- The question of where to spend your New Years Eve is never easily answered. It often comes down to deciding between the big party, the small gathering, the New Years day party, or following your friends. I could confidently say that anyone who chose 33&1/3 to bring in the New Year for 2003 had a great time!
I arrived at QBH later than planned as I had only just arrived in Melbourne from interstate. Energy levels were high near the venue as people flocked to the river for the midnight fireworks. As I arrived at the club so did LTJ Bukem and MC Conrad in the Tarago. Ready, set, go! The boys had arrived for their midnight set and I had to race into the venue to catch what was left of Lynt’s set.
I reached the upstairs room to find a full dancefloor, and it was to stay that way all night. With several international acts playing in this room it was often very crowded but with a friendly crowd who coped with the lack of space and heat that accompanied the excellent music. Lynt had the breaks fans smiling and rocking it while drum n bass was on in the mainroom. Brett Volker stepped up after Lynt, but the energy of the room seemed to drop as he changed to a more down tempo hip hop sound. I caught up with the crew and we were off to the mainroom for the midnight countdown.
Ruffnut was playing a great warmup set for Bukem in the mainroom, setting the scene perfectly with some tracks I knew from the Progression Sessions Japan. As midnight approached Ruffnut was looking nervous. Where were Bukem and Conrad? Nevermind, play on! And so we greeted the New Year with a beautiful drum n bass remix of Lamb’s “Gorecki”and the requisite countdown from 10. On reaching one, 1000’s of pieces of coloured paper floated down from the ceiling. This was followed by many huge balloons for the crowd to push around the multi-tiered venue. Good work Agentmad for going the extra mile to give the New Year a festive vibe!
With New Years greetings exchanged between friends and strangers, it was time for the music to recommence. A little after the countdown MC Conrad and LTJ Bukem came on stage and it was time to notch the vibe of the event up one. Their set was two hours of drum n bass magic. It was smiles and dancing nonstop for the revelers in the mainroom. In the typical style of Bukem the music was at the jazzy end of dnb, but the tracks were fresh and the set well programmed ensuring most dnb fans were well satisfied. Conrad did a great job in his own inimitable style of MCing. More poetic than rhyming, his words and Bukem’s tunes make for a perfect marriage of dnb. Their professionalism and consistency made the two hours race past so fast, that I was thirsting for more drum n bass to dance to when they finished.
Phil Ktook over the proceedings on the main stage and as the tunes turned back to breakbeat, I headed to the upstairs room for Krafty Kuts. Hallelujah! The man was playing dnb when I walked in! Along with Bukem and Conrad, Krafty’s set was definitely a highlight of the night for me. He had that small room rammed and pumping as he proceeded with a mad mixup for breaks, dnb and funk. Classy and energetic, his set rocked! It was over all too soon for me and the Scratch Perverts were up next with six turntables in front of them. A separate review of their set is up on RA, so check that out for a new convert’s description of their turntablism magic and innovative arrangements. Definitely fresh, even Bukem and Conrad came upstairs through the crowd to witness the madness!
It was time for the fourth international on the 33&1/3 bill to grace the decks. Freq Nasty, the dreadlocked one of breakbeat came onto the mainstage and gave it his all. Starting out with an atmospheric and slowly building track, his set was one of rolling breakbeat basslines, acid squelches and thundering energy that left no one standing still. Many crowd favourites were played, and new remixes, but I was left feeling alone hanging for some new tracks. While everybody else enjoyed Freq’s set I was pleased only when he surprised me at the very end of his set by mixing from Josh Wink’s “Higher State of Conciousness” into DJ Rolando’s “Jaguar”. Nice work there! After the mad sounds and cut up style of Krafty Kuts, the Freq and his continual finger pointing in the air didn’t do it for this breaks kid. Thanks heaps for “Jaguar” though Freq!
My search for satisfaction lead me to the downstairs sideroom where Ransom was playing hip hop and offering a more chilled atmosphere. This wasn’t what I wanted though and after scaling back up the steps I found dark and dirty basslines booming in the upstairs room as Ruxspin was giving the hardcore dnb fans a dose of music which the night had previously been lacking. In the process he was winning over many a new fan as some of the breaks kids asked around as to the name of the DJ. Ruxspin and check it I say! Pity that Ruxspin was let down by the sound cutting out on him due to the amp overheating, but points for professionalism and battling on!
Good things come to those who wait and one hour behind time Brewster B got to start his set. Once again I was left wondering how it is that the locals like Brewster B can bust out a set with fresh tunes, while Freq was happy to entertain with the big hits. Brewster brought the joy back to my breakbeat loving heart with some stonkin’ tunes that had the ears pricked up, and feet moving again. Alas, I was all out of energy and it was time to call it quits.
Without a doubt I made the right choice in attending a 33&1/3 party on NYE. As always the crowd was full of likeminded people who love their breaks, dnb and hip hop. It was a joy to be at such a huge party devoted entirely to these sounds and with so many top class DJs, both international and local. May 2003 bring us many more successful events of this calibre!