mr_why
Moderator
OK. So a report from last night. This is a hard one to explain, and I’ve been out for two nights in a row, so bare with me.
Firstly, Hï. I’ve not been since it opened, and avoided it because of the obvious comparison to Space. I shouldn’t have worried, they have changed it so much just don’t think about what used to be there.
I just don’t know how to describe the crowd. They are very young! This may be a mid July thing, but this was not usual Afterlife crowd. You got the impression that a lot of them had never heard music this heavy.... but to be fair they weren’t standing still. I think there was a lot of educating going on last night. And is that a bad thing, as musically this night is solid! My guess is 75%+ people there had never been to the old Space (or Afterlife). This night could really be massive. Will be so interesting how it evolves through the season.
The Club Room has no resemblance to the Terraza. And that’s good. It’s just a black box. I hated it at first... until in got into the music, and actually it could become a very good room (just remove the tacky silver railings.... why would anyone do that)? I actually spent more of the night in there than I expecte. Roman Flügel started the night. A lot of melodies early in his set. I’ve never heard him play like that, I usually catch him playing later and harder. Anyway, towards the end he was playing it very hard. Has anyone actually played that room harder? Probably not. Absolutely gutted I’ll miss him at Cocoon next week. Helena Hauff was up next. For the first time in about 5 years I had to record some of a set as she was just smashing it. Think she scared some of the crowd to be honest. I went back in for some of Maceo and he was brilliant too. I have a once a year need for Maceo and he fulfilled it.
Went into the Theatre for Recondite. The room was packed out. Surprised how busy it was. Was for me a standard live set of his, very good but not game changing.
I’m going to be very controversial now and say I think the Theatre has actually some better qualities than the old Discoteca at Space. The floor has been flattened so the moment you walk in the back it’s all the same level and there isn’t a massive bar in the back section that wasted dancefloor. Also, the VIP booths I personally didn’t notice much. They are just above the floor so not much loss of dance-floor.
I think TOU came on later than planned and it took me a while to get into, and by that stage was starting to float away (if you get me). It was a good set, I probably preferred the one I heard last year in Vista, but it was good.
Overall, musically this night is just suburb. I just hope people stick with it and give it a chance at the new location.
Firstly, Hï. I’ve not been since it opened, and avoided it because of the obvious comparison to Space. I shouldn’t have worried, they have changed it so much just don’t think about what used to be there.
I just don’t know how to describe the crowd. They are very young! This may be a mid July thing, but this was not usual Afterlife crowd. You got the impression that a lot of them had never heard music this heavy.... but to be fair they weren’t standing still. I think there was a lot of educating going on last night. And is that a bad thing, as musically this night is solid! My guess is 75%+ people there had never been to the old Space (or Afterlife). This night could really be massive. Will be so interesting how it evolves through the season.
The Club Room has no resemblance to the Terraza. And that’s good. It’s just a black box. I hated it at first... until in got into the music, and actually it could become a very good room (just remove the tacky silver railings.... why would anyone do that)? I actually spent more of the night in there than I expecte. Roman Flügel started the night. A lot of melodies early in his set. I’ve never heard him play like that, I usually catch him playing later and harder. Anyway, towards the end he was playing it very hard. Has anyone actually played that room harder? Probably not. Absolutely gutted I’ll miss him at Cocoon next week. Helena Hauff was up next. For the first time in about 5 years I had to record some of a set as she was just smashing it. Think she scared some of the crowd to be honest. I went back in for some of Maceo and he was brilliant too. I have a once a year need for Maceo and he fulfilled it.
Went into the Theatre for Recondite. The room was packed out. Surprised how busy it was. Was for me a standard live set of his, very good but not game changing.
I’m going to be very controversial now and say I think the Theatre has actually some better qualities than the old Discoteca at Space. The floor has been flattened so the moment you walk in the back it’s all the same level and there isn’t a massive bar in the back section that wasted dancefloor. Also, the VIP booths I personally didn’t notice much. They are just above the floor so not much loss of dance-floor.
I think TOU came on later than planned and it took me a while to get into, and by that stage was starting to float away (if you get me). It was a good set, I probably preferred the one I heard last year in Vista, but it was good.
Overall, musically this night is just suburb. I just hope people stick with it and give it a chance at the new location.
