11.15.07

It’s not for the cock, it’s for pulling out all the stops.

Posted in Gigs at 7:40 pm by Lauren

Late of The Pier, 2manydjs, Soulwax/Leeds Union/28.10.07

Too many gigs these days are slaves to scheduling. Everyday bands play too early or too late due to curfews, licensing and to make way for much more lucrative club nights and audiences across the world are suffering. One of the genres hit hardest is dance because once a dance act breaks free from the bedroom decks their live shows are destined not only for 10.30 curfews but for overpriced beer and an audience filled with 15 year olds saving the rave. This situation is highly undesirable when you consider that live dance music can only really be appreciated in the wee hours after one too many vodka mixers/tequila slammers/cheap white wines (delete where necessary). Thank God, then, for Soulwax who not only used their autumn tour to promote their remix album but also to bring dance music as it should be to the masses, six late night hours packed with a killer line up, flashing lights and fucking tunes.

First on the bill was Nottingham band Late of The Pier who are set to take over the planet next year. Although their support slot didn’t send the audience into the crazed frenzy their live shows can often incite they were a notable and worthy start to the evening. The track, that can only be described as sounding like a coming techno apocalypse, which opened their set sounded like just another song spun by the DJ to the untrained ears in the room but for those who’d had the pleasure of seeing Late of The Pier before it meant the night had begun and the dancefloor slowly but surely began to fill. Despite numerous technical hitches the band managed not only to pull people away from the bar and onto the dancefloor but also got a collection of dance moves from a fair amount of the audience.  

After numerous drinks and beats the stage was ready to be graced by the one and only Radio Soulwax. They arrived looking slick in matching white suits and with one single note had the audience in the palm on their hands. Thankfully this did not mean everyone’s main aim was to get to the front no matter who they crushed in the process what it did mean was that, whether at the front or back, the each person was happily dancing, raving and singing along to their heart’s content. There were obvious classics such as Justice, The Gossip and Kylie with the vocals all coming from one mouth but sounding wonderfully like their original artists showing off the technical genius of Radio Soulwax. There were also a few weird and obscure tracks thrown in, as you’d expect from a band who’ve managed to turn some of the most unlikely tracks into never failing party anthems.

As the band left and the stage was stripped bear the mood ever so slightly dropped. That was until Soulwax brothers 2manydjs took to the dj booth and although it would have been nice to have on-stage decks (a la Justice) they were everything you’d expect from the legendary duo and more. There was never a dull moment on the dancefloor and the tunes, both dancefloor classics such as The Eurithmics and more unexpected tracks like Arcade Fire’s ‘Rebellion (Lies)’, which was flawlessly mixed with Daft Punk’s ‘Digital Love’ kept fans raving well into the early hours with the party going well past the ‘official’ three am finish. In fact, it took a fire alarm to get the pair out of the booth and the fans onto the streets.

So Soulwax, for giving the people of England a sterling example of how dance music should really be showcased, we salute you!

Thanks also go to:

James Travis, for the picture and lodgings for the night.                                                  

John Gunstone, for taking a hip flask.

Late of The Pier, for being really nice despite us going fangirl/boy on them.

The National Express, for only being an hour late.

Late of The Pier-Myspace

Late Of The Pier-The Bears Are Coming 

Soulwax-Myspace

Hot Chip-Ready For The Floor (Soulwax Dub)

Robbie Williams-Lovelight (Soulwax Ravelight Dub)

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