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Custard
Factory, Birmingham
Saturday, October 26th 2002 |
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| Words & pictures
by
Trigger in Birmingham (UK) has become an integral part of the UK breaks scene;
promoter Kosmik Neil
has been feeding his obsession with bass while building
Trigger  over
the last 5 years. Situated within an enclosed quad in
Birmingham's city centre, Trigger events draw DJs and
punters from all around to experience the infamous soundsystem.
If that wasn't enough, Neil puts on occasional all-nighters.
For these special events, the outside pool is drained,
fitted with a canopy (to keep the rain out & the
music in) and an enormous soundsystem.
The latest one was in October 2002 and boy did it rock!
As you enter the Custard Factory you are greeted with
the sight of the massive canopy over the 80 metre long
pool area. The water had been drained from the pool
and replaced with a mass of bodies getting down to the
resident DJs spinning quality breaks to warm everything
up for FreQ Nasty's
arrival.
Another thing which was apparent when I got to the
bar area was that there were so many players from the
breaks scene in attendance, most of whom had braved
the appalling weather to come from London and the south.
Among the names that had come up to party where crews
from TCR, Botchit, MBN, En:Vision, Rat & MOFO magazine.
The fact that so many had come up to party is a testament
to Trigger's reputation.
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| When FreQ Nasty took up the decks, the already substantial
up-for-it crowd swelled and soon erupted as the Skint
man threw out slab after slab of filthy bass ridden
breakbeat. I personally have never seen such a huge
crowd in the UK in attendence purely for breakbeat;
almost 1500 people were in the breaks tent, and it was
awesome. As ever Mr. McFayden shook the crowd up with
tight mixing and a solid set of wickedly funky bass
rollers. Particular highlights for the crowd where FreQ's
own Amped bootleg of Public Enemy's 'Bring the Noise'
(which caused a feverous response from the amassed throng)
and Krafty Kuts' punishing funk fuelled bass beast 'Bunker
Buster', dropped to the delight of all present.
FreQ Nasty tore up the tent and had the crowd moist
when R-Kidz & Noise
from Mechanoise arrived on stage for their live scratchy
breaks set. Their selection of choice Mechanoise &
personal favourites kept the crowd bustling.
As all of this breaks lairyness was filling up the
pool, the second room was crackling to the innovative
electro breaks phenomenon that is Radioactive
Man and Andrew
Weatherall. Keith Tenniswood's Radioactive
man guise delivered a live set of intense mind wobbling
funky electro-tech with cheeky abandonment. Towards
the end of his set Mr. Weatherall was jamming on the
decks. Weatherall is without doubt one of the most consistently
creative DJ/producers of the last 10 years. He always
manages to manipulate everything he does, putting his
own unique twist on any style of music he chooses to
play. Layering beats and moody atmosphere throughout
his DJ set and supporting Tenniswood's knob twiddling. |
Keith Tenniswood a.ka.
Radioactive Man |
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Having the incredibly tough task of following these
two blown swordsmen was Mike Wallace playing a live set of hard, dirty electro breaks.  Wallace
was lapping up the audience's enthusiasm and maintained
a cheeky grin throughout.
Also on the bill was an American contingent that included
Muti Music's Subekan
holding his own in the electro room and Fuel's Salim
Rafiq who had flew in from Miami especially
for the event. By 4.30 my old bones were flagging but
there was still a hardcore crowd lapping up every broken
beat.
So much focus is directed to London when the UK press
mentions the so-called “Super Clubs”, but
Trigger, especially with events such as this displayed
all the characteristics of a superior club. A large,
friendly crowd, relaxed doorstaff, unbeatable sound
system, top class DJs and a cool vibe. If you are a
follower of the breakbeat religion make your pilgrimage
to Mecca now!
Trigger
Last Saturday of the month
Custard Factory, Gibb St., Digbeth, Birmingham
http://www.trigger2k.co.uk/
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