What a show! the ‘Breed had no idea of what to expect in the far north, or any clue as to why Phil K was telling them “it’s like nothing, you wait…” and “expect anything.”



Their first night in town was an utterly misleading experience. From what they saw on Tuesday night they formed the impression they’d be playing to handbaggers from Europe and rednecks from Oz, but when the doors opened Wednesday night and the Cairns massive rolled into Club 59, Nubreed got an education. Welcome to planet Cairns, Danny.



Phil warmed the room up to boiling point with a selection of mad old school breaks, which most of the room got in a huge way. In true rock star style, the sound system decided to call it a night at about 10:00 pm, and was quickly spanked right back into line by the man, Chooky and friends. Phil K trooped on regardless, mixing like a machine and doing the best he could while the sound was tweaked on the fly. No wonder we love him so much, he just won’t stop. That SO works up here. After the tweaking, the system was sounding a million bucks, sub so solid it pushed you around, spilled your drinks and didn’t even buy you another one. Dirty, repeat, dirty bottom end filled the room.



The place was electric when Nubreed stepped up on the intimate stage- many of the locals has a good idea of what to expect, based on ‘breed tracks and remixes shipped quietly to DJ’s up here and dropped to a well receptive crew. Club 59 was heaving, the crowd was screaming for it and the mexicans were in shock- what the hell is going on in this sleepy tourist town? who the hell are these people? LOOK AT THIS ROOM!!!! Cairns was ready for Nubreed, but Nubreed were not at all ready for Cairns. Props to them for showing themselves more than equal to their appointed task, to fully blow some minds.



It’s really quite magic when a live act has a palpable crowd vibe to feed on. A spiraling effect kicks in, with the crowd going mad because they music is killing them, and the “band” (for lack of a better term) feeling that reaction and transfering it through to the music, which takes the crowd up more, which takes the band up more, etc etc ad infinitum. This gig was a textbook example of that dynamic in action, and I feel blessed to have been there and to have taken part in it, because this is so the future of electronic music. They reconect to the roots of bandsmanship, bring a musicians touch to the technology of the 21st century in a way that entertains like a 70’s stadium band. Nobody else on Earth is doing what this show does. It’s a unique and mindblowing experience.



“Welcome” was the first tune most of Cairns really heard of Nubreed. It’s the outro track on the unmixed CD of Gab Oliviers bomb No Nonsense, and the one most of the crowd wanted most to hear. Dropped at exactly the right point in the show, complete with a live extended remixy oops, we’re starting? intro, it sent the dancefloor into a bit of a state. No sign of anyone heading for a nice cup of tea and a lie down though. Oh, and what Phil K vs Nubreed have done to Eminem’s trailer park track is worthy of knighthood. I dub thee Sir Phil, Knight of the lost. What a sick individual.



The last track, a bit of a cheeky live hybrid bootleg of Led Zeppelin’s “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” changed the life of one punter. The lads said it’s the most emotional response they’ve ever had to any of their tunes. Turns out Fred’s always been a die hard lover of Led Zep… Bang, new school awakening, chalk up another breaks fan. If Robert Plant hears this track, and chances are he will, chances are you’ll be able to buy it. Killer tune, wasn’t it? So worth charting. It’s about time the rest of the world found out what the standard is down in Australia, because I kid you not, we’ve killed the boss, and the life bar is full and we’re already into the next level in the breaks game. The bar has been raised.



For those of you locals or jetsetting punters who missed the show here’s two happy thoughts. First, there’s an air of certainty that there will be a Phil K vs Nubreed CD on the market in the coming months. The line for that one starts right behind me. It’s also a dead cert that Nubreed will be back in Cairns this year, thanks to enthusiasm the crowd showed and the reception laid on for them. Not everyone gets the VIP treatment, but when you get it in this town, you get it all on toast. In their own words, we were the best debut show they’ve ever played, they have never been looked after better anywhere they’ve been, and they love us all for a mad, mad time of it. Cheers Chooky, you da man.