Review by Kevin Donnellan
Photos by Natalie Byrne
Dance music for people who don’t really like dance music. That’s how I had 2manyDJs pegged. And that suited me, I don’t like most dance music. It’s all too teenage disco. Or the car park outside Oxegen. Florescent paint does nothing for my complexion.
But 2manyDJs were accessible, added to the Girl Talk, Lemon Jelly, Chemical Brothers, Basement Jacks, Justice list. Dance acts that didn’t seem too dance-y. At Electric Picnic they had been great. It was spot the band. There’s the the Stones. And that’s MGMT. That might have been the Smiths. A repackaging of any decent record collection. Dance purists mightn’t be too keen, but I’ll take it.
Anyway these were my expectations. St Patrick’s Eve. 12.30am kick-off. This was going to be amazing. But, but, but….
It turns out that 2manyDJs do like dance music. Proper dance. None of this Girl Talk-esque mixing. Which for the dance enthusiasts in the crowd was probably great. Didn’t help the rest of us chin strokers though. Two hours of repetitive beats to a crowd too drunk – or whatever – to care. Dun dun dun dun dun DUN. Nothing to get excited about. No Jersey Shore fist pumping. No ecstatic hugs of recognition at the introduction of a certain sample. Just bang bang bang.
In fairness this was the gig equivalent of an open goal. A late start on St Patrick’s Eve was never going to attract a sober apathetic crowd. The place was packed and the atmosphere was great. Everyone seemed determined to have the night of their lives. (Not least the girl walking around, seemingly on loop, asking for pills). And maybe they did. But nah they’re struck off my acceptable dance acts list. I’m sure they’ll be gutted…
