Sounds on Sunday pres. Clubbers Guide @ The Greenwood, Sydney (03/02/08)
It’s not often you can go to an outdoor event in the rain and still have fun, but last weekend Sounds On Sunday managed just that. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a child of the sun by any standard of measurement, but there was enough going on to make up for the lack of sunshine that most Sounds regulars are used to. The bright aesthetics that were brought in by the way of the aluminous Asian hangings were responsible for supplementing the dreary anti-Oz weather, although curiously, that’s all there was in terms of extra décor. This date was part of the Clubbers Guide tour promoting the new CD, but there wasn’t too much of a hint of the famous Ministry of Sound on the day – no logos, signage or banners anywhere to be seen. Hmmm…
But aside from that peripheral observation, we’re here for the music right? That’s first and foremost, of course. And Hook N Sling and Sam La More where the ‘in vogue’ duo chosen to mix this year’s edition of the Clubbers Guide to… CD series, and to jet around the country and take their own unique brand of dancefloor madness to the masses. Known for his cutsie-pie face on that week’s cover of 3D World, as well as for his breakthrough remix of Sarah McLeod’s He Doesn’t Love You and his ARIA nominated collaboration with Kid Kenobi on The Bump, Hook and Sling has become a household name on the Australian dance music scene. He was first up, and it was clear that the majority of those who had braved the weather were there to check him out, as the main courtyard peaked with interest as soon as The Hook laid down his first track: a clever Moloko bootleg, that was fresh out of the studio no doubt.
Sam La More was up next, and he too has been a busy ‘lil vegemite. Busy both behind the scenes as well as the decks, he’s been involved with producing and co-writing the critically acclaimed new album from Pnau, as well as the Top #10 hit Don’t Hold Back from The Potbelleez. Both boys offered an uncontrived set, refreshingly crisp in their selections and right on the forefront of the electro frontier. And that was the very reason for their selection, of course!
Perhaps it was due to the rain, but there didn’t seem to be as many people there who were satisfied with just lounging around, and combined with the folks who were present to finish what they started the night before, it meant that almost everyone was dancing nearly all of the time. And while the dancefloor was a little deflated due to the poor weather, that only meant that there was more room for those crazy-leg punters (if only they went to a couple of breakdance classes, they’d get the hang of it I’m sure). And considering that I was nearing delirium from only having had two hours sleep the night before, it says a lot about the sweet tunage that was on offer that my weary bones defied gravity and reason, and bobbed around for the entire afternoon!
And there’s a lot more to go on the Clubbers Guide to 2008 tour… Next up is Friday 15th February at Q-Bar in Melbourne, after which they head to an array of destinations north, south and west before heading back to Sydney to play at The Roxy in Parramatta on Sunday 30th March. Have a good one guys!
