| Every year in the first two weeks of September, MTV holds its Video
Music Awards ceremony. Over the years, this event has become a mainstay
in the realm of pop culture, as a place where all the major musicians,
celebrities, and music fans celebrate the achievements of music
artists and their visual compliments. Since its such a major event,
MTV's party lasts all week long, with numerous free concerts and
events featuring the nominees. One such nominee was Mr. Norman Cook,
AKA Fatboy Slim, who is up for the most awards this year (9. To
celebrate this achievement, Fatboy headlined a free mtv sponsored
Electronic Music concert on pier 54 in downtown NYC. Other performers
included Live breakbeat electronic act the crystal method, 2step
pioneer MJ Cole, and Barry Ashworth, the frontman behind the Dub
Pistols.
Some would say that
MTV and dance music don't mix. That seemed to be the case, but MTV's
presence at the event was virtually nonexistent, with the exception
of a VMA banner atop the entrance to the peir. There were no sponsors,
few cameramen, and very little hullabaloo. The night seemed to be
all about the music.
The doors opened at
seven PM to a huge line which spanned for about three blocks down
the west side highway. The music finally got underway at around
8:00 with Barry Ashworth. Normally, Ashworth spins breakbeats, but
last night he stuck to funky proper house with a twinge of progressive
thrown in for good measure. I couldn't help but feel like I was
stuck listening to a Ministry of Sound Ibiza compilation, but to
each his own. Ashworth was quite animated and seemed to be having
a great time behind the decks, even though the needles were constantly
jumping (it was windy out on the pier.
At 9:00, MJ Cole took
to the decks with his signature two step sound. He had the place
going for the most part, but it seems that two step has yet to take
off around these parts. His mixing was a bit sub par and his track
selection was kind of dated, but Cole is known for his production
work, not his deck prowess. All in all, it was a decent set, but
not the way to introduce UK Garage to the masses.
Next up came the Crystal
Method with the only live performance of the evening. They put on
quite the show with their lighting and their constant jumping around
and pounding on their keyboards. What it trickles down to is the
fact that these guys are two nerd with synths and fx boxes, but
they sure know how to get a place moving. They played all their
hits along with a few album tracks. For the current single "Name
of the Game, " they brought out legendary breaker EZ Rock as
nosey, the man with the giant nose head from the "Name of the
Game" Music Video.
At 11:00 came Fatboy
Slim with his signature style of nasty funky house and dirty breaks,
with a heavy influence on recognizable vocals. He had the place
jumping like never before. A spotless set with beautiful turntablism
techniques throughout. He went for an hour with the entire pier
jumping like there was no school or work the next day. He even interacted
with the crowd, taking a fan's giant wooden smiley face, Norman's
adopted symbol; holding it up in front of his head and dancing around.
He also sang along to every track, pumping his fist, smiling, and
sticking his tongue out. When he finished his set promptly at midnight,
it looked like no one was ready to go home.
All in all, MTV did everything
the right way with this party. No overcommercialization, quality
sound, decent security, and supreme talent. Everyone seemed to have
a great time. For a free event, you couldn't ask for much more.
Tracklist
MJ Cole:
1. Bump and Flex - Promises
2. Rephlex - Put Your Hands Up
3. De la Soul - All Good (MJ Cole Remix)
4. Unkown
5. Azzido Da Bass - Doom's Night (Timo Maas remix)
6. Sticky Feat. Ms. Dynamite - Booooooo
7. Artful Dodger - Movin Too Fast
8. Mazwell D - Serious
9. DJ Zinc - 138 Trek
10. Unknown
11. MJ Cole - Sincere
12. Insomniacz - All I do (Bump n Flex Vocal Mix)
13. Artful Dodger - Whatcha gonna do (Wideboys Mix)
14. Craig David - 7 days (Sunship Dub)
15. Jammin' - go DJ
16. MJ Cole - Crazy Love
Fatboy Slim:
1. Chemical Bros. - Leave Home
2. Daft Punk Vs. Madonna - Da Funk Music
3. Unknown
4. Groove armada - Superstylin'
5. Unknown
6. Unknown artist - drop some drums
7. Queen - Bohemian Rapshody (real live breaks mix)
8. Chemical Bros. - Afrika
9. Underworld - born Slippy
10. Fatboy Slim - right here, right now (unknown remix)
11. Unknown
12. Fatboy Slim - Star 69
13. Unknown
14. Outkast - So Fresh, So Clean (Fatboy Slim Remix)
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