Sorry to moan, but it's what I do best.
Djed for the first time in yonks at How Does It Feel To be Loved on friday. Not sure entirely how successful it was: the amount of grief I received from punters with unfulfilled requests for Belle and Sebastian/The Killers/Kaiser Chiefs would tend to indicate it was a total waste of time (I can't believe how mainstream the clientele of that club
( Read more... )
Hi, Ian posting here.
I haven't altered the playlist of HDIF to suit any new clientele at all. I've had requests for mainstream indie stuff from the very start of the club - it's nothing new. Only now it's people asking for The Killers, instead of asking for The Strokes. That doesn't mean I play them. The only way the club has changed has been to take on the contemporary groups that I feel fit in with the spirit of the club - so on Friday, I played Architecture In Helsinki, The Decemberists, Envelopes, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, and the Arcade Fire, alongside The Razorcuts, Orange Juice, Heavenly, and so on.
There is an issue with The Phoenix that, when the pub upstairs shuts, some of the regular punters come downstairs to the club. And, sometimes, they have no idea what they're walking into. It's not ideal, but as long as the proportion of HDIF-goers versus randoms is right - ie more of us than them - then it doesn't spoil the atmosphere. The only person who gets any grief is the DJ and I've been saying "Nope, don't have it, can't play it, sorry" to people for long now that it's all water off a duck's back. Once the liscensing laws change this week, that may well all change anyway.
Sorry you had a bad time on Friday Harvey. I was surprised to read this as you told me you'd enjoyed yourself at the end of the night. Oh well.
Reply
Perhaps I painted too bleak a picture; actually, I *did* have a good time, in spite of all I've said above. I stayed til closing time after all, and playing my favourite records loud at people is always a fine thing to do, whether they appreciate it or not. I'm simply not used to getting abuse (yep) from people because I can't play their requests.
I appreciate it's a difficult situation: you want the club to be popular, but you don't want to lose the atmos which makes the club what it is. Guess that's why I've never run a club night; more trouble than it's worth (...but Rupert, whaddya say?!!?)
Reply
Reply
Y'know, I quite like Kaiser Chiefs, but I don't see any point in having a specialist club night that plays mainstream indie. You can hear that stuff on the radio/any other club in town.
Reply
Quite right - which is why I don't play Kaiser Chiefs, Franz, etc, etc. Even though - like you - I quite like the Kaiser Chiefs.
Reply
Sorry, that was me - Ian. Sure it was obvious anyway...! :)
Reply
Leave a comment