Frantic memories — 8 years of mayhem with Frantic residents and regulars
Reported by benz
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Submitted 10-08-05 11:43
Right so we’ve given you the full, mostly objective history of Frantic, where it came from, and how it got to where it is today. We talked to Will Paterson, the promoter of Frantic, and to some of the other people who helped make these parties such a success over the years, we got your comments and some of your best memories of the events over the years. Now it’s time for the DJs to do the talking and fill us on what it’s been like to be on the other side of the decks at Frantic over the years.
Frantic line-ups these days comprise of a healthy mixture of young blood — hot new talent, DJs who have broken into the scene in the last few years — and established hard house legends who have been playing at Frantic parties for years. Will has a dedication for supporting DJs he thinks seriously cut the mustard, and realises how important it is to push them and help them develop their names.
So for the first time ever we brought some of the DJs who have been shaping the sound of Frantic for years — Steve Hill, Justin Bourne and Spencer Freeland— with some of Frantic’s best-loved ‘recent’ additions — Andy Whitby, Cally Gage, Steve Maynard and Lucy Fur — to reminisce about 8 years of Frantic. Here it is — Frantic: the DJs perspective!
What’s the biggest crowd reaction you've ever got at Frantic, and what was the tune responsible for doing so?
AW: Well, the crowd reactions at Frantic are always unrivalled with anywhere else, the Frantic kids certainly know how to party! My two favourite crowd reactions were at Frantic Brings You MORE, coming on after Paul Maddox, who had built it up nicely and it was ready to go to the next level. I opened with Ratty — ‘Sunrise’ (P.H.A.T.T remix) and 2000 people just threw their hands up and went absolutely bonkers, even had Will Paterson laughing at the raw ‘grab the crowd’s emotion’ power... a great moment.
The second one was @ Timeless 4th Birthday. After rushing down from Polysexual and just making it in time for my set, I opened with a mashup of around 80 tracks before chopping in Bliss Inc’s ‘Faith’ (Rachel Auburn remix)... as soon as the crowd knew it was ‘Faith’ it was game over. The vocal dropped and the ENTIRE building, including other DJs and promoters all sang along, hands in the air. I remember standing back from the decks and thinking, “This is what it’s all about,” which sounds cheesy, but it is... they’re moments that will stay with you forever.
Andy Whitby
JB: When I dropped James Lawson's ‘Energise’ at the last Timeless. That was something special. Actually the crowd was so up for it, most of the tunes in my set that night were going off but that one got me too. It’s a fond memory!
LF: Tough questions! There are three actually that I can really remember. Firstly, my first main room set at Camden Palace for the last Frantic before it closed. I was as nervous as hell, but the tune was the Barbwire 3 remix of TDV's ‘I Don't Care’. It was a spine-chilling moment- the crowd's hands in the air, all the lazers on show and the whistles and horns were going off! It was magic! Also, my first Timeless set at Turnmills in the main room a few years back — I got really good feedback from that night and it was before anyone really knew me. The tune was OD404 — ‘9 Bar’! And my Convergence residency clincher at The Scala, the DJ after me didn’t show so I got to play nearly 2 hours in the main room and due to the music style it went off in there — the top tune I would have to say was Karim’s ‘Atomic Kick’!
CG: The biggest crowd reaction I think I’ve ever had a Frantic event, was Timeless 4th birthday at The KoKo Club — it was immense. As it was a classics night, pretty much every tune that I played had the crowd going for it, but I think that opening with ‘Let Me Be Your Fantasy’ started it all off and they went completely crazy for the whole hour after that!!
SM: The biggest crowd reaction would have to be playing at Camden Palace NYD B2B With Lucy Fur. I played Tony De Vit — ‘Are you All Ready?’ as my last tune — can’t really go wrong with that one though!
Steve Maynard
SH: My biggest tune would have to be my remix of Basement Jaxx’s ‘Where’s Your Head At’ at Hard House Academy or Volts Wagen's ‘No Sleep’ — unreal — I’ll take that to my grave! Camden Palace has some special moments too!
SF:The biggest crowd I’ve ever played to was at Frantic in South Africa, at the Playhouse venue in Durban. The total capacity of the club was 7000, with at least 1500 more clubbers outside the venue, which began life historically as a theatre!
I’d say for the hard heads, Wippenberg’s — ‘Neurodancer’ got a phenomenal response. And for the trance heads Parker & Clinde — ‘Generator’. Those were great times!
Spencer Freeland
What’s the funniest, most bizarre or just downright most random thing you’ve ever seen at Frantic?
AW: Now, I'm going to be boring now and disappoint, as I never usually get to gigs til just before my set and usually have to leave to go somewhere else straight after, so I can’t really tell you!
Something I find different than any other hard house club is the sheer amount of different nationalities you see on the dancefloor, it’s like a bloody collection of the world’s clubbers all under one roof; Chinese, Japanese, Australian... you’ve got people who have travelled down from Scotland, boated over from Ireland, flown over from Norway. So, not funny, bizarre or random... just a unique crowd!
JB: Some guy air smoking a Vick’s stick thinking it was a cigarette, ha ha!
LF: It’s hard to say — nothing really springs to mind — sure there must be loads of things though! That little green man thing is pretty random (Nu Energy Collective)! The first time I saw him I thought he was a clubber who had put a lot of effort into his night out! Ha ha! My mates are definitely the funniest — they always come when I play and make the night a lot of fun. Most bizarre thinking about it is the last Chemistry at SEOne — I nearly got refused entry because the bouncer said I had an attitude! WTF for those who know me would appreciate how mad that is!
CG: I know this probably sounds quite boring but I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything too out of the ordinary at Frantic — not anything that you wouldn’t expect from crazy clubbers anyway, lol!
SM: There have been far too many, funny and bizarre experiences at Frantic. I could never pick just one!
SH: Gees... there’s been a few sights in my time I’ve had a good giggle at... one I remember is someone trying to get on the decks saying that they were Nick Sentience. Greg Brookman has never been able to look me in the eye without laughing since!
SF: The funniest thing I remember was when me and Phil (Reynolds) were on tour, and at the time were in Capetown playing for Unity. Myself and Phil were playing back to back on the night, and the set was going really well… up until Phil managed to blow the sound system! Regardless to say the club was left in silence for a good few minutes (but it seemed a lot longer), but we certainly got a reaction when the sound kicked back in! And the most random thing was some clubber/idiot/fool (delete as appropriate) deciding that coming up to the booth and attempting to lift the needle off of the currently playing deck was a good idea. It wasn’t!
Steve Hill
Over all the Frantic’s you have been to, who has played the most spellbinding, breathtaking, flawless set that you have witnessed? Which sets really stand out in your mind?
AW: Again, I’m going to disappoint and say I can’t answer as I only ever catch the last 20 minutes or first few tracks of someone’s set. Sorry!
JB: Steve Thomas back in early 2000 played an awesome set. It was the first time that I’d heard the BK & Nick Sentience remix of ‘Injected with a Poison’, it rocked the place. Also Andy Farley’s closing set, I can’t remember the exact date but he was wicked as always.
LF: I’ve seen some amazing sets at Frantic! I can’t pinpoint the exact dates but these are my favourites — Bourne at Chemistry SEOne (last one there), Glazby in the Hard House Academy foyer at Brixton Academy (on many occasions!), Superfast Oz @ Convergence, Scala (The Magnificent 7), Karim in the Camden Palace main room (back2school)... the list goes on!
Lucy Fur
CG: Unfortunately I don’t very often get the chance to stick around at Frantic events for very long as I have either just got there 10 minutes before more set or have to head straight off somewhere else. When I have stuck around I am mostly around the bar area with vodka in hand and not noticing what is going on around me, lol! No, that’s not totally true — all the sets that I have heard have been amazing one way or another, that is why the line ups for Frantic events are so strong as they always have great DJs all the time. Sorry for not pin-pointing one for you, it’s a bit of a cop-out really!
SM: There has been a few, but I will always remember Paul Glazby B2B Karim at Convergence in 2003, it was unbelievable!
SH: Wow — I think Steve Thomas blew me away at one of the first Frantics at Bagley’s 7 years ago... it was when OD404 and so on first started making records — it was amazing. To be honest though, Spencer Freeland and Phil Reynolds are just awesome each and every time: they really know the crowd and showed up some of the bigger names!
SF: I would have to say technically Steve Thomas. And for the entertainment factor, it has to be the one and only Mr Hill!
Which single Frantic event over the years was your favourite and why?
AW: Again, I’m going to say two, I know the question says ‘single’ but I can’t narrow it down to just one!
First up is Frantic’s Timeless 4th Birthday @ Koko Club (Camden Palace), as well as the ‘Faith’ moment mentioned above everything just seemed to click into place for that hour I was there, the crowd reaction, the lazers, the sound, the mixing... there was several moments when I had to stop, catch my breath and think “Christ on a bike... this place is going bananas!” It was superb and even more of a reason I’m getting very excited about the next one... watch out Cally Gage!
Second one is my first proper set for Frantic, which was... funnily enough Timeless! This time it was the 3rd Birthday @ Mass, the first time I realized what a Frantic crowd were all about. I remember really working the mixer; effects, chopping records up, bootlegs, I even did a rare scratch appearance and when I got off was told there was a camera directly above the mixer so everyone could see how fast my hands were working the mixer, which drew quite a crowd apparently. It was kinda like my first proper Frantic memory and a great one as I knew that a crowd that was used to hearing harder more techno-influenced hard house, was also up for hands-in-the-air vocal bouncy fun. Happy days!
JB: There have been so many amazing nights it’s really hard to choose one. I’d say the last Timeless earlier this year is one of the top one’s though, it was great to be up on stage. The view is awesome, seeing the Palace rammed to the rafters with a sea of smiling faces is something else. You can’t beat that feeling. Bring on the 8th Birthday!
Justin Bourne
LF: The earlier ones when I was a clubber, in ’99 and ’00 and loved every spectrum of hard dance! I had some amazing nights out and now it’s amazing for different reasons. That clubbing feeling of loving the music for what it is is very liberating! Everything changes when you become a DJ, not for the worse but just very different. I wouldn’t change the way my life is now for anything!
CG: My favourite ever Frantic event (this is hard), has to be umm... the Timeless 4th Birthday. To start off with it was at my favourite venue in the world, The KoKo Club, and it was a classics night too — what more could you ask for? The whole place was buzzing and every DJ was superb with anthem after anthem being played. Standing on that main stage looking out into that crowd is something that I will always remember — it was so good I just wanted to scream! Timeless has to be one of my most favourite events so I can’t wait until 1st October — bring it on Mr Whitby, are you ready?!
Cally Gage
SM: Most definitely as above, Convergence (March 2003). Paul Glazby B2B Karim, BK, Energy Dai from Japan if I remember correctly. Even Phil Reynolds played hard as. It was one of the filthiest nights I have ever experienced.
SH: I’d have to say every Hard House Academy — it’s just an awesome atmosphere and everyone is there...and Timeless — it’s when everyone comes out to play! There have been so many good Frantics it’s hard to narrow it down to one!
SF: Frantic’s debut in Camden Palace was a monumentous event, as it was a huge achievement for the club at the time to take its place at its new spiritual home. All the hard work hugely paid off, and the rest, as we know it is ... history! See you all on Saturday!
All photos courtesy of Frantic, Paul Underhill, Daf, Joeyxx and Midnight Expressions.
Frantic's 8th Birthday
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On:
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Saturday 13th August 2005
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At:
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KOKO [map]
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From:
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21:00 - 06:00
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Cost:
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Limited Early Bird Tickets go on sale Monday 16th May 2005
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Ticket Info:
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Limited Early Bird Tickets go on sale Monday 16th May 2005
Ticketweb: 08700 600 100 / www.ticketweb.co.uk
Club tickets: 0870 246 1840 / www.clubtickets.co.uk
Frantic HQ: 07949 618 065 / Amanda@franticuk.com
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Buy Online:
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Click here to buy tickets
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More:
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Frantic's 8th Birthday
Saturday 13th August
2100-0600
Koko (Camden Palace)
1A Camden High Street, Mornington Crescent Tube
www.koko.uk.com
This is the Dream Ticket! The UK's biggest and boldest Hard House Event at Europe's greatest Dance venue!
In 8 amazing years we have achieved over 650 successful events in 10 Countries and over 4 Continents. We have been host to over 600,000 Clubbers and have played out over 400 different DJs in 50 different venues with 5000 Hours of Hard House!
Frantic's celebrates 8 years as the UK's brightest champion of Hard House by converting the glorious Koko (Camden Palace) into the ultimate celebration of the music we love and the scene that we support.
All the DJs and Acts in the Main Room and Arena 2 have been chosen for their ability to rock the dance floor like there is no tomorrow! All will be playing nothing but the finest classics and anthems as we trip down memory lane and live again 8 years of unbeatable parties and unforgettable times!
We will be building a unique and innovative stage set and bringing in new Lasers, Frantic visuals, balloon drops and confetti canons!
There will be a free commemorative CD mixed by the delightful Cally Gage available to Early Arrivals! Goodgreef Legend and Northern Hero Alex Kidd challenges Frantic Resident Andy Whitby to a battle on the Wheels of Steel. This is going to be better than good!
YOU JUST HAVE TO BE THERE!!!
HARD HOUSE, OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD, BUT NEVER BETTERED!!
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