Yep, I went, and said hello to Dennis.
The night was more about the live acts than Sumner himself. They played the UK music hall of fame thing, I was probably the only person in the room who had seen that!
Then they played shellshock, i cringed all the way through the WIM video clip (good song, terrible clip!), then disappointed and Feel every beat and BLT, the original 1983 BM video clip which was good on the big screen.
When Atmosphere came on I almost cried. The film clip played on the great soundsystem in this tiny theatre and it just struck me how sublime the song was, I sort of rediscovered it within the context.
I came for that more than the live acts. Electro music is really hard to pull off in a theatre, where it takes courage to get up dance on stage like some people did, but I was all on my onesies, so I wasnt going to do that! The first act was a guy with a laptop just sitting there. He was good, but not suited for the venue. when sitting in a seat watching dance music you are really aware of how long the songs are and there is not much to see. Its like watching someone just working on their computer.
2nd act Ponyloaf were better, because they had a visual show behind them, and they were more of a band, drum kit, keyboards, synths etc. The lead... well he wasn't the lead, but he stood out the front, was very enthusiastic but was sort of the Keith Allen of the night, take from that similie what you will. But kudos I suppose for being so enthusiastic.
I'm really into simplicity with electro music, so they were not entirely my thing. Their keyboardist was great and had some great keyboard lines, there were also some fantatsic synth hooks, but they played over them instead of around them, I prefer simplicity. But they went over really well with the crowd, had some quality things happening in their music.
It was strange to see NO up on a screen other than my TV or computer, and coming out of speakers other than my own! That never happened before. When I heard Lets go and Hurt I nearly died. Its good to see that there is an electro scene here in Brissy.
Co-ordinator also told me they had contacted Hooks management to maybe organise something for when he comes in December for Earthcore. So I hope thats in a bar or something and not a seated venue! Want to be on a dancefloor for that one for sure!