Accomplished local vinyl slinger Sampology warmed up for the much anticipated showdown of Mix Master Mike. He presented a perfect selection of tunes to lead in, with Sampology mixing his – apparent – unmatchable vinyl in a seamless fashion. His crate features records from all genres, and he’s not afraid to experiment with unusual combinations, often bringing forth an ecstatic response from the crowd. Reluctant to accept praise, he takes it all in his stride. Watch this space!
An early start at 11pm forced me to quickly assume a prime position to watch and listen to the Master intently. As he took to the stage with iced water and towels in hand, his fist pumped the air and he was met with cheers and extended hands in applause. If you weren’t in the club on Thursday night you’d better have a damn good excuse. The quality of mixing ensured that even if you didn’t place hip hop at the top of your musical preferences, it surely has moved up a few places in the time since. It’s hard not to marvel at his sheer skill behind the turntables. The set was constructed using Serato on a Mac laptop, although from my bird’s-eye view I could still see that he was scratching the vinyl, old-skool style. So eager was Mike to display his finely honed craft that he probably mixed more tracks in his one hour than you’d be likely to hear all day at a festival. Thankfully the mic was used sparingly, mainly to maintain the crowd’s enthusiasm. The short set also allowed the Master to continually build it up with each new track, meaning it drew a bigger reaction than the last. The Beastie Boys back catalogue was explored generously, as well as remixes from acts as diverse as Blur and Fatman Scoop. There was definitely something for everyone!
The final track, Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Them Goodbye, was appropriate for a sing-along send-off, and a solid portion of the crowd fought their way to the front to get photos with the Master. It is a pity more artists of his genre don’t get the privilege of performing in such a quality venue.
