What appropriate timing to make an entrance to The Warehouse Project, a definitive moment of the night for many I’m sure, that of Joy Orbison’s 'Shrew That Cushioned The Blow' mixed wonderfully into ‘Hyph Mngo’. Nice. And no better does it sound than in this moment right now, surrounded by mash-faced revellers and stunning lasers that silhouette arms twist shapes for.
As the night’s progressing, the young crowd respond to Katy B in her newfound modern icon status, with 'Perfect Stranger' proving to be the best of the night so far. Flying Lotus supplied us with edgy, experimental hip-hop sounds that only the die-hard fan missed the bar to see. And Magnetic Man prove their supergroup status, and true to their name the people swarm and squash to see this forward thinking, 21st century boy band. Or is that man band?
A few random video selections that can't really highlight the superiority of this night but can let you in to the brilliant production of a Warehouse Project show. Enjoy!
It's been a nice week for Manchester with lots going on culturally; Manchester Lit Festival, Blog Awards, launch of the Levenshulme Festival and of course the Oxjam Takeover. It will take place in various venues across Manchester, so the best thing to do is check out the blog or the myspace page for more info. It's for a fantastic cause so try and get down to at least one event fellow Mancs!
Friday, 22nd October
"CONTENT 1st BIRTHDAY @ JOSHUA BROOKS" with KENNY LARKIN (A taste of Detroit techno)
BENNY BENASSI, CONGOROCK
Saturday, 23rd October
"MORE THAN ALOT" @ THE WAREHOUSE PROJECT Line-up: Chase And Status, Grandmaster Flash, Scratch Perverts & Dynamite MC, Stanton Warriors, Nero, Redlight + more ...includes special guests Beardyman & Prophecy! BIG! Our PICK OF THE WEEKEND. We'll be there, will you?
"DUB N BASS" @ THE CONTACT THEATRE Line-up: Trojan Sound System
Manchester’s two premier dance music events The Warehouse Project (WHP) and Parklife have rightfully been nominated for UK Festival awards. And Manchester wants your votes!
WHP is up for ‘Best Metropolitan Festival’ and Parklife is up for ‘Best New Festival’. It’s a fitting tribute that a city steeped in such a rich musical heritage should have its two foremost dance music offerings acknowledged in this way. The Warehouse Project is now in its forth year and continues to push the boundaries of music, putting on at least two blinding weekly parties from late September all the way through to January 1st. Parklife is the new kid on the block, having made its first appearance this summer and selling out in only 6 weeks.
Voting closes on Wednesday 27th of October so get your skates on.
Click here to vote for WHP or Parklife in the UK Festival awards. Then see below on how to enter.
All you need to do to be in with a chance to WIN tickets to a showstopping Annie Mac Presents at The Warehouse Project on November 13th is email newsicmoos@yahoo.co.uk stating your name, age, email and contact telephone too. Write 'competition' in the subject line.
A heavy weekend is here in your faces. Hello Manchester weekend!
Have a good time! Follow us on Twitter.
Peace, love and biscuits.
*****
FRIDAY, 15th October
"TAKE THE WHOLE CAKE LAUNCH PARTY" @ SOUND CONTROL Line-up: TODDLA T, HOSTAGE, BROOKES BROTHERS, CYANTIFIC + more...
"SAN CITY HIGH TOUR" @ SANKEYS Line-up: KISSY SELL OUT, THE SQUATTERS, ART VS SCIENCE + more...
"MINUS" @ THE WAREHOUSE PROJECT Line-up: RICHIE HAWTIN + more...
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SATURDAY, 16th October
"ISOLATE LAUNCH" @ SANKEYS Line-up: DEETRON, STEFFI, WOLF & LAMB SHOWCASE FEATURING NO REGULAR PLAY & SLOW HANDS, JOZEF K
"LOWDOWN + DIRTY" @ SOUND CONTROL Line-up: TREVOR LOVEYS....
"TWISTED ELEGANCE" @ VENUS 8TH BIRTHDAY
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WEDNESDAY, 20th October
"PROSTITUTES AND POLICEMEN VS DROP THE MUSTARD" @ SANKEYS Line-up: COUNT & SINDEN (Mega Mega Mega Album Release Tour), STYLE OF EYE, ROUND TABLE KNIGHTS...
The feeling of anticipation for this renowned Manchester institution has overtook my weekend build up many times before and once again I am fully able to tread my eager feet on to definitive clubbing grounds with certain knowledge that at some point during the night to come I will lose control of my tense limbs as they become one with thy music.
The Warehouse Project has returned for another quart of a year to deliver time stopping shows and incredible live and DJ sets. This is the venue that has roused Manchester's worldwide penchant for putting on a memorable night reminiscent of the days when rave began in the history-making Hacienda nightclub.
The clubbing world is at its feet in mention of hugely hyped Canadian DJ Deadmau5 and I feel as if I am attending an event of someone who stands to be one of the most successful DJ’s in the world pretty soon. So naturally, there are high expectations. The crowd is different to the usual sophisticated enthusiasts, seemingly younger and donning clothes that fit the spectre of chav, whilst the aroma of Warehouse virgins lingers in circles around you - assumingly new students in town showing allegiance to an act that has produced some commercially stunning tracks.
Upon entering, supporting act Chris Lake is stimulating the increasing herd of a crowd with a tight and sound-perfect set, throwing out tracks 'Tropical Chick' by Alex Kenji, a special mix of Kings Of Leon's 'Use Somebody' and the overplayed and overrated La Roux's 'In For The Kill'. Commercial sing-alongs aside, Lake provides a popular dirty electro sound that bounces off the walls and fits perfectly, like condom to head, in a venue such as this. Still, everybody is waiting patiently for 2am.
Deadmau5's slightly pretentious entrance is impressing the crowd, overshadowing his impending 2 hour set. The crowd are compressing themselves and cheer as if a heavyweight sporting legend has just appeared from beyond the layer of smoke, all staring at the infamous giant mouse head made larger by the skinny frame it balances upon. The stirring hype, however, is short lived - fast forward past a 30 minute opening of renowned tracks such as 'The Reward Is Cheese' and people start to disperse and numbers dwindle.
It all becomes a bit of a letdown.
Yes, unfortunately the set based on his new material is overusing minimal trance, some of which sounds too much alike to determine the start and end of any one track. Thus, I am craving for more, standing rather than stomping and gazing outwardly towards the lights, the beautiful entrancing lights.
Despite my wish for recognisable tunes to surface amongst this constant, downbeat style synonymous with Deadmau5, there is one aspect that is impressing me and a few other hedonists - the expressive lights and laser show. The stage is mounted with tall rectangular shapes showing trippy visuals of ascending lights shaped like a city of skyscrapers, only to descend in quick succession as if the city is being tore down as quickly as erected. Meanwhile, rays of light are piercing a smoky haze, shooting past the DJ and creating a silhouette Mau5 lapping up the love being projected from the crowd through finger punches to the air and silent screams of approval.
In this egotistical moment of his I realise the legions of fans that remain in the room, and the world over, look up to Deadmau5 as if he invented music itself. What he is achieving is an icon status but only to fans that will stand by him despite what his shows and sounds are like. I feel there is a fine line these days between an icon and somebody who is quite subtly a well marketed gimmick.
Full credit goes out to a few of his renowned tunes - most notably the extra long and very acknowledged version of 'I Remember' - that sometimes couldn't be heard over screams of immense appreciation. For all of the nights grandeur expectations that eventually fell way short of the mark, it is 'I Remember' that resurrected a dying night.
