A preview of the Lola STL Music Fest in the Riverfront Times told me to expect “butt shaking, head banging, slow dancing and Hennessy sipping that won’t quit.”

Needless to say, I still was not sure what to expect, but with acts including Dam Funk, Master Blazter and Fatlip of Pharcyde, I knew the experience would be something else.

The fest was stationed at Lola, a restaurant in the Washington Avenue district. Its stage (and bar) provided a venue for the three-day-long festival, running Oct. 6-8. I attended the Friday night line-up of Sound Clash featuring 18 and Counting with Nappy DJ Needles, and Black Spade and Dam Funk (pronounced Dame) with Master Blazter.

The focus of the crowd when I arrived was on the Cardinals game against the Philadelphia Phillies for the right to play in the next round of the MLB Postseason. It is a good thing that Sound Clash had not yet started performing, because I do not think they could have stolen away the attention of the crowd.

Sound Clash began shortly after the Cardinals’ victory, as a three-piece turntable set. On stage, the three disc jockeys were busy masterminding the swirling rhythms and synthesized sounds with mashed-in clips of tracks of other rap and hip-hop artists. On the floor, the crowd was busy grooving to the beats and having a good time with friends.

While the sound was predominantly instrumental, the DJs were focusing intently on their laptops and soundboards, instead of providing visual entertainment for the crowd. The spectators were more intent on dancing and enjoying the modern hip-hop and funk mixes, anyway.

I have been to other DJ sets, but I have never seen three DJs collaborating and mixing tracks at the same time. Their transitions were smooth, and their melodies built off each other. The energy seemed to be passed from one DJ to the next, and the crowd was in tune with the shifting sounds coming from the mixing boards.

The final act of Dam Funk with Master Blazter drew more from the crowd than the previous act, as the excitement increased with Dam’s stage presence. The main difference between Dam Funk and Master Blazter and the previous DJ line-up of Sound Clash was the soulful sound provided. Master Blazter provided the mellow, yet exciting bass lines, while Dam went to work on his synths and keyboards. The combo had a backup drummer who brought some instrumental reality to the otherwise digital sound produced by the duo.

It was only when Dam Funk decided to sing that I was slightly turned off by the music he was producing. His loud and raspy voice did not gel with the smooth tone set by the background music.

Overall, the scene at the inaugural Lola STL Music Fest was fun and upbeat. The crowd was feeling good after the Cardinals’ win and the music was light and loose – perfect for dancing. It was a groove fest of funk and soul for all who attended.