In this series, we profile DJs who spin R&B, soul, and rock music in San Francisco's bars and clubs.

DJ Mario Muse might be San Francisco’s biggest fan of The Smiths, the British band from the 1980s fronted by Morrissey. Every third Saturday of the month, he hosts a Smiths/Morrissey tribute night at Milk Bar called The Queen Is Dead, after the group's iconic 1986 album. The event recently celebrated its fifth anniversary. 

“It has always been a small dream of mine to have a group of people that were into the same things as me, and could embrace the music and that era of life," said Muse. Back in 2011, he was working the door at Milk Bar when the owner asked him to take over a Morrissey/Smiths night that had just started, but was not up to par with what he had envisioned.

Muse had a different vision: “I wanted it to be a tribute not just to The Smiths, but also to the music that came out in that era.” That meant spinning a variety of post-punk, Britpop, and indie music. Bands like Suede, Blur, The Stone Roses, Belle and Sebastian, and Franz Ferdinand are on frequent rotation. 

The crowd dances at a The Queen Is Dead event. (Photo: Scott Paul Nadzam/Facebook)

Also in the mix are live bands, which Muse tries to showcase every other month. Some bands that have played in the past include a Smiths tribute band called This Charming Band, a Britpop tribute band, Bang On, and a New Order tribute band called Temptation.

“I’ve been a huge fan of Morrissey and The Smiths since I was about 14 years old,” said Muse, who said the band's music helped him when he was a scared and confused teenager who felt trapped in his small-town Florida home. He first discovered The Smiths after digging through a box of CDs and being mesmerized by the cover of Louder Than Bombs, in all its red glory. 

Image: Wikipedia

“Half a Person” was the first Smiths song Mario ever heard, and remains his favorite to this day. He says everytime he hears the song it takes him back to being “a young scared boy who didn’t know who he was or what he was expecting out of life. It stuck with me.” The band has helped him get through trying times, he said. 

Muse DJing at a The Queen Is Dead event. (Photo: Scott Paul Nadzam/Facebook)

The Queen Is Dead attracts a diverse crowd. Its location and price make it easily accessible for college students that live nearby, who are often on a tight budget. An older crowd also comes to listen to the music of their youth. “We actually get good requests, songs that we want to play," Muse told us. And whenever Morrissey plays a show in the Bay Area, Mario and his crew DJ the after-parties, which always bring in a big crowd. 

The Queen Is Dead, featuring DJs Mario Muse, Jacob Fury, and Sheila M., is held every third Saturday at The Milk Bar. The next one is this Saturday, February 20th. Tickets are $8 at the door, and $5 if you RSVP on Eventbrite.