SPIN

There's no place like home — and no one knows that better than mashup king Girl Talk, aka Gregg Gillis.

After playing hundreds of wild shows across the globe over the past four years, Gillis is back with a new album, All Day, and is preparing for a massive U.S. tour in early 2011. And what better to place to kick off the ceremonies than at home in Pittsburgh?

Last weekend, Gillis played two blowout gigs in the Steel City, his first U.S. shows behind the album and his first hometown appearance in over a year. "I really wanted these performances to top anything I've ever done here," Gillis tells SPIN.

It was a wild weekend in Pittsburgh — and Gillis documented his big hometown blowout for SPIN.

Here, browse 14 exclusive photos taken by Gillis and his entourage, from backstage parties to Gillis' messy home work station.

"I made at least 50 percent of the new album behind that desk," Gillis tells SPIN, shown here in his studio. "Right now, most of my gear has been moved to my kitchen, which is where I was working with a friend of mine recently."

Gillis has a rigorous pre-show routine: "I like to crack open a beer two hours before show time," he tells SPIN. "And I stretch about 30 minutes before I go on."

Gillis is an avid Nike fan — but don't call him a "collector." "I don'tofficially 'collect.' I don't own any shoes that I won't wear. But I really enjoy Jordans. I've been getting some free shoes over the past couple years, so that's been helpful."

"There was a certain excitement in the air that was beyond the typical show," Gillis says of his two-night stand in his hometown. The feeling was mutual: After the shows, the Council of the City of Pittsburgh declared December 7 as "Gregg Gillis Day" in their fair city.

What's it like having a gaggle of young, hot groupies? "I only sleep with one of them," he says, "and she lives with me."

"If I don't wrap up my right foot before a show," explains Gillis, "I will usually work it until it bleeds. Which makes it difficult to dance the following night!"

Gillis has a secret weapon for this hometown gigs: custom footwear. "These are Custom ID's from the top secret Nike lair in Los Angeles," he explains of the shoes, which boast the black-and-gold color scheme of the city's beloved Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates. "I only wear them at Pittsburgh performances."

It ain't a proper party without toilet paper and a leaf blower.

"These shows were exciting because people had a chance to digest the new album live," Gillis says. "They were really responding to that material."

Gillis brought along reinforcements: a new crew responsible for the visual aspect of his show. "I've never had an official lighting guy, production manager, set designer, software developer, and so on," he says.

"Andrew Strasser (left) does all of the projection content, and he also has done all of my album artwork over the years," Gillis says of his visuals team. "Andrew collaborates with David Lubulin (right), who writes the software we use."

The craziest thing that happened at the shows? "18-year-old girls getting excited about a Fugazi sample," jokes Gillis.

"[We held the after party] at a bar called Double Days," says Gillis. "That spot ruled. Definitely going back. The party continued on to the hotel afterwards. I got home around 5 A.M.!"

And with that, we say, "Good night!" Or, erm, "Good morning!"

Special thanks to Gregg Gillis, Jessica Linker, Sam Hunt, and the Girl Talk crew for all the photos.