House Is A Feeling

First things first: Backlash, the club at which I am a resident, is moving to one of Dublin’s most famous venues, the Pod. (yes I know “one of Dublin’s most famous venues”, might as well say “one of Mars’s most habitable housing estates”) This has been in the pipeline for some time but is effective immediately, so if you’re in our old venue, Rogue on Dame Street, next week and they try to sell you something that sounds like us but a lot worse, then you now know that won’t be Backlash.

It’s mildly amusing how quickly it emerges that all our regulars hated the old venue and politely never told us, it’s like an outpouring of dislike for the old place now! Of course we knew people didn’t like it but from our point of view as people running the night, we couldn’t say “yes well it is a shit venue, you’re right to not want to go there”. We can now though!

So judging by these initial joyous reactions, from most of our regulars over at the Bodytonic Forums (check the Backlash section) it’s a good move for us. Personally I’m looking forward to playing in the new venue, though since I don’t really go to clubs when not DJing much anymore due to health reasons, the inferiority or superiority of venues is difficult to gauge for me. I don’t experience ordering at the bar or dancing on the floor so much and so can’t comment too much on the various logistical disasters people experience with these from club to club.

I do think the quote I stole and adapted for the title of this post is very true however. (Was it Tolstoy or Dostoyevsky?) All venues have their problems and these are difficult to find until they appear, it’s so important for promoters to know their regulars. I’m glad I’m not a promoter really.

But you know, when all is said and done, as a DJ living in Dublin, who wouldn’t want to play in a venue as well equipped and popular as the Pod?
And so it seems that last week I played my final gig in Rogue. The vibe was good, as it has been plenty of times despite peoples dislike for the venue. Backlash is now in its 4th year which is good going by any standards, but to still get new people coming down and real enthusiasm after this time is no mean feat either.

Thursday nights are a strange animal when DJing, you never know what you can get away with and the shift in sound from electrohouse to “verynoiseyelectrohouse” on one side and “minimal” on the other has been tricky for us. Can you guess which side I’m on? I am always conscious of being “too minimal” at Backlash, especially since in a city like Dublin on a Thursday it’s a very studenty crowd. But sometimes I find taking chances is the best way to get the floor going, at least your heart is in it that way. I mean, if you don’t enjoy your own set then that’s the most deflating feeling, awful.

Last week the record that really got the place going for me was Tony Rohr’s amazing “Marriott Acid” on Len Faki’s Podium label. This record starts off like any minimal house tune, but gradually becomes something more recognisable, a really basic 303 workout. Check it out, and if you like it, pay attention to Podium in future, a label with 3 great releases so far, and nice artwork too.

And for the Dubliners (or the potential tourists) who are reading, I’ll see you at the Pod on Harcourt Street! I think my first gig there will be on March 22nd, a few days before my 24th birthday.