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CHANGE CITY :
It’s only a week before house maestro Steve Lawler finally returns to Australia for the We Love Sounds festival. Recently ITM spoke to the man himself as part of an upcoming feature interview, and one of the things that he discussed was the last time he was here – and why he doesn’t look back on the tour so fondly.
“I was very, very excited and also very proud to be part of a festival that had James Brown on the bill, let me tell you that,” he told ITM, when recalling his spot on the 2006 Good Vibrations bill. “The problem was, when we got out to Australia, the production of the dance arenas was so unbelievably lacking to what I’ve ever been used to, and this was obviously because so much attention and so much effort had to go into the live stage which was where James Brown was playing.”
“Obviously, you can understand that James Brown was gonna come with a serious rider, and some serious technical specifications,” Lawler went on to explain. “But I kind of got ignored because of it. And that was frustrating for me to travel to the other side of the world, to deliver what I wanted to do [which was] the best [that] I can in front of my fans, and it being restricted because of the equipment available. And I was frustrated by that, because I don’t like to perform unless I can do my best… Most of them were not as good as they could have been, I was a little bit disappointed by the end of it.”
When it comes to the sideshows however, it’s a different story. It seems that Sydney keeps getting the killer gigs from Lawler – while his 2002 performance at Home is that stuff of legend, still talked about in hushed tones by everyone who was in attendance, his set at Tank after the Sydney leg of the Good Vibrations tour was similarly a life-changing gigs for fans. “The Sydney show was a great show for me,” says Lawler, naming it as definitely one of the best sets he’s played in recent years.
Steve Lawler will be here for the We Love Sounds festival, stay tuned for the full interview on ITM next week!
knobbz says...
MADKENT!!!!
Spekman says...
yeah good vibes is a stingy rort for cash...
campbellt says...
What more does a dj need behind tha booth. e.g. 4 cdj Mk3, a few mixers, my be a mid contoller. Dj'ing isn't live so what support team do you need? You can't compare a band to a dj it's the complete opposite and comparing yourself with James Brown...You make me laugh!!!
KEEK says...
fair enough... good vibes has gone to the shit
mkdor1 says...
Does anyone know if he is doing sideshows this year before/after WLS?
vinh_ says...
Steve Lawler after party @ cross please
sonicc says...
TANK SET WAS MY FAV I HAVE EVERY BEEN TO...THERE IS AN EXCLUSIVE FOR YA ITM.
angy says...
He was referring to "production" - sound quality, lights and the setup of the dance tents themselves, rather than what he had behind the decks.
mangina says...
campbell, you have no idea. he wasn't referring to the equipment he was given, he was referring to the quality of the sound and tent setup. and i don't think he ever compared himself to James Brown, what i got out of it was how much he admired him.
TroyShaun says...
Good Vibes copping more flak, can't really say it isn't deserved.
hanky says...
I still feel all funny and tingly when i think about that set at Home 2002 - so good. Distinctly remember when he dropped Pornorama - I'd Say Yes and the place went nuts!
avatar_karma says...
lets hope the sound quality is better this time round.
amanda fantastique says...
many acts and djs have said that they would never play this festival again. it really is the worst festival production in australia, organisers are rude and backstage is so poorly run.
shortino says...
good work Good Vibrations production team.....NOOOOTTTTT!!!*borat voice*
Royal Gigolo says...
MAN UP!
polarbear says...
sounds like someone needs a better agent.
alimak says...
He was spewing after playing a cracking set to a half empty tent in bris, wanted to get out play anywhere cause some old bloke on the main stage nicked his crowd. He backed out when he found we were offering our living room and not a club, booooo! :)
Shevdog says...
I do like Steve Lawler and saw him that day. A friend involved in the production told me he changed his setup request many times, the latest being 5 minutes before his start time, then carried on like a princess when it wasn't what he wanted. No other act had a problem.
Robby_Bee says...
James Brown is dead....
lumen23 says...
Steve is playing at a gay party on Sunday night in Sydney. Another great local DJ, Scott Pullen (progressive house) is also on the line-up.