Benji from Underbelly (aka Damian Walshe – Howling) and four of his mates have just shot upstairs to the Balcony. I want to follow, I have a massive crush on him, but Shelly is singing at Liquid in a matter of minutes. She won't stay if I follow. We have full bellies and are warm from wine, I cannot think of a plausible reason to stalk him. All along Jonson St, I hope hope hope he will be at The Good Foot party at Liquid later.
Anyone familiar with the infamous DNBBQ parties at the Abercrombie in Sydney will have an inkling of what The Good Foot is all about. (For those who don't, DNBBQ is two floors of drum n bass, live performances, tekken on the big screen, South American bbq, one-in-one-out as soon as night falls). With the popularity of reggae, dancehall and dub in Byron Bay, it’s logical that drum n bass will be welcomed here. Bay FM’s Flow Poetry opens the night, spinning his favourite funk and dancehall. He is followed by the headlining ensemble: Simon (The Bird) mixes digital beats while Dave (Resin Dogs) hits the skins, Stu (Fyah Walk) and Alex (King Tide) are a trombone-tastic duo, and Shelly (CBD Dub Project) provides vocal highlights. The end result is frenetic drum n bass; not a still pair of feet in the house. I get the distinct impression this is only the first night of what will become a regular event.
After that set, I wash the sweat from my forehead and take Shelly on a (fruitless) Benji-hunt. At the Hotel Great Northern, Magic Dirt’s Adalita bursts out the back door and begins climbing a nearby fence. Her amused bandmates watch from the doorway. Behind them I can hear their audience cheering and stamping for more. The last time I saw Magic Dirt, I was pinned against the barrier at the Fierce Festival in London, in 2002. 6 years later, Adalita is still one hot goddess of rock. And she won’t let us backstage. The front doors have been opened so we wander in for the encore, a powerful cover of The Scientists’ We have Love. The drums and the bass are here too, heavy and sharp like a slap to the face.
Back at Liquid, the Good Foot drum n bass goodness continues til 3am for everyone who doesn’t have to work Fridays (or doesn’t care about their job).
I cannot wait for the next one.
Ah, Splendour weekend. The streets are packed, and people are wandering all over the road. I nearly run over a guy dressed in black, he waves his beer at me like he wants a lift.
Not this time, buddy.
I get to La La Land around 10 and Kato is pumping brain buzzing electro. Bass that shakes the fillings in your teeth. The place is alive tonight, there is a pretty good pre-Splendour vibe going on. I don't think anyone wants to get trashed this early in the game.
Here tonight are a couple of photographers who have come to check out the Byron scene (You can see awesome photos by Dan from Papakish here.) I don't think they'll be disappointed. There are some beautiful women in short dresses running around, and enough fit men to keep me happy too. But enough about that...
Van She are a live band right, so Van She Tech is their way of keeping fingers in more pies. You can see the live element in the way they spin - most DJ's are heads down, focused on the mixing and bouncing along, but these guys look like your mates in the corner of your living room. With heads up, they dance along and emphasize the lyrics by pointing at the crowd.
I'm too much of a nanna to stick around for the whole set, and I have to save my energy for Splendour. Luckily, La La Land earned a 3am licence for Sunday, so maybe I'll head back there when Splendour shuts down.
If i can handle it...
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