N Dabbs

Incubus and Queen Reschedule After Shock Sonisphere UK Cancellation

admin — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:33:13 +0000

It seems the news has finally settled in across the UK and tens of thousands are licking their wounds – 2012 is to bring no Sonisphere festival. Needless to say, the powers that be behind their high-priced office furniture likely have no idea how catastrophically disappointed we all are, but at least for those who were heading to Knebworth mainly for Queen or Incubus, positive news is afoot…Firstly, Incubus have confirmed that they are to headline a special one-night show in London on July 9th. Their slot at Sonisphere was due to be their only UK date of 2012, so to avoid completely destroying thousands of fans’ souls they’ll be heading to Brixton Academy for what’s likely to be a belter. Tickets for this once in a lifetime gig are on sale now…but good luck finding any for anything close to the original selling price!

Meanwhile, Queen with current front-man Adam Lambert have announced that they will make up for the Sonisphere disappointment by playing two shows in the UK this summer – both at the Hammersmith Apollo and scheduled for July 11th and 12th. Queen were pretty much guaranteed to be the showstoppers at Knebworth if the festival had gone ahead, but their appearance in the hugely smaller Apollo will likely have an atmosphere beyond belief. Queen had been very much vocal about playing the festival however, given the way in which the same stage at Knebworth was the very last upon which they played with Freddie Mercury before his death.

Tickets will be for sale online from tomorrow (April 18th) and my advice would be to queue as long as possible before 9am or you’ve pretty much no chance!So that’s two bands accounted for, but rumor has it that tons of others including Faith No More, Kiss, Wolfmother, Evanescence and Marilyn Manson are all looking to rebook…so prepare for an exciting summer indeed!

Under the Bridge Club Review

admin — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 16:36:13 +0000

I have played at and visited many nightclubs through the years and I recently visited on that peaked my interest. Deriving its name from the club’s location, which is literally below Stamford Bridge ground the home of Chelsea FC and not from that Red Hot Chili Peppers song talking about dealing heroin, Under The Bridge is a nightclub that specialises in both DJ-led events and live music. It is an upmarket sort of club.

From the shimmering silvery backdrop of the more than sizeable stage, to the prints of a whole host of rock and roll stars done in beautiful black and white and taken by some of the more eminent rock star photographer around could be seen all about the club. They could use some well placed display stands to show off some more memorabilia and images. Under The Bridge is like any other nightclub of quality, it is primarily based around a larger than normal dance floor, which can be easily seen from every angle by an area that is slightly elevated. There are a number of secluded booths for some degree of privacy. The lighting is fantastic so they must of have heaped a lot of money on it.

Under The Bridge is mainly about the music, and whereas it may be somewhat loud, it’s by far not overwhelming. This is all helped by a truly excellently put together sound system that is not too harsh on the ears at all. The club gas a maximum capacity of about 600, which makes it small enough to ensure in a large way an intimate gig experience, but still large enough to rake in some of the big acts.

There is an immense range of drink available, with bottles of red and white wines, Sol beer, and the main spirit bases are covered too. The prices are reasonable and what you would expect.

Under The Bridge gives patrons the chance to have fun with a bit of the glitz and glamour and without damaging your pocket too seriously.

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Ultimate intimate gig

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 17:33:04 +0000

A lot of my favourite gigs over the years have been the ones that take place in tiny smoky rooms (well, before the smoking ban came in), with only a few people and a simple singer/guitar combo on stage. The big spectacular stadium shows have their place, but give me a crowd of twenty and a guy standing on a wooden box for a stage and you can guarantee I’ll have a great night. But we took intimate gigs to a whole new level last night when we actually hosted a concert in our living room attended by a handful of our mates.

And I don’t mean a couple of amateur musicians playing their bad cover versions of Oasis hits. Rob Moir is a bona fide professional musician, whose first band, Dead Letter Dept, were pretty famous in his native Canada. As a solo artist, he’s been signed to an indie label and has released an EP, supported some of the biggest names on the Toronto rock scene and now organised his own European tour.

By using the power of the Internet he has found venues - pubs, libraries or even people’s living rooms - to play in England, Scotland, the Netherlands, France etc. By finding people to host his gigs he usually also finds a bed for the night, so the whole venture is a cheap way for an up and coming artist to reach a whole new audience. The best thing was that he was genuinely outstanding; there’s nothing worse than being in a small crowd at a bad gig, especially if you know the performer! But everyone seemed to love the show and Rob said he’d sold more CDs at our little soiree than so far on his tour. Just shows what amazing taste my friends have!

Fill the dance floor!

admin — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 11:03:10 +0000

Music is supposed to awake the soul, speak to the mind and to the heart. Most times music is listened to for fun. It is necessary that a good DJ knows the sort of songs that make a party come alive. People go to clubs to have fun and let go of all their worries. Hence, music at clubs should be fun and lively. It should make people want to dance, lose themselves and forget their worries. Furthermore, a good DJ ought to have a good understanding of music; a good DJ should know the kind of songs that blend well -such songs should flow coherently and keep clubbers on their feet. It is also advisable that the mix should have diverse danceable songs and not just a particular genre of music. Rock, hip hop, metal, etc should be incorporated into a mix in order to reach a wide variety of clubbers.

Being a DJ has become as popular as Diesel Hull which is available all across England. A DJ therefore needs to create a niche, this is why it is recommended that the ‘man on the wheels'should love music enough to listen to all types of songs and remain current with the industry; that is, know the new hit songs and the current party popping songs. In addition, a DJ can assess his or her self by how long people stayed on the dance floor and how much people danced and had fun. It is not a bad idea to also ask friends for their opinions on the mix played; it is good to know what your fans/listeners think about the music you play and your skills as a DJ. In sum, a good DJ must maintain originality and remain unique enough to keep the party rocking.

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Ho the Nintendo DS is a great tool for DJ’s

admin — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 16:03:05 +0000

There is no doubt that the Nintendo DS is a great piece of kit for keeping you entertained on the go as well as being a fun educational tool for both old and young alike. Nintendo have really kept themselves ahead of the game with their innovative concepts when it comes to gaming platforms. Being a DJ the DS also has other benefits with a number of applications and software geared specifically towards DJs that make you DS turn into a mini set of decks on the go. I’ve3 had a lot of fun with these experimenting with different mixes but they make for a great tool teaching new up and coming DJs how to get started. In addition to all of this I do like the fact that with the DS you can also use an R4i Card, which is a re-writable cartridge. This really turns the DS into a truly desirable portable entertainment device as you can download new games to your computer, connect it to the card and simply drag and drop the files on there. The cards are fairly inexpensive and probably quite good for the environment, for those of you that are green conscious, as they save on waste as well as the emissions to create such things. They also allow you to put movies on there so you can watch your favourite films and television shows on the go. So thinking about it the Nintendo DS when equipped with the R4i Card is a portable dream machine.

Online Promotion Abroad

admin — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 10:03:05 +0000

Someone recently asked me where the best place to find the latest news and equipment reviews for professional DJs. If you don’t know already then you should head over to the online DJ magazine. They covered a story I was really interested in just recently. Danny Tenagalia has just turned 50 years old but is still going strong as a DJ. I can only hope I have his kind of staying power in the future.

Tenagalia is due to play Ibiza this weekend and is being supported by Nicole Moudaber an island resident who knows what clubbers want in the summer. If you’re interested in eclectic mixes then Tenagalia is definitely the man for you. Throughout his career he’s changed and adapted with the times whilst still maintaining his own identity. I always know when I’m hearing a Tenagalia mix because of the way he melds tunes in and out of each other more smoothly then any other DJ I’ve had the fortune to listen to. When I first started gigging I applied a lot of the things that I learnt listening to Tanagalia.

Ibiza is one the best summer clubbing scenes you can go to in Europe. Contrary to popular opinion the season actually starts around the end of April beginning of May, but doesn’t really hot up until late July and early August. That’s when the crowds from all around the world start to gather and clubbers old and young really get into the groove. One thing that I would recommend a DJ takes with them when planning on going to Ibiza this summer is a good camera phone with good broadband access.

Uploading videos to YouTube and networking with people on Facebook, Twitter and via a blog are now the best ways to ensure a DJ is heard above the crowd. To do this effectively you need to have a good mobile phone (preferably a Smartphone) and a good roaming sim. Without either when abroad, you will be unable to connect to the very people you want to promote yourself to. Your audience and venue managers are more likely to follow a DJ who has built up a strong online profile. The modern DJ knows that to keep in touch with the modern audience he or she needs to be clued up on social media.

Stalwarts like Danny Tenagalia and Jo Whiley know that their careers now rest with the ability to promote themselves effectively online. If Tenagalia can adapt and change with the times, then so can we all.

Game, Set and Scream

admin — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:11:11 +0000

Whilst mixing some music this week I’ve had Wimbledon on in the background. In between trying to get a new mash up going I’ve been hearing lots of grunts and screams coming from the grass courts in SW19. It got me thinking. Then later on as I was surfing the net I came across an article in the Daily Mail which gave me an idea. I’ve decided to incorporate the screams and grunts from players into a new sound mix for a set I’m due to play this weekend. Sounds nuts I know, but the grunts of Sharapova make for interesting and surprisingly rhythmic listening.

So far I’ve managed to mix in twenty five distinct grunts and screams from the tennis into about three different tracks I’ll be playing. At first I thought it would sound stupid but I played it to a friend and she just started tapping her toe along in time to the music. Instead of making the mix sound dumb she seems to think the grunts and screams have given it a bit of an edge. I’m not sure myself but the punters will soon let me know on Saturday.

Next week I’m taking off for a bit of a break from the madness. Sadly I will still have to do some work whilst I’m away, but thanks to a friend giving me a set of international roaming sim cards I’ll be able to perfect the Wimbledon mix even further and send it to my producer whilst I’m on a beach! Awesome.

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Gather round

admin — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 19:03:20 +0000

Finally, the event of the year is here! Global Gathering, my favorite festival of the entire summer festival season, kicks off in just a few hours, and I am unbearably excited. In fact, I was told by several colleagues at work that I was being unbearably excited several times in the office today. I can’t help it; I feel like I’ve been waiting for Global Gathering for as long as I’ve been looking for a software that actually works!

Global Gathering isn’t really like your regular festivals, such as Glastonbury or T in the Park, where you have a mix of musical styles. You know; death metal followed by rap, followed by DJs, followed by a folk singer. I mean, much as I love all that eclectic line-up selection, I’m really a dance music fan at heart. Which is why GG is so perfect for me; pure, unadulterated dance DJs, with barely a guitar in sight!

I could try and talk about my personal highlights – who I’m most looking forward to seeing this weekend - but time is short and I could end up writing pages and pages about all the different DJs and artistes gracing the various Global stages this weekend. I haven’t even packed, so I don’t really have time to give you a detailed run down of what’s happening!

I will just briefly mention Pendulum, probably my number one band/act at the moment. They are one of the few performers who probably will have their guitars with them. A true crossover act that even headlined one of the regular stages at T in the Park this year, I think. They really know how to get a party started, and will be a fantastic way to end the first night at the festival of the year!

More than just music…

admin — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:03:14 +0000

Finding new music to keep my act fresh and new can be a bit of a challenge at times. One thing that many people don’t realize is that finding music and mixes that keep the crowd interested can be as difficult as finding cheap red diesel Wakefield. When I have a night off I find myself checking out other clubs to see what types of music and mixes they are offering, as well as how the crowd reacts so that I can hopefully get some pointers on what to do, and more importantly what not to do.
Being a good DJ is more than just knowing the latest and greatest in music, it is an interaction between you and the folks that you’re there to entertain. For someone in an occupation like myself, there is really nothing worse than spinning a mix that you are really excited about and then having no one on the dance floor enjoying it. As a DJ it is probably considered one of the most epic failures. Getting a name for yourself in any aspect of the music industry isn’t easy so it takes a certain finesse and willingness to try out new music in the hopes that others will find it as exciting as you do.
When men and women head out to the club, it is usually for some dancing and socializing. As the DJ it’s my job to provide the entertainment and get the party started. Whether it is a club gig or a private party, knowing the likes of the people you are working for can make or break an evening or even your career. As the hired entertainment, it is my job to make certain that everyone is having a good time and luckily it seems that I have been successful at it so far. Being good at what you do is part talent, part luck and mostly the willingness to do what it takes to be the best.

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Life Of DJ – Constant Innovation

admin — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 17:03:06 +0000

Executives from Rowan Dartington and others financial service providers often praise me for my smart career choice. The fact that I am surrounded by music throughout the day makes them feel as if I have a cool job. Of course, crunching numbers throughout the day cannot be a very exciting task and that is probably why they feel my work is very cool. However, this does not mean that being a DJ is easy.
Just as accountants have a nose for numbers and have the ability of translating complicated transactions into simple number based events, I have to focus on my next performance and make sure that the combination of tracks will keep everybody rocking.
There are some perks that do not exist with other jobs. The ability to rub shoulders with the high and mighty, the chance to interact with the hottest girls and the opportunity to party every night are experiences that an executive or investment banker may not enjoy. However, a person who focuses on these aspects alone and ignores the level of hard work and skill required will not survive for long in the market.
The industry is very competitive and one has to constantly innovate to ensure one does not become obsolete. The internet has complicated matters because it has exposed the audience to a wider range of music. Of course, the internet is also good thing because it has enabled the average music lover to checkout international tracks and become a good DJ without stepping out of his or her home.