Skanking with The Droid - Live @ Firehouse Skank 09/10/02

As you can probably tell from the title, I decided to go with some more reggae for our last mix of the year, and it’s another oldie – a recording of a set I played at Dublin’s Firehouse Skank sound in 2002. For those that don’t know, Firehouse was at one time: Dublin’s longest running club and Irelands first Soundsystem, running out of the basement of the Parnell Mooney opposite the Rotunda Hospital in the northside of the city centre on Wednesday nights, the skank was unique, an oasis of bass, dread and smoke, where you could find a mix of black and white faces even before the ‘Celtic Tiger' and African immigration became a reality here. I use the past tense because unfortunately Firehouse ceased regular business in Dublin in early 2004, and is now venueless here, though they do run semi-regular nights in Belfast. Oh BTW, I didnt know I could put something cool after my name on the flyer, otherwise I would have come up with something suitably pun-tastic...

Anyway – I was privileged enough to get an opportunity to play The Skank in its original setting in Oct of 2002, and at the risk of sounding obsequious, it was one of the best gigs I ever played - beautiful sound-system, great crowd, and good vibes all night. Far from worsening my already shaky nerves, the professional and attentive presence of sound operators Enda and Paul meant that all had to do was concentrate on my selection… and in a DJng career marred by dodgy club monitors, the Firehouse gig stands out in my memory as being the only time where the sound behind the decks was so loud and clear that I had to lean away from the speaker to stop my ears from aching! Perfect!

I’ve discussed many of these artists before, so Im going to try and keep my spiel to a minimum this time round and let the music speak for itself. The set is broken up into three sections, as I alternated with Paul and Enda during the night. Roughly speaking, selection 1 covers the start of the night, selection 2, sometime in the middle, and selection 3, (generously) the last half an hour or so before closing. Technically speaking, there are a few things you need to know about this one: The recording included a mic pick up from the floor – so there’s a lot of crowd noise and reflected sound, and the bass is very heavy in a few places. As it was recorded onto minidisk, there’s also the odd glitch or weird bit of compression and I had to resuscitate a few long dead CDRs to get this MP3 – so again, I ended up with a few artefacts here and there – all of which I’ve left in… overall it still sounds pretty good IMO.

192kbps MP3 as usual – no cover on this one as its too long for a CD – plus, given my to-do list at the moment, you’d be waiting a long time for one… The MP3 is tagged and bagged as usual, and you’ll find the tracklisting in the ZIP.

Skanking with The Droid - Live @ Firehouse Skank 091002 (96.5mb.zip)

(00:00) 1. Junjo Lawes - Far East Version - Volcano (Far East Riddim)
(02:31) 2. The Hombres - Africa - Pressure Sounds (Unknown Riddim)
(05:44) 3. Lee Perry - The Lion - VP (Unknown Riddim)
(09:06) 4. The Upsetter - Foundation Dub - Pressure Sounds (Unknown Riddim)
(12:28) 5. Jahmali - Long Long Time - Digital B (Fade Away Riddim)
(14:40) 6. Morgan Heritage - Blackmans Paradise - Digital B (Fade Away Riddim)
(17:49) 7. Bobby Digital - Fade Away Version - Digital B (Fade Away Riddim)
(20:55) 8. Bounty Killer/Redrose/Anthony B/Jack Radics - Dancing - Greensleeves (Stop That Train Riddim)
(23:57) 9. Natural Black - Beat and Shoot - Greensleeves (Stop That Train Riddim)
(26:12) 10. Raggedy Joe - Stop That Train Riddim - Greensleeves (Stop That Train Riddim)
(28:44) 11. President Brown - Unity Train - Greensleeves (Stop That Train Riddim)

--------------------------- End of Selection 1 -----------------------------

(32:02) 12. Glen Washington - One Bright Morning - Stingray (Lava Riddim)
(34:24) 13. Bushman - Higher - Stingray (Lava Riddim)
(35:58) 14. Freddie McGregor - Hand in the Fire - Stingray (Lava Riddim)
(39:08) 15. Stingray All Stars - Lava Version - Stingray (Lava Riddim)
(41:58) 16. Anthony B - Third Eye Blind - Easy Star (Thai Stick Riddim)
(44:03) 17. Luciano - Hopes on High - Easy Star (Thai Stick Riddim)
(45:28) 18. Easy Star - Thai Stick Version - Easy Star (Thai Stick Riddim)
(48:49) 19. Mikey General/General Pecos - Love is What we Need - Cylton (Praises Riddim)
(51:14) 20. Luciano - Black Woman - Cylton (Praises Riddim)
(52:47) 21. Cylton - Praises version - Cylton (Praises Riddim)
(55:44) 22. Ninjaman - Madda Bawl - Love Promotion (My Conversation/Debate Riddim)
(58:14) 23. Bushman - Nubian Woman - Love Promotion (My Conversation/Debate Riddim)
(60:25) 24. Anthony B - Bigga Happiness - Love Promotion (My Conversation/Debate Riddim)
(61:33) 25. Junior Kelly - Dem and Those - Love Promotion (My Conversation/Debate Riddim)
(63:44) 26. Luciano - Old King Jephter - Love Promotion (My Conversation/Debate Riddim)
(64:39) 27. Love Promotion - Debate Version - Love Promotion (My Conversation/Debate Riddim)
(67:51) 27. Slim Smith & The Uniques - My Conversation - Lee's/Trojan (My Conversation Riddim)

----------------------------- End of Selection 2 -----------------------------

(71:10) 29. Terror Fabulous - Gangsters Anthem - Madhouse (Gangsters Anthem Riddim)
(73:12) 30. Louie Culture - Bogus Badge - Madhouse (Gangsters Anthem Riddim)
(74:56) 31. Dave Kelly - Gangsters Anthem Version - Madhouse (Gangsters Anthem Riddim)
(77:10) 32. General TK - How Dem Fi Stop You - One Time (Cuss Cuss Riddim)
(79:24) 33. Michael Rose - Money - One Time (Cuss Cuss Riddim)
(80:39) 34. Jah Screw - Cuss Cuss Version - One Time (Cuss Cuss Riddim)
(83:12) 35. Sizzla - Brainwash - Crown Star (Brainwash Riddim)

Selection 1:

(00:00) 1. Junjo Lawes - Far East Version - Volcano (Far East Riddim)
(02:31) 2. The Hombres - Africa - Pressure Sounds (Unknown Riddim)
(05:44) 3. Lee Perry - The Lion - VP (Unknown Riddim)
(09:06) 4. The Upsetter - Foundation Dub - Pressure Sounds (Unknown Riddim)

Starting off nice and easy with a sweet volcano dub of 'Far East' - which always brings to mind Sugar Minotts Studio classic 'Jah Jah Children'. The first of many effects and FX segues us into a trio of 1977 Lee Perry productions, which features 'The Lion', a tune from Perry's legendary 'Return of the Super Ape' LP sandwiched between a bit of compilation pressure in the form of a vocal and version of the Hombres 'Africa' - all on an unknown riddim.

(12:28) 5. Jahmali - Long Long Time - Digital B (Fade Away Riddim)
(14:40) 6. Morgan Heritage - Blackmans Paradise - Digital B (Fade Away Riddim)
(17:49) 7. Bobby Digital - Fade Away Version - Digital B (Fade Away Riddim)
(20:55) 8. Bounty Killer/Redrose/Anthony B/Jack Radics - Dancing - Greensleeves (Stop That Train Riddim)
(23:57) 9. Natural Black - Beat and Shoot - Greensleeves (Stop That Train Riddim)
(26:12) 10.Raggedy Joe - Stop That Train Riddim - Greensleeves (Stop That Train Riddim)
(28:44) 11. President Brown - Unity Train - Greensleeves (Stop That Train Riddim)

Into the 90's conciousness with roots stalwart Bobby Digitals re-version of Junior Byles' 'Fade Away', a riddim which was also the basis of the digital dancehall classic the 'Peanie Peanie'. Morgan Heritage and Jahmali provide the vocals as a touch of juggling starts to make things a bit more interesting. 'Stop that Train' is, of course, based on the early 70's Derrick Harriot classic of the same name. 4 pieces on this tuff re-version, from the lyrically dense 'Dancing' to a twangy dub, and ending with a tune from President Brown, whose tune 'Microchip' also featured on Droid Inna Dancehall 2.

Selection 2:

(32:02) 12. Glen Washington - One Bright Morning - Stingray (Lava Riddim)
(34:24) 13. Bushman - Higher - Stingray (Lava Riddim)
(35:58) 14. Freddie McGregor - Hand in the Fire - Stingray (Lava Riddim)
(39:08) 15. Stingray All Stars - Lava Version - Stingray (Lava Riddim)
(41:58) 16. Anthony B - Third Eye Blind - Easy Star (Thai Stick Riddim)
(44:03) 17. Luciano - Hopes on High - Easy Star (Thai Stick Riddim)
(45:28) 18. Easy Star - Thai Stick Version - Easy Star (Thai Stick Riddim)
(48:49) 19. Mikey General/General Pecos - Love is what we Need - Cylton (Praises Riddim)
(51:14) 20. Luciano - Black Woman - Cylton (Praises Riddim)
(52:47) 21. Cylton - Praises version - Cylton (Praises Riddim)

One of the things about mixing Dancehall and Reggae in comparison to Jungle or Techno, is that the focus of the mix is all concentrated on that moment where one tune flips to another. With 'traditional' dance music, the emphasis is on layering one tune over another, like overlapping steel plates on a ships hull, when you juggle riddims its all about that moment when the two tunes meet, you’re going for a seamless weld rather than an overlap. This is what I try and go for when I’m picking a spot for the mix, and I achieved it with varying degrees of success in this selection, which consists of fairly regular vocal-vocal-version pattern of riddims.

The 'Lava' from 2000 is a bass heavy roots deviation from a label that usually specialises in hyper-cheesy lovers tunes. There’s a bit of beat juggling going on under the Freddie McGregor cut, but I kept it (too) low out of an unreasonable fear of doubling up on the bass, and causing some damage to both ears and bassbins... 'Thai Stick' is a fairly whimsical little original riddim from 1999, with Anthony B and Luciano providing typically inspirational vocals over an eastern twinged melody, but it's Cylton's 'Praises' riddim from the same year that’s the star here, with it's bubbly bassline and infectious horn lick. The underrated Mikey General and General Pecos outdo Luciano in the earnestness stakes, but all three singers provide fine performances here before the dub rolls in...

(55:44) 22. Ninjaman - Madda Bawl - Love Promotion (My Conversation/Debate Riddim)
(58:14) 23. Bushman - Nubian Woman - Love Promotion (My Conversation/Debate Riddim)
(60:25) 24. Anthony B - Bigga Happiness - Love Promotion (My Conversation/Debate Riddim)
(61:33) 25. Junior Kelly - Dem and Those - Love Promotion (My Conversation/Debate Riddim)
(63:44) 26. Luciano - Old King Jephter - Love Promotion (My Conversation/Debate Riddim)
(64:39) 27. Love Promotion - Debate Version - Love Promotion (My Conversation/Debate Riddim)
(67:51) 27. Slim Smith & The Uniques - My Conversation - Lee's/Trojan (My Conversation Riddim)

'My Conversation' is one of those classics from the dawn of reggae thats been revived time and time again - the piano lick and bassline have also been sampled a couple of times by jungilists - but I cant place the tunes. This is a nice 2000 selection from Love Promotion, the Don Gorgon rubbing shoulders with concious hitmakers Junior Kelly, Anthony B and Luciano.The dub of this is particularly nice - with big extended echoed breakdowns - filled out by the sound of an enthusiastics punter clapping into the mic. A scratchy copy of the sublime original 1969 vocal wraps ups this selection.

Selection 3:

(71:10) 29. Terror Fabulous - Gangsters Anthem - Madhouse (Gangsters Anthem Riddim)
(73:12) 30. Louie Culture - Bogus Badge - Madhouse (Gangsters Anthem Riddim)
(74:56) 31. Dave Kelly - Gangsters Anthem Version - Madhouse (Gangsters Anthem Riddim)

Another one that should be familiar to all the jungilsts - Terror Fabulous' 'Gangsters Anthem' was famously sampled by Dillinja on his '95 rinse-out 'Gangster' on Philly Blunt. The anthemic 'Bogus Badge' is possibly better than Terror's effort though, with Louie Culture pulling out all the vocal stops before being cut out by some FX and a gorgeous dub from Dave Kelly. Essential stuff.

(77:10) 32. General TK - How Dem Fi Stop You - One Time (Cuss Cuss Riddim)
(79:24) 33. Michael Rose - Money - One Time (Cuss Cuss Riddim)
(80:39) 34. Jah Screw - Cuss Cuss Version - One Time (Cuss Cuss Riddim)
(83:12) 35. Sizzla - Brainwash - Crown Star (Brainwash Riddim)

The 'Cuss Cuss' is one of the most versioned riddims ever, with Sizzla's 'Solid as a Rock' being the most recent tune to strike gold with its stepping bassline and pseudo 4/4 beat. Three 95 cuts of it here from One Time, with ex-Black Uhuru-ite Mykal Rose dominating with his hit 'Money'. Sizzla's 'Brainwash' comes out of the Cuss Cuss dub in a slightly botched fashion - I would usually mix the Braiwash dub out of it before I go into a vocal, but the lights were on, I was getting the nod from various members of staff at this stage, so I just went straight into the Sizzla, which then turned out to be the last tune - pity - as I had a great Capleton piece lined up...

Well that’s us done for this year. We're reasonably happy with our first 4 months or so of blogging, and the mixes seem to be going down fairly well. There are serious plans afoot for next year along with some BIIIIIIIG mixes, so, bandwidth problems aside, things are looking good for weareie in 2006.

Merry Christmas and Ting! - See you next year...