• achtergronden
• DE 7EVEN
• video's
• agenda

ernaast

10 Days Off 2002 - Day 10: The grand finale

29 juli 2002, Vooruit, Gent (B)

Tekst: da volgaBabe en Dave Roozendaal

Publicatiedatum: 30 juli 2002

The great expectations we had held for the last evening were a wee bit thwarted, but nevertheless, a truly cosy evening in the big room.

For the last day, the KindaMuzik crew decided to follow their gut and instinct instead of absolutely wanting to witness every single act. Initially we had been drawn to the café where Darling Clémentine (just like last year) played a nice set with good mixing and a good choice of records. But then Ray Mang cancelled and Ghent's favourites Mo&Benoelie took over for them at an early hour, making for a not-so-inspiring follow-up. Almost instantly we fled to the big room, where Brett Johnson was the discovery of the evening. With releases on Classic, Panhandle, and Belgium's Hi-Phen, he's a newcomer in the house scene, and with his tight set he proved he is a true coming man. Nothing much to say about his choice of records: Chicago house, Chicago acid, and some more Chicago, all mixed-up in a Derrick Carter style. A pumping path followed by the rest of the lineup in that room, as all of them succeeded in keeping our, by now, starving legs and feet on the floor.

Meanwhile, The Heavies were playing in Room 03. Surrounded by a crowd with an average age of 12, I witnessed the DJ playing some seriously speeding ruffneck tunes while a drummer made of flesh and bones was playing along with the records. He did a pretty decent job, I must say: That guy was faster than the speed of light, and he beefed up the somewhat thin-sounding tunes (I guess the DJ was mixing the beats to the background a bit to make way for his buddy's slamming drum rolls) big time. At the same time, the MC was bigging up the junglist massive and all the major players of the scene. It was hot-hot-hot up there in Room 03, that's for sure. Ray Keith's sound was all right after that, with basic electro-style drum patterns, old-skool sounds, and not too much noise, lending a certain elegance to his DJ set.

We then went upstairs for the Idjut Boyz, who were rather disappointing with their careless mixing and cheesy disco on the menu. Back to the main hangar then, where Silicone Soul were playing their trumps. And the producers of Ready For The Darkness are not uninteresting DJs. Dark, smokey house with a lot of breakdowns and Reese overtones. But after a while, it seemed like they were playing the same record for three hours long. So next time, a little bit more music-with-body, please! Nevertheless, perfect for a tuesday morning crowd. We mounted the endless stairs again for a second meeting with Idjut Boys, but by then they were playing Billy Ocean and a Spanish version of Kool & The Gang's Celebrate. No need to say we (again) instantly fled.

The biggest surprise was yet to come. Smos & Baby B, long-time residents of Antwerp's Café D'Anvers, amazed us with a closing set full of house, funky tech-house, and spacey techno. They began their set with UR's Transition, dropped Bobby Konders' Nervous Acid somewhere along the line, and ended the 10 Days Off with Carl Craig's Throw, completely overturned by effects and snippets of other records. A fitting tribute to what must have been the best 10 Days ever.

When we left, Mo&Benoelie dragged the die-hards to the end with their usual cocktail of '70s, '80s, and '90s in the café. What a night! What a festival! We heard about 20 interesting, very good to brilliant acts, and had practically no disappointments. Where would we be without the 10 Days Off, I'm asking you! . . . Until next year!

Editor's note: A big cheer to the whole crew involved in putting up this 11 day party coverage marathon: Jasmine, Karen, Nathalie, Dave, Koen, Manu, Volga & Ward ! Same time, same place next year? (Johan)

http://www.kindamuzik.net/live/709/10-days-off-2002-day-10-the-grand-finale/1741/
Meer op KindaMuzik: http://www.kindamuzik.net/artiest/709