Roy Davis Jr. playing the NXNE Block Party with Mystical Influence & Sniper, Paul Walker and guests, Saturday (June 9; Block Party also goes Friday, June 8), 8:15 pm, the Parking Lot (229 Richmond West, at John), free. www.nxne.com. And at System Soundbar (117 Peter), Saturday (June 9). $tba. 416-408-3996. Rating: NNNNN
After being cooped up for a week in his Chicago studio, soul electronica shaker Roy Davis Jr. isn't quite sure where he belongs.
"When I'm on tour, I miss being in the studio. When I'm in the studio, I miss being on the road. But it all balances out."
He pounds the turntables Saturday in the second instalment of NXNE's Block Party, spinning his signature club-happy, lift-up-your-soul tracks.
It's not his first Canada connection. Davis is distributed by Montreal-based indie Bombay Records and does a monthly residency at Toronto's System Soundbar.
Saturday's party will be something of a relief for Davis, who hasn't done any spinning since touring the Middle East and Europe in early May. There, he visited the set of Wesley Snipes's vampire comic-book flick, Blade 2, being shot in Prague. Davis will see the complete edit soon enough, as he's signed on to add the musical score.