It’s fair to say that the Foreigndub label is having a good year – particularly, dub-step DJ The Nomad. After a string of successful tours promoting his new album across his native New Zealand, The Nomad was ready to bring his album Perilous Times to Fbi Social with the help of Rayjay45 and MC Kye.

Numbers fluctuated throughout the night, but eventually led to an intimate gathering of fans devoted to the artists and the sounds of the label. After an initial delay, Foreigndub had the task of trying to entice the crowd out of hiding and into the open, before Max Gosford took the reigns half an hour later. Gosford and crew embraced the label’s sound, playing a dub-step centric set – none of the hectic wobble or distorted mess that is going around at the moment, but big, thick, groovy bass with melody, vocals and a nod to reggae. Budspells continued the flow of the music, and MC Kye stirred the crowd and got feet tapping just in time for The Nomad.

Being an album tour, album tracks featured heavily in The Nomad’s set, lending a reggae, dub-step and hip-hop jungle twist to the progression started by Foreigndub almost three hours prior. When he wasn’t in verse, Rayjay45 worked the stage with a series of “yeahs” and “uhhs”, while Kye looked like he was having fun switching between the stage and dance floor, shaking hands, drinking beers and swinging CD’s to the lucky few. These pair created a chemistry on stage that was worlds away from the studio impression I had in my head. For tracks like Run Through These Streets, the raw Egyptian-esq synth screamed through the speakers for the MC’s to interpret vocally.

The lightening, thunder and brimstone of dub-step quickly gave way to a change in tempo, igniting the crowd and getting anyone left seated up, dancing and sometimes, singing. The timing was spot on, as the inebriated responded to the switch like an attentive and faithful puppy. The music was dark, grimy and made you want to dance – The Nomad’s style seems to occupy a space somewhere in between a multitude of genres and progressed throughout the evening.

Fbi Social promises to bring the best local talent as well as some big names from off shore. The Foreigndub night was pretty much that, combing solid local players with a headlining performer worthy of recognition on the international scene. It’s a shame that more people weren’t there, but it was nonetheless an intimate affair, and often smaller nights create a better atmosphere than at-capacity crowds. Attendees were able to jump around and let loose without the fear of smashing into someone, something that suited the atmosphere of the music. Certainly, with the way I dance and with the music finishing up the way it did, this was a welcome relief.