Trouble Vision Pt. 2 with Theo Parrish, Marcellus Pittman, Bicep & Lauer @ Corsica Studios, Saturday 26th.
Line Up Theo Parrish and Marcellus Pittman Detroit - Room 1 All Night Long Bicep (Feelmybicep.com) Phillip Lauer (Running Back) Park Ranger Time: 10:00pm - 6:00am Venue: Corsica Studios/ 5 Farrell Court; Elephant & Castle; London SE17 1LB Cost: £8-15 Three Kings Of House: Louie Vega, David Morales & Tony Humphries @ Electric Brixton, Saturday 26th.
Line Up
Louie Vega
David Morales & Tony Humphries
Sy Sez
Neil Pierce
Time: 10:00pm - 6:00am
Venue: Electric Brixton/ Town Hall Parade; Brixton; London SW2 1RJ
MAIN ROOM – SOULFUL HOUSE Louie Vega (4hr set) Bobby&Steve Groove Assassin DJ Leo Plus – Sheyi on Percussion Live Performance - Peven Everett Performing "How bad i want you - sexy make up - feeling you - burning hot" Plus a Groove Odyssey showcase featuring - Shelly Nelson - Wyen Solo and MR D
Other rooms also.
Time:
10pm - 7am
Venue:
Proud2/ The O2, Peninsula Square, London SE10 0DY
Cost:
Early bird ticket price: £12.50 (Including BF – Available till 1st Sept)
Visionquest Benoit & Sergio (Live) Matt Tolfrey Sam Russo Joy Orbison Soul Clap Simon Rigg Soho The Vangelis Heidi Mathias Kaden Deetron Waifs & Strays
Ok So where do I start, first off I am overly pissed off with Imovie & youtube hence the lateness of the review but what I will say is I had a wicked weekend and really had fun..... :-)
Soul Heaven Review
Right so I pitch up at ministry around half 12 - 1 ish and everything is in full flow, as I enter in the bar you had Dj Garphie heating things up and Neil Pierce in the main room warming the crowd for Joey Negro and Louie Vega. Now usually I would go into detail about each person etcetera etcetera but today I am just going to give you the notetables and the low down.... Why because I wasn't overly impressed with it!
First person on the list was Neil Pierce who played a blinder of a set, a perfect warming vibe showing true knowledge of house music so props to him (p.s happy birthday lol). Next Andy Ward, who also played very well, keeping the bar bubbling and vibe rolling through.
Now unfortunately the crowd didn't really understand or get what Joey Negro was doing with the house and disco edits but I thought he played very well none the less.
Where as again I was unimpressed by Louie Vega, I though he could have done alot better and this was reflected in the fact that the crowd upped an left!! Not to go home though, they were in the bar where Sy Sez was playing, who had the the crowd eating out of his hands, playing alot of deeper/soulful/techy grooves that kept the crowd bubbling and wanting more (full props to Sy a very good set). Now to mine and the crowds disgust they closed the bar early to get people back in the main room to listen to Louie, nuff said....
House Dance Review
Now this is a party for everyone to enjoy, I only found out about it recently and this was my second time going to this weekly event but boy was it a good night, if you like House and dancing this is the one for you, big up Jimbo Robins and Phil Asher for showing me the light on this one.
I got there early doors with the mrs, about 11 and just bubbled all night You had Jimbo and Bopstar throwing down grooves, plus a surprise PA from Zara McFarlane and some wicked dancers in, Shay Normann, also two of Japan’s rising stars in the Jazz Dance world Maki & Tamayo, London’s very own Diva La Funk bringing you a Freestyle Vogue & Wacking performance.
I dont need to say anymore check out these videos and see for yourself.
Ahead of the release of their fifth full length album next week, we speak to foremost electronic live act Booka Shade about the making of ‘More,’ their impressive live show and why they started DJing again.
After the huge crossover success of their minimal club hit ‘Body Language’ everyone from your mum to your indie loving mate knew who Book Shade were. Then came albums Movement and The Sun and The Neon Light which transformed the German duo into a festival headlining live act, and they haven’t looked back since.
Well, they have, and have since taken up DJing again – read on for details – but their new album ‘More’ is once again made for the live arena; made for those big summer events under the sun. This time, though, it’s a rougher and more direct affair which joins the dots between their previous output. Ahead of their gig at Koko on May 13th, Booka Shade play at Koko on the 13th May (just £16.50 from ticketmaster.co.uk) we spoke to Arno to find out more…
Where are you and what are you doing at the moment?
I'm in the studio doing preparations for the first live show – we’ve had a holiday before we present the new album in all the major cities London, Dublin and so on.
At the moment we’re at the beginning of the tour - we just played Australia. Obviously at this stage, when you have a lot of new songs from a new album, you need to add or take away tracks until they fit - we just added one today to the playlist which wasn’t in before. There’s always tweaking to do basically, we always make some changes here and there throughout the whole tour.
So how much was the new album, More, made with the live shows in mind?
We wanted a lot of new songs we could play at the live shows. Many people know us for these energetic Booka Shade live shows so we wanted to know that when our fans put our album on before or after coming to see us in concert, it would sound the same as the live show.
Also it was real fun for us to bring this energy back. Our last album ‘The Sun and The Neon Light’ was more home listening and was moodier, slower darker - at that time that was important to us - we wanted slower tracks in the shows back then that’s why we had a real orchestra involved at some points.
This new album ‘More’ is rougher. There are songs on there that are really really rough, especially the first track ‘Havana Sex Dwarf’ - it’s the most forward-going track we’ve ever done.
Listening back to the first three albums they always had a similar set up: you have this more epic song writing which took you into the album – it was ‘Vertigo’ on Memento, then ‘Night Falls’ on Movement and ‘Outskirts’ on The Sun and The Neon Light - and, similarly, we always had a certain way to end the album.
With this one we wanted to show people from the first second onwards that it’s more about energy than big emotions – you have a track like ‘Havana Sex Dwarf’ and it’s straight in your face from the off.
So what inspired that shift in styles?
What inspired it and helped the production a lot was actually the DJing we did last year. We stopped doing the live shows at the end of festival summer because before that we’d toured constantly for the last 4 years or so with each album – 150 shows for Movement – so it was one constant touring period so we wanted a break from this.
Still, we didn’t just want to sit in the studio and work on the songs, we wanted to know what was going on in the clubs at that moment so the DJing was great for that – we could take the productions we did in the week and try them out with other tunes at weekends so that was very helpful.
So will you keep up the DJing?
Well for us the DJing will always be the real thing – we’re live musicians, we want to stand on the stage and present our own songs. But we’ll do a couple of DJ shows in Space in Ibiza cos that’s perfect for DJing, and we’ll probably do a few more in some summer locations but most of the year will be dominated by the live show.
With all that going on, then, how do you fit label stuff in?!
We’ve been not so much involved in the label- in the beginning when we all set up the label together we did the production together on the first dozen or fifteen releases now MANDY do A&R and we mainly get involved when we release and album.
OK back to the live show – can you tell us about the production and Booka Shade balls?
We took the whole production to Aus with the big light balls but for club shows we have a UK based crew as we need a special, smaller light show to take around – the lights are an important part of it.
You mention there both big festivals and smaller club shows - how much tailor sets for each audience?
We really don’t change the show round much – if it’s a big 20/30, 000 people show or a smaller 1500 people club, it’s bizarre that people except the fact we don’t have these huge techno bass drums as you’d expect for a big festival – instead we have the sexy beats and really we build grooves not big huge kick drops but people accept that and like the sounds so we don’t tailor the sets that much.
And what kit do you use?
We use Ableton live for backing tracks; Walter plays a Moog Synth Voyager which is nice as we can make fuller sounds with this big equipment. He also uses a mixing desk, KAOS pad, laptop and musically cues sequencers. For each song we have 10/12 individual parts for the melodies, the bass and stuff, all separated out ready to cue up.
On my side I have electronic drums but these are only for the triggers – I customise bespoke sounds with a laptop running Logic and a drum sampler called ‘Battery’ plus I have a lot or real cymbals I use.
We have a set list like and band – we don’t go on stage and jam. I believe the music of Booka Shade is designed in a way which we like with big breakdowns at the right point, melodies starting at specific points. But within the set list we can add or subtract, tease the people using all our triggers -we do as much as we can with our 4 hands to make it sound live.
There’s a lot to go wrong so if it does you really hear it – I think that’s the nice thing about the live show – people appreciate the roughness and realise when we hit a wrong note we are actually on stage, doing it live, working hard!
So do you use old as well as new tracks in the show?
We will present the new LP of course, we’re happy to have a lot of news songs in the set list but of course we have special versions of ‘Mandarin Girl’ and ‘Body Language’ which are always nice moments in the set. Were happy with these songs and happy to present them again in different ways.
Final question - what’s your World Cup prediction?
I can with a good heart say I don’t know anything about football. I was at a dinner the other night and someone mentioned a name and I asked who it was and everyone looked at me funny saying – that’s the coach of the national team! I didn’t know don’t ask me about football – that’s not for us, we’re happy just being musicians!
At One broadcasting LIVE tonight from London's underground
Ok Ladies & Gentlemen, you can catch me LIVE on DE JA VU (VU LIVE) TONIGHT @ 8:00pm (GMT), Covering the one and only Danny Native for the Altered Natives Radio Show.
Playing the best in House Music, deep, soulful, minimal, tech, broken
Music from the likes of, Altered Natives, AphroDisiax, At Jazz, At One, Dennis Ferrer, Dj T, Jose Carretas, Joy Orbison, Karizma, Louie Vega, Matt Bandy, Milton Jackson, Peven Everett, Phil Asher, Raw Artistic Soul, Reboot, Shur-i-Kan, Souled. To name but a few........... MAKE SURE YOUR INVOLVED.
I will be taking shouts, dedications & requests (within reason) Via my Twitter, so go to Follow Me On Twitter Link Above, to make sure your interactive with the show.
Now I know this isn't house and most of you will know Ursula for her works with Louie Vega & Raw Artistic Soul but this is some solid hip hop/R'n'B/Spoken Word/Soul. So check it out........
Afternoon, my fellow house music lovers, today i come to you tired and very busy, i have had lots going on this morning and last night (including no electricity lol). So that is my excuse for being late getting to you!!
Anyways today i come with abit more follow up on the 10th anniversary of Soul Heaven other than my review of the night (My Review on SOUL HEAVEN)
Ten Years Of Soul Heaven Compiled & Mixed by Louie Vega Get Together Out Now'
As Soul heaven enters in tenth year it was an obvious choice to have international resident Louie Vega mix our latest CD celebrating 10 years Of Soul Heaven.
Disc one is all about the cutting edge, fresh new sounds that are popular with Soul Heaven.
"I wanted to give you new flava as we always did at Soul Heaven. It's about good music for us. There are many producers and artists creating hot & fresh music that should be recognized" Louie Vega
Disc 2 reflects the vocal house sound that Soul Heaven is famous for, while Disc 3 is a respectful and nostalgic nod to 10 years of Soul Heaven by Louie, the residents and owner Fleur Woolford, who all choose classic tracks from the last ten years, each chosen with their own special memory.
"Ten Years of Soul Heaven" perfectly encapsulates the essence of one of the world's leading labels by refusing to simply compile a 'greatest hits' CD and therefore continuing in the pioneering spirit on which the label is based.
Disc One
1. Soul Heaven, The Roots Of London-Boddhi Satva 2. My Black Sheep-Len Faki [Radio Slave Remix] 3. Hey Hey-Dennis Ferrer [Instrumental & DF's Attention Vocal Mix] 4. Think Twice-Detroit Experiment [Henrik Schwarz Remix] 5. You're So Sweet-Madame X Aka Anane [Antonello Coghe / Filipe Narciso Mix] 6. Bang The Drum-Sister Pearl [Manoo Remix] 7. Let's Get High-Anane [Louie Vega EOL Mix] 8. Marenostrum-Fabio Genito [Organic Mix] 9. Into You-Fabrizio Ortella 10. Em Bo La-Bah Samba Feat. Joseph Philogene [Antonello Coghe / Filipe Narciso Mix] 11. Ancestral Calling-Mzee Feat. Malatji [Rancido Deep Journey Mix] 12. Punch Koko-Boddhi Satva [Boddhi Satva Remix] 13. Ayele-Boddhi Satva Feat. Yuba [Manoo Remix] 14. Papa Loko-Jephte Guillaume Presents Erol Josue [Jephte's Extended Loko Vokal Mix] 15. Poem-Rocco Feat. Phumeza Dlwati 16. Warriors Of Africa-Boddhi Satva Feat. Fredy Massamba 17. Play With The Voice-Joe T. Vannelli Feat. Csilla [MAW In Your Face Dub] 18. Sex In Africa-Soulfricans 19. Roforofo Fight-Gilles Peterson's Havana Cultura Band Feat. Mayra Caridad Valdes Disc Two
1. Bittersweet Love Affair-Jay 'Sinister' Sealee & Louie Vega Starring Julie Mcknight 2. Queen-N'dinga Gaba Feat. Scotty P. [Ricanstruction Vocal] 3. Into My Life (You Brought The Sunshine)-Elements Of Life Feat. Lisa Fischer & Cindy Mizelle [Roots Mix] 4. First Night To Love-Jovonn 5. London Roots-VEGA Feat. Johnnydangerous 6. Circle Track-Mr. V 7. Feelin' Better-Jovonn Feat. Carole Sylvan [Jovonn Next Moov Club Mix] 8. Alien Conversations 1-Agev Munsen 9. Little W. 12th St-Ralf GUM & Monique Bingham 10. Take You Away-DJN Project [Glenn Underground REWERK Tribute Mix] 11. Just As Long-Duce Martinez 12. Feels Good Just To Feel-Lil' Louis 13. Fly-Fanatix Feat. Alison Crockett & Nathan Haines 14. Child Like-Roots Orchestra 15. Those Days Are Gone-Alex Finkin & Reverend P Feat. Jocelyn Mathieu 16. Love Will Know-Elements Of Life Feat. Lisa Fischer [Roots Demo Mix] 17. Circles-Nathan Adams & Zepherin Saint [Vocal Mix] 18. When The Morning Comes-Alton Miller & Amp Fiddler [Main Vocal Mix] 19. Consequences-DJ Man X & Albert "Sterling" Menendez Feat. Josh Milan Disc Three
1. Into My Life (You Brought The Sunshine)-Elements Of Life Feat. Lisa Fischer & Cindy Mizelle [Vamp Mix] 2. (I Got) Somebody New-Georg Levin Feat. Clara Hill 3. Misery-Kimara Lovelace [Lil' Louis Extended Mix] 4. Our Music-Trackheadz 5. Dom Dom Jump-The Deep & Fred Melosax 6. Sunday Showers-Kentphonik 7. Stay Together-Barbara Tucker 8. Closer-Mood II Swing Feat. Carol Sylvan [King Street Moody Club] 9. Special-Sara Devine [Louie Vega EOL Mix] 10. Song For Sharma-Soul Central 11. Life Goes On-"Little Louie""Vega Feat. Arnold Jarvis
Wow, where do i start!! I'm knackered......... But I have had an amazing time and feel like we need more Soul Heaven in our lives lol!!
So I decided to take my camera on saturday up to Soul Heaven but upon reflection I regret to inform I'm not the best photographer despite being allowed in the Dj booths. I'm gonna put it down to having to much jokes and in general having a wicked time soaking up some wicked music!
Brief Soul Heaven Review
Ok so i pitch up with Sy Sez and associates (Dan, Damian & Leon + others) get inside Ministry and my journey begins, first off with Sy Sez playing a wicked opening set full of soulful uplifting grooves, playing the best in new and old house music really opening up the dance floor to get people going. Then along came guest Dj/Producer Sean McCabe who's set in my personal opinion wasn't amazing but had some nice tracks flowing throughout, not to take away from his wicked production skills. (Pictured Below Sean McCabe left & Sy Sez right)
After Sean along comes Neil Pierce, now if you don't already know or haven't already heard Neil is an amazing dj who almost instantaneously had the crowd eating at his fingertips playing the best soulful house and really working the dance floor over. Alongside Neil there was a live Pa with Adeola Ranson performing Tracks like her forthcoming release with the AphroDisiax 'Little Bird' which went down a storm with the Soul Heaven crowd (Pictured below we have Adeola Ranson, Adeola Ranson & Neil Pierce, Sy Sez & Niel Pierce).
Whilst all this was going on in the bar Phil Asher selection king was warming up for Louie Vega, now Phil had a blinding set and as always was an absolute pleasure to watch. Phil played some classic tracks and some new pressure tearing through the dance floor with ease, Im sure Phil was built to DJ lol. After Phil came Louie Vega, now Louie played some serious dancefloor heat with all the usual MAW & Louie bits and the usual big dancefloor tracks, as per usual Louie did kill it with the disco edits till 7:30 am. I personally become more & more impressed with Phil and his selection the more i see him, as for Louie i was impressed but not in awe (Pictured below Phil Asher & Louie Vega).
Whilst Louie was in the main room, Aaron Ross came on in the bar for Neil and blasted out some hard tracks not quite your usual Soul Heaven tracks but the crowd were going nuts for it, playing the most amount of exclusive edits you will ever here lol. After Aaron, Sy finished off the bar playing some deep/soulful grooves.
All in all a good night was had by all, enough said lol.
Brief Hati Fundraiser Review
The Hati fundraiser was good fun and alot of money was raised due to the generosity of all the people their. There were notable performances from Phil Asher, Dj Crookid and the live Pa of 'Circles' from Nathan Adams also Don E's performance of his track with Aaron Ross created a nice vibe inside, for a very good cause. A fitting end to a good weekend of house music.
Unfortunately i didn't take the old camera with me as I was forgetful due to lack of sleep!!
Right Im Knackered off to bed for me, excuse all spelling and grammar issues lol!!
