A Night with Aoki Part #2

On my way to the much anticipated Assembly show I thought back on the discussion we had with Steve Aoki only hours before. The man plays between 250 and 300 shows a year and he runs a record label and he sources new acts and and and. I knew I was in for a treat.

As I climbed the Assembly stairs with my friends the hype that had so long been building was realised. I was concerned though. The Skene brothers were busting out some huge tunes, to the point that I thought that the evening might be climaxing too soon. But I was wrong, and not for the first time.

Aoki took the stage after midnight with expectations brewing beyond some fans control. A particular young lady (I am sure she was just one of many) had far too much to drink and it wouldn’t be farfetched to suggest that she remembered very little of the evening’s proceedings.

Aoki’s fan interactions were second to none. He was crowd surfing within five or 10 minutes starting his show. WARP (Aoki’s Bloody Beetroots remix) was his second track and proved a crowd favourite to the point that he closed the show with it as well. At the beginning of the show the die-hard fans and electro junkies filled the immediate area in front of the stage. There was a healthy mix of girls and boys in the early periods. But soon it became too much. The rotation policy became standard for most. You would enter the fray, get sprayed with champagne by Aoki and get wet-through from a mixture of yours and others sweat, and dance (like that was even optional with everyone rubbing up on you). Personal space doesn’t exist, but no one complains.Then you would get out, rest, recuperate, get a drink and head back in for some more fun. If you were lucky Aoki would even crowd surf while you were in there. These gatherings weren’t violent mind you (as so often they can be). It was just that err’body wanted to be at the front, to touch him (on his studio), to get a better vantage point or get spotted by Mark ‘The Cobrasnake’ Hunter. Louder than the music was the ongoing chant, "Steve!...Aoki! Steve!...Aoki! Steve!...Aoki! Steve!...Aoki!" Such a jol.

Assembly did really well hosting this year’s biggest event. I remember Bloody Beetroots last year was great, but you could see that the hosts learned a lot from that time. The stage was bigger and the fencing around the stage was more secure (not moving every time a forward surge was made by crazy wet fans).

Big up ya’ll. Next up: JUSTICE (please).

Vice Launch with NYPC DJ set

So Friday night did not carry the wow factor that so many had hoped and expected for. While New Young Pony Club's Lou Hayter is nothing short of visually beautiful, her DJ set, was, well AWFUL!

Inge got things underway with her typical experimental self. It was interesting. Her stage presence is bewilderingly enchanting.

The turn of Ashtray Electric arrived, and they impressed. They were probably the most enjoyable act of the evening. I only have one question about Overstared. Does anyone who knows anything about wine, like sweet wine? The song doesn't go, "The DESERT wine tastes sweeter..." Personally, I don't like sweet wine. Now, if the song went something along the lines of, "The honey tastes sweeter..." , or "The liquer tastes sweeter..." (if it has to be alcoholic) I would be all for it. It doesn't. Oh well. Girls seem to think it's beautiful.
I am getting sidetracked.

The reason for the evening, was the launch of the controversial, most interesting, Vice Magazine. I got a couple of copies. I haven't really looked too much at it just yet, but it looks pretty controversial. I am looking forward to some time to read a few of the articles. Unfortunately I feel the need to reiterate the disappointment of Lou's set. She started the set with some reggae/hop. No actual New Young Pony Club beats. Things, progressed and turned to some more heavy electro. Still no NYPC tracks. Eventually, shortly before I gave up on her, Ice Cream began. No remix, just straight track. At least it made the cut. Then, rock. Not 'indie' rock, RAGE AGAINST THE freaking MACHINE rock. It was the most bizarre DJ set I have heard, I am sure of it. Fortunately for her, some people were either tripping or couldn't look beyond her music profile, and so they seemed to enjoy it.

I don't think I am alone on this one.

Fusball was fun.

[pics from we-are-awesome.com]