End of 2006

As I type up the final e-mail sendout of the year, and take a nostalgic look back through the year's blogs/photos/gig listings, there are several emotions.. firstly a fondness of the faces and some cherished moments along the way.. the comedic lows of arriving at the Southampton Rhino to find the crappest PA system we've ever played on (oh how we can look back and laugh now) and sitting in broken-down vans waiting for the tow truck to come. On the up-side, there's the most amazing responses from crowds (Solfest, Planet Angel, Workhouse) and meeting some of the most incredible and inspiring people too.

Have no doubt about it - 2007 is a big year for us. It's one thing to achieve the response that we've had this year, but to break into the next level - the next step of going professional (with money and all the bad things that will come with it) will be a test of persistency and will. It's not so much about having ambition or wanting to be a success, it's about deciding whether I want the past three years to have been a waste of time, a 'lesson learned' or the best time of my life.

Gig Review: Sat 16th November - The Tavern, Wigan

Once upon a time, when I was young, I remember a new kid arriving in school - he had a strange Northern accent that was dashing and exciting, and he wowed us with wonderful tales of his far-off homeland: a mystical place called Wigan where incredible things happened.

Over 10 years later, I've finally made it there (although please note, this was not ever any ambition of mine) and I wasn't disappointed. Within 15 minutes of arriving, we've witnessed the largest ever queue of tracksuit-wearing adolescents at McDonalds (pretty much right out the door) and the earliest bar brawl too. (Man, it's only 6pm.. sort your freaking life out)

Like other out-of-London promoters we have played for, The Wigan Music Collective is an isolated pocket of indivuals striving to put on nights of great electronic/dance music in an area that's seemingly at odds against it. And the best thing is - they do know how to party. One of the most physically-draining of gigs we've done for a while thanks to the radiator behind the stage that doesn't turn off. We briefly toy with the idea of doing more exercise to cope with these situations.

Photos: Friends from Wigan, and Stuey finds his long lost brother.

Gig Review: Thurs 7th December - Cube and Star

Oops, the incompetent management double booked the venue to coincide with an RnB night. We got the go-ahead, I think partly due to the fact that we got there first and we scared them off with the amount of equipment we had loaded in.

A quiet one for us, but got to see a couple of cool electronic acts (Rocket No.9 and Etmo) and chowed down on some good wonton noodles in London. It's becoming a habit that I'm facing up to disappointing gigs by consoling myself with good food, but musicians are but fickle creatures who merely enjoy simple pleasures. At the end of a four-gig week where we've been stealing an hour or two of sleep whenever we can, a few days off is very much appreciated too.

Gig Review: Weds 6th December - Concorde2, Brighton

Back down to Brighton again.. still impressed at the facilities here. The sound, the lights, the backrooms and of course, the kettle. The booming bass cabs and on-stage mix set-up also come with capable yet entertaining bickering comedy duo Sam and Zoe tweaking the knobs. (Below)



Wednesday night and not too many bodies, but an excuse to get to Harry Ramsdens again is no bad thing. Another near-catastrophe on the way home when we drove for 5 minutes before a taxi driver pointed out that the back door of the van was swinging wide open.. One of these days we'll leave a trail of broken equipment behind us..

Gig Review: Sat 2nd December - Synergy Centre

Man, you can see right down that guys throat.

After about two and half hours sleep in the van, I'm woken up by the others getting in and setting off to drive straight to The Synergy Centre in Camberwell for our next gig. We're thankful for the new van and the relative comfort it offers - the first time where we've gone straight from one show to the next in consecutive days and it's starting to feel like a home away from home. We stop off for an hour at a service station on the M6 to get showered and try to dry our clothes off from last night which are still dripping in sweat. Some are smelling worse than others.

Having gone past the point of being tired, attempts to sleep before the gig are futile. It's a great anything-goes vibe at this party organised by Peace Not War.

Below: Remember Chris? He's back and outdone himself. There's a satisfaction about being in a profession where it's your job to make people's armpits sweaty. (Alongside prostitutes and PE teachers.)



Above: Nelly's brother out n about celebrating his birthday on the night. Subsource has actually donated this image to the Cambridge University genetics research facility to help establish the causal link between the blonde gene and the village-idiot gene.

Gig Review: Fri 1st December - The Brickyard

With the short British Winter days, we set off at around 10 in the morning and after an 8 hour drive, it already feels like it's the middle of the night.

The Brickyard is still as hot as ever though, and after playing to some of the most energetic individuals we've seen at one of our shows, we retire to the tiny backroom and steam pours from us for another half an hour. We chill out until the club shuts at 5am, trying to conserve energy for the other 3 shows this week. I crash in the van at around 7am, it's a couple of hours before we set off back to London.

Below: DJ Cass Wild and friends..