jamezicarius

Hi. My name is Jamez. NOT James. NOT “James with a zee”. Unlike “James”, my name has two syllables: Ja-Mez. People pronounce it in different ways. Long as they get the two syllables, I’m generally o.k.

I was named after my father, James (one syllable) Smith, and my uncle, W. Gomez (two-syllables) Young. James + Gomez = Jamez

I’m a poet. More about that can be found in The Infinity Loop.

I’m also a dj. Though I’d rather just go by my given name, I do have a number of “dj names”. DJ Jam E.Z. is the most popular of those.

Over the years I’ve dabbled in photography, collage, theatre/performance art, etc. I was a founding member of The Prophets of the New Tribe (Seattle) and Out/Rage (San Francisco), and was tangentially a member of the Klubstitute Kollective (SF).

I am most proud to be a Saint of the San Francisco Order of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Inc., and member of the Imperial Court of San Francisco, House of Flying Tigers & Dancing Monkeys.

This wordpress site is my biggest attempt yet at establishing an online presence. In the past I’ve spammed my friends with Jamez Sitings in their email boxes and on tribe.net (now defunct). Toyed with myspace for a minute. Google “Jamez Smith” or “Jamez L. Smith” and might learn interesting bits about me and my life. #jamezicarius is surprisingly robust, as well, encouraging, as I’m plotting a future with that brand.

UPDATE 2025:

WOW. The above reads as though I wrote it while I was still living in San Francisco, which I left in 2005 for Los Angeles. Left LA in 2007 for Minneapolis, where I have resided since.

Since moving to Minneapolis I’ve helped establish the Ladies of The Lakes, the Minneapolis Order of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. I am Sister Onalee Begottenson, Fully-Professed Nun, GR (“gone rogue”).

“For God so loved The World, He gave Us Onalee Begottenson. You’re welcome!”

My DJing has experienced and uptick. I currently host two radio shows on KRSM Radio, 98.9 FM, a low-power station in South Minneapolis hosted by Pillsbury House.

Same As It Ever Was!, and 80’s inspired show airs on Mondays at 7pm CST.
Groovement, a more soulful experience, airs on Wednesdays at 7pm CST.

I still occasionally get invited to dj at various events, however, I have stopped trying to create dj events. I’ve long stated that I am not a promoter, and my track record supports that. When I began djing over 40 years ago, that was all I had to do. Venues offered decently paying gigs and handled all aspects of promotion.

Nowadays, I have to approach venues, seek gigs, make the pitch, handle all aspects of promotion, AND prepare for and dj the event. I just don’t have the capacity for all that.

If you’d like me to dj your event, just ask. I’d likely be happy to do so. I’m simply not chasing gigs, nor accepting those that cannot justify my efforts.

Archival DJ sets are available on Mixcloud & Soundcloud.

I’ve been on stage a few times, thanks to Harry & Kevin.

On the poetry front, Lavender Magazine picked me up as a commentator, publishing some of my poems under the heading “Jamez Sitings“.

I’m currently working on a visual arts project, incorporating the music I play.