Hi-Jinks pres. Fabrice Lig CD Launch @ The Sly Fox, Sydney (15/05/04)

Mission Objective: To infiltrate the Sly Fox and record the activities of subservsive attendees, and the djs (disc jockeys) known as Simon, Spitchen, Topher, AKA and James Bond.

Possible Influencing Factors: Abundance of cheap cocktails, a dance-off and a genre of music referred to by patrons as ‘aciiieeeeed’ and electro. Note: These factors may make patrons behavior unpredictable.

Mission Log: 1930 hours: Upon entering the Sly Fox (with no deadly force or cover charge required) I immediately set about attempting to blend in with the patrons. Maintaining a covert status initially proved quite difficult due to the sheer diversity of the crowd. However it quickly became apparent that the best way to achieve this was to partake in the consumption of aforementioned cheap cocktails (see possible influencing factors). Some Freak (Si) is obviously catering to the crowd’s tastes, playing beats of a repetitive nature through what is a very loud yet surprisingly very clear sound system.

2100 hours: With cocktails being drunk faster than your average nose-bleed gabber, the place is quickly becoming rather crowded. People are smiling and going out of their way to be friendly, no doubt a side effect of cocktail consumption (at least I don’t have to worry about resorting to hand-to-hand combat). Spitchen seamlessly continued the vibe that Si established, and the dancefloor is now really starting to fill. There seems to be growing anticipation about the impending dance-off… either that or it’s possibly an impending sense of panic about the cheap cocktails finishing. Will advise.

2230 hours: OK, the mission isn’t exactly going exactly to plan. I am quite inebriated. The covert status of my operation seems to have been blown, however no-one seems to really care. The dance-off heats proved a huge success with the punters with much audience participation in helping to choose those that were to advance to the final (which at this rate I will be lucky if I make). Topher managed to keep the place rocking following the completion of Spitchen’s set. Not wanting to stand out, I found myself dancing to (and I quote a punter verbatim) “some mad-ass booty shaking electro” combined with “tweaky acid 303”. My mission objectives are becoming increasingly blurry. Next report at midnight.

0000 hours: Mission aborted. I am now officially classified as AWOL. New mission objective? To discontinue covert status and really have some real fun. AKA literally rocked the house, working the decks like a man possessed. His timing of HMC’s ‘Phreakin’ could not have been more spot on and the crowd responded with their hands in the air and one certain young man storming to the dj booth, fist pumping screaming ‘aciieeeed’ at the top of his lungs. The finals of the dance-off provided fun for everyone with both audience and participants alike dancing up a storm. So far Mr Bond has not disappointed, the crowd lapping up his delivery of fat squelchy acid style basslines. One over enthusiastic punter took things to a new level deciding that topless dancing on the stage was where it was at. Unfortunately management didn’t really see it the same way and the aforementioned punter was kicked out to the disappointment of everyone else.

0200 (ish) hours: Due to possible impending kidney failure it was at this stage that I decided to sadly depart. James Bond played out what was to be a set that I shall not forget for quite some time. Tell me, who else could pull off dropping Joey Beltram’s ‘Energy Flash’ followed up not much later with Duran Duran?

0900 hours: Sitting on my couch trying to piece together hazy memories and nursing what would have to be one of the most severe headaches ever experienced by man, I can’t help but laugh to myself about the damn excellent night that was Hi-Jinks. They were some of the best tunes I have heard in a long time; without doubt the best crowd I have seen for ages and who could forget the oh-so-delicious cheap cocktails to boot! With the next installment less than a month away it should give this ever-so-slightly hungover punter a chance to recover… only to do it all again.

To the promoters and djs: you guys have created what is quickly becoming one of one of the best nights out in Sydney for people wanting to hear some ‘proper’ music.

To the punters: everyone was well and truly up for it. See you on June 5th at the next one.