I have been a Timo Maas fan ever since I heard ‘Music for the Maases Vol 1’ in 2000 – so to say I was excited about seeing him at Tank on Thursday night was an understatement. I am usually a funky house girl, but I made an for the German born DJ and his progressive style. Walking through the doors at 10pm I arrived just in time to hear the master begin his 4 hour set. Tank, as a venue, never lets anyone down. This place is incredible and the balcony offers the perfect view of the dance floor. I watched from the balcony to see the crowd’s response until I could help myself no longer and moved downstairs to shake my booty with everyone else.

A modest crowd danced their way into a frenzy for the first hour of his set, and we were all jumping for joy to hear what would come next. It wasn’t for another hour before I stared to wonder where this journey was taking us… if anywhere at all. A crowd will soon let you know if they are unhappy with a DJ’s performance, so I moved to the front to get a better view. Timo drew fans from all walks of life, which is a tribute to him. A massive entourage packed themselves in and around the DJ box, and there was a heap of over the top back slapping, air kissing and man hugs going on. It was about midnight by now, and we were all ready for him to raise the roof. It’s now Monday, and I’m still waiting unfortunately! If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s when a DJ plays for themselves, paying no attention to the crowd.

By the time two and a half hours had passed I was sure we had been listening to the same song. The crowd seemed to lull itself into a gentle sway rather than a pumping group of appreciative clubbers, and I could hear the restless chats of bored dancers over the music. Looking back to Timo and his entourage, there were more photos being taken and more air kisses to be given out. I asked one punter what he thought (to check that it wasn’t just me), and he used one word and one word only… “plodding”. That pretty much summed it up! Timo’s MC came on the mic every now and then to entice the crowd to “give it up for the Masses”. His entourage was having a blast – and why not? – he was playing for them it would seem! Had he actually looked at the crowd in front of him he would have realised that they were not only bored, but leaving! By the time his set was complete only die hard fans were left, and of course his posse.

By 1:45am even I’d had enough. As I was about to leave, his remix of Depeche Mode’s ‘Personal Jesus’ blasted through the club. Finally, a tune! I am still a fan but in retrospect I hope – for the Good Vibes crowds over the weekend at least – that this was just a warm up and he managed to pull out all the stops at the festival event.