Nightmares on wax // Concorde2

“It’s like getting a bass massage”… just one definition of the evening thrown at me from a red eyed, happy fan. The atmosphere in the Concorde that night was something that I have never experienced before. It was like dancing in a balmy summer evening, haze of weed and warm lighting, certainly a smoker’s delight. Opening up with “Les nuits”, spine chilling stringy synth sounds with the groovy bass line kicking in over it they gave the crowd what they wanted. A mass of people immediately began to bump, groove and sway. Rolling round the country in a select 7 date tour to promote their new album “In a space, out a time”, Nightmares had the Irritation steppers sound system. A beast of a set of speakers, cabs and woffers with a base so fucking strong it made u vibrate inside out, almost to the point of nausea. It was something else. The kind of sound that you can see.

10 years of experience in multiculturalism dance music and an extensive back catalogue of albums sure to grace any stoner’s coffee table, the set was diverse; old classic down time post club ambient tunes such as “Thinking of Omara” and “Interlude” to some crafty little dnb dub bouncing beats. Considering how wrecked everyone was, they were all dancing. George Evelyn aka DJ Eaze creates a kaleidoscope of beautiful music sponging influences from a childhood play list of Curtis Mayfield and Quincy Jones. His hip hop and B Boy roots of the latter years mixes in with funky soul resulting in the sunny bside of the more chilling trip hop sounds of Massive Attack and Dj Shadow that the clubbed out raver’s yearn for. Case of funk aftermath. It’s a starburst mix of soul, reggae, dub, dnb baseline, funk and hip hop. Something for all. The crew accompanying him to deliver the delights comprise of rappers, Dj, keyboards, and vocalists. The ladies; swathing over the honey tones are two sexy rude girls. Voices of angels with a bumped up edge. They were all super stylish, urban bling; bounced with the crowd arms in the air style… the love was flowing.

The epic classics kept vibrating out of the monster sound system, tracks such as “Fire in the hole”, “Stars” and “Capumcup”. Giving everyone a kind of remincent smile of happy days. “Ethnic majority” being somewhat of a mission statement for his sounds. As the night went on treats from the new album were mixed in seamlessly. A slightly different vibe from other works, real dirty dub sounds, reggae theme, warm, soul full melodies sung sweetly over the beats. Shimmy style dance hall, but never losing the magical touch that he has put to all his tunes. Big fat beats. Changes in mood and tempo, gospel sounds, funky guitar riffs and dropping over filthy bass lines.

Gracing the evening were a disparate crowd of people that I had ever seen before in the Concorde. Beautiful happy hippy stoners, new faces all slanty eyed and hazy- totally digging the beats. None of the glamorous, suave clubbers or dnb kids, it was enlightening to see them emerge from their bean bags. Acquired some new buddies wobbling in the crowd, it was like everyone there were mates, sharing the jazz cigarettes, passing the beers. A summer’s day backyard bbq. I got rather warped and involved in the role- I think the passive smoking could have sent anyone a little twisted, and proceeded to randomly harass strangers, who were happy to share their thoughts with me. “Fucking stoner hip-hop” was the definitive moment of the night.

The only disappointment was for the people at the back, they played under the stage- and while it was close and cool at the front, very intimate performance, the vertically challenged couldn’t see their enigmatic performance. But with a sound so massive it kept the vibe galvanised. And they omitted “70/80’s” a personal favourite so one can’t gripe too much after all the other gems throughout the evening, but a cutey in the coat que agreed on this.

Nightmares gave us a two hour set of genius talent. A delicious serving of food for the soul. The atmosphere would have blown anyone away that thought it was going to be chilled…. It was a wired chilled. Really groovy.

Concorde2
http://www.concorde2.co.uk/

Madeira Shelter Hall,
Madeira Drive
Brighton
BN2 1EN

Telephone: 01273 697888
Booking office: 01273 673311
Fax: 01273 696157

info@concorde2.co.uk

Words: Catherine