Secret Shows: Soulwax at Electrowerkz

Secret Shows: Soulwax at Electrowerkz

28 August, 2008
by: ChloeM

I was slightly worried as I casually strolled to Electrowerkz, that I'd find a long queue of emo scenesters that I'd have to join. It was a MySpace show after all. Luckily my fears were abated, as I got in line and shared a few beers with some fellow Soulwax fans.

A good friend joined me – a young lady covered in piercings who proudly announced that an artist was going to take a casting of her most 'intimate' one. I think everyone enjoyed her story, and a MySpace film crew quickly pulled us out for an interview. It went well until a promotional MySpace sign fell on my head, and I let out an embarrassingly girly scream. It was going to be an interesting evening.

As we entered the venue (for free!), we were handed Soulwax T shirts, and then after buying a couple of cheap drinks headed up to the smaller room, where the Soulwax film 'Part of the Weekend Never Dies' was being screened. What's this? More free stuff! Popcorn and bottled water. The film was a real teaser, as all the clips of their shows really got us into the music, as well as the pretty mind-blowing shows they've been doing around the world.

With so many clips of people looking completely off their faces, Soulwax seemed quite happy with the way their music apparently interacts so well with various substances. I was glad they provided bottled water; I suppose free drugs would have been pushing it a bit. Anything goes at their shows, it seemed, as a young punk explained his naked crowd surfing: 'I did feel kinda bad when I realised that for quite some time my appendage was in the face of a 14 year old girl'.

Heading to the main room, we grabbed some glow sticks and laid out a few swear words on the table, and others came along and joined in on our creative anarchism.

Suddenly Soulwax took over the stage, in their trademark white suits that reminded me of chemical warfare suits, since their opening track was 'Frequency' by Altern-8. Hearing a live version of this played, and then mashed-up into Donna Summer, and I can't help wondering quite how they get away with it. They've already established themselves with their implausible yet amazingly well done bastardised pop AKA 2ManyDJs, and what they do as a live act is even better.

Sending the screechiest electro sounds across the dance floor, with the added intensity of live drumming and their signature short, upbeat mixes, they knew exactly how to work the crowd. They played their versions of definitive dance tunes from the 80s right up to today, from the underground to the outright cheesy. We got quite a good education in electronic music, but in such a mixed up way that no-one would realise.

Since the event was limited to 250 people, everyone got the full experience of the live show, and I couldn't have been among a friendlier bunch of people. The crowd surfing was only semi-naked, but Soulwax made up for it as they returned to play a 2ManyDJs set. Everyone piled onto the stage, climbing into the DJ booth and sharing the Soulwax love.

Their final set was even more energetic and twisted, aimed at those who were ready to party well into the next day. What came across more than anything was a real passion for what they do. They really want their crowd to experience the intensity and outright insanity of their music, and that we most definitely did.

Click to view video of this Myspace Secret Show

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ChloeM