Submitted by Nick the Bookman:

Mani's DJ gig at Rockschool: 6/3/2010

"Just what is that you want to do..."

Well, first I want to find Rockschool. I thought I knew where it is, but I've got the wrong building. I've had a little stroll past the Wanch. Cue loud blasts of gnarly-groovy guitar and about 20 people being brave and unflinching and pleasantly drunk outside.. Walk past the next pub where the rugger-buggers are practising for the Sevens with a tuneless trundle through "Delilah" by Tom Jones. He's gonna be in HK for a concert on 26/3/2010 and is no doubt looking forward to having thongs and posing pouches hurled at him incessantly. Cross the road and U2 are having another "Beautiful Day". It's all a foretaste of what I can expect when I arrive at Rockschool for Mani's HK DJ debut.

If you don't know who Mani is, then this review ain't for you. Just go wallow back down in the primordial ooze and practice amoebal fission and let us higher primates enjoy the show. Mani was the bassist for The Stone Roses and is the bassist for Primal Scream. I regret I never got to see the Stone Roses live, but then, they never came to Hong Kong while still a band. Mani has played here twice with Primal Scream. On Halloween Eve 1997 and 27/7/2000. The second show was the best. Kevin Shields (ex-My Bloody Valentine) was in the band and kicked the sonic assault up way past eleven. English dubmeister producer/mixer Adrian Sherwood manned the sound desk. The Stone Roses vocalist Ian Brown played Rock-It #4 at Victoria Park. His singing was not good, but the band's instrumental version of "Waterfall" was the single best 5 minutes I had at any of the 4 Festivals. (For the record I thought Cooper-Temple Clause was the best band (RIF#2) over the four shows). So, saw half the band at least.

Mani's been doing some part time DJing for the best part of a decade. Apparently, he got Peter Hook into it as well. Hooky has DJ'd twice here. New Order also played HK in 1985(?). So, if I get in tonight and I'm pretty sure I will, I'll be the only person in HK who's seen all three Hooky shows and all three Mani shows. (Cue trumpet fanfares and modest bows of acclaim. You've gotta have your fun when/where you can) Anyway, I think I've found Rockschool, so let's go.

I meet the Mysterious Mr B. (aka Tony) who plays sax on occasion with Lamma ska-band Transnoodle and Thinking Out Loud. We natter, he comes up in the lift, realises after five minutes that he's already left the building once and does so again. There's not much of a queue on the door. About 200 people are expected for this show, brought to you by Iain and "Oggy" Paul. AKA The Likely Lads. They play hard-charging, good-rocking British Indie bands of the past 20 years. Interspersed with some more interesting dance. This is the first time they've managed to snag Rockschool although they've played in other clubs around Central for the past few years. Iain is the one who kindly sorted out my entry. He's on the CD decks as I enter. A fine wall of sound and look at all those Lamma faces past and present. This night is gonna be rocktastic.

"The past is yours, the future's mine"

A poignant sentiment, but not totally apt. All of the tunes being played are past. Obviously. The only way you're gonna get future is if you're in a band, playing something you've only just written and recorded like minutes ago and here's the world debut. Doesn't mean old stuff can't be new if you haven't heard it before. And given that time is simultaneous. Everything has/is/will occur, depending on your place in the spacetime continuum. Yesterday's Future Is Tomorrow's Past. Back to the old/new. At one point Iain played "You Look Good On The Dancefloor" by the Arctic Monkeys. First time I've heard the song. (I knew of it, but hadn't heard it). Had some babble in my notes about how this band is going to be brilliant and you'll be hearing a lot from them in the future. I'm only five years out of date. They are brilliant. Their difficult third LP has just been produced by Josh Homme in some hallucinatory desert setting. The first five tunes that Iain played? Didn't ring my chimes at all Good songs, but no idea of the bands.

Then I time-shifted, veering between my DJ gigs at Traps Bar in the late 80's and first Lamma home, via an Island School disco in 1968 when I first (ahem) "DJ'ed". Had groovy tunes like Iron Butterfly's "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida". Status Quo's "Pictures Of Matchstick Men" . Some Tommy James and The Shondells. Pre-disco Bee Gees. "Young Girl" by Gary Pucket and The Union Gap. Amazing what bollocks we used to listen to as part of the "erection section" of the gig. A chance for young teen fumbles and licking each others' tonsils. Had a little stereo that resembled a typewriter case. Unclip the top, divide it in two for the speakers. Put in the batteries and voila!. Unfortunately, someone left my records in the sun and about one third of them curled up into peanut bowls.

As I said, I time-shifted. Iain played "She Bangs The Drums" (Stone Roses). "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (Joy Division). "Step On" (Happy Mondays). "Roll With It" (Oasis). "Made Of Stone" (Stone Roses). "Boys and Girls" (Blur). and my hit/miss song recognition factor is getting better. There's another Blur song I don't know, but the main riff is "nicked" from "Volunteers" by Jefferson Airplane. Coming at ya in a different time direction. I tell Iain that "Step On" is 20 plus years old. The original is by John Kongos from 1971. Lots of cool Burundi drums. He doesn't know that. Not a problem. Both versions are worth hearing.

Time to make a brief return to 6/3/2010 so I can namecheck as many of you groovy fuckers as possible. Big thanks to Iain and Paul for getting me in. The least you could do for a fellow veteran of Clockenflap at Cyberport. I'm sorry I blanked you Carmel, my gorgeous new neighbour. Wasn't being a prat. I'd just got in and was getting my bearings. We chatted later. Big hi's to Nicola and Paddy, the irish near-neighbours And their friends, Nikki and Danny. Great seats you got near the stage. The sofa was one of the most comfortable I've sat on in 15 years or relentless gigging. A pleasant blast from the past as former Lamma residents Lori and Aaron smooth on by. They've been at a wedding and can't stay too long. Two young children at home to oversee. They're going to miss a great rest of the night, but Lori describes their experience as "cool vibes, blast from the past, both friends and tunes. Very expat-ish dancing" Jilted John has arrived with Mani. Been hanging around downstairs for him. They're old friends from the UK. There's several pleasant Chinese fans nearby. I recognise Tommy (?) from previous raves. He's wearing a black "Kill All Hippies" tee-shirt, in keeping with the Scream theme tonight. There's Charly from Lamma and his harem of beauties. I can barely remember my name by now, so forgive me forgetting all of yours'. The memory lapse is due to Paddy thrusting "Irish whiskey's" at me

Iain is winding up his set. He's happy with the turnout and thinks the night won't be a total loss (fiscally speaking) Musically it's awesome. "Hello, everyone, Are you ready for Mani?" Roars of approval. Mani is at the decks, the sample that starts this story blasts out and we're all in Screamadelica Heaven. Have I mentioned how righteous the sound is in Rockschool. Great care and attention has been taken to get good clear equipment. Not like the older, functional equipment in The Wanch. Quite a lot of bands have played Rockschool. The stage is all of 18 inches high. Makes the stage at Altamont in 1969 look high tech and very safe. Of course, there's no bad brown acid wafting around this room. Or psychotic, murderous Hells Angels acting as security and kicking seven shades of shit out of the freaked out, tripping spectators who dare to even look at their hogs the wrong way. Doesn't matter here. No one is bringing bad vibes to this gig. Mani is a consummate gentleman. He poses for more photos with fans than Hooky did at his first gig. Big smiles and devil's horn gestures in between ramping out the tunes. Now Sam has signed my book.

All of the Roses/Scream tunes that Mani plays are sounding tougher. More drum and bass in the mix. They are rocking. I have a minor quibble to myself when he plays "She Bangs The Drums" and "Made of Stone". The songs sound good, but the paisley/patchouli sense memory melodies are gone. Or buried down in the mix. This is especially true when "There She Goes"by The Las is dropped. The acoustic beauty of the melodies just ain't there. It's sort of like listening to mime. Doesn't seem to affect any other fans. Like the delectable Judy Sweeney whose take on tonight goes thus: "Friendship is born when two people meet and say what, you too. I thought I was the only one. She adds that it's a quote from C.S.Lewis "the best, most sincere author in the world".

My first highlight comes when Mani sticks on "Out of Control" by The Chemical Brothers with Bernard Sumner (New Order). It's an old classic I'd not heard before. Thanks to "Oggy" for telling me who it was. Ten minutes or so of grimy, sneering electro snarls and fucked up rhythms. As good as hearing "It Came From Africa" for the first time. My highlight of the night. Time for me to ask for a request. I want "OIver The Wall" by The Bunnymen (2nd LP). Mani tells me they're "my favourite band" but he hasn't brought any tonight. He makes up by sticking on some tunes from "Xtrmntr" by Primal Scream. Would have loved to hear the Adrian Sherwood remix of "Kowalski" on Adrian's excellent album "Echodek", but no joy again. There are some other cool Scream tracks though and then a little bit of trouble...

"Folls Gold" is lolloping along in fine funky style. It's a long tune, so Mani nips off for a moment. The track sticks and clicks. Sounds rather like the sound you get when the traffic lights change. Sort of "tick...tick...tick...tick..tick..tick.tick.tickticktick" etc. I always thought it would be a good urban tough streetlife sample. Iain goes up on stage, but can't do much. Mani arrives. The song is knocked back on track and the next one starts. No fuss. No bother. If this was a rave it would be reminiscent of The Smitgh's song "Hang the DJ". But this isn't a rave. This is rock and roll. (Try thinking of the last sentence as said by Leonidas in 300 when he kicks the diplomats down a well) This Is ROCK N' ROLL. No problems as mistakes happen. No one's getting all broody and .
having a Metallica meltdown because the record jumped.

Chris and Nate from Lamma band Of Moths And Stars have arrived with Drummer Paul from DP who is their new producer. Have a good mag with Paul over the upcoming gig by Secret Machines - a Texan spacerock trio with an awesome live show. There's an anonymous scrawl in my notes: "A mad trip back back to where we were. A kind of lost time that is now good to remember" Someone else has donated a an acid inspired etch that might by The Scream by Edvard Munch. "Mani is playing "Voodoo Ray" by A Guy Named Gerald, who played as a late replacement at Rock-It #1 in 2003. I've had five photos taken. Mani has busted past the 50 mark by now. A blinding electro version of "Tomorrow Never Knows" by The Beatles is another masterful moment for me. Distorted, synthmetal with a hint of Beefheart skronk. as Claire Parish wisely informs me that "if it ain't broke, don;'t fix it" and " we move abroad to broaden our horizons, make our space and project our ideals" Claire has been bewitching me all night with her slinky Catwoman dance grooves. A pleasure to watch you having pleasure.

Into the final straight and the time lines are still twisted. Mani has played some reggae/funky/soul tunes (not my faves of the night, but apt as part of the set. The Primal Scream heavier stuff and the Chembros floated my boat tonight. Overall, the dancing levels are about 80%. No one has ever gotten 100%. No one ever will unless the Nazis come back in a stadium ringed with hi-tech artillery and weapons and order all the drones to dance or die. An audience of about 80% twinkle-toers and happy feet is better than most of the raves I've attended. I feel like I'm a youthful 21 again with a Dorian Grey beard aging for me. This was a most excellent night Iain and "Oggy" I'm sorry I've missed your earlier shows, but I'll be there for future shows, especially if they're as much fucking fun as this one. So, sometimes I fantasise. When the streets are cold and lonely, I'll remember tonight with a huge warm glow of affection. This was one United Colours of Benneton society under one rock/dance groove.. Can't wait to see/hear what you do next. Now, Nate has buggered off on walkabout and I've gotta help Chris get the equipment back to Lamma. Hit the kebab shop, get the sampan and home for sunrise. Thanks, Mani for a top night. It was a pleasure to chat briefly. Don't be another ten years before you come back. And pleae, bring the band with you. What's their name again? Primal Clean is it? ntb

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Good words Nic, nice one.

Traps! Who else remembers Traps??