Bang Gang feat. Mashed CD Launch @ Club 77, Sydney (30/09/05)
The intro to mashed two, Annie’s Chewing Gum, loops in my head and encapsulates the scene. We’re waiting in the growing queue that’s cornering around thrifty car rentals. Coolness just oozes from every pore of those damn hot Club 77 patrons, decked in their tsubis and eighties eclectic threads. Only somebody’s yelling something more like, “Go Tigers!”
The waiting ends when the emo – chic door lad plucks us from the crowd and ushers us into the depths below. Already, I feel like a special member of some secret underground society. Inside the tunes are sweet as pie, the Eurythmics’ Sweet Dreams confronts us but with a neo-gothic, throbbing electro take on the eighties classic. Those Bang Gang boys really know how to turn up the funky shit.
The décor resembles a circa-1982 basement party, similar to the one your older sister probably had back when the kids were dancing like zombies to Thriller. Think leopard fur couches, UV lighting, a DJ stand liberally covered in those fake plastic roses and glo-mesh fabric hanging from the roof. No expense spared on the D.I.Y interior decorating, so sleazy and cheap it’s cool. In fact, Club 77 is like a Mecca for the fabulously gorgeous ultra cool people.
Seen on the dance floor were the Bang Gang members themselves, after their tag team DJing. Nice to see they don’t restrict themselves to the podium of the decks. They were identifiable by their trademark accessory for the night, paper fluoro orange glasses which, when worn takes the viewer to the Bahamas. Apparently, the best investment for a moment of trippy, sunlit ecstasy for under two dollars.
So, to the music, well mashed two is truly something special to witness. Indie hipsters and electro loving clubbers unite! Enter the new genre of house-rock, mashed up to perfection like that glorious cold rock ice cream stuff. Although the genre itself isn’t new, note the influences from the Belgium brothers 2 Many DJs, the unique manipulation of house, electro, pop and rock is different, creating a freshly crafted sound.
Hits of the night included a slow, but intense build up to Bloc Party’s Banquet which really got the crowd wet, Franz Ferdinand’s, This Fire, Gorillaz’ Dare and Drop it like its hot from Snoop Dogg.
