MUSIC

Motion, Bristol (Sat 4 Feb)

Just Jack, the mischievous local chap (club night) with great musical taste and an eye for the spectacular was always going to throw one monstrously flamboyant birthday party, so it’s with great anticipation that the lions’ den of Motion is entered. Blinded at the entrance by the Energizer fairground ride, the real adrenaline ticklers are to be found indoors, the now-legendary second warehouse of Motion taking on the main room mantle while the ramp room is converted into a cross between a fairground and mardi gras replete with hook-a-duck, face painting and some fine hula hoop work.

If there are two things that have defined Just Jack over the last six years, it’s the discerning music policy – consistently booking the biggest underground DJs on the planet – and its atmosphere, not a grumpy face to be found in the building (although it’s hard to tell what face some were pulling after stepping off the aforementioned Energiser). Still, inside, smiles are wide, dance moves are wild and the place is already buzzing at 11.30.

The tunnel, rammed with people, penguin-esque in their togetherness, are being treated to some nostalgic house goodness by Park Ranger, classic business, all uplifting pianos, searing vocals and the archetypal bump and roll of basslines straight out of Chicago. Just Jack founders Tom Wild and Dan Rio, meanwhile, are not so much coaxing as wildly whipping the crowd into shape in the Warehouse, pounding kick drums punctuating some seriously tough house music that flirts naughtily with the techno end of things, the crowd and atmosphere mutually swelling. Jacking is definitely the order of the day, the room now sizzling with people bringing some much welcome heat to the previously Baltic surroundings.

The discerning music policy of Just Jack has already been mentioned, but does it really get any better than Joy Orbison back to back with Ben UFO? For three hours? The answer to that little riddle is no. It doesn’t. Unfortunately, everyone else seems to have the same view, the whole venue seemingly trying to cram into the tiny space of the Tunnel at the same time. The abiding memory of the set is twofold: incredible tunes – bleeps, deep tech, rough basslines, tight beats and perpetual grooves colliding in a joyous and explosive combo – and pushing. A LOT of pushing. And some shoving. It was just way too busy, wave after wave of people constantly trying to get to the front, kind of like Space Invaders but sweatier. And less enjoyable. The only way to make it through the set, according to one wide-eyer, is to “be liquid”. The Buddha-like is right, but it soon gets unbearable, needs-musting into the Cavern to catch the Italian bambino prodigio, Nicholas. The 21-year-old crafts a fine live set chock full of his re-edits and 90s house-leaning tracks, clattering cowbells, driving percussion and hi-hats so sharp you could shave with them. Impressive.

Post Nicholas is spent bimbling from room to room, taking in some acrobatic action in the ramp room, some deep, analogue rollers from Leftroom boss Matt Tolfrey in’t Warehouse and a funkier work-out from Josh T and Brinsley Kazak in the Cavern, ostensibly waiting for the delicious and devastating Maya Jane Coles (pictured) to step up to the decks. At the Futureboogie/RBMA night she excelled, and tonight is no exception. Seemingly cementing a huge reputation in a short space of time, the Londoner has that knack of reading the crowd and choosing her drops at just the right time. No stomping big-room anthems, just a huge, heavy and dynamic two-hour set to an appreciative crowd who show no sign of waning as 7am approaches. It’s a class end to an already classy night and one that will stay in the memory. Happy birthday, Jack, here’s to many more. (Stuart Roberts)

Copyright Stuart Roberts 2012