There’s only way to describe the atmosphere at Lot 33 last Thursday night; electric! The crew at Pang would have been chuffed with the line to get in, which stretched down the side of the venue, and inside looked like an old fashioned ‘house party’.
I arrived just as the Funktrust DJs were kicking off. They have a strong following in the Canberra community, and it meant arms were in the air for most of their set. The boys gave us a bit of every genre, a musical mixed bag with something for everyone. Funktrust certainly showed why their fan base is so strong throughout Australia, playing up-front party tunes from start to finish. They were tracks that everyone could dance to, and it made for an enjoyable night. There was dirty drum n bass mixed in to cheese like Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance With Somebody. It’s safe to say there were hits spun that even your Mum would love! The splash of breaks in their set sent a few ‘shuffling’ all over the club, reminiscent of the Lot 33 vibe circa 2003–2004. At this time it’s also important I mention the lovely Funktrust groupies who turned the DJ box into a stripper’s pole, dancing next to Funktrust throughout their set. My friends and I couldn’t help but be a little confused; who had we actually paid our money to see?!
As the Funktrust boys finished up the crowd were in for a nice surprise as both the lads of The Aston Shuffle dropped in to play some tunes. I don’t know if it’s the loyal fans of Lot 33 loving TAS, the fact that the guys were about to start their national tour for the Mashed CD, or the fact that their first ever nationally mixed CD had just been released, but The Aston Shuffle took the roof off Lot and destroyed the club with one of the best sets I’ve heard from them… ever! They sent everyone into a frenzy around the club, and the dancefloor was absolutely packed with people lapping up their every move. Mikah’s energy behind the decks was infectious, carrying through to the crowd. When Mikah went nuts, so did the crowd! Showcasing their new tunes to Lot 33, The Aston Shuffle should be pleased with the raving reaction from the crowd. Their set ended with everyone wanting that little bit more, but I think the guys do that on purpose to keep you coming back. If that’s the kind of set they play before a tour, then one can imagine that the excitement running through them while out on the road. Good luck on the Mashed tour boys!
Closing off the night was Hubert and Dave Norgate. It was a big ask to follow on from Funktrust and The Aston Shuffle – who both played tremendous sets – but Hubert and Dave certainly didn’t disappoint, finishing the night off well. They kept the crowd going off, and it was the perfect way to end a good night. Another successful party under Pang’s belt, and it definitely left everyone excited for upcoming ones. Pang has certainly cemented itself as one of the major parties in Canberra, bringing a diverse selection of music to the city. Pang have their finger on the pulse; let’s hope it stays there for a while.
