- Fuzzy, the team behind the hugely successful Field Day and Krafty Kuts hit the Metro with an almost all night drum and bass show on Saturday, headlined by the UK's dnb godfather LTJ Bukem.
If Mathematician John Nash was a clubber - I think he'd love drum and bass. Like Russell Crowe's Academy Award deserving character from A Beautiful Mind - appreciating drum and bass comes from finding variations within repetition. (I thought of that while I was dancing. What it has to do with anything I'm not sure, but anyways...)
DJ Ritual kicked things off with an uptempo yet thick and fast set that got the early arrivals warmed up.
The Hive hit the stage next, delivering their last ever gig using that moniker. It seems Swedish rock bands have name priority over Sydney drum n bass bands - and from the next gig forth this talented trio will be known as Baggsmen (yeah... I know). Being a HUGE Hive fan, I know their support sets usually leave a bit to be desired. This was not the case tonight. Their hour long, five song set was the sweetest sounding in memory - thanks to Fuzzy's sublime speakers set up no doubt. They didn't sound like a band - they sounded like a dance making machine - and everyone within ear shot was ripping up the floor in a truly wicked fashion.
Up next, Matt and Kayla delivered a less melodious set to what I'm used to from them. Darker and more thumping that usual (they were my dawn-era Gatecrasher highlight), and with MC Antic - it was a splendiferous lead into what was to follow.
No dobut about it, LTJ Bukem is the man. "He's the reason we're all here" said Will from the Hive, and he couldn't be more correct. The Elvis of drum n' bass... the king!
But move over James Brown, I think MC Conrad might be the hardest working man in showbusiness today - he delivered the riddem and rhyme virtually non-stop for over two and a half hours.
I prefer Bukem's instrumental cuts - but it was a full on, non-stop, don't-stop-a-dancin' show, poorly paced if you were hoping for a break to catch your breath. (but that's a proper dnb show for you - wusses go home!)
As much I love drum and bass - LTJ Bukem's almost two and three quarter hour set was a bit too long and full on for my semi-sobriety. And the best songs were the last two - both old skool 80's influenced upbeat numbers that would do Harold Faltermeyer proud. Due to curfew, they were cut short.
Fuzzy delivered a wicked show - The Metro has never looked cooler inside in terms of lighting and visuals, and the candles added to the outside foyer bar chill area were also a great touch. A great crowd of mature, yet energetic dnb fans in a relaxed venue made for a huge night out for all concerned.
Bukem and Conrad will supposedly be at Field Day 2003. Good Show!