It’s one of those rags to riches stories you only see in cheesy Hollywood movies. When DJ Andy Gil first moved to Vegas from Albuquerque, he cut his teeth at OPM (now Poetry), not as a DJ, but as a security guard. These days? He’s not only a Resident at Poetry and a radio personality on KPLV 93, he’s one of the rare DJs also known for his energy on the mike.
Clubplanet: You’re known for your killer opening acts. What do you like about opening?
DJ Andy Gil: It’s all about the open. I always enjoyed opening, because you can kind of feel the crowd. You try this song. And then this song. And then you determine if the night is going to be more hip-hop, more rock, or more lady-friendly.
CP: What goes through your mind when you’re up there?
I’m constantly thinking five songs down the line. You got that next song, and you kind of want to see what you can do with the crowd. There are certain times when you can drop an old-school track, and it’ll go great. And sometimes, it won’t. And then sometimes you think, maybe they’re not drunk enough yet. A song that doesn’t work at 12 o’clock will kill at 3 o’clock.
CP: You have your share of impromptu celebrity collaborators…
Yeah. David Banner came in and just rocked the mike with me. T-Payne. Too-short. They’re awesome guys. They’ll just come in and grab the mike. Ja Rule—he just stood up on the couch and went at it.
CP: Biggest pet-peeve when you’re spinning?
You know what cracks me up about Vegas? People come and they ask for the hits. They’ll show up at 12 and expect the big hits. But in Vegas, at 12, the club is just opening, and you gotta save those big hits until the heart of the set, between 1:30 and 3:30. And I’ll mess with them and tell them I’m not going to play it.
CP: What’s a daring track that you like to just slip in there?
It’s always nice to drop that one Britney song.
CP: Your biggest influences?
Kid Capri. Hands down. When I first moved out here, I didn’t look up to anybody or bought their mixed cds—but once I heard that guy at Kid Capri—it just blew me away. Especially once I heard his voice –it makes the party larger than life. The song’s already great, but then you have somebody telling you what to do, and it makes it sound cool.
CP: Give us your five “Desert Island” albums.
Chronic. 2Pac’s greatest hits. Journey. Have to have my Steve Perry. ACDC. And DJ Quick.
CP: Journey. You’re a brave man. So what are your favorite PG (non club-related) hobbies?
The gym, working out—I try to hit it 5 days a week, mostly free-weights and cardio. I played college ball, but it’s kind of hard to keep that up because of the schedule.
CP: What’s next for Andy Gil?
I really love doing radio. I actually do an afternoon show for KPLV 93.1 “The Party.” That’s another dream I was able to reach. I just love being in this mix. You’re constantly in the clubs, on the air, in the mix. If celebrities aren’t in New York, they’re in LA. And if they’re not in either of these two places, they’re in Vegas.