It was business as usual at Luxy on Sunday and that was puzzling. Admittedly there was work for most of us on Monday, but where were the queues of people for the world's most popular DJ? Two years ago there were fights to get into his gig at the Taipei World Trade Center and 6,000 people eventually made it. This time around there were still tickets for sale outside the city center club.
Well, it's not that Paul van Dyk has got worse, but that Taipei's clubbers are satiated with big-name DJs and dance music in general. A quick look at DJmag's top 10 list confirms that nearly all the big dogs of dance music have visited these shores in the last couple of years. It just goes to show that when you've got what you want, you look for something else. And that's what's happening here.
Even so, there wasn't much room to move at Luxy when Van Dyk took to the stage around 1am. The previous DJ slipped on We Are the Champions by Queen and a few other questionable dance floor fillers before the German got into his groove. He played until 4:30am and there was more than just chemical twitching going on. The only people who didn't seem to have much of a clue how to move their bodies were the "professional" dancers on stage.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE LOOP
The overall impression was of a DJ at the top of his game, working hard. After a couple of encores he stuck around to sign CDs and body parts. For those who missed a rocking night out, catch Paul van Dyk hosting his own show on BBC radio tonight at www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/eddiehalliwell. If it's anything like the real thing it will be worth tuning in.
This week, Paulina's, known mostly for its Wednesday night house music hullabaloo Play, hosts HOPE, a fundraiser for kids in need of medical attention on the Thai-Burmese border. NT$300 at the door gets the funked up stylings of Shorty, the welcome return of Junior van den Berg, a mostly recovered Saucey, plus a chance to do something to help those in need.
With the official start of summer still a few dragon boat races away, certain songs are making their way onto iPod playlists as sidewalks start to sizzle. In an informal poll on a social networking site, legends like Bob Marley, Groove Armada, Sublime, War and Shaggy all ranked high on the summer standards list. But for me, a few certain words start a whole season. "Here it is ... a groove ... slightly transformed." In a world of flamboyant fashionistas and magniloquent miscreants, turntable luminary Jazzy Jeff and the formerly fresh prince Will Smith may not have been the most cutting edge duo to ever rock a stage, but there is no denying that their seminal hit, Summertime, brings about an air of love and of happiness.
All of the aforementioned summer jams and more will be blowing in the wind at Sunday's Breeze Pool Party at TKFarms Natural Springs Pool (96 Peitouzih Rd, Tamsui, 台北縣淡水96北投子路). Hooker, Fratzuki, Junior and Megan and GoreJuice will provide the music to make your body move. Entry is NT$300. Check www.sundaybreeze.wordpress.com for details, maps, free MP3s.
It seems that Sunday is quickly becoming the new Saturday as Genesis, Taiwan's best open mic night, returns with a graffiti art showcase. Poets, b-boys and girls, bands, and MCs have a chance to strut their stuff while stereo:types and 2Hands keep the party moving at Riverside Cafe, Taipei.
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