‘IT'S GOOD TO NOT GO FOR A ST RAIGHTFORWARD DANCE BAND'
Too many cooks?
2 MANY DJS are back with another live indie mash up. David Pollock checks out their next 2 Many Musicians venture.
or a pair of laptop cowboys who made arguably
the best mix album of all time in As Heard On
R(l(/f() Sou/wax Par! 3 (you might resent its ubiquity. but you can’t argue with its era-defining originality). seeing 2 Many l)Js play live is growing to be a variable experience. The first appearance of brothers Stephen and David Dewaele behind the decks in Scotland. for example. proved to be what seasoned gig and club goers would define as ‘a moment'. In May 2003 the pair wrenched the roof off at the Arches' Death Disco night. the first superstar DJs of the cut-up era‘s own ball of genre-unspecific confusion throwing constant curves at fans more used to the one-track- minded approach of other deck technicians. good and bad.
(‘ontrast that with the night at lidinhurgh's (‘ity nightclub earlier this year where. ironically. the Dewaeles provided the aftershow soundtrack to an earlier gig by Soulwax. their own electro-glam band whose careers have been startlingly reinvigorated of late by association with the 2 Many [)Js phenomenon. It felt more like a student indie disco. the brothers only too happy to crank up the kitsch factor with a blast of 'l‘echnotronic.
Now we‘re not going to resent them for it. particularly as it proves 2 Marty l).ls are obviously sensitive enough to their crowd to play to lit the environment. The point is that the best place to see them is obviously at one of these cheekily branded 2 Many Musicians capers. of which this will be the third in Scotland. Inspired by the music fans who go almost as much for the bands. we should expect one of the Dewaeles‘ more intrepid and informed sets.
36 THE LIST ‘9 77-1.l'ii.1)72’,’;
‘The first time we did one of these 2 Many Musicians gigs was at the Barrowlands last year with l.(‘l) Soundsystem.’ explains Simon Henderson of promoters PCL. ‘It went so well that 2 Many l)Js wanted to do it again. this time during the lidinburgh l‘estival with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. I think mixing up the live element and the [)1 element works really well. because the boundary between people who go to gigs and people who go to clubs is pretty much nonexistent these days.‘
Of the bands on the bill. Henderson says: ‘lt‘s always good to not go for a straightforward dance hand. If you think of the stuff that 2 Many I)Js do. where they mix up genres so much. then it‘s good to have a scuz/y blues band like the Kills. who change the pace away from the type of records the DJ plays. As far as Whomadewho goes. they've worked with 2 Many l)Js before and played ()ptimo. and 'l‘witch and Wilkes told us they had a great reception that night.
‘And as for us. it just so happens it coincides with our single coming out and a national tour. so we thought we‘d like to get involved rather than going up against these shows. No nepotism involved!‘ Henderson's referring to the fact that he‘s a member of (ilasgow’s Pro Forum. and we’d pick him up on that nepotism crack if his band weren‘t so damn good.
Good enough. in fact. to hopefully inspire the Dewaeles to pull out two truly epochal shows of which we know they‘re definitely capable.
2 Many Musicians including 2 Many DJs, the Kills, Whomadewho and Pro Forma, Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh, Fri 10 Jun, ABC, Glasgow, Sat 11 Jun.
THE BEST DANCEFLOOR ACTION
2 Many Musicians 2 Many DJs not only put in one of their exemplary mash up sets but they are joined for some live indie rock action from the Kills, Pro Forma and Whomadewho. Unmissable. Ocean Terminal. Edinburgh, Fri 70 Jun; ABC, Glasgow. Sat 7 7 Jun.
Club Hair. The theme this month is Saucy Seaside Postcards. Ooh er, missus. Join Mistress Scarlet and her gaggle of burlesque helpers for some naughty nautical tun. Carling Academy Glasgow. Sat 77 Jun.
Moodymann Kenny Dixon Jnr AKA Moodymann, has gathered together a six-piece band that includes Detroit's Andres. Piranha and Paul Randolph tor a rare series of dates around the globe. The Renlrew Ferry, Glasgow, Sun 7 2 Jun.
The Annual Summer Revel Huge party across the courtyard, marquee and club with more live acts than you can shake a shitty stick at. Plus indie. punk. ska, dub, reggae and hip hop DJs for all your needs. The Wee Red Bar, Edinburgh, Fri 77 Jun.
Dogma One week early so the Dogma crew can head down Glastonbury way, but no less special. 65D Mavericks (pictured) are the live guests and. as they only do ten unique live shows a year. this is gonna be a step above your usual techno session. Studio 24, Edinburgh, Fri 77 Jun.
Skadancecraze Dust off your baggy trousers and practice your bad manners as this one~otf special plays a mixture of rocksteady and 2—Tone. The Renfrew Ferry, Sat 78 Jun.
Record Playerz. Jamie Lidell’s current single ‘When I Come Back Around' is currently tearing up dance floors across the country. including the Vic Bar on Thursdays. So it is only fitting that Mr Lio'ell should play one of his headbending live shows to promote new album Multiply (Warp). The Glasgow School of
Art. Thu 23 Jun.