It seems that “The one and only - Phony” stickers I made didn’t go unnoticed. However, since I was new to Sydney, I was completely unaware of the mid 90s club “Phony” that used to be in action!

Rolando rocks Sydney at the Off Broadway on August 11.

By the time 4.15am rolled around, we were all more than ready for the Aztec Mystic to drop. DJ Rolando, one of Motor City’s original DJs was here to represent the Underground Resistance stable. And with a musical background of latino rhythms and hip-hop freestyling the show was tipped to be special.

With a smattering of unofficial UR merchandise walking the crowd, plastering chests with “It’s a Phony™” propaganda, the political tension mixed with the flooding female toilets simply added to the atmosphere. Moving away from interiors to aural experience, the Sydney locals warmed up the decks with class. Fax and Biz-E kept the crowd moving, and by the time Calix had finished his live set, all eyes were on Rolando - patiently waiting for his go on the decks.

Contributing to the political fashion with his own Jaguar Shirt - he launched straight into the set with the tunes everyone knew him for. Moving from classic Detroit into juicy electro, Rolando’s turntable skills were exemplary. Syncopated mixing, with distorted scratches and cut ups - even this much name-dropping of skills doesn’t do his set justice. He got my thumbs up with his electro introduction of the classic Bambaata “Planet Rock”. In his caged booth, Rolando appeared oblivious to the trainspotters hanging off the wires. His female companion, working the lighting, was much more appealing than the two underdressed dancers that wobbled at the previous Flash event, and she bopped through the entire set - a lot sexier than previous dancers! By 6am, when the Saturday workers had dragged themselves home, local Patrick HAF completed the evening with the track of the night. Anyone who drops Kraftwerk’s “Tour de France” has made my lack of sleep and overdose of Red Bull well worthwhile.

Reproduced from the current issue of 3DWorld - review by Neptunes Lair.