Where was everybody? Desmond Dekker?
Sometimes I despair for Sheffield. I mean, you have a great, forward thinking club (Plug) putting on a world class artist - quite simply one of the most talented producers on this little planet - and not many more than a handful of people bother to get their arses off the sofa and start wiggling them at what, in any other city, would be a fully packed event. It's embarrassing.
The band was incredible, just so you know. Phonetics' superstar resident Danny Mager did a superb warm up job - lots of nice, broken soulful stuff (loved the Space Lady and Herbie Hancock joints btw Danny) - and for a while the place seemed to be filling up a bit. You know how it is in Shef, people always tend to turn up later, and I thought that it being a Sunday would reduce turn-out slightly, but not by much. After all, this is vital, important music. Later, I remembered where I was.
The 7-piece kiwi band that Detroit expatriate Matt Chicoine (aka Recloose) has put together were nothing short of astounding. There was a lot of hot, very danceable stuff from the new 'Hiatus on the Horizon' album, and some classic recloose: a wicked version of "Ain't Changin'", also a beautiful cover of James Mason's "Sweet Power, Your Embrace". Lead vocals were supplied by a beautiful, exotic woman (can anybody inform me of her, and the backing-singer guy's names? I'm guessing they're on the album?) who had a very Nesreen Shah attitiude: a powerful, spine-tingling voice...but she's obviously having a laugh as well. In fact, the entire band were in good spirits considering the poor turn out (but then, that's something that Recloose has experienced before in Shef. Everyone Centre, anyone?) - and Matt himself was joking about it. Many lesser homegrown acts would never be so unpretentious - this is one of the best producers in the world!

Disappointingly low turn-outs at events like this just make Sheffield look bad. I've defended Shef many times and I love it to bits, but you just start to realise how backward it is. There's a lot more that needs to be done to spread the love, I guess.

btw - hello to the hot girl with the fringe and green jumper who was sat with 2 of her mates at the start in the Earth room...

[edit] the reason I edited this was to include the name of the venue (Plug), as I overlooked that originally. I was actually making an ironic statement, given that many people didn't know where it was, or even that it was on.

I wasn't really: I'm just thick.

Ah, mea culpa! I know I am deserving of your harsh words mate. :(
I had every intention of pitching up to this (though I was gonna have to come on my own - but I'm tough like that, me), then randomly got offered a guestlist place to see Desmond Dekker (you jest, but it's bleedin well true) who was actually great!

Still, I now feel bad for contributing to Sheffield's "backwardness", especially as Plug have been getting such good lineups in recently.

I have to say, whenever people complain that there is nothing going on in Sheffield, I point out to them to the occasions (almost every weekend) when I end up missing more than one unmissable event... :huh:

You certainly were conspicuous by your absence, mate. I was expecting to see you. I'm sure Desmond Dekker was ace, and a more classic artist is perhaps more suited to a Sunday, but still...

And you're right about the "Sheffield's rubbish, there's never anything good on" moaners on here. Whenever there is anything good on, nobody goes!

Ooh it makes me angry.

btw green jumper girl, feel free to PM me :)

I heard Recloose was v good...big shame about the turnout. I think Desmond Dekker would have had an impact. I went and saw quite a few people who I know would've otherwise been there. However, although yer quite right that there are a lot of moaners around who don't support stuff - i think to be honest Sheffield is no different from any other city.

For example in London, the flagship Broken beat night that has spawned a tonne of heavyweight artists and tunes doesn't always fill a 200 space on a fortnightly basis (i hear..might not be completely correct). When i lived there i went to many a half empty concert by an artist i considered incredible.

When I put Heavy on last autumn (who were awesome) we had about 160 people. In Leeds only 8. Apart from a few flagship venues and nights around the country I think anyone putting on something relatively unheard of,different and unknown takes a big chance. You have to ask yourself - how many people have heard of some of these acts ? - sometimes people will go on trust or by word of mouth. Other times they won't. I may be wrong but the maiden called sheffield is not much different.

Might just be that folks here aren't in to that type of music?

Just because we don't all share your taste doesn't make us backwards in anyway.

Just different.

Apart from a few flagship venues and nights around the country I think anyone putting on something relatively unheard of,different and unknown takes a big chance. You have to ask yourself - how many people have heard of some of these acts ? - sometimes people will go on trust or by word of mouth. Other times they won't. I may be wrong but the maiden called sheffield is not much different.
Wise words Sir. When I mentioned this as a forthcoming gig to a couple of people, I found myself always having to follow up with a description of Recloose's music, because they'd not heard of him. I think that's your answer there, basically.

Was very good though..

Might just be that folks here aren't in to that type of music?

Just because we don't all share your taste doesn't make us backwards in anyway.

Just different.

Thanks for speaking for the entirety of Sheffield...it's all very 'us' and 'you' now, isn't it? People in Shef obviously are into 'that type of music' (what? good music?), and there are enough parties bumping to prove it. In fact, Recloose DJing at Scuba was rammed...I guess the clash with Desmond was a major factor in this.

Wise words Sir. When I mentioned this as a forthcoming gig to a couple of people, I found myself always having to follow up with a description of Recloose's music, because they'd not heard of him. I think that's your answer there, basically.

Was very good though..

Very true mate. I know I struggle with all this thrashy guitar music.
I like your new signature Crackers. Do you know that World Class Wreckin' Crew "Surgery" track, with a young Doctor Dre doing some really bad (as in rubbish) scratching?

I got a PhD in mixology
to cut on the record so viciously

Word.

Thanks for speaking for the entirety of Sheffield...it's all very 'us' and 'you' now, isn't it? People in Shef obviously are into 'that type of music' (what? good music?), and there are enough parties bumping to prove it. In fact, Recloose DJing at Scuba was rammed...I guess the clash with Desmond was a major factor in this.

Hang on. I'm not the one labelling this city backward because you didn't get a large number of people at a gig.

All I said is that people here might not all like your type of music. I'm not speaking for the entirety of the city - just saying that there might not be as big an interest in it as you might think.

And again, in this post you make the subjective statement 'good music' to describe what you're promoting. It may well be good for you, but might be crap to others.

All I'm suggesting is that just because you feel that soemthing is good, others might not - that's no reason to describe a whole city as backward.

Hang on. I'm not the one labelling this city backward because you didn't get a large number of people at a gig.

All I said is that people here might not all like your type of music. I'm not speaking for the entirety of the city - just saying that there might not be as big an interest in it as you might think.

And again, in this post you make the subjective statement 'good music' to describe what you're promoting. It may well be good for you, but might be crap to others.

All I'm suggesting is that just because you feel that soemthing is good, others might not - that's no reason to describe a whole city as backward.

I'm not a promoter for Plug, if that's what you were thinking...might explain why you were talking in terms of 'us' and 'you'. I am us. I mean, you. Oh god this is getting terribly complicated.
As Welchie points out, many of the people I would have expected to see down there were at Desmond Dekker. And Sheffield has broken new ground a number of times in the past, so perhaps calling it backward was a bit harsh. I love Shef to bits really. It's just things like this, and the first time Recloose played at the Everyone centre (a handful of people...think it was about 450 the next day in Manchester, and this was when he was even less well known!), and Tortured Soul at Scuba, Bugz at TTC, even Reel People when they first did Phonetics, all deserving of a bigger turn out...it kind of makes me sad :(

It is unfortunate that turnout was low - I feel like that for any live music event, be it from a big name or a band just starting out. And I'm still not convinced I was ever claiming to speak for everyone in Sheffield.

I just objected to being effectively labelled because I don't like the same music as you guys do - that's all.

:)

Never even heard of him so he cant be that well known (or good)

Never even heard of him so he cant be that well known (or good)

Yeah...actually: You're right!

Thanks for that brilliant piece of critical insight.

Funky house, anyone?

Defstef -

I'm a big music fan and as many know I love a good boogie. I've never heard of this artist but from the description you've given sounds like I would've loved the night. However, I think this analysis:


Disappointingly low turn-outs at events like this just make Sheffield look bad. I've defended Shef many times and I love it to bits, but you just start to realise how backward it is. There's a lot more that needs to be done to spread the love, I guess.


is utterly wrong. The only people that look bad here are the promoters. Where was I? Elsewhere, because I didn't have a clue it was going on. More needs to be done to spread the love - try some publicity!

Never even heard of him so he cant be that well known (or good)

Ha ha!:lol: Another comic gem from the hothouse of analytical genius that is Sheffield Forum...

Never even heard of him so he cant be that well known (or good)

Ha ha ha! Is that serious??? Because YOU haven't heard of him he can't be...ha ha ha. Cheered me right up that did.

I echo the sentiments of Defstef, it was very disappointing although I must say I was suprised at the size of the room they were booked to play in. You can argue about how good/popular Recloose is forever but booking anyone even remotely underground in a room that big on a Sunday was a bold move IMO. Furthermore, I don't think it was helped by the lack of advertising. I only found out through IDJ website, not Plug or any other local advertising.

Justin was right - they should have been on at the Runaway!

Anyway, I don't care how many people were there, I loved it and soon got over feeling embarrassed for them as they were just so relaxed and happy on stage. I'm now just trying to remember if my girlfriend was wearing a green jumper....:huh:

I'm a big music fan and as many know I love a good boogie. I've never heard of this artist but from the description you've given sounds like I would've loved the night. The only people that look bad here are the promoters. Where was I? Elsewhere, because I didn't have a clue it was going on. More needs to be done to spread the love - try some publicity!

Hi Kathy- it's a shame you weren't down. If you're interested, have a look at http://www.recloose.com - if you love a boogie, you will have heard many of his tracks and remixes from the last 8/9 years at Lights Down Low, Phonetics, and Scuba, where he also DJed about 10 months ago. I think the Plug guys did a fairly reasonable job of distributing flyers and posters around town (although I possibly only noticed them because I was going anyway), though they were quite minimal and should've perhaps have been more descriptive.

Anyway, I don't care how many people were there, I loved it and soon got over feeling embarrassed for them as they were just so relaxed and happy on stage. I'm now just trying to remember if my girlfriend was wearing a green jumper....:huh:

If she was, she was wearing a sleeveless top underneath (when she took her jumper off you sickos). Not that I was staring at her or anything.

Flicked ash into my pint at one point I was so distracted...

Seems like I'm not the only one given the turnout. But hey if you music snobs want to rubbish anything thats "popular" go ahead with your empty venues.

Hi Kathy- it's a shame you weren't down. If you're interested, have a look at http://www.recloose.com - if you love a boogie, you will have heard many of his tracks and remixes from the last 8/9 years at Lights Down Low, Phonetics, and Scuba, where he also DJed about 10 months ago. I think the Plug guys did a fairly reasonable job of distributing flyers and posters around town (although I possibly only noticed them because I was going anyway), though they were quite minimal and should've perhaps have been more descriptive.

I think the 'minimal' nature of a lot of flyers and posters is a shame. Often I look at a flyer and wonder what the nights about. I know people are reluctant to label music as one kind or another, I understand that. I just have to rely on people I know pointing me in the right direction.

I think the 'minimal' nature of a lot of flyers and posters is a shame. Often I look at a flyer and wonder what the nights about. I know people are reluctant to label music as one kind or another, I understand that. I just have to rely on people I know pointing me in the right direction.

Definitely with special events such as this - regular 'underground' events can get away with being vague: as long as they're good, they'll become more popular by word of mouth. Well, some of the time anyway. I've been guilty of refusing to put labels/descriptions on things I've done in the past, or deliberately running first time-events up against established nights. Doesn't work. Nobody comes.

Seems like I'm not the only one given the turnout. But hey if you music snobs want to rubbish anything thats "popular" go ahead with your empty venues.

I don't think we do. We just want to rubbish everything that's rubbish. As for empty venues, I think this was just a case of bad luck.

Where is Phonetics ? If the thing is poorly advertised and we dont know where to turn up then dont blame us for the poor turnout ...

Where is Phonetics ? If the thing is poorly advertised and we dont know where to turn up then dont blame us for the poor turnout ...

The last Phonetics was at The Room: http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=91374 and a jolly good night it was by all accounts. Recloose was at Plug, though. On a different day. Many events are posted on the Forum on this page, including Sheffield's 2 dopestest nights, like. They be: 7x7 and Another Fine Mess. Bo.

I've also seen many a night with hard-working promoters and lots of advertising go tits-up, so I blame the whole of humankind.

Just about to start a new Event (Fri 10th, in the basement @Unique), after forking out dollars on promotion and overheads the worry of any punters coming throught the doors is a bit of a risk that just has to be taken. So if you fancy listening to some of the sounds mentioned here (recloose in there somewhere i'm sure) and the nice vibes from nice people, pop into baby beatbox and make local things happen, etc etc. Cheers Marek

£4 entry

info@babybeatbox.co.uk

Ps, Stef bro, I couldn't make due to work commitments.

Will be down after t'Lescar sir. That's my birfday weekend too - hope you'll be playing the Blackbeard re-edit of Altered Images*.

*doesn't exist really. Yet.

Will be down after t'Lescar sir. That's my birfday weekend too - hope you'll be playing the Blackbeard re-edit of Altered Images*.

*doesn't exist really. Yet.

Nice 1 Stef. (will buzz U re: bbb) The general theme of the night is, as yet un produced blackbeard edits and Yam Who edits that they don't know they will eventually work on in the future. ha ha yey

So whas it a big crowd in to see Desmond Dekker? He can still hit those notes too - pretty impressive.

I would have been there (dekker) had a small child not intervened. Did I miss a good one?

About 580 in the Leadmill to see Desmond D. Which I'm led to believe still lost the promoter £500.

BTW I've never heard of Recloose either, but the mp3s on the website are decent.

Just about to start a new Event (Fri 10th, in the basement @Unique), after forking out dollars on promotion and overheads the worry of any punters coming throught the doors is a bit of a risk that just has to be taken. So if you fancy listening to some of the sounds mentioned here (recloose in there somewhere i'm sure) and the nice vibes from nice people, pop into baby beatbox and make local things happen, etc etc. Cheers Marek

£4 entry

info@babybeatbox.co.uk

Ps, Stef bro, I couldn't make due to work commitments.

I likes the look of this - what be it's name? Gosh, Black Beard & Yam Who? will be intensely busy in the future, just wondering though, if you're playing stuff they haven't made yet then do I come down now or when they're ready? I suppose if I choose the latter I can hear their 'latest' material, which you can then claim to have been playing months in advance (of production!). Quality!

DOn't bother answering my last post. I ain't no Poirot but that web address was reyt handy!

Ha ha, elementary my dear Watson. Hopefully can get something going with the Baby Beatbox, nice to see you down there, bring a friend, yey (or 10).

If Plug were so 'forward planning' why did they clash with Dekker. Its not as if Sundays are busy every week. Its all very well slating people for not coming but Sheffield is only a certain size with only a limited number of people who will go out on a given night.

What a load of tosh! to blame a city for the fact that not many punters showed up to a gig! What a criminal example of the over estimation of the importance of ones own taste. The fact it was on a sunday may have had a bit to do with things. The majority of people do not have going out to a gig on their agenda for a Sunday evening- most people work on a monday morning you see. These people tend to go out on a Saturday or Friday or both, but by Sunday , even if they wanted to go out it just dont make sense, not even to see...er..... Recloos.
They / he / it whatever aint well known to the masses so the masses wont turn up.
Great gig tho!

It just don't make no kinda sense, dawg.

...but when I think about it, I am 4 times better than anyone I have ever met, or am ever likely to meet, so everyone else's opinion is just a 'load of tosh'. Even if it's the same as mine. Oh no, wait a second, that can't be right...

Hmmm ... I think the criticism of the poor turnout is valid, especially in the case of people like me, who know they would have loved it and should have been there but didn't bother.

I think those of you who don't like soul/house and haven't heard of Recloose shouldn't really feel like the finger is being pointed at you.

I know I would be embarrassed for my city if I turned up to a rare live gig, only to find that loads of the regular faces I would expect to be out supporting it had stayed at home wearing a pipe and smoking some slippers... or something...

ah up lads/lasses....

no more drowning sorrows....yeah the gig was poorly attended, but we had 3 sellout gigs that same week in Go Team, Biffy Clyro & Goldie Lookin Chain. Some ya win, some ya dont......plus if we only booked the stuff that gonna sell out none of us would be working at Plug. We are trying to push a few boundaries.... and will continue to.... and anyone that turned up on Sunday had a real treat!!!!

now....tonight we have Larry Heard & Will Saul.....and personnally im dribbling at the prospect....Larry himself is a Godfather in music, and Will easily played (for me and others) the best set at Plug last year....

so no more heads down our kids.....get ya glad rags on and keep on dancing !!!!

:thumbsup: :D :cool: