whatsoever.”  

Both Aguilar and Harris represent two separate worlds within the same community for music. They are so similar yet possess unique technological skillsets and genre-based interests that create diversified livened crowds.  

With large-scale DJ festivals, such as Beyond Wonderland, Hard Summer and Lightning in a Bottle, becoming increasingly popular, it is important to appreciate local DJ’s and their contributions to the music culture.  

Photographed by Doug Moore/@dug.moore on Instagram. Nick Aguilar DJing for a crowd of people. 

“People should care more about the local scene because the local scene cares more about you,” Harris proudly says.  

Aguilar had a similar take. “If you don’t support local, you’re not doing a service to your community.”