he buzz before Da Beach Thang at Dashi last weekend had everyone sounding like an amateur meteorologist. As it turned out, it rained hard enough in Taipei to keep away a lot of folks who thought it was bound to be doing the same at the beach. But, no, the stars were out over Dashi following an early afternoon shower that lowered the thermostat but kept the night balmy.
Which was a lot like how the music was. You'd have thought that one of the dozen-plus DJs elbowing in on the decks could have laid down something to get the waterlogged masses off their sandy asses. But like the adage "too many cooks spoil the broth," this was a case of too many DJs in a messy mix. There were some good sets, but the prime-time hours were relegated to tag-team efforts that didn't gel.
The night before at Luxy, James Zabiela had the ladies cooing at his every move. The handsome English DJ was able to merely flick a golden lock from his forehead to elicit some appreciative screams and you half expected to see panties flying toward the DJ booth. You may have noticed that DJs are not the prettiest bunch of personalities, but Zabiela has poster-boy looks and draws the pop-star stalker crowd. In addition, he is really talented and is able to create layers of sounds that build up a groove before pulsing into breaks. He owes a debt to Sasha with his tech-house sound but is moving into progressive territory with a tougher bass and pumping change-ups.
His interview before playing around 1am was boring (he revealed that he never travels without his laptop) but then he wasn't helped by some dumb questions. He was charm incarnate, however, and has more best friends in Taiwan after his second visit.
Tonight: The big news is Paul Oakenfold, a DJ who deserves the moniker "legendary" before his name. Having been a pioneer of the UK acid movement in the 1980s, the rave scene, Ibiza madness and "Madchester" clubbing in the 1990s, he has done more than most to push dance music into the mainstream. The musical mogul will attract the purists and those looking to see where the innovator is heading now.
Taipei's newest hip-hop weekly, Filthy Fridays, begins in earnest tonight at Eden with residents Bao Bao and Choyce Kuts. City and jungle collide at Luxy for Concrete Jungle.
In Taichung, Swank presents Lick it Again at Liquid Lounge with DJs Saucey, Declan, D'Jones and Dickweed. An NT$350 cover includes a free drink.
Tomorrow: Citrus is overripe at Luxy. NT$500 before 11pm and NT$800 afterward. AAAportIS presents A-One with the irrepressible Edmund on the decks, joined by the effervescent Jimmy Chen from AXD, at Eden. Cover is NT$350 before midnight, which includes a free drink, or NT$500 after midnight for two free drinks. In Taichung, Disco Revenge presents the Bikini Remix at BoBo with Andrew Ford, Boyan and Paul Energy on the decks.
Next Wednesday is Eden's newest offering, Acid Test. "Expect downtempo grooves, a dark room, sofas and tons of candles." The evening starts at 9pm with Abracadabra.
Upcoming: Kid Capri at Luxy on Saturday, June 25.
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