From: Jon Freer (jon-freer_at_excite.com)
Date: 2004-11-19 00:17:33
Event Review: Strutt at Gatecrasher One, Sheffield, with Kenny ‘Dope’ Gonzalez,
Tuesday 16th November 2004.
The heart of Sheffield’s underground nightlife may have been ripped out by the unfortunate temporary(?) closure of the Club Element/Fez club complex and the lack of other ‘decent’ venues, but building-related problems hasn’t completely put pay to all credible nights in the city. Whilst some promoters continue to fight the for the cause by putting on parties on in unlikely places such as out of town boozers and ice rinks, others have harnessed the resources of the few larger established clubs, still left in Sheffield. The promoter who was the driving force behind the ‘Pin Up Club’ and previously took charge of Saturdays at Bed has started ‘Strutt’, in collaboration with Gatecrasher One’s management. Perhaps not ‘underground’, this weekly still brings credible House geared music to the building that made its name championing a far worse bastardisation of dance music.
As it takes place on a Tuesday night, Strutt is understandably geared towards students and those who don’t have a rigorous work schedule. However, the night does not succeed because dangerously cheap beverages. Strutt entices in the well dressed with loans to spend and a flexible schedule because of its hip music policy and its effortless stylishness, no doubt helped by the fact that it takes place in the sumptuously re-decorated Gatecrasher One. It is questionable whether Strutt actually need to book names such as the ample Kenny Dope to get people through the doors, but credit must be given for them bringing in guests of such a high calibre.
One of the most important music producers of recent times, Kenny Dope can be called on to rock a dancefloor at the drop of a hat. Following on from a slightly bemusing warm-up from Corey, the plumper half of the MAW pair took his audience on an exciting musical ride. Kenny’s set was mainly comprised of heavily beaten and uplifting credible house numbers, with the occasional Latin number and broken beat hitters to break things up. He expertly spliced the tracks together in his distinctive rough and ready style. Showing the manipulative nature of the CDJ decks he was using, Kenny cut tracks up in a Hip Hop fashion and teased his audience with famous intro’s. He gave the crowd exactly what they wanted, with vocal floor-pleasers such as KOT’s relieved “Finally”, Reel People’s buoyant “Can’t Stop” and also took it deeper, spinning tracks like Isolee’s hypnotic “Beau Mot Plage” and DKD’s bad-tempered “Future Rage”. This night was without doubt a success, and showed how Mr. D!
ope can tailor the sound for an audience well, without having to compromise an ounce of style.
Jon Freer(jon.freer_at_wrongsteps.com)
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