The Future Classic crew once again filled out The Civic top to bottom with various flavours of electronica, some deep, some discoey and some techy. Personally, I didn’t rate Isolee’s set – it didn’t go anywhere near as deep as I thought it might. In fact, the whole night was musically so-so, with Simon Caldwell stealing the show.

A slightly odd occurrence on the night -I felt sorry for those who were forced out of the hotel adjacent to the club due to a fire alarm, and found themselves exiting the stairwell into the laneway which was being annexed by the venue, converting it into an outdoor area for the venue – for smokers, and the German BBQ delights. A lot of club goers were quite confused when they saw parents with young children walking through the space.

View the photo gallery on Flickr.

Jennifer Cardini in the mix

Some photos I shot from the Kompakt Label Party / 6th Birthday for Deep As F*ck gig at The Cross a couple of weeks back.

I wasn’t overwhelmed by the gig – a modest turnout on the Sunday, which was due no doubt the countless gigs (We Love Sounds for one) that had occurred across the long weekend. Musically though was where I was underwhelmed – it certainly wasn’t anything to adventurous and I have to feel that like the Kompakt label, it’s lost a little of it’s fresh edge that we used to see a few years back.

However, I was overwhelmed by the ‘flu which I came down with the next day and am still recovering from.

Astronomy Class rocked it at the Annandale on Friday night. Go and buy the album – dope Australian dub hip hop. Enough said.

Today was hot. Ridiculously hot.

I played cricket and felt like I was melting. Batting for over an hour, sucking in super-heated 41 degree air. Gasp! Another 2…. on my way to 45 as we finished with 191 which was well and truly enough as we demolished the opposition for 87. I took 1/8 off 4 which was more than reasonable.

Racing off home, I had to make it to the Opera House to see The Matthew Herbert Big Band – another Sydney Festival event.

Herbert’s Big Band project combines the cream of the jazz scene, both locally for the tour and from Europe, on trumpets, trombones, saxophones, piano, bass and drums – with Herbert’s own mad professor tomfoolery and the one moment booming, the next, dulcet tones of Eska Mtungwazi (pictured).

Herbert played a ’secret gig’ at the Spiegeltent that night, which we planned to go to for a while but fatigue set in. The same reason as to why we didn’t make it to see Mathew Jonson either – but he’s playing again this weekend.

Greg Wilson jammed a great selection of electrofunk, disco, house and everything in between at an outdoor bar gig in Bondi on a Thursday night. A hell of a treat for about 150 people who were there to check it out. Note the old Revox in the background of the above shot! He worked some slick edits and jams, including the bassline from Roxy Music’s “Love Is The Drug” with Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl”, Steve Wonder’s “Superstition” and even the 80s pop hit “Walk Like An Egyptian” by The Bangles.

The playing of such popular tracks for many might be a little droll, and ordinarily it would be for me, however it’s the pastiche – the edits, additions of drums, fusions of basslines and just doing things a little differently that adds to the appeal – think of someone like Richie Hawtin, but in this instance someone who doesn’t use minimal house and techno to create the blend of sounds and isn’t so heavily reliant on new technologies.

Top that all off with a supremely friendly crowd and the full seventeen minute Patrick Cowley mix of “I Feel Love” to close out, not to forget the Little Creatures Pale Ale available by the pint at the bar and you had a fine Thursday night of fun.

View the full photo set.

Herbert (in Big Band mode) at Big Chill 2008 – Photograph by Steve Razzetti

Matthew Herbert gets on a plane for a first time in three years to help the Racket crew celebrate their 10th birthday. One show only.

October 18th 2008
Marrickville Bowling & Recreation Club.
More details on the Mad Racket website.

Mad Racket made its welcome return to the Marrickville Bowling Club on Saturday. A locals only affair, the Funktion One system was heard rumbling away in Tempe, and punters walked away from the night well and truly sated thanks to the tasty offerings of Caldwell, Cloud, James and Zootie.

Full photo set on Flickr.

Mad Racket returns Saturday, September 6, 2008.

Big Bowl-O-Sonic sound, reasonably priced drinks, patented copper ceiling effect and a bevvy of friendly faces await you at the re-invigorated Marrickville Bowling and Recreation Club.

Come along to celebrate the end of winter and warm up the room in anticipation of our approaching tenth birthday. Musical beats and treats provided by the four racketeers – Jimmi James, Ken Cloud, Zootie and Simon Caldwell.

Tickets available presale for $25 inc. GST from: Spank Records, So Music Newtown and Redeye Records.

I’m off to see The Herd on Friday night at The Metro. Here’s “The King Is Dead”, one of the cuts from the latest album entitled “Summerland”.

Getting your groove on for the last First Blood. Here’s the pictorial recap.