Photo: Thomas Comery
I feel like the official fan girl for Mimm and Local Motive gigs, but it’s not my fault they keep belling up the crème de la crème and coaxing them over to the ends. I can't help but go. I saw Bonobo performing his electronic tunes in live composition at Rock City about a year ago, and it’s fair to say it was in the top three gigs I’ve ever been to in my life. Every time I think I’ve truly killed Black Sands, it’s never too long before I’m whacking it on repeat again. Zombie beats.
Spacious, elegant and affirmative with emotional narratives, his music is a unique answer to the amalgamation of genres found in the clurbs (read like 50 Cent) these days. Something about his sound makes you feel like you’re jumping off a tall cliff rock, into the ocean, then swimming upwards into a starry night sky. Actually doing that might induce confusion and drowning, so it’s a good job our Bonobes is about.
As expected, there was a snaking queue outside The Irish Centre (I still refuse to call it The I Club, soz) but everyone was in high spirits, chattering away. After some confused looks from the bouncer, having fondled my Maybelline mousse foundation pot, it was time to get some booze and dancing done. First on the decks was local hip hop master Rick Donohue, but many were having a good owd sit down and catch up outside in the smoking area.
By the time Bonobo was up, the upstairs room was absolutely rammed full of shuffling chillwave enthusiasts. It was a hot night anyway, so all the bodies packed in created quite the sauna. All good fun though. We dobbed ourselves a place in our top secret, spacious spot, and let the festivities commence. It took a while for everyone to settle into their skank, but once Bonobo dropped one of his own tracks, the arms were up in the air, the whistles floated around the room, and everyone was grinning from ear to ear.
There were some amazing visuals projected on screen throughout the night by someone who may or not be featured in our latest print issue. Hint hint. Any road, Bonobo continued on with his own dreamy, trip-hoppy, atmospheric goodness, and slotted a couple of other tunes between each of his own tracks. I think he was laying down music he’s either taken influence from, or stuff that draws out particular elements of each tune, like a sound or a beat pattern, and likens it to following tracks.
Basically, the set was dead cohesive and it was great to hear some of my all-time favourite tunes pumping out of some tumping speakers with a load of happy ravers. The heat was a bit much at times, but one girl had the right idea and busted out a fan which everyone around her must have appreciated pretty wildly. Pro.
I heard the words “over capacity” chucked around a bit, and it was one in, one out of the smoker’s area at one point, which is never fun. But I guess it’s to be expected with a name so prolific. Plus, everyone seemed like they were having a right good craic.
After the main man had done his two-hour thing, we had one last dance, where Tusk Wax turned the mood a bit more techy. We were done and dusted by this point, so we decided to call it quits after a much-needed session.
As ever, I look forward to the next artist Mimm and Local Motive have got stashed up their sleeves.
Bonobo performed a DJ set at The Irish Centre on Saturday 20 June.
Bonobo website
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