James Lavelle at breakdown // The Zap

So it’s Tuesday and no current words. Maybe that gives you a clue as to the hardship of the weekend? The night starts off simple: BBQ, few beers and everything your normal smiling, respectable citizen would expect. How things change in the space of few hours.

Firstly, well fucking done Flawless!! If you have not been following the Flawless nights for the passed 2 years or so then last Friday should have been an extraordinary introduction (plus you should visit Fusion more often). Born at Po Na Na’s and moving on to the Volk’s, Flawless Nights have been growing since there conception. Flawless nights, as there known, have recently changed names to “The Breakdown”. Events to add to one’s diary in the future, no doubt! It’s a brave move starting off a fresh and not sticking to the already developed brand. Yet at the same time it keeps things fresh and exciting. A new start – new club – and a whole range of debauched nights to come.

The breakdown is one of, if not the only night currently raising the profile for the Zap. And let’s not forget this is not the first time we’ve seen Lavelle down there since the demise of Union. 20th of Jan this year if you’re a-gonna be picky. Sadly we can’t say the Zap has enticed us too much since then either. So, could things be about to change? Although we won’t get anywhere near over excited just yet, we can 100% say that if the venue can deliver nights of quality such as Friday then count us in. Let’s just say it will take a lot more than a shoddy website, cheap drinks offers and Chopper Choon’s shants.

So Friday night… and we finish work.

I arrive at the already busy Zap club at around 12:00 on the dot. Guestlist queue, cheap pen on hand – hold up – ID check. At this point half the contents of my wallet hit the ground – cheers mate, just what I need. So I hustle my way inside watching as a bunch of 40 something’s gets id’d behind me. Do bouncers sometimes do this for fun? Myself I can understand. Hell If I ran a door id be the first to ID me but, the people behind? No need at all. It’s hard enough for a promoter to put a night on in Brighton without Mr. Burley bouncer checking every respectable person for ID. Let’s remember this is the Zap.

Squinting my eyes I can make out Holly Cooper now warming up the crowd. First tune that hits me is some remix of Tiefscwartz’s warning Siren. Later informed it was by Cass and Mangan? She’s followed by J-me from Alternate Route records, he scratches away casually and genuinely looks like he’s enjoying his set for every second. Good time to mingle and catch with the every growing faces in the crowd.

The time comes, Lavelle steps up to the decks. Like an al mighty god, the man spits on the floor, lights up a fag and progresses to play “get ready, cause here I come” to an most willing audience. I’ve seen DJ a plenty, but the spit and fag move can only be carried by someone with stature. Even if it is poorly attempted by many Essex DJs who thinks their the next Judge Jules (we all want to be Judge Jules don’t we……..). His set kept the whole venue rammed till early hours and for some reason placed sparkly lights in my eyes for at least 5 hours after leaving. Maybe it’s this reason why for one, my memory is well, non-existent. Blurred, twisted, abused yet appreciated would be the way to conclude the evening. A feeling we all want sometime. I mean come on, it is the weekend.

The only quarrel that could be had is the sound system STILL needs work. With rumours that some equipment has even been downgraded and a few technical glitches throughout the night what can we say. It’s not ideal, but in Brighton it’s what we have to live with.

If anyone has a chance to bring the Zap out of its self styled hole of mediocre culture then nights like Breakdown are the key.

Comedy Aspect of the evening:

Every DJ needs a girlfriend behind the booth to stroke their ego. Here are some rules for the budding DJ lady to abide by:

1) When you ask for a jug of tonic water and ice it is crucial that you beast when the ice and tonic are not separated. Do people in Brighton actually drink it mixed? Golly.

2) When someone asks if you’d like a chewing gum you must respond with “oh can I have the whole pack?” Let them know how raw and minty you want to be.

3) When you want a toke on someone’s spliff never, ever say please. The fact they won’t give you any doesn’t matter. You will still have your pride.

The Zap
http://www.union.uk.com

189-192 Kings Road Arches
Brighton
East Sussex
BN1 1NB

carl@union.uk.com

Words: Marek the Czech

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