29th Jan - Epidemik's 14th Birthday Bash @ AREA - 7th November '09
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It was Saturday the 7th. of November and the time had finally arrived for a trip to London and all roads led to Area in Vauxhall for Epidemik's 14th. birthday bash. When I arrived about 10pm there was already a nice queue forming and it wasn't long before I was inside. It was a great venue with lots of rooms on offer playing host to Old Skool and Jungle, Hardcore, House and Breaks and DnB. After getting a drink and having a wonder around I made my way into the now bubbling main room and found a space on the dance floor.
After a few sets from the Epidemik regulars it was now time for the first big name guest I was looking forward to seeing, Luna C flown in especially from the U.S.A. This guy to me is a legend having released some awesome tunes on his label Kniteforce Records back in the day, more recently he has got a big Breakcore following and I was in for a treat as I had never seen him live. As I was hoping for, he played his back catalogue of slammers off his label and they all went down a treat, his 1994 Hardcore is my favourite era for the genre and he completely smashed it. His mixing was top notch and the tunes really did create good vibes and a huge turn out on the floor, an awesome set and I look forward to seeing him again.
The Rozalla live PA got the place bubbling, obviously I know the tune, its a classic, but I can't say it's ever really been my thing but it was great seeing Everybody's Free To Feel Good performed live. Rozalla put her all into the performance with DJ Phantasy supplying the backing tracks on the decks and everyone seemed to love it, she performed another number afterwards and there's no denying the lady is a legend when it comes to Dance music and it really did create vibes inside the place and was a nice change from the DJ's and MC's.
The 2 Bad Mice live PA was more up my street as I love Bombscare, one of my favourite old Hardcore tunes and one of the most recognisable. The tunes they played got such a reaction with their own MC hyping the crowd, Bombscare is such a legendary tune and without tunes like that there would be no Jungle/Drum and Bass as we know it. This was a highlight of the night as I had never seen the 2 Bad Mice crew before and again it was a nice change from the DJ's, more raves should have these live elements to break things up nicely.
The Nebula II live PA was wicked showcasing a lot of 1991 to 1993 Jungle Techno and they really got the crowd moving, bringing along their own MC Ribz to host the set and they destroyed the dance floor with a series of bangers that people knew and a few hidden gems that took me by surprise. The tunes were more up my street, what was known as Darkcore at the time and again I was happy to see these guys in action as I had never seen them live although I own many of their records.
Around about this time it was the turn of Devious "Rudeboy" Dee on the decks, this set was full of anthems such as Wolf and his own special of Trust Me with the vocals of It's The Way over the top which had the News At Ten intro, this tune caused such a stir it got the rewind treatment. The dance floor was proper having it at this point and I had forgotten how good some of these classics sounded on a wicked system.
Billy "Daniel" Bunter played a great set, he played more early Jungle breakbeat tunes than I was expecting and I certainly wasn't complaining, the crowd lapped it up and his partner in crime for the set was none other than his mate Slipmatt's usual MC, the legend that is Charlie B who worked the crowd nicely. This was another favourite set of mine especially as he finished his set off with the Snowman tune by X Project which I hadn't heard for donkey's years. It was also good hearing Billy play Champion Sound, this reminded me of his old Labrynth sets.
The Ratpack were their usual entertaining selves, playing all their old classics such as Searching For My Rizla alongside new breakbeat productions that fitted perfectly alongside the old Hardcore. The MC Evenson Allen really does put in 100% every time and the crowd were singing along and responding to what he was saying and as usual DJ Lipmaster Mark mixed well and played all the favourites people have come to expect. It was a shame the CDJ's messed up a little at the end of the set but the boys soldiered on and handled the situation perfectly. I enjoyed the set but at this time I was in need of some Jungle/Drum and Bass to get me lively again.
Up next was Old Skool hero Nookie who played a Moving Shadow showcase, this label needs no introduction as it is legendary in shaping the scene today so you can imagine to was classic tune after classic tune. I don't remember seeing MC Five Alive over this set as advertised but it was a wicked set regardless. It made me realise Moving Shadow really did release some ground breaking tunes back in the day and Nookie mixed them perfectly. Last time I saw Nookie play was at a Logical Progression night in Amsterdam with LTJ Bukem and again on this night he didn't disappoint.
We were now at the last set of the night and the dance floor was clearing a little and who better to get everyone on their feet again? The DnB legend that is MC Shabba D alongside Shimon playing a classic Ram Records set. Now Shabba gets some flack on the forums, people saying he is nowhere near as good as he was in the 90's but I was well impressed with his performance on this occasion, he hyped the crowd perfectly and brought complete and utter vibes. As much as myself and the massive had enjoyed the Old Skool we really needed some fast, manic DnB for this last set and Shimon delivered. Like Nookie, he played what he was meant to, all Ram Records tunes and I heard some clever mixing going on from inside the booth. All the classics were played, it was a proper history lesson, from the seminal Valley Of The Shadows right up to current smashers from the likes of Sub Focus and Chase and Status. Ram's Red One was meant to play back to back with Shimon but was absent for some reason but to be honest I think Shimon worked better alone, fast and furious mixing and a killer selection, one of the best sets of the night and again, Shabba was wicked, sometimes passing the mike to fellow Higher Levels member, Yardie.
Well, all in all, what a fantastic night, the production and sound, especially in the main room, was immmense and the place was rammed. I spent most of the night in the main room as you can tell from above but when I did pass through the other rooms they were very busy and had great atmospheres. Big up to J.O.K. for his set in the DnB/Breaks arch and I also caught some of DJ Phantasy's Biology/Energy set in the House room which was firing. I did pop along to the after party at The Light Box briefly and it was good meeting Grant Epidemik on the door, big up, but my mind and body could take no more so it was time to leave. Catch Epidemik again at Fire on New Years Eve for more Old Skool mayhem.
Peace, DJ Stevo.
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written by entice1, May 17, 2012
