So…

The Rephlex night on Tuesday was pretty amazing. I think we were all pretty knackered, but the place was heaving with people who were well up for it. Just as I was thinking that seeing Richard D James playing a bunch of oldies (“20 seconds to COMPLY!!!”) was less than inspiring and a bit like being round someone’s house (but with more expensive beer) he ramped up the sound and proceeded to unleash a series of wicked acid tracks and some top junglist excess which actually got me out on the dancefloor. (The man Meme had showed the rest of us up by grooving from the off).

From then on things got better and better – young people were coming and asking us for pills, which set me off into Victor Meldrew mode “drugs?! On a TUESDAY NIGHT? I do not believe it!!!” but good for them. Actually none of them asked me personally – just Paul and Matt, which probably means that I either look less dodgy than them or like an undercover copper or something.

Mr Aphex was followed by some geezer who played a load of mashed up gabba which was engrossing for all of… 3 minutes. I think it suffered from being TOO mashed up, which meant you had to concentrate on it rather than just let it pummel you into submission. It became a bit of an endurance test, to be honest. One which not everyone passed!

Just as we were about to give up, Kevin Martin took the stage. Everytime The Bug has played this year I’ve had reasons not to attend, so I was well looking forward to this and it did not disappoint.

4 MCs, serious sound, much wibbly sirens and boom boom bass. The MCs were great – really hyping up the crowd (and joining them, in one case) messiness ensued. Lots of riddims from the album got a reworking with new vocals. Great. Sheer power. Nice vibrant scene. What more do you want?