The Hood Internet, a Chicago-based DJ duo/mashup crew, will be mixing some tracks backed up by Oscillator Bug and Trouble Lights in The Maintenance Shop on Friday, Sept. 27.

The group will perform as part of Maximum Ames Music Festival, and the crew at the M-Shop is excited to be hosting the performance.

“The Hood Internet show should be a lot of fun later this September,” said Sam Thompson, co-director of the M-Shop. “The Maintenance Shop is always happy to be a part of such a great local festival. Bringing in The Hood Internet with Oscillator Bug and Trouble Lights gives the M-Shop the opportunity to house one of the best sets of the entire festival.”

Hood is made up of Steve Reidell, who records under the moniker STV SLV (pronounced “Steve Sleeve”), and Aaron Brink, known as ABX.

Having experience in music together playing in a band called May or May Not, the duo started a blog posting its combinations of indie rock and rap songs as a hobby.

“It was made out of stuff we were listening to,” Reidell said. “At the time the internet was really receptive to listening to mashups. We started editing music like Built in Social Scene into arrangements that would complement rap songs.”

The Hood Internet gained a significant following with strong responses to songs that combined artists such as Lil Wayne with Modest Mouse, or Swizz Beats with Deerhoof. Some recent hits include mixes of Justin Timberlake’s “Mirrors” with Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky,” and Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” with the “Growing Pains” theme.

With several mixtapes under their belt, the crew evolved to produce an album of original content titled “FEAT” last year, offering appearances from guests like Black Moth Super Rainbow’s Tobacco, AC Newman and Kid Static.

“We already had a history of writing and recording our own music,” STV SLV said. “It was pretty much a giant collaboration with a bunch of different people. We were trying to make a conscious effort to have fun, but then to make songs that would sound like something the Hood Internet would do.”

The online community has a mixed reception of mashups, with those who perceive it as innovation, and others who see it as lazy, piggybacking off of others’ material. Reidell takes the former side of the dispute.

“I think there is some artistic value to [making mashups]. Most people’s argument against artistic value is that anybody can do something, which I don’t really buy. Technically anybody can do anything. Anyone can play guitar, but not everybody’s good at it,” Reidell said.

Returning to the M-Shop after a performance in 2010, attendees can look forward to an upbeat show Friday, as indicated by statements from the M-Shop and The Hood Internet.

“We are all really excited and it promises to be a lot of fun,” Thompson said. 

“People should come, and be ready to dance,” Reidell said.

The Hood Internet plays with Oscillator Bug and Trouble Lights at 9 p.m. (doors open 8:30 p.m.) in the M-Shop on Friday, Sept. 27.

Tickets are available at the M-Shop or at midwestix.com for $10 for students, or $15 otherwise, with a $2 upcharge the day of the show. Those with MAMF wristbands will be allowed entry.

A history of the crew’s mashups is available for free at thehoodinternet.com, FEAT is available for purchase on iTunes.