Southern Exposure 2 @ Syrup (13/09/2003)
Reported by Tristan Sunday, September 14 2003
If there is such thing as a sure bet, the success of Southern Exposure 2, presented by Sebtrackt Productions, would have to be in contention. Off the back of a series of successful events including MTM, Our House and Southern Exposure 1, combined with the appearance of one DJ for the musically aware and one DJ for the party crowd, it would have been surprising if this event hadn’t worked. But with the unpredictability of event promotion always willing to surface at the most inopportune time, it's never until the lights come on, the music stops and the final trashbag leaves the venue before a promoter can put their feet up and pat themselves on the back.
I’m not in the mood for an essay so we’re going to take a more straight forward approach to this one, though not foregoing the obligatory sarcasm (see if you can spot it :/ ).
Ben Fisher
Thumbs Up: I don’t know whether I’ve lost touch with the progressive world since last time, but Ben appeared to play a lot lesser known stuff than last time, with the only IDs Scumfrog - Music Revolution and Freeland – We Want Your Soul. Played a good mix of music with breaks, house and progressive which all sat alongside each other nicely. Fx use was not groundbreaking but well timed and effective.
Thumbs down: The sound seemed really dirty. It wasn’t the loudest it’s ever been but I can’t ever remember being able to feel the bassline from the bottom floor. It also seemed really distorted up on the stage. Also I thought for a part of Ben’s set, the tempo was a bit slow. No major gripes though.
Report Card:
DJing: B
Needs more spinbacks in future.
Music: C
A solid performer but fell short due to his lack of 6 month old anthems (see GT for assistance).
Groove Terminator
Thumbs Up: Moguai – Get On. Wicked spinbacks. He’s a party DJ who played a good party set. BratGirl thought he was good. Great set educating the crowd about the last 6 months in dance music. Continuous MCing really aided the flow of his set and let the crowd know that Groove Terminator was in the house. It was also great to hear how we were a really rockin crowd!! Established the precedent for microphone usage in Hobart clubs – everyone now expects a wee bit of MCing at Le Casa. Previously mentioned sound problems seemed to disappear towards the end of his set.
Thumbs Down: Walking up the stairs to hear someone on the microphone was deeply concerning, I don’t know that it was a love it or hate set more that he’s a love him or hate him person. Honestly, opening with a remix of Clocks, and going on to play *shudders* Benny Benassi – Satisfaction, some remix of 50c – In Da Club (thanks FOREMAN), Planet Funk – Who Said, Bad Cabbage – You’re Rude (Silver Jubilee Mix), Underworld - Cowgirl (Breaks Mix) and Chemical Brothers - Hey Boy Hey Girl, it just wasn’t my thing. His set never really went anywhere and he never stamped himself on the night. If it wasn't for his clearly unrehearsed freestyling I don't think I would have even realised it was a headline set.
Report Card:
Music – D
Didn’t play the theme from The Block.
Ability to play to an audience – A
Hate to admit it but a large crowd and a full dancefloor can't be argued with.
Chris Fraser
Thumbs Up: Very willing to partake in the local culture. Has the ability to entertain without resorting to old tunes or touching the microphone. Similarly, he can play white labels and CDRs without losing control of his crowd, by playing a form of what is in effect cheese free party progressive and party house. Tunes: Big Pig – Breakaway (CF Bootleg), some remix of Come Together and Tainted Love, Moguai – Get On, Grinspoon – Chemical Heart (CF Breaks Bootleg), Soul of Man - Outback. Used some of the FX differently by isolating EQs of a scratch and then running the delay over it while the break of another tune was playing. Acapella of We Want Your Soul was used well to.
Thumbs Down: Didn’t like that remix of Song 2, though I can’t remember if it was even a remix. Mixing was a bit abrupt at times (see report card). Too easily run off the rails of sobriety by a certain local DJ.
Report Card
Music – A (and a special shiny sticker)
Chris is the barra.
Alcohol Tolerance – C-
See Gillie for retraining.
General Comments:
DSKO gets the thumbs up for playing a good closing set, and managing to work from Chris’s music through to his tech. When a lot of people disappeared elsewhere after the end of Groove Terminator’s set, and I thought the night was going to wind down, even towards the end of DSKO’s set, there was still a healthy crowd.
Southern Exposure 2 was a good going on great night, yet had something very strange and unplaceable about it and I don't know what it was but I just can’t help from grinning about it. Regardless, if the plans of Sebtrackt are anything to go by, I can't wait to get the chance to work out what exactly it was in the near future. ;)
Sweetness, Love and Light
Tristan
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