Review:
MK1 Interview

It's a hatrick………… the drum clubs Triology finished off with a huge one on the 4th Jan at the Drum Club headquarters in Northbridge. So close to New Years, I was surprised at the turn out but well impressed with the numbers and the atmosphere, although I ran into a lot of people I know and seen around, there appeared to be a lot of new faces tonight which made for a great change.

The atmosphere was huge, it seemed like no one was suffering post new years, maybe no one just wanted the party to end? Eitherway, the atmosphere at the part three, the final part of the triology, was definatley the best. They say all good things come in three's, they werent kidding there either!

Lets go back to the beginning where it all started…… (now im seriously testing my memory here!)

The Beginning
Friday 7th December 2001

Krust (UK)
Krust has been making music since 1992.

Die (UK)
Dj Die is another of the founding members of te Full Cycle camp.

Aphrodite (UK)
Aphrodite is a Dj who needs little introduction.

Tickets: $33+BF.

Once upon a time, in club land, hidden well behind commercial street, there lived a group, known as the "bum club". We ran into head bummer, Viper a few weeks before hand for a quiet drink (and I must add its strange seeing the drum club with lights on) and the official brown paper bag deal was sealed. For the record, im open to all sorts of bribery for a good review! Hehehe………but I will add for those of you who take me seriously, all we did was meet brett for a drink and pick up our tickets!

The first of the three nights was on Friday 7th December 2001 and held at the Drum Club. Now im sure your all well aware of how much of a Drum and Bass fan I am not, I respect and enjoy the music to a certain degree, you just wont catch me in the front row with my hands in the air tis all. But I decided that I would approach these three events with an open mind and upon arrival went hunting for Elhornet to enroll in some DnB dancing lessons, or revert to plan B and be in charge of the bar!

I was actually sent out alone to this night, as my partner in crime took a very much needed and overdue break for the night. Being let out on a night excursion pass on my own, dangerous! Thanks to Hutcho, Mental, Assassin & lovely wives for ensuring I was well kept with company all night and ensuring that I didn't walk out as straight as I walked in!

Few too many black sambuccas (and I don't drink! Hehehe) and spending some time mingling I decided to move closer to the dancefloor, for some strange reason something was pulling me, some strange force…… I asked who was playing, for those who know me too well appreciate my sense of humour, it was Die. Congratulations must be awarded to this man, I was actually caught busting some moves on the dancefloor to DnB at the Drum Club! Nice one! Im still coping shit for this one too! J

Nice size crowd, you'd have to be happy with the turn out. Visited and spent some time on the couches in the "cave room"… scarey stuff! Nice groovy choons in there, if you could hear yourself talk would almost be perfect! (don't tell too many people but I did manage to discover a second female toilet in there, no queue, and paper to boot!)…. Ahhh good ole club toilets….. just makes you want to drink more!

Easily one of the best nights ive had at the Drum Club… and a bloody fantastic start to what was shaping up to be a huge triple banger event! Roll on new years….

Chapter Two…..

NYE Trilogy
Monday 31st December 2001

Kenny Ken (UK)
Darren Jay (UK)
MC Skibadee (UK)

ROOM 1
Heretik vs Sinistah, Viper vs Rufkut, Muller, Detonator Jay vs Qball, Frantik, Elhornet, Merlin vs Gusto
MC's: J Rippa, Assassin, Interjecta and X-sessiv

ROOM 2 - drum & bass, oldskool, breaks
Saul Bliss, Skelly, Dair, Phonix (UK), FBI, Trent C vs Dub Society Dazz K, Fuxxy vs Leroy, Hutcho vs Mental, Rintel vs Shogun, Devo vs Dart

Tickets: $75+BF.
Venue: the Embassy Ballroom, Carlisle.

New Years Eve would have been a great time for the cloning machine to be operating. I was actually invited to review four events this evening, but had already committed to this event and Intensity, i Iecided not to over-extend myself and enjoy the evening as well.

We arrived just after midnight to what I would call a half packed house. Bearing in mind the size of this venue, which is HUGE! It was still a considerably good turnout. I headed straight for the bar, having come from an all ages event with only water for sale, I needed some light refreshments, well it was near years!

With the drinks side of things sorted, and the kisses exchanged, I set about on my adventure to discover the Embassy Ballroom for the first time. I headed straight for the main room DJ box to check out who was playing, take some pics and just generally scoot around for a bit. I ran into the organiser, Brett and congratulated him on the set up for the night, looked good!

MC Skibadee was tearing things up from the stage with some help from locals, J Rippa, Assassin, Interjecta and X-sessiv. I rather enjoyed some of the choons being played, rather funky/groovy (to use my own words if I may) just seemed slightly different to what im used to hearing at DnB events.

Security removed us from the second room, lights came on the main room, sun was shinging, time to move on!

Chapter 3…..the final chapter…….what a night!

The Offical Recovery….

Recovery?? Now ive only just realised that was the "theme" for this night. Recovery? Whose had time to recover? Didn't appear to be too many people attempting to recover this night either!

The Drum Club was packed, standing room only, so I took poll position at the back bar, got comfy and watched the preceedings open before me. Huge night, thoroughly enjoyed MK1's set and DJ Trace was awesome as were all the other locals.

It was finale to a well organised and well attended event. DnB fans gotta be happy with that!

Interview:

After I finally recovered from all three, I managed to catch up with MK1 for an interview:

MK1

I took some time out to catch up with MK1, otherwise named by his parents as Mark. We took a stroll up to one of my fav. Cafes in Northbridge and did the café strip cappuccino thing, for what was planned as a 15 minute interview, turned into a 2 hour chat!

Naz: Why are you here?

Mark: Basically Ive wanted to get out of England since University, when I left university I was doing photography, I always wanted to travel, particularly SE Asia, went there and was resident at the full moon parties for 6 months, it was an amazing island full of wonderful people and I have many fond memories from there. I hold a degree in graphic design and in order to continue travelling while I'm in Australia where I can earn some money and play my music, playing at the Drum Club at present. Then plan on continuing my travels.

Naz: What do you do and who for?

Mark: Working for Atmosphere Magazine (ATM) and sending reports back while here yes. As I said before hold a degree in Graphic Design and hoping to pick up some work there, also at the Drum Club.

Naz: Aussie Chicks? First impressions….

Mark: Right, ok then….. (Visualise the English accent) When I first arrived, I was not as impressed as I thought I would be, I kinda expected Aerobics Oz Style chicks wandering around all trim and taunt in their g string leotards

Naz: funny stuff

Mark: Things have picked up though, I'm very comfortable here, I'm not tied down "chick" wise mainly due to my travelling, next stop South America but the plan is to earn some money here so that I can continue to travel.

Naz: Your most embarrassing moment?

Mark: Don't really get embarrassed real easy, basically if I clam up a mix, it's done and gone. Can't say I haven't put a needle on the wrong record yet. Otherwise my most embarrassing moment would have to be NYE a while back I was working, taking some video footage for an interview at a club, finished the shoot and realised I forgot to actually put film in the camera. Had to do some smart talking excuse wise to get out of that one, was a shoot at Mickey Finns Album launch party, supposed to film the whole night!

Oops!

Naz: Groupies?

Mark: Well yea of sorts, basically there was one girl when I resident at the full moon parties, she prided herself in being my number one fan and attended EVERY party, she was a very determined girl and I would be lying if I said I wasn't tempted, but in the end we actually became best friends and remain so. She would often tell me that I had heaps of groupies but I spend all my night mixing I don't get time!

Naz: Fame or Fortune?

Mark: Oh dear! Theres no fortune yet. Nicole, the girl I mentioned earlier, told me once that I'm very selfish and I guess that's proven in my job. She is a nurse and her job is about giving, and mines about taking in essence. I get my fortune, or pleasure from creating, music creation, about reaction making others happy gives me a kick out of it, sitting up in a DJ box and seeing the punters having the time of their life because of me.

Naz: What's one thing from the 80s that should NEVER re-surface?

Mark: Actually I wish I was more of a part of the 80s, pop music ruled then there's acid house, everyone I know who partied then said they were the most amazing parties of their life.

We got a bit side tracked here talking about parties from the 80s ….. too incriminating….. on with the interview….

Naz: If you could time travel one way where would u go and why?

Mark: after many questions about the conditions and / or restrictions to his time travelling…. He finally came up with an answer….

Back to the acid house days, I personally don't touch chemicals, I don't need them, but I would go back to about 86 to prepare myself…. (a bit of thought)…. Id run the industry as I would know what is going to happen the trends etc in the future….. shit id RUN THE WORLD!!

Ha ha ha

Naz: Whats the best place in the world to party?

Mark: Definitely Thailand, I found the MOST INCREDIBLE venue in the world! Visualise, on top of a helipad on top of a mountain on a ridge either side with jungle down to chrystal blue sea and white sand either side of the jungle, pure white beaches!, a DJ booth is cut out in the mountain looking down onto the helipad with a couple of thousand of ravers in the open air…….. the full moon parties there is NO inhibition, its like the old skool parties of 94 days, Jungle bass……

Naz: starts packing her bags for this party!!!

Naz: If you had to make a choice between loosing your sight or your dick, which would you choose?

Mark: after much debate and consideration…… my eyes.

Naz: I'm writing a book, how to go clubbing on $10bucks, any tips?

Mark: Photographer! When I worked in London, you carry a camera, you can even jump VIP queues, excuse me but I have to get in to cover this night/event/DJ and be back at "such such" club in half an hour……

Short of that go to Thailand and you go live for less than $10 a day, including raving!!!

Nice one Mark, I would have to confess that was easily one of the most "interesting" and enjoyable interviews ive had in a bit. An extremely intelligent and well-travelled man who knows what he wants and basically, goes for it. No head up arse syndrome here I'm happy to report!

Naz J

"If head up arse is a syndrome, consider me part of the cure"

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