:: GussetBLOG ::

:: Wednesday, November 19, 2003 ::

Gig Review: Bogdan Raczynski, Astrobotnia & DJ Rephlex Records @ The Thekla, Bristol, 13.11.03 just after tea.

Astrobotnia (Live)

For me, the whole gig peaked a bit early when Astrobotnia opened the show. It was late, people were tired and I overheard one chap tell an indifferent stranger that he might go home early. The pre-gig disco was already a huge success and so Astroboy was up against it. But cometh the hour, cometh the man and the lad didn’t disappoint.

I positioned myself in front of a huge speaker which was a big mistake given the sounds this boy was making. The sensation was how I’d always imagined it would feel if you could put your head inside a bee’s mouth. Extraordinary!

Mid-way, we suffered a short power-cut which only served to make Astrobotnia madder. The man, visibly upset at the interruption, vented his frustration on his laptop and appeared to try and hump the bloody thing to keep it under control. It was like watching an over-enthusiastic pinball player who doesn’t give a fuck that he’s about to trigger the ‘tilt’ alarm and receive a mild telling-off.

Anyway, I really enjoyed this and at one point I actually turned to Dan and said “I’m really enjoying this!”

DJ Rephlex Records

Ugly rumours suggested that this was going to be either Mr. Richard D. James, David Blunkett and even Amanda Holden was mentioned. Turned out to be Grant Wilson-Claridge who provided a DJ set that was proficient but unremarkable.

Saying that though, the crowd responded well. Being of some considerable standing in the community, I didn’t join the dance but watched as one girl turned herself into a fully functioning photocopier/printer right in front of me. I think she may have taken a drug.

Enjoyable enough and well-received but no-one was ever going to hurt themselves.

Bogdan Raczynski (Live)

I’m not sure when GW-C became Bogdan as they seemed to blend into each other but what followed was quite an assault on the senses.

Angry, loud and possibly illegal, this set could not have been more visceral if Bogdan had arrived on a horse and gutted the thing live on stage. I suffered a series of delightful strokes and one young man lost an arm and his lips. Marvellous stuff.


In summary, Astrobotnia did the business, DJ Rephlex records did an ample job, Bogdan was just plain upsetting and that night I cried myself to sleep.

:: Simon 19.11.03 [Arc]    ::
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