Derrick May @ Element

[solacevip]

After hibernating in my lonely room from the events of September 11th, I found it safe to venture back to Toronto's club scene once again. Ahhh a long weekend. Autumn is here, the air is chill, my spirits are up....time to party!

I decided to travel to Element to hear the Detroit Techno legend Derrick May.

"Um....Honey.....could you please TECH up the HOUSE?!?!"

Not just a straight techno vibe for tonight...Derrick was pulling out the tech house joints. Element was packed tonight and I began to remember what made our scene so beautiful. I found solace in the fact that I was boogying with my Toronto peoples to a common pulse....the bumpity bump bump of da speaker! This vibe can never leave one's soul!

Derrick was quick with the mix...swift at switching the fader....and twisting those knobs with the greatest of ease. The heat downstairs was immense as the party tried to control itself.

Highlight of the night had to be while I was losing my mind in front of the DJ Booth, Derrick calls me over and says, "It's like walkin' through the jungle!!"

Fucking right it was....felt like a damn rainforest with the human heat generated from the gyrating bodies! Shit..the natives are getting restless

I found this event highly enjoyable and I reconnected with may party friends who I haven't seen in a long time. Element is a sweet spot to party!

Derrick May also overstated his title as the Godfather of Techno!

Peace Party People

 

[tommysmalls]

DERRICK MAY FOR PRESIDENT!

 

[echootje]

Yeah, the heat was fucking nuts!! My t-shirt was saturated. I was flyering outside at 2:30 and freezing for a short while while my clothing dried out.

Apparently Element were fined last night for a capacity violation by the liquor police.

Anyways, for what I caught of it, Derrick May bludgeoned the crowd with fine music; before him Adam Marshall, (my new favourite local) had the wickedest tech-house tracks! Absolutely exeptional mixing too!

Great night, loved the free before 11;30 thing!

 

[Nesta]

Derrick May rocked it with a very eclectic mix of classic house anthems, driving tribal tech house, and bangin' techno - Detroit style. Adam Marshall really impressed me. Suke, where were you? The man even dropped CHIAPET!

All in all, a wicked party with an amazing vibe. Seemed as though Derrick was having the time of his life.

I've said it a million times, and I will continue to stress - there is no place like the basement of Element.

 

[dora]

You boys make he HURT! ahhhh!
I wanted to be here so bad (rob, we missed you at the guv!) sinced we missed him in Windsor. I maintain there was not a single bad party to be at this past weekend, thsi is why TO is so hype!

I'm insanely jealous to hear it was such a good show, and probably a better turnout than the last gig at Kool Haus. thx for the review boyz!

 

[huggs946]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by huggs:
hmmm...Derrick May

Was @ Aria in MTL a little while back when this fool 'Yaz' was spinning all this hard shit before the crowd was ready. Next think you know, this crazy nigga staright up stops the record, and puts on this wacked out track with strings and no bassline. He starts bobbing his head, cueing the next record, letting everyone in the room know that Derrick May is here to show them how it's done. He then proceeded to mix in some of the most euphoric jackson 5, mowtown, tech house, house, hard tech mix of tracks that I've ever heard in my life. His beats were so out of this world that I had to stop dancing @ certain points because it too much. This man simply blew me away, and after his set was over, I gave him this huge hug as he was leaving. He had this tear in his eye, cause for the first time in a long time, one of his 'own people' was letting him know that was appreciated. That night Derrick may put Ritchie Hawtin to shame...in my books anyway. He is not to be missed!</font>

Heard it here first...Derrick May is God

He puts all other EDJ's to shame!

 

[tekno princess]

Personally, I wasn't all that impressed. Sure, he had his moments, but for a dj of his reputation, I was expecting more than a few moments (plus I don't care much for disco house). IMHO, his sets have become way too predictable.... always dropping the same old tracks......

And what was up with that bathroom situation? Only 1 toilet downstairs... wtf?

 

[Gunark]

Nicely written review solace.

 

[solacevip]

Thanks Gunark for the props...

Um Techno Princess....

I have also heard of others who were not that impressed with what Mr. May played during the evening.

You'd think since he is one of the pioneers of this genre, he would come a little differently. Maybe more Techno...less house. I believe that his current flow of tech house was much harder and syncopated that other forms of tech house I have heard. Yet...I do know of others that have your critique.

Perhaps this is his "new" style.....and it's the godfather's old style you searcheth for

I had a damn good time though....

 

[tekno princess]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by solacevip:

I have also heard of others who were not that impressed with what Mr. May played during the evening.
</font>

it's reassuring to know i'm not alone

 

[miguel]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by solacevip:
Thanks Gunark for the props...

Um Techno Princess....

I have also heard of others who were not that impressed with what Mr. May played during the evening.

You'd think since he is one of the pioneers of this genre, he would come a little differently. Maybe more Techno...less house. I believe that his current flow of tech house was much harder and syncopated that other forms of tech house I have heard. Yet...I do know of others that have your critique.

Perhaps this is his "new" style.....and it's the godfather's old style you searcheth for

I had a damn good time though....</font>

derrick may plays what he wants.. allways has.. the man transcends labels!

 

[Suke]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Nesta:
Suke, where were you? The man even dropped CHIAPET!

</font>

CHIAPET eh? Well, I've heard May a few times and decided to chill this long weekend. Like tekno princess already mentioned, his sets are pretty predicatble mixing in the old with the new.

Word!.