Amy Winehouse in Camden

Amy Jade

Came across this nice Amy Winehouse stencil on a doorway on Camden Road on our way to the Shapeshifter gig at Electric Ballroom.

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K&D session at Roundhouse London

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Last Friday night saw a bunch of us head to the Roundhouse in Camden for dynamic Austrian duo Kruder and Dorfmeister.

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The ultra-cool bass-loving production geniuses hit the Roundhouse for their first ever London live show! Known for redefining the art of the remix as much as their originals, they showcased why they've attained their international status, coming as they do from a country with a rich history of musical innovation.

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The set they played was awesome. The visuals were the best I've seen all year (if not in the last few...) and the vibe was, well, slightly older and discerning. I could write a review, but David Taylor from the Guardian has done a much better job than I ever could...

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"There's always a concern when producers opt to swap the dark anonymity and hermit-like existence of the recording studio for the bright lights of a "live" stage. Just what are we punters to expect? Electronic music by its very nature involves little in the way of live instrumentation – and everything to the mastery of manipulating banks of coloured knobs in grey boxes. It's hardly an enticing proposition for the traditional gig-goer.

Step forward Kruder & Dorfmeister, Austrian uber-producers and the ice cool duo behind G-Stone recordings. The label's trademark bass-heavy but lush tunes are as likely to be played as background to a hip dinner party than at an underground club. And judging by the largely 30-something crowd politely exchanging small talk before the lights dimmed at the Roundhouse, dessert rather than dancing appears to be a more pressing concern to some.

But, as soon as the first dull throb of bass punches through the darkness and MC Earl Zinger bowls on to the stage, the venue is transformed into the coolest of clubs.

K&D take centre stage amid a constantly morphing, at times retina-scarring light show, that puts just about every other electronica act to shame. The breathtaking visuals provide the perfect psychedelic backdrop to a set that effortlessly blends the best of the pair's past, present and future tunes.

Kicking off with a version of Grandmaster Flash's "The Message" before taking in highlights from the classic K&D Sessions album – including superb remixes of Bomb the Bass's "Bug Powder Dust" and Depeche Mode's "Useless" – the duo effortlessly engage the crowd.

Throw in a tongue-in-cheek encore of "Let it Be" – with the lyrics changed to "speaking words of wisdom – K&D", and you can't help but leave the gig with a smile on your face and a spring in your step."

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Basement Jaxx at Roundhouse, London 29/04/09

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As Basement Jaxx stormed into Where’s Your Head At? during their finale at the Roundhouse last night, dancers in monkey suits bounded on stage and sent the crowd to fever pitch.

It was a high-octane performance from the masters of house music, and the rammed Roundhouse hummed with the heavy basslines from hits such asRendez-Vu, Do your Thing, Bingo Bango and Oh My Gosh. They even dropped in a couple of tracks from the forth coming album, and an odd several minute Scandanavian death metal meandering from the lead guitarist.

Before they appeared on stage, a lengthy intro boomed out from the speakers, accompanied by some fantastic hypnotic graphics on a huge screen. When the duo – Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe – finally appeared, they did not disappoint.

I was almost overwhelmed by the many costume changes by the trio of female singers (probably somewhere between 15 in all – I stopped counting after 10!), and the lively stage presence of more than 10 people. Basement Jaxx may be a duo, but every live show feeds off the energy provided by their musicians, singers and dancers, including a Brazillian dancer in full carnival dress for the finale.

Crowd-pleaser Jump ’n’ Shout and an interesting take on Three Times a Lady were served up as everyone enjoyed a group who deliver what their fans crave. A meander into Kings of Leon's Sex on fire was a huge sing-a-long crowd pleaser too.

Thanks to Yorick for the tix and Sue for some of her flickr pics.

Eat Static at Inspiral Lounge

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Last night Yorick managed to convince me to go to the Inspiral Lounge on the banks of the Camden cana for the Eat Static 20 year anniversary gig. I was familiar with the band - I'd been into their weird experimental electronic meanderings from the early 90's, so it was a blast from the past. Eat Static used to be a 3 piece (Merv Pepler, Joie Hinton and Steve Everitt), but now stripped down to one (Merv).

Inspiral is a great little space - intimate lounge bar/cafe upstairs and another little lounge space downstairs, which you can access the canal bank from for more outdoor water side action. This place is straight from Amsterdam, and is certain to go off in summer with a roof top deck as well.

We got to meet Merv before the gig, and he was a top bloke. Well edgy and the obvious result of 20 years of chemical experimentation. His set was top notch, and we had a great time.