Images by Nick King (click to enlarge)
| Report (by Pete): |
Left my house at 9pm, caught 9.22 bus to junction, luckily a train was delayed so was on board at 9.36, non stop to Euston, straight onto Tube and out of Mornington Crescent and in the Queue for Koko at 10.03! I was scanned immediately by 2 security, then as I was about to enter I see John, Nick & Steve by the lights, waved and took my cap off to show them it was me, just as they came over, I was confronted by more security asking for photo ID, "its a club, every club in the country now asks for photo ID", myself and 2 808 fans behind me said its a live concert and there was nothing about ID on the ticket site, he said i'll let you in this time. Got inside, and met more security, had to empty every pocket into one of those airport security trays, was checked over by security then headed towards the entrance, another guy scanned my e-ticket and then told me to go to the window, had to queue again, finally got to the front, a young lady took my printed a4 paper and asked me for something with my full name on, so out came the debit card, she smiled and gave me a tiny piece of paper (receipt I guess), which was then handed in to the scanner man. Finally inside, I dropped off my coat, £2, not too bad, then walked down the tunnel to where the balcony/mixing desk was, and was to be where I stayed until 2.30, I was forever looking round to see if I knew anyone, nope, for the next half hour enjoyed PixieLord's set, then came on Ceephax Acid Crew, and enjoyed the whole hour set. in the meantime Grant Appleyard arrived and stood next to me watching the crowd dancing down the front. Ben (808 roadie) arrived and stood next to me looking at Ceephax performing, I turn round and see the 808 posse enter, I waved Graham down and had a brief chat, also saying hello to Carl. Soon after John and Nick arrive before disappearing to the bar, eventually Steve C popped by to say hello. It's Midnight and on comes Mu-Ziq, he start with an ambient number and kills the dancing, I didn't really enjoy his set, some tracks picked up the pace, and it wasn't until his last track, that got everyone moving. So its 1.15am we get random sounds used in various 808 tracks (the bird, chants) and the original audio used in the intro to In Yer Face, and then up steps Graham, Andy and Carl. The set starts with In Yer Face and immediately the crowd are bouncing, followed up with Donkey Doctor, Cobra Bora, Timebomb & San Francisco (which I haven't enjoyed live up until tonight), next up is Metaluna, possibly one of my favourites and what a great version too, the acid mix towards the second half of the track blew me away, and I won't mention the light show, steve and nick can do that ;) Graham has now left alone the keyboards and continues the rest of the set on Sax and various guitars for Pacific, Invader, Quincy's Lunch & Cubik, during Pacific, Easty 808's sound guy asked the lighting man to put lights on Graham as the stage was too dark to see him. Absolutely banging set from 808 State, one day we'll be treated to a nice 90 minute one and hear some of the lesser played tracks, I'm a dreamer, I left with Grant soon after Phuture came on, we couldn't find John, so said goodbye to Steve, and saw Nick on the balcony having a fag, we eventually got his attention, Grant headed to Euston to get an Uber Cab, where I got the N20 bus to Barnet then got cab back to Watford, for £25, and in bed by 4.15am, nice to remember everything these days, cutting down drinking is good lol, over and out! |
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