Wednesday 21 September 2016

Another Manic Episode

Hi folks!

Now that I somehow managed to recover from the weekend, it is just right time to tell you of it. And it was another manic episode in a good way.

On saturday, I went to see Solar Fake gig at On The Rocks. Arrived really early, but there were already some people at the club. First live act of the night was Ten After Dawn, a local band. This was first time I've seen them live and didn't know what to expect and that's good thing if you ask me. I got only good things to say of this! It was really good way to kick the night off. Band sounded good live. Good melodies, enough boom to make you dance and Teemu's vocals were clear. What more can you hope from a band? Of course the one maniac! And again it was the keyboard player. What is it with these guys? If I do get a chance to see Ten After Dawn live again, will certainly grab it. I recommend this band to all who like their melodies sweet with enough kick to make you dance.

Next up Solar Fake. I had high expectations for this gig and they were fulfilled. And maybe bit even more. Time really flew by with both of these live sets and way too soon they were over. And yes, here we have another keyboard maniac. I kept thinking to myself how sore his neck is after that show and how on earth he manage not to tip keyboard over. I guess that is something you call professionalism.

Here we have a blend of charismatic band members together with really sweet melodies that create magic. Sven has a good voice and charisma and Andre is a ball of energy. On stage they perfectly complete eachother and create magic. All it takes is those two guys to put on a show. Will definetly goto another gig. As said, melodies together with charisma and energy is winning combination. The place did get nicely crowded when SF started and it was good to see this kind of music does pull crowd over here in the land of all things guitar and metal. Only thing I missed was the Editor's cover Papillon, but that's only a small thing. And that is if I gotta find something negative of the evening. Otherwise setlist was to my liking. Perhaps too since it was first time I saw them live. But still, oh what a night!

I am experiencing a writer's block while writing this, so I'm gonna cut this short and prepare for work.

Sunday 11 September 2016

Clubife Hardstyle Icons 1 Noisecontrollers & Day-Mar (aka Darkness vs Light aural battle)

Hi guys!

Long time no see, sorry for that. Been too busy with school and the Club Interface project, but now is the time to look back last night and tell my views of the party. But first I need to get some coffee...

ahhh much better

I saw the Devil in Helsinki rapped Tricky in Christiansands, but this time we saw Queen Of Darkness herself: Day-Mar. She is one of the leading ladies of the whole hardcore scene and rightfully so. Tehcnically she is really good and also true to her sound. And I like her own music too. I knew she might go bit hard for my liking, but gotta admit I was wrong. Or my taste has evolved again.

Sadly I missed the first set, but was there on the beginning of the epic dj battle. When you put up a b2b2b2b2b2b set, Proteus / Sasha F / Djane J7 / Waily / Neon / Galrav, it raises eyebrow at least, Worst case scenario was similar to Swedish Chef's cooking, but I was totally wrong. This set really ROCKED! All individuals have their distinctive sound and this got them a bit out of their comfort zone I think, eventhough they did not compromise that much. None of them had time to build as they would on individual sets, but they still kept the structure of the set working well together.

When you put german hard trance, euproric hardstyle, rawstyle, hard dance and bit of hardcore in the blender, this set is what comes out. Flows really well and surprisingly so. Also it shows how close knit all these genres are and how there are similar sounds in them, One of the key element in all of them is the energy level. This was educational, if you ask me, as to show how you can blend genres together in an interesting and ass-kicking way. Well done!

Next up Second Level. I gotta be honest, eventhough I hate saying negative things, but this was a set at the wrong place at the wrong time. But the kids loved it. It was too big change of style in this part on night and still edm doesn't have a place in harder styles parties, especially at prime time. This might've worked as opening of the night, but playing edm in the middle of hard dance and hardstyle set. It was time for me to go sit and take a break. As said, this is only my humble opinion and I don't like edm/big room/electro house at all, it makes me run out of the venue holding my ears, because to my ears it is just commercial crap. But hey, most of the audience kept dancing and that is the main thing.

Noisecontrollers played excatly what you could expect from him. Melodic, euphoric hardstyle and it rocked. Nice melodies always work for me, I'm sucker from them. His selection was spot-on for the time of the night and he really rocked the crowd to the 7th Heaven. Dancefloor was really packed and rocking as it was end of the world as we know it. He also has his constant songs he plays everytime and some might've been heard too many times to some people, but they still suited the set. And Source Code Of Creation is still helluva banger. Also he played tonight, that he played in every set I've heard of him. Still, it's good track.

Next darkness with white dreadlocks lands on the stage. It is time time release the beauty of darkness and fast beats. Day-Mar in da house! I gotta give it to her, she built the set like a true pro. Starting with mainstream melodic hardcore before releasing full assault of hard beats. This really worked well and kept audience dancing. When she moved to more typical sound of her, some people didn't get it. Fair enough, her industrial side is harsh and rough, since it doesn't focus on melody as mainstream does, and this was bit tough for me. But when she moved onto uptempo, yes yes yes! This set really showed who were her fans and they were dedicated bunch. Screaming we want more for long time after she finished, and that I don't remember seeing in this scale before.

Gotta admit she drained at least me out of all energy but I sure was happy she did that :)