I think that went rather well.

[alexsarll]

Well, after a couple of quiet weekends this one rocked more than a remake of The Rock starring The Rock, Motley Crue and the Rock Lords from Gobots.

Friday: Stay Beautiful. It's been more than a month since my last SB, and more than a year since my last Martin Wallace DJ set. Consequently, I spend almost my entire time out on the floor. In the weekend's first Moment of Visionary Brilliance, I remember how powerful music is. Take 'Mono', by Courtney Love - that song is pure, conentrated ego. You could play that to Buddha, or Aristotle's god, and knock them back into mortality with it. I'm not sure why you'd want to do that, but it'd be a lark, wouldn't it? Or 'Temptation' by New Order - no idea what that song's on about, frankly, but doesn't it just hit you somewhere you didn't know you was there to hit? Anyway. I still have no idea what My Chemical Romance sound like, but the DJ they supply is also bloody good. Also, I now really want a Clockwork Orange icon.

Saturday: Rammstein. The queue is the first queue I have ever seen which is literally 'around the block' - it's the shape of a number 9. And inside - I've been to a sold-out show at the Academy before, but somehow it never felt this *full*. Tonight's Moment of Visionary Brilliance: just as The Two Towers left me feeling that all films should begin with a presumption in favour of 10,000 Orcs, this concert leaves me feeling that all bands should start with a presumption in flavour of flamethrowers for the singer and keyboard stands on Segways. I can feel the heat of the flames from behind the mixing desk, and wonder how Miss Raichu, dunkel_blut et al are managing down the front. I am later told that the temperature was high enough to melt PVC. This is indeed a band who know how to put on a show. But also, of course, one who have the songs, the vision and the passion to fill out such expansive gestures. Now I understand why they inspire quite such passion.

Sunday: Love Your Enemies. We are the top pick in the Guide and I feel the weight of expectation heavy upon me, but I remind myself that nothing can hurt the samurai who goes into battle fully resolved to press pause on the wrong CD deck. In a Moment of Visionary Brilliance, I decide to ditch my planned setlist and DJ using only the 12"/80s compilation which I won at Stay Beautiful. In a second Moment of Visionary Brilliance, I realise that my colleagues are unlikely to share my current high esteem for the Cutback Mix of 'Money's Too Tight To Mention' by Simply Red, and that it's far too early in our glittering careers for the Michael Alig-style disco bloodbath that will ensue. The setlist is rescued.

Wake Up The Street - Simon Warner [appropriate as the first song at the first Love Your Enemies - it's a call to arms, it's bloody brilliant and it sold about three copies, all to me - two were for presents]
Lady Stardust - David Bowie
One Chord Wonders - The Adverts
You, Me And World War Three - Gavin Friday
The Hive - Richard Harris
I'm Just Alive - Delicatessen
Radar - David Devant And His Spirit Wife
Ed Is At The Ritz - Philip Jeays
Violent Men - Marion
Pale Movie - Saint Etienne
I'm A Vampire - Future Bible Heroes
Jack & Jill Party - Pete Burns/Pet Shop Boys
Be Sweet - Afghan Whigs
Stephen, You're Still Really Something - Associates
It Takes A Fool To Remain Sane - The Ark
There's Gonna Be An Accident - Baader Meinhof
Lord Fishgarlic's Last Expedition - Scarlet's Well
13th Century Boy - Fatima Mansions
Cocaine Socialism - Pulp
Kill The Poor - Dead Kennedys
National Front Disco - Morrissey

And still so many songs I didn't get chance to play! There's probably only about two there that I'll play again next month.

Afterwards I bounce around the venue like some sort of deranged human pinball, thanking people for coming and hugging people who'd clearly rather not be hugged, breaking off every now and then to hit the floor as my esteemed colleagues do their stuff. I am still buzzing.

Comments

[tiny-tear.livejournal.com]

So this means I finally listened to Scarlett's Well, pity I had no idea what was playing...

;-)

[atommickbrane.livejournal.com]

Haha, same here...

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking we should maybe get a 'You Are Now Listening To...' whiteboard, like they used to have at SB. Yes, the delusions of grandeur have started already.

[atommickbrane.livejournal.com]

You think that's grandeur? We are considering Club Popular membership cards!

Digital scrolling display >> whiteboards. Then again ticker tape == best.

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

We're not having membership cards until we can have biometric ones.

[atommickbrane.livejournal.com]

We are trying to come up with a good HOOK for Club Popular. "Slightly Less Gay Than Shinky Shonky" has been proposed. But I don't think it's a goer.

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

Shinky Shonky mailouts were such fun, and sometimes included badges. Then, for no apparent reason, they just stopped coming. Bah.

[capitalflash.livejournal.com]

:O you saw rammstein live! i'm so jealous.

your club rules, i'll be coming back again when i don't feel so stupidly tired. x

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

I actually felt slightly half-@rsed seeing Rammstein just the once - my friends there were seeing them for the fifth time this tour, with two more dates to attend yesterday and tonight!

[pippaalice.livejournal.com]

You are an angel, I felt emensley proud. :D

Mono is a blowjob song. I dunno if there are any gods I would want to blow...suggestions? ;)

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

Dionysus always struck me as your type, actually.

[pippaalice.livejournal.com]

Yes, I can see that. ;)

[666inmyheart.livejournal.com]

In agreement. Me, Marcus and Kate actually formed a street krew at your club last night, so it is really quite something. You did well lad. Give yourself a pat on the back.

xx

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

Our very own hooligan element, already! I'm so proud.

[666inmyheart.livejournal.com]

We are your very own sweet and tender hooligans at your service.

xx

[my-red-dream.livejournal.com]

Sorry I missed it, sounded absolutely fab. Proud of ye lot, superstar deejays!

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

Well, they seemed to like us so you'll have another chance next month!

[beingjdc.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I want to come to this, and rather wanted to on Sunday but a conspiracy of things prevented me. I fear 6th March is bad, but there may be a workaround... is first sunday the presumed date in perpetuity?

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

cappuccino_kid is the Phil Oakey to mine and Scottish's bimbos, so you'd be best off asking him, but I think so.

[drasticsturgeon.livejournal.com]

Sounds like an ace set - shame I didn't make it back from Dad's in time to catch it. I do love the cuban heels dear!!

[verlaine.livejournal.com]

I'm really upset that I missed your set now that I've seen what it was, and even more so about the fact that I'll be AWOL by the time of the next night. Love Your Enemies - almost good enough to rip up your transatlantic plane ticket for.

I had the best-laid plans this side of America

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

Well, I'll post it up here and you can burn yourself a copy. Just insert a few random pauses and you'll as good as have been there!

Re: I had the best-laid plans this side of America

[verlaine.livejournal.com]

But where can I get the music from which to burn myself a copy, o lord? Tracking down so many delightful obscurities might prove a life's work.

[perfectlyvague.livejournal.com]

I'd apologise for missing it, but it was all your fault! I even went into an internet cafe on Bethnal Green Road to check your post.

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

Huh?

[perfectlyvague.livejournal.com]

All the posts you all put up about it said that it was at 259 Bethnal Green Road. It got there at 7.15 and thought 'Oh - must have mixed up the numbers' Went to an Internet cafe and sure enough - you all said 259 and not 359. I walked all the way from 100ish to 300ish and couldn't find you...

[perfectlyvague.livejournal.com]

It wasn't until I got home that I thought to check the real listings which had the address right...hmph

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

I just made it back to your post and found the original grievance. Sorry! For want of a digit, the venue was lost...
(Which listing? The Guide didn't have a number at all)

[perfectlyvague.livejournal.com]

Something online...the first thing I googled had the full address.

[verlaine.livejournal.com]

Aha! And there I was thinking it was just me - I spent about twenty minutes walking up and down 200-300 Bethnal Green Road wondering how a club could be so well hidden. I was on my way back to the tube station when I spotted it...

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Apologies for not making it dahn yon Pleasure Unit, I was either in North London watching Andy be funny and some other people not be quite so funny ("It's not rape, it's 'surprise sex'!" - cue stony silence from audience) and then fretting about where to park the tourbus in Tower Hamlets without posession of a parking permit. Sounds good though - will try and make next months'...

Where to park the tourbus in Tower Hamlets

[perfectlyvague.livejournal.com]

Most of Burdett Road from Mile End down to the Isle of Dogs is non-permit.

Re: Where to park the tourbus in Tower Hamlets

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

That's where it is now. Previous attempts to park there on a Sunday night have been futile, so we felt very lucky indeed to find a space...

[juliet]

Sorry not to make it - DIY hell :-( But sounds ace - March 6th next time, yes?

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

Yes! And next time I'll even post the correct address when I plug it.

[kiss-me-quick.livejournal.com]

I meant to apologise for missing your set, but didn't get round to it. Sorry for missing your set. Though I'm not actually that sorry, since I only know one song from that lot and not very well.

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

Next month, being on in the second slot, I plan to play a couple of songs that people might actually recognise.

[johnnyvertigen.livejournal.com]

Next month, being on in the first slot, I intend to disappear completely up my own a.rse.

[pippaalice.livejournal.com]

LOL! You can be so mean!!!! :P

[rentaghost31.livejournal.com]

glad it went well dear. did you manage to press all the right buttons at the right times and everything?

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

I paused the wrong CD on the second track. At least it got that over with...

[rentaghost31.livejournal.com]

ah well - two in isn't too bad.

[darkmarcpi.livejournal.com]

I think 'Temptation' is just about being hopelessy in love with someone.

That's what it says to me, anyway, but I'm sure Bernard just wrote whatever came into his head without thinking. Sigh. The genius of the idiot-savante...