Sunday 26 February 2012

GBOMB AT VERTIGO WITH DJ BONE

Detroit legend DJ Bone spins at Vertigo
"I know I can make people dance...but believe it or not, that's NEVER been my goal. My mission has always been to make people FEEL." DJ Bone
It was this quote from  DJ Bone that really caught my attention. Here is a man who feels that dance music is one thing but Techno is something else entirely. Dance music makes your feet tap. Techno makes you feel alive! 
Now that's exactly what I think about Techno (see previous post February 2011). Sometimes it can transport you to a mystical place. I had to go see. But I didn't want to go on my own....
 
 
THE GBOMB CONCEPT
As readers of this blog will know, gay dance culture in KL is not to my taste at all. The few clubs that exist are enslaved by commercial house and you will hear the same chart hits, remixed, week in, week out. Whitney's death has ensured the tone of our next few Saturday nights. I grew up in London where the gay clubs were totally at the cutting edge of the dance scene. Sadly, that is not the case in Asia.
But while straight clubs here may often play better music, there's little other excitement to be had for a gay man going on his own. That's why Underground Soundz came up with the Gbomb concept. Gbomb = GAYBOMB THE STRAIGHT VENUE! 
If we let our people in KL know  about significant musical events, that there is going to be a  gay presence there, more gays will be tempted to come and form a gay corner. The promoters and the club get a new and attitude-free crowd on their night and we get a great night out at a venue we don't normally go to. Everybody wins! Great music and hot flirty guys all around you. Now that's my idea of a good night out!!
Some of the Gbomb crew strike a pose...
 
VERTIGO
We got a fair amount of interest in our facebook endorsement of the Spicy Bass/Minimalaysia event and on the night there was a very healthy showing of some 15 music-loving queens strutting their stuff on the dance floor. In fact, it seemed like we were the core group on the dance floor, first on, last off - right in the middle of things with a lot of friendly and admiring smiles from others.
It was my first time to Vertigo and I liked it. It's nicely designed and the staff are friendly. That's so important. Drinks are reasonable. 
Most important of all, DJ Bone did not disappoint. Even before he came on there was a great  atmosphere, happy and expectant. When he finally did appear to cheers from the crowd, he was a big smiling giant of a man, with a pair of tiny spectacles perched on his nose, making him seem like a very amiable and cuddly uncle. He folded them away before he started his set!  
 
THE MUSIC
DJ Bone mixed with vinyl on three decks
As a DJ I believe that every set should tell a story. You unfold your song list and take people on a journey. Each chapter is different. Some sad, some funny, some exciting. Last night, DJ Bone told us an amazing story.
Mixing the old fashioned way (and the hardest, most skillful way) with not two but three vinyl decks he created a swirling soundscape that moved from soft to hard to funky to banging! He made effortless transitions from one song to another and back again, teasing us, winding us up, winding us down and giving us everything we wanted.
For me, as as an amateur DJ with a day job and a bit of a passion for music, this was a total inspiration. It's not just that he can beatmatch three vinyl decks at once. It's not just that he can cue songs perfectly so that when one stops another starts seamlessly. It's not even that he used the mixing desk like it was a musical instrument in  its own right. I saw a master at work and that mastery is something for me to aspire to.
Detroit is the home of techno and DJ Bone is one of Detroits legendary DJs. Last night we found out why! 
Spicy Bass, Minimalaysia: thank you for organising this event. More please!
 
 
 

Friday 24 February 2012

Back in the Groove

Well hello again readers..


Apologies! Even with the best will in the world, events can sometimes take over. It becomes impossible to keep doing a thing you actually love. Been ever so busy lately! No time to think about posting...but now I'm back in the groove!


So here's the news....Freedom continues to be the most innovative gay party in KL.


We just had a wonderful Year of the Dragon party last month.


 With the help of facepainter Mellissa Ng an up-for-it crowd got punked up with dragon tattoos and facepaint.









If you 'd like to download a mix from the night, you can  click on the link below.
LIVE OFF THE MIXER!




TO DOWNLOAD, CLICK TH E VERTICAL BLUE ARROW ABOVE THE WAVEFORM






 And the Underground Soundz crew has gained a new member in the shape of French DJ JP, already no stranger to Freedom. With JP on the team we can look forward to even more creativity and imagination at our events.




FINALLY, we are starting a new weekly party in KL!!! Something different, something new....a weekly cruise bar at Bakita in Bukit Bintang.




More info about that in future posts.



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