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The highly advertised “secret” DJ set by Late of the Pier this Saturday at Fibbers brought with it my first experience of the venue. I didn’t start well – as I stood in the queue I realised I’d forgotten my ID and began panicking. Luckily I got in anyway and was met with a fairly empty bar, despite turning up an hour or so after doors opened. The night started slowly and remained that way for a while; for anyone who knows what Fibbers looks like, the fact that there was enough room in front of the stage for three drunk guys to act out a pretend game of cricket was a pretty clear sign that it wasn’t very busy.
The first few hours of music were fairly standard but entertaining nonetheless. A lot of indie hits popped up, some better known than others, and they got an approving response from the growing crowd. It was good fun but I couldn’t help thinking that it wasn’t exactly the “very special” night it was advertised to be. There wasn’t any real focus on the stage or the DJ, who constantly changed as band members came on and off, swapping with each other anonymously in the background. Obviously it’s more about the music, but stage presence was lacking until later on in the night.
The seminal point of the night came when the smoke machines were suddenly turned on full blast. The photographers sitting next to me suddenly jumped up from their seats and began flashing at every opportunity. The crowd gravitated towards the stage, which was now backlit, and the music was turned up. We were treated to some amazing remixes as the whole band DJed simultaneously. Highlights included an electro remix featuring The Clash, and Gramophonedzie. The night moved on to impressive improvised beats as the boys worked mechanically over their decks. The music was constantly built up until the beat broke, initiating a jumping response from the packed crowd every time. The night died down towards 3am and everyone left with a drunken smile on their face.
All in all Late of the Pier DJed very well, definitely exceeding my expectations. Fans of the band will know that they announced they are having a break as of this January, and it’s unlikely that they’ll release any more material for a while, instead focusing on side projects. For a band that have been around for quite a few years (I remember seeing them on the bill with a friend’s band in London back in 2006) it’s a shame to see them constantly denied the mainstream success they deserve. Their material has always been consistent, and their 2008 debut studio album, Fantasy Black Channel, received mostly positive critical reviews. As they showed the revellers in Fibbers, they know how to mix an amazing beat, and a talent like theirs will always have a place on someone’s iPod.
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