Morbyd
Moderator
Hi peeps. Sorry I haven't been around for a while. It's been a busy couple of months in slowly-freezing-over-for-the-winter Moscow. Work has been busy at times and all that. But the nights have been hot as ever as Moscow has welcomed some of the world's best DJs for some good shows that I feel compelled to tell you about (shows which left me sleeping through my weekend days, when I might otherwise visit this forum!)
So, while you lucky bahstads were enjoying the Space closing, here's what I've been up to:
Roger Sanchez @ Fabrique, Moscow, Sept. 17, 2004
Fabrique is a relative newcomer to the Moscow scene, focussing mainly on progressive house with a younger vibe and one of the longer bars in the clubs around town. One of their regulars, Katrin Vesna (Vesna means 'spring' in Russian) opened up the night with a progressive set that got the crowd quite lively.
Sanchez hopped on stage following a short fashion show that set men's tongues wagging and immediately took control. I'm not a huge fan of DJs playing with the eq a lot but Roger knows exactly when to do it to keep the crowd on its toes. The place was packed but the vibe was good and Sanchez left no one in that club standing still has he played a mixed set of funky, classic, and straight-up house with even a prog sounding tune or two. How can Tiesto be rated higher than this man? It is simply wrong.
In typical Sanchez fashion, he refused to leave the DJ booth when his time was up, keeping us rocking for nearly an extra hour!
Bedrock @ The Warehouse, Moscow. Sept. 18, 2004
Luke Fair, John Digweed, Jimmy Van M
A rave-like party at a reconfigured indoor go-karting track, put together by Organised Kaos Russia. OK is a promoter outfit known for the famous/infamous Club XIII - formerly kings of the Moscow glamour club scene until the club shut down 2 years ago.
Luke Fair opened admirably, but his lacklusted set only helped people look forward to headliner Digweed. John played a solid progressive set and the place was packed with young crowd bouncing to the beat. It wasn't fireworks at times, but the mood was positive and the energy expended left little for Jimmy when he came on in the early morning.
Erick Morillo @ The Penthouse, Moscow, Sept. 24, 2004
Another Organised Kaos party at a converted barn-like building in the Hermitage Garden. They built a three-story terrace from which people could look down on the dance floor. I got vertigo trying to climb that thing.
Morillo sorely disappointed me in Ibiza this year, so I wasn't expecting too much. He redeemed himself that night playing an interesting mid-tempo pop house night which actually got me off my tired butt and dancing hard. The crowd loved it and the venue was just wacky enough to keep it interesting all the way through. Kudos to the organizers for filling the platforms with more than the usual number of go-go dancers in funky costumes.
Gatecrasher @ Gaudi, Moscow, Sept. 25, 2004
This show had some bigger names attached to it when it was originally to be held 2 weeks earlier, but the tragedy in Beslan forced organizers Not Zepelin (who formerly operated recently-shuttered Club Zepelin) to push it back.
Futureshock headlined an I'll admit I was not familiar with these guys. It was a serious trance night and perhaps I wasn't drunk enough but I never quite got my feet into it as I did for Gatecrasher's May visit to Moscow. There were plenty of souped up teenagers that looked to be enjoying it, but the oversized warehouse feel of this venue makes creating a vibe difficult. Trance requires me to be in a specific mood, and it wasn't there that night, nor did the DJs help bring it on.
Defected @ Ministry of Sound, London, Oct. 2, 2004
Can I just say that I had fun at this party? I'm sure a bunch of you were there so I won't review it. I was surprised to not find Barbie anywhere but we did get there quite late.
Hed Kandi @ Club XIII, Moscow, Oct. 8, 2004
Mark Doyle
Hed Kandi marked it's fifth anniversary in Moscow and Club XIII reopened for the night to mark the occasion. The old venue is not quite ready to reopen on a permanent basis but it made it through one night with its dignity intact.
This was one of those Moscow nights where the crowd was probably too far gone to notice the music. Doyle played a solid set with hits to keep the people happy and the disco style certainly fit the glamour image of the overcrowded club. Local DJ Oleg Ojo was among the openers and he should be given credit for really getting people up for the evening.
DJ Gee Moore @ Slava, Oct. 22, 2004
Slava would be Moscow's best club if it were located somewhere downtown. Instead, it's out towards the Eastern edge of this large city, which means it doesn't attract the best crowds.
I got there late so I missed the early part of Gee's set, and he'd gotten surprisingly progressive by that point. I was in a more funky/straight house mood so I wasn't as blown away as I was every afternoon at Bora Bora this summer or when he played at club Jet Set in Moscow this past spring. Still, it was a fun night and the large club not too packed so we had a good time shaking our tailfeathers up until the end of his set.
DJ Gregory @ Fabrique, Oct. 29, 2004
The Defected crew have been making a lot of trips out here this year, it seems. Sandy Rivera at club Leto in early September was a blast -- even if he did rely a little on the summer anthems to keep the crowd's spirits up, I thouroughly enjoyed the evening and atmosphere.
Gregory, on the other hand, blazed his own trail with a set typically mixed with Africanism-style beats. It was a pre-Halloween party so many came in costume to gyrate to a very eclectic set that was surprisingly satisfying (admission: I saw Gregory at Pacha in Sept. '03 and was disappointed, especially when he was followed by a superb Bob Sinclar set). I stayed until the end of his set despite having come solo to this party and lost sight of the various friends I'd managed to run into.
Halloween @ Club XIII, Oct. 30, 2004
Kenny Dope, Hed Kandi
As Halloween fell on a Sunday, the old Club XIII venue was pressed into service the night before for Moscow's biggest annual party - Halloween XIII. Last year, the organizers rented out a 17th century Duke's wine basement to welcome Layo and Bushwacka. This year was supposed to be even better with the Petrovsky Castle, where Napoleon is rumored to have stayed, being the venue to host Kenny Dope in one room and some Hed Kandi DJs in another. Unfortunately, city permit problems forced the night to be moved to the old Club XIII and a rented-out neighboring restaurant-turned club, connected by a tent and some porta-potties for the huge crowd.
As before (this evening won the Moscow Nightlife Awards 'party of the year' for 2 years running) it was a super-wet evening with sightings of over-drunk people getting carried out by security every half hour or so. Former XIII resident DJ Grad with an assist from DJ Kolya got the crowd in the 'VIP section' (i.e. the room with the open bar where entrance was 3 times as expensive) up and running before Kenny showed up in the early hours of Halloween.
Turning the clocks back meant the night went on forever and Kenny kept the mood right with some great straight-up and funky house. The room was packed but thinned out as the night went on and those dancing feet went into overdrive as he started slipping in bigger hits interspersed with the less familiar fare.
There were a lot of Londoners in town for the upcoming Chelsea v. CSKA match, and the three of them that accompanied me and my friends to the event were duly impressed with how Muscovites party, and party hard (and the guys had to hold their jaws to keep from dragging them on the floor at the sight of Moscow women). I should add that Birmingham's James Fierce kept one of the other rooms hopping until morning (go Kidderminster!)
So there it is... 2 months of mayhem in Moscow and it continues tonight with Dave Seaman and Chris Fortier, the latter of which did one of my favorites in the Bedrock series. Godskitchen is here in a week or two, and Pete Tong on Dec. 4.
If you read all the way through this, you're a champion. Thanks for your indulgence.
So, while you lucky bahstads were enjoying the Space closing, here's what I've been up to:
Roger Sanchez @ Fabrique, Moscow, Sept. 17, 2004
Fabrique is a relative newcomer to the Moscow scene, focussing mainly on progressive house with a younger vibe and one of the longer bars in the clubs around town. One of their regulars, Katrin Vesna (Vesna means 'spring' in Russian) opened up the night with a progressive set that got the crowd quite lively.
Sanchez hopped on stage following a short fashion show that set men's tongues wagging and immediately took control. I'm not a huge fan of DJs playing with the eq a lot but Roger knows exactly when to do it to keep the crowd on its toes. The place was packed but the vibe was good and Sanchez left no one in that club standing still has he played a mixed set of funky, classic, and straight-up house with even a prog sounding tune or two. How can Tiesto be rated higher than this man? It is simply wrong.
In typical Sanchez fashion, he refused to leave the DJ booth when his time was up, keeping us rocking for nearly an extra hour!
Bedrock @ The Warehouse, Moscow. Sept. 18, 2004
Luke Fair, John Digweed, Jimmy Van M
A rave-like party at a reconfigured indoor go-karting track, put together by Organised Kaos Russia. OK is a promoter outfit known for the famous/infamous Club XIII - formerly kings of the Moscow glamour club scene until the club shut down 2 years ago.
Luke Fair opened admirably, but his lacklusted set only helped people look forward to headliner Digweed. John played a solid progressive set and the place was packed with young crowd bouncing to the beat. It wasn't fireworks at times, but the mood was positive and the energy expended left little for Jimmy when he came on in the early morning.
Erick Morillo @ The Penthouse, Moscow, Sept. 24, 2004
Another Organised Kaos party at a converted barn-like building in the Hermitage Garden. They built a three-story terrace from which people could look down on the dance floor. I got vertigo trying to climb that thing.
Morillo sorely disappointed me in Ibiza this year, so I wasn't expecting too much. He redeemed himself that night playing an interesting mid-tempo pop house night which actually got me off my tired butt and dancing hard. The crowd loved it and the venue was just wacky enough to keep it interesting all the way through. Kudos to the organizers for filling the platforms with more than the usual number of go-go dancers in funky costumes.
Gatecrasher @ Gaudi, Moscow, Sept. 25, 2004
This show had some bigger names attached to it when it was originally to be held 2 weeks earlier, but the tragedy in Beslan forced organizers Not Zepelin (who formerly operated recently-shuttered Club Zepelin) to push it back.
Futureshock headlined an I'll admit I was not familiar with these guys. It was a serious trance night and perhaps I wasn't drunk enough but I never quite got my feet into it as I did for Gatecrasher's May visit to Moscow. There were plenty of souped up teenagers that looked to be enjoying it, but the oversized warehouse feel of this venue makes creating a vibe difficult. Trance requires me to be in a specific mood, and it wasn't there that night, nor did the DJs help bring it on.
Defected @ Ministry of Sound, London, Oct. 2, 2004
Can I just say that I had fun at this party? I'm sure a bunch of you were there so I won't review it. I was surprised to not find Barbie anywhere but we did get there quite late.
Hed Kandi @ Club XIII, Moscow, Oct. 8, 2004
Mark Doyle
Hed Kandi marked it's fifth anniversary in Moscow and Club XIII reopened for the night to mark the occasion. The old venue is not quite ready to reopen on a permanent basis but it made it through one night with its dignity intact.
This was one of those Moscow nights where the crowd was probably too far gone to notice the music. Doyle played a solid set with hits to keep the people happy and the disco style certainly fit the glamour image of the overcrowded club. Local DJ Oleg Ojo was among the openers and he should be given credit for really getting people up for the evening.
DJ Gee Moore @ Slava, Oct. 22, 2004
Slava would be Moscow's best club if it were located somewhere downtown. Instead, it's out towards the Eastern edge of this large city, which means it doesn't attract the best crowds.
I got there late so I missed the early part of Gee's set, and he'd gotten surprisingly progressive by that point. I was in a more funky/straight house mood so I wasn't as blown away as I was every afternoon at Bora Bora this summer or when he played at club Jet Set in Moscow this past spring. Still, it was a fun night and the large club not too packed so we had a good time shaking our tailfeathers up until the end of his set.
DJ Gregory @ Fabrique, Oct. 29, 2004
The Defected crew have been making a lot of trips out here this year, it seems. Sandy Rivera at club Leto in early September was a blast -- even if he did rely a little on the summer anthems to keep the crowd's spirits up, I thouroughly enjoyed the evening and atmosphere.
Gregory, on the other hand, blazed his own trail with a set typically mixed with Africanism-style beats. It was a pre-Halloween party so many came in costume to gyrate to a very eclectic set that was surprisingly satisfying (admission: I saw Gregory at Pacha in Sept. '03 and was disappointed, especially when he was followed by a superb Bob Sinclar set). I stayed until the end of his set despite having come solo to this party and lost sight of the various friends I'd managed to run into.
Halloween @ Club XIII, Oct. 30, 2004
Kenny Dope, Hed Kandi
As Halloween fell on a Sunday, the old Club XIII venue was pressed into service the night before for Moscow's biggest annual party - Halloween XIII. Last year, the organizers rented out a 17th century Duke's wine basement to welcome Layo and Bushwacka. This year was supposed to be even better with the Petrovsky Castle, where Napoleon is rumored to have stayed, being the venue to host Kenny Dope in one room and some Hed Kandi DJs in another. Unfortunately, city permit problems forced the night to be moved to the old Club XIII and a rented-out neighboring restaurant-turned club, connected by a tent and some porta-potties for the huge crowd.
As before (this evening won the Moscow Nightlife Awards 'party of the year' for 2 years running) it was a super-wet evening with sightings of over-drunk people getting carried out by security every half hour or so. Former XIII resident DJ Grad with an assist from DJ Kolya got the crowd in the 'VIP section' (i.e. the room with the open bar where entrance was 3 times as expensive) up and running before Kenny showed up in the early hours of Halloween.
Turning the clocks back meant the night went on forever and Kenny kept the mood right with some great straight-up and funky house. The room was packed but thinned out as the night went on and those dancing feet went into overdrive as he started slipping in bigger hits interspersed with the less familiar fare.
There were a lot of Londoners in town for the upcoming Chelsea v. CSKA match, and the three of them that accompanied me and my friends to the event were duly impressed with how Muscovites party, and party hard (and the guys had to hold their jaws to keep from dragging them on the floor at the sight of Moscow women). I should add that Birmingham's James Fierce kept one of the other rooms hopping until morning (go Kidderminster!)
So there it is... 2 months of mayhem in Moscow and it continues tonight with Dave Seaman and Chris Fortier, the latter of which did one of my favorites in the Bedrock series. Godskitchen is here in a week or two, and Pete Tong on Dec. 4.
If you read all the way through this, you're a champion. Thanks for your indulgence.
Would you recommend it as a place to visit for the clubbing (as well as all the other stuff), Tom is always on bout going to Russia.