Play DJ Hero, Then Let A Real DJ Save Your Life…

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Yesterday, Activision released DJ Hero, the latest in a wildly popular series of videogames (Guitar Hero, Rock Band) that let us drunkenly feign musical talent. Before you convince yourself of your spinning talent however, you should check out these legitimate NYC DJs as they get the club going.

• DJ James Murphy: The man behind LCD Soundsystem made disco cool again. As if that weren’t enough, Murphy also penned the melancholic “New York I Love You, But You’re Bringing Me Down,” this decade’s best paean to the city. Check out a party thrown by Murphy’s funky DFA label to get your Studio 54 on.

• The Misshapes: Hipsters across the city wept into their PBRs when the Misshapes infamous Friday night residence at Don Hill’s ended in 2007. But the trio continues to bring its slick mix of indie and britpop to festively-attired crowds at frequent local events.

• DJ Timmy Regisford: New York’s biggest contribution to the global club scene is the kind of deep, soulful house that this downtown fixture has spun for years at afterhours institution (in many ways) Club Shelter, now at Greenhouse. If you’ve never stepped out of a club and into the harsh sunlight, Regisford is the man to see.

• DJ Derek Plaslaiko: Murphy might have brought back the past, but Plaslaiko has his eyes set on the future. He honed his skills in Detroit’s thriving techno scene before settling in New York in 2004. You can catch him the first Friday of each month at Public Assembly’s sublime Bunker shindig.

• DJ Alexandra Richards: Daughter of immortal cryptkeeper Keith, Alexandra Richards is a girl about town who, when not posing for pictures, occasionally mans the DJ booth. She’s got the musical genes, but might want to drop the rock royalty ‘tude before she pisses off one club owner too many.

• DJ Connie: Queens native Connie Yin gets people dancing in clubs (Love, Sullivan Room, Cielo) and underground parties (thrown by Blk Market Membership) with her brand of Berlin-style minimal techno. She’s also taken it upon herself to break up New York’s testosterone-heavy DJ scene by teaching women how to spin like pros.

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