‘PENDULUM ARE THE DRUM & BASS ACT OF THE MOMENT'
Bring
the t bck
David Polloc checks out the state of drum & bass as Xplicit launch in Glasgow and Manga return to Edinburgh for a one off special.
ne weekend later this month shall surely prove whether or not drum & bass is still the
force to be reckoned with it once was north of
the border. Unusually for Scotland. the genre once held greater sway in Edinburgh than it did in Glasgow. with the much-lauded Manga being for a time the most talked-about club in the country — in fact. one of the most revered in the UK — as the brainchild of G—Mac and DJ Kid monopolised the affections of l)&B fans across the land.
Times have changed though. With worthy venues closing across the capital. Manga — which had spread to a regular residency in Glasgow. as well as nights further afield — shut up shop earlier this year. with the men behind it taking a break and concentrating on larger-scale one-off events in the future.
It was the same story across the board. in fact. with DJ Kid‘s Jungle Magic and Glasgow‘s other regular night l.iveVlivil ceasing to be going concerns around about the same time. The only success story seemed
to be Edinburgh‘s Xplicit. an exciting mixture of
l)&B and breakbeat which has consistently reported good crowds during a relatively short lifespan.
As eventually happens in situations like this. everything that‘s been around seems to be coming around again. Now suitably rested. the Manga boys are returning for their first one-off live date at the Liquid Room this fortnight. featuring a special guest appearance by the night‘s old friend Dillinja and his new proteges (‘ragz and Parallel Forces.
Xplicit. meanwhile — now Edinburgh‘s only monthly l)&B night — is following Manga's lead and
starting a new regular excursion to the School of Art in Glasgow. Special guests for this event will be Pendulum and MC Verse. while the LiveVlivil crew will be in attendance and a new sound system is being fitted for the occasion.
‘There haven’t been any regular drum & bass nights in Glasgow since LiveVl-{vil finished in December.‘ says Xplicit's promoter Simon McGrath. ‘so we thought it was just a good time to give something a try there. Glasgow seems to be a lot more techno orientated as a city. so that's why we decided to bring in Pendulum for the first date. They‘re the drum & bass act of the minute. and they should be the perfect foundation to a new night through there.‘
While Manga‘s G-Mac contests that his club nights in Glasgow were largely successful. he does admit it was much more of an uphill struggle. ‘No matter what style of music you‘re doinu‘. he ponders. ‘the city is much more geographically diluted than lidinburgh. ln lidinburgh there's a kind of heartland which contains only a certain amount of venues. whereas in Glasgow there are so many more places spread over a wider area. and much more choice.
‘As for lidinburgh. there is an audience. but in essence there are only four useable venues for nights like these. Trying to schedule things is difficult unless you go block-booking venues. Again. you just have to go working a lot harder to make things happen.‘
Xplicit launches at the School of Art, Glasgow, Fri 10 Nov. Manga’s one-off event is at the Liquid Room, Edinburgh, Sat 1 1 Nov.
Modern Lovers Soul. funk, jazz, Northern soul, ska and more form the Modern Lovers crew as they celebrate their sixth birthday. Ego, Edinburgh, Fri 3 Nov. Pinup Nights Alex James. one quarter of Britpop floppy— haired giants Blur takes to the decks for fun’n'frolicks. The Woodside Social, Glasgow, Fri 3 Nov.
iii The Cathouse Glasgow’s home of rock makes its first visit to Edinburgh for their new monthly. Studio 24, Edinburgh, Sat 4 Nov.
3";- ECCF 8: Northern Light Charity Night Late Hallowe’en party across four rooms featuring 20 of the best DJs Scotland has to offer all raising funds for The Sick Kids Friends Foundation. Caves, Edinburgh, Sat 4 Nov. Optimo Edinburgh relaunch for the most inventive club these shores have to offer, with the Go- Go taking up residence. Nice. Ego, Edinburgh, Sat 4 Nov. Utter Gutter Madame S and Hushpupppy celebrate two years of Gutter goodness with a Gay Fawkes Fancy Dress Ball. Riverside Club, Glasgow, Sat 4 Nov.
--I.?~.-' Rocket The man that gave us the great A Night at the Playboy Mansion records whips up a storm at Bamboo. Introducing Dimitri from Paris (pictured). Bamboo, Glasgow. Fri 70 Nov.
" 3‘ Subculture A re-scheduled date for the Philadelphia royal aka King Britt. Expect Afro-beat, hip hop. jazz and house from the head of the Sylk130 crew. Sub Club, Glasgow, Sat 77 Nov.
7-f- We Are . . . Electric Optimo’s record label OSCarr host their relaunch party are the ever reliable WAE with a live set from X-Vectors. Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh, Wed 75 Nov.
2—16 Nov 2006 THE LIST 31