Easter Saturday saw Hermanns Bar at the University of Sydney play host to the latest Swarm gig, featuring techno maestro D.A.V.E. the Drummer. Swarm are continuing to pay homage to banging techno against the current climate of minimal, so i was keen to check it out!

Hermanns Bar is tucked away on the sprawling concrete jungle that is the University of Sydney. It is intimate, with comfy seating, clean toilets and a well-laid out dance space. The crowd was comforting – no posers, just people there for the music. Local Swarm DJs warmed up the room, but the punters were all waiting for Dave…

My skills at trainspotting techno roughly mirror those of Anna Kournikova on the tennis court – limited. I did pick up Felix Krocher’s Travel Pussy but, honestly, there is something rather wonderful about hearing an entire set of tunes that you don’t already know… and loving every single one of them. Let us just say that Dave was in fine form, bashing out rip-roaring banging techno with a healthy lashing of acid thrown in for good measure. The jammed packed dance floor was testimony to his pulling power, and the crowd was noticeably disconcerted when the lights came on.

Fortunately for everyone, there was an after party. We did have 90 minutes to kill though, possibly not the best situation to find oneself on Easter Sunday at 4am. Thank goodness Oxford Street never sleeps. Upon entering The Gaff, the after party venue, we were confronted with a bunch of seedy unfortunates enjoying the musical delights (and I am being sarcastic here) of Ian Van Dahl Castles in the Sky. Half an hour of cringing in the corner and finally Dave hit the decks. The dodgy crowd slowly filtered out and the vibe improved, although it never returned to Hermanns Bar levels. Around 7am we called it a morning and braved sunlight for the trip home.

Props to Swarm for an awesome gig. Dave the Drummer was excellent and it was damn good to hear some proper banging techno in a world gone mad for glitchy minimal. Let us hope it isn’t too long before the next Swarm gig and, if I can make a suggestion, please pretty please bring one of the Schranz DJs over!