CLUB REVIEW FUTURE WORLD FUNK CCA, Glasgow, sat 15 Dec 0..
The DJ spins a rhythmically challenging mixture of Cuban, Caribbean and South American grooves and the CCA:5 is suitably glowing for the occasion. But while the backdrop shows wild street party scenes, there’s hardly enough people in here to fill a taxi, never mind trouble the Mardi Gras for atmosphere. It would appear that, tonight at least, The Funk is in some other city. Eventually, the 148 Collective shuffle on to the stage exchanging sheepish glances but seemingly determined that the show must go on regardless. Lead singer Vanessa Freeman, whose employers have included Pressure Drop and 4hero, is a striking presence whose velvet vocal chords succeed in filling the largely uninhabited space in front, but the band are lacking the technical ability to ably support. The rhythm section in particular seem nervous, and while occasionally this contrives to produce some accidentally edgy ESG beats, more often the lack of telepathy between the drummer and the bassist suggests they’ve hastily learned some Brand New Heavies b- sides. Freeman’s obvious talent is again undermined when someone called Zippy is invited to the stage and rants pseudo-anarchic theories while, as one, the audience squirm
with embarrassment.
Surprisingly, when the band get round to tackling a bunch of Christmas carols, it all
comes together beautifully. ‘Silent Night’ in particular benefits from a quirky lop-sided groove and, with the band suddenly gelling, Vanessa Freeman is finally confident enough to let rip with the histrionics. lt’s perhaps telling that, breaking free from their own half-written material, the 148 Collective are much more comfortable working with a set purpose, in this case to make a carol service funky. The feeling persists, however, that Freeman is simply slumming it here and a much better vehicle for her talents should be along at any time. It would be a sin to let her shout into the void for a minute longer. (Steven
Clark)
front deep to disco. unleashed by Norman and Zeus.
Glasgow Tuesdays
Pre-club
I Colin Davie at Spy Bar. 9pm—midnight. Free. Weekly. ('oliii Davie does his thang. delivering some quality house grooves and whatever the hell he feels like.
I Cul de Sac at (‘til de Sac. 9pm—midnight. Free. Weekly. Martyn Jengahead. a Cu] de Sac resident of DJ days gone by. gets back iii the saddle. playing a mixed bag of house and beats. test driving his new promos and white labels.
I Playstatlon League at Bar Jedi. 9pm—2am. Free. Weekly. For kids sore of thumb and pallid of complexion. A case of lager is up for grabs for the top gun gamer. assuming you can drag yourselves away from the ‘station at home.
I le| Island at Nice ‘n' Sleazy. Monthly. Next date the.
Club
I Fly at Alaska. llpm—3am. £5 (£3). Weekly . Student night at the super hip club. Dr Paul plays student anthems downstairs. while Colin and Owen rip it up upstairs playing funky house and dropping in a few surprise tracks. Ridiculously cheap bevy and quality tunes.
Chart & Party
I OJ at Arehaos. llpm—3am. £3 (£2). Weekly. Dave Gilmour and Mike Winters provide the cheezy pop and party anthems to the party minded students.
I Laid at Shack. l().3()pm—3ain. £4 (£2). Weekly. Student night with the cheesiest of cheese.
I Shooting Stars at the Garage. llpm—3ani. £4 (£3). Weekly. Gerry and
Jain keep the drunk kids happy vy ith charty house and pop hits.
I The Shimmy Club at Bentiet's. ll.3()pm—3ain. £3 (£1.50). Weekly. A straight-ish and studenty night at the gay venue. with Raymond Dav reii maintaining the party atmosphere.
I T.i.T. at Trash. l().3()piii~--3'.im. £4 (£2). Weekly. Grahame Ferguson and Scott Free spin garage and house in the main room. while DJ Robert keeps the kids entertained with plenty ofcheese in room two. (iirls. diamante boob tubes are a iiitist. otherwise you could look slightly tinderdressed.
Glasgow Wednesdays
Pre-club
I Fluid at the Polo Lounge. l()pm— i am. Free. Weekly. DJ Wayne Dixon mixes tip classic funk. soul and disco with a dash ofcontemporary business. and there are half-price cocktails to make sure things go with a swing.
I Mode at Moda. Spin—lam. Free. Weekly. Smooth and soulful R&B with DJ .\'iall.
I Russell’s at Russell's. 9—1 lpm. Free. Weekly. DJ Yaw brings his world music extravaganza to the yuppie masses. I Salsa Fuente at Havana. 8pm—midnight. £4. Weekly. Salsa class followed by Salsa DJs through to closing time.
I Take A Stand at the Stand.
8pm—l lpm. £2. Weekly. Open-stage night where poetry performers. musicians. comedians and DJs are encouraged to get tip and do their stuff. I Jengaheads at McChuill's Way Out West. 9pm—l lptn. Free. Weekly. Martyn Jengahead test drives his new tracks. promos and purchases. [Expect mellow beats. house and whatever tickles his fancy.
Edinburgh
Vanessa Freeman fills the void with funk
Club
I Bennet’s at Bennet's. l l.3()pm— 3am. £2.50 (£l.5()). Weekly. Sara vv itli an tip- front dance mix. (iay.
I Easy Tiger at .MAS. l lpm 3am. £4. (£2 ). Weekly. A party atmosphere and plenty of shenanigans guaranteed. thanks to the amazing free drink offers on at this increasingly popular Wed night soirec.
I F.A.B. at Babaza. l lptti~3am. Free before i lpm; £4 (£3) after. Weekly. DJ Sktid blends garage. Rth aitd funky house. play itig to a dressed-tip crowd w ho help to make this one of the busiest midweek nights in (ilttsgovv.
I Joints Jams at ('tibe. llpin—3am. £3 (£2). Weekly. in the back room Harry B and Brian T present Loungin‘. a selection of funky tracks and laid~back tunes. while in the main room. a rotating roster of DJs supply R&B. hip hop and soul.
Chart & Party
I Flt at Archaos. l lpm—3am. £3 (£2). Weekly. Absolutely colossal student night with John Richardson and Gus Michaels supplying cheesy pop. party anthems and commercial house.
I Media at Media. llpm—3am. £3. Weekly. A full~on flavoured mix from rotational residents plus karaoke in room two. Drinks promos a bonus (all drinks £1 before lam).
I Toast at Shack. l().3()pm—3am. £3 (£2). Cheesy tunes courtesy of DJ Toast. with lashings of booze to help wash it down.
I Klass at Destiny. l()pm—3ani. £2 before i lpm; £3 after. Weekly. A night aimed at those who fancy a party night otit but can't stand those pesky kids cluttering tip the dance floor. Over 28s only.
I Souped Up at the Garage. l().3()pm—3am. £3 (£2). Weekly. Daft pop atid student antics at the tiiost popular student venue iii tow ii.
lubs
Regular weekly clubs plus one off events are listed by city, then by day, then alphabetical by title. Clubs will be listed, provided that up to date details reach our offices at least eight days before publication. Lack of information may result in clubs being omitted. Edinburgh club Ilstlngs compiled by Catherine Bromley.
Edinburgh Thursdays
Pre—club
I Beluga at Beluga. Spin—lam. Free. Weekly. Soulful house and broken beats with DJ Craig Smith ( 10 Jan). followed by Leo's ftinked-tip disco grooves ( l7 Jati). I Cool Blue at the Wash (formerly the Carvv ash). ()pni-—lam. Free. Weekly. Relax and unwind to a smooth hip hop and soul selection. served tip by DJ Ali ('ampbell. I Drop Out at the l.iv ing Room. ‘)pm—lani. Free. l7 Jan. Fortnightly. Bodyfunk atid 3J4 unleash electro, house atid funky techno at this all-new pre-clttb
I Eccentric at Bam Bot). ‘)[)ltl~~ltllll. Free. l7 Jati. Fortnightly. New residents Stttart Sandeinan (Naked) and Lee Murray join litian James atid l’hil York as they play quality l'S house and litiropean trance for the discerning pi‘e-cltibber at this ()riental style bar.
I Flashback til Flashback.
8.3()pm- lam. Free. Weekly. DJ VL‘lltls steps back iii time to play disco tunes from the 7()s atid S()s.
I Immersed In Music at Pivo.
9pm laiti. Free. Weekly. Smokey & 'l‘hc Bandit (Senses) tear tip the funky house highway.
I Made In Iguana at iguana.
0pm lam. Free. Weekly. (iareth Sonimerv ille play s warm New York hotise. disco atid all things soulful at this pre— weekcnd pie-club.
I North Bridge Bar at the Scotsman Hotel. 9pm lam. Free. Weekly. l.enny Love (Vegas) plays ja//, swing and lotingecore for the stylish sushi svvallovvei‘s.
I Oxygen at ()sygcn. 9pm lain. Free. Weekly. Progressive hotise atid trance from rotational residents Stuart Duncan (Atomic Baby ) and Dave Begg (Skank. Area 5| ).
I Shadowskill at Bam Bou. 9pm -l;tlll. Free. ll) Jan. Fortnightly. (‘onfticitis say this new ()riental style bar got plenty good drum & bass and hip hop with DJ Sam and Redo.
I Soft Rock at the Pond Bar. L)pm~~lam. Free. Weekly. Air guitar the night avva) to some 'orrible soft rock in the comfortable surroundings of I.eith'.s premiere watering hole.
I Yol Below at Yo? Belovv. 8pm—l2.3()aiii. Free. Weekly. The Stishi style bar gets a solid sotil injection from Lel Pafrey. playing percussive house through to bossa Brazilia heats.
Club
I Afrikando at El Barrio. l()pm~3am (last entry 2am). Free. Weekly. The connection between African beats and Cuban rhythms suddenly becomes clear at this all-new night featuring afro-salsa. merengue. soukous, jit jive and much. much more.
I Behave? at the Honeycomb. Monthly. Next date 24 Jan.
I 6.0. Blooms at (‘.(‘. Blooms. l().3()pm—3am (bar from 6pm). Free. Weekly. Trip the light fantastic to iii-NRC} dance action at this ever-popular gay bar. I Fusion at Po .\'a .\'a. l lpm—3am. £2. Weekly (closed 3 Jan). DJs Mark B (Studio (irand) play s vinyl gems sourced from the realms of house. hip hop. ftiiik
aiid sottl.
THE LIST 85