ROOM: Oogie Boogie’s Dungeon

Tampa Bay native and a DJ since the early 90’s, Brian Busto has worked for decades to keep the underground flame burning bright. As rave culture took hold in Florida, Brian fell in love with the underground after a fantastical night at the legendary Simons in Gainesville. He began to DJ in 1994, throwing his first events a year later at Beanjuice: a queer-owned late night haven for the house heads, ravers and artists of the Tampa underground. He then made waves in the scene with a weekly residency at The Castle Courtyard in 1996 and a series of afterhours events at The Silver Meteor Gallery in 1997. It was during this time he fulfilled his dream of becoming a frequent guest at Simons and its sister venue The Soulhouse.

Entering the 21st century, he’d go on to build the Serious Soul legacy at revered Bay Area venues Rain Lounge, Malios, Ceviche, The Don Vicente and Iberian Rooster. In 2006, Busto became the resident of DJ Three’s globally renowned Snatch party at Hyde Park Cafe playing host to the first ever Tampa appearances of international DJs like Loco Dice and Seth Troxler while also curating local talent. Hyde Park Cafe is where Busto would then firmly establish Serious Soul as the regional de facto destination for underground house & techno before closing out the twenty-tens at The Castle Dungeon. Since then, The Nest in St. Petersburg has become the home of Serious Soul focusing on the intimate details that have made Serious Soul a Bay Area institution for both dancers and DJ culture.

Brian Busto is a genre-defying DJ that loves to dig deep. You’re always going to get something unique from tough cuts loaded with swagger, hypnotic rhythms lifting you off the floor to slick electro bass jams and, if you’re lucky, a vocal that will stick with you for days. Sounds from stateside meccas Detroit, Chicago, New York and San Francisco as well as overseas Italo and Balearic flavors provide fresh twists and turns throughout his sets. In his own words – “I always play deep.” Wherever the location, Busto remains at the forefront of the scene pushing cutting edge new music while ignoring trends and always staying true to his roots.