Turbo Fun
Last night I was finally indoctrinated in the ways of "nu rave". For I witnessed Klaxons murdering the dancefloor in Oxford. Yes, revolution was in the air. As I supped my nu rave pint of bitter and waved my nu rave glowstick (well, a fag) in the air, I prepared to close my eyes and enter the Interzone.
When opened again, the main difference I found between a nu rave gig and a normal gig is that as well as the bands I got to hear the Justice remix of Franz Ferdinand played 6 (six) times. For the Simian Mobile Disco mix CD that accompanied last week's NME was played from track 1 at every conceivable opportunity. And every time the CD skipped and fucked up at around track 4, they started it from the beginning again.
I dunno, I thought it might have been good if they'd turned it into a proper rave, and kept people dancing all night with the aid of some decent DJs. But what do I know?
The other difference was of course the glowsticks. Glowsticks everywhere. And though I initially scoffed, you know what... glowsticks are FUN! Yeah they're daft, but once you've had 8 glowsticks it's pretty hard not to dance. I imagine. I mean, i've never done 8 glowsticks in a night before, but I have friends who have. They make your eyes widen, they make you wave your arms in the air, and dance like a pillock. And it was indeed stupid fun. Particularly since the majority of the crowd were far younger and less cynical than me. Dancing, laughing, blowing whistles, painting each other with glowstick fluid. And going absolutely crazy to all the bands.
So yes, everyone agrees that this whole concept is a load of old shite. But that doesn't matter a bit. Because last night was great. I even let down my grumpy old man facade and waved a glowstick around myself. Fuck yeah! I'm down with the kids.
Datarock opened the show. And, well I have to say they were a little disappointing. They have grown by two members since last time I saw them..... and unfortunately it's not an improvement. All the electronic beats and bleeps and clicks and fuck yeah's produced by the gnome in the middle were pretty much inaudible, due to the pointless addition of a drummer and another bloke making noises at the side.
Don't get me wrong, they weren't bad by any means. They were very far from bad. They were ace. But they weren't as good as they should have been had they not decided to become a 'proper' band. There are loads of 'proper' bands. I liked the fact they weren't a 'proper' band.
The other mystery is why once again they didn't play either 'Computer Camp Love' or (to a lesser degree) 'I Used to Dance With My Daddy'. Both of which would have made their set much much better.
Of course they have a devastating weapon up their sleeve.. being 'Fa Fa Fa'. Which i've decided I want played at my funeral. (although, perhaps the 'going nowhere' could be construed as a threat).
But seriously guys.... just fucking play 'Computer Camp Love' will you!
Next up ShitDisco, taking things a little darker, a little more menacing. A lot more punk rock. And sending the kids even more crazy. They were great.
The three songs I knew - 'Disco Blood', 'I Know Kung Fu' and 'Reactor Party' stood out. But they didn't let up on the tunes or the energy the whole way through. Turbo Fun indeed.
The fantastic 'Reactor Party' comes out as a single on 23rd October, backed with remixes by the likes of Nightmoves and James (Simian Mobile Disco) Ford. I don't know where I got this remix from (probably somewhere slightly dubious), or anything about it.... and it doesn't appear on any of the single formats. But I like it a lot.
SHITDISCO - REACTOR PARTY (ARNE BLACKMAN CLARKY CAT REMIX)
So then we waited for Klaxons, whilst being treated by three more low volume plays of the Justice FF mix (by this time I was very grateful that it was on quietly!). This kicked any dance energy out of the audience, so they sensibly ripped their glowsticks apart & covered themselves in the contents instead.
However when Klaxons did appear from beneath the lasers it was probably to more hysteria than when I saw Arctic Monkeys at the same venue last year.
To be honest i'm not sure they've quite got the material to justify the hype yet - with a short set including two covers ('The Bouncer', and 'Not Over Yet' - which was amazing). But it's said the secret of good showmanship is to keep them wanting more, and they certainly did that. From 'The Bouncer' to 'Four Horsemen of 2012', with all the hits packed in between, it was unrelenting magick the whole way.
This one is slightly dissimilar to the rest of their set, but you may not have heard it yet.
KLAXONS - GOLDEN SKANS
and this the one you've been waiting for.... their rocking cover of Grace's pop trance anthem 'Not Over Yet'.
KLAXONS - NOT OVER YET
And lastly this is the brilliant video for 'Magick' - directed once again by that man Saam.
When opened again, the main difference I found between a nu rave gig and a normal gig is that as well as the bands I got to hear the Justice remix of Franz Ferdinand played 6 (six) times. For the Simian Mobile Disco mix CD that accompanied last week's NME was played from track 1 at every conceivable opportunity. And every time the CD skipped and fucked up at around track 4, they started it from the beginning again.
I dunno, I thought it might have been good if they'd turned it into a proper rave, and kept people dancing all night with the aid of some decent DJs. But what do I know?
The other difference was of course the glowsticks. Glowsticks everywhere. And though I initially scoffed, you know what... glowsticks are FUN! Yeah they're daft, but once you've had 8 glowsticks it's pretty hard not to dance. I imagine. I mean, i've never done 8 glowsticks in a night before, but I have friends who have. They make your eyes widen, they make you wave your arms in the air, and dance like a pillock. And it was indeed stupid fun. Particularly since the majority of the crowd were far younger and less cynical than me. Dancing, laughing, blowing whistles, painting each other with glowstick fluid. And going absolutely crazy to all the bands.
So yes, everyone agrees that this whole concept is a load of old shite. But that doesn't matter a bit. Because last night was great. I even let down my grumpy old man facade and waved a glowstick around myself. Fuck yeah! I'm down with the kids.
Datarock opened the show. And, well I have to say they were a little disappointing. They have grown by two members since last time I saw them..... and unfortunately it's not an improvement. All the electronic beats and bleeps and clicks and fuck yeah's produced by the gnome in the middle were pretty much inaudible, due to the pointless addition of a drummer and another bloke making noises at the side.
Don't get me wrong, they weren't bad by any means. They were very far from bad. They were ace. But they weren't as good as they should have been had they not decided to become a 'proper' band. There are loads of 'proper' bands. I liked the fact they weren't a 'proper' band.
The other mystery is why once again they didn't play either 'Computer Camp Love' or (to a lesser degree) 'I Used to Dance With My Daddy'. Both of which would have made their set much much better.
Of course they have a devastating weapon up their sleeve.. being 'Fa Fa Fa'. Which i've decided I want played at my funeral. (although, perhaps the 'going nowhere' could be construed as a threat).
But seriously guys.... just fucking play 'Computer Camp Love' will you!
Next up ShitDisco, taking things a little darker, a little more menacing. A lot more punk rock. And sending the kids even more crazy. They were great.
The three songs I knew - 'Disco Blood', 'I Know Kung Fu' and 'Reactor Party' stood out. But they didn't let up on the tunes or the energy the whole way through. Turbo Fun indeed.
The fantastic 'Reactor Party' comes out as a single on 23rd October, backed with remixes by the likes of Nightmoves and James (Simian Mobile Disco) Ford. I don't know where I got this remix from (probably somewhere slightly dubious), or anything about it.... and it doesn't appear on any of the single formats. But I like it a lot.
SHITDISCO - REACTOR PARTY (ARNE BLACKMAN CLARKY CAT REMIX)
So then we waited for Klaxons, whilst being treated by three more low volume plays of the Justice FF mix (by this time I was very grateful that it was on quietly!). This kicked any dance energy out of the audience, so they sensibly ripped their glowsticks apart & covered themselves in the contents instead.
However when Klaxons did appear from beneath the lasers it was probably to more hysteria than when I saw Arctic Monkeys at the same venue last year.
To be honest i'm not sure they've quite got the material to justify the hype yet - with a short set including two covers ('The Bouncer', and 'Not Over Yet' - which was amazing). But it's said the secret of good showmanship is to keep them wanting more, and they certainly did that. From 'The Bouncer' to 'Four Horsemen of 2012', with all the hits packed in between, it was unrelenting magick the whole way.
This one is slightly dissimilar to the rest of their set, but you may not have heard it yet.
KLAXONS - GOLDEN SKANS
and this the one you've been waiting for.... their rocking cover of Grace's pop trance anthem 'Not Over Yet'.
KLAXONS - NOT OVER YET
And lastly this is the brilliant video for 'Magick' - directed once again by that man Saam.
posted by headphonesex @ 12:38 AM
