Nero 'Promises'

I love dubstep tag-team Nero. Like really, really love them.

A friend of mine started working with the duo recently and confirms that they're great lads. Which leaves me all the more heartbroken to have had marriage proposals refused and my underwear returned, still used, in the post. 

I managed to sneak onto the list for Chase & Status at Roundhouse for the iTunes festival which, according to the Gravity Skank survey, seems the only way of getting in these days - competition tickets are like gold dust, whereas the guestlist queue stretched way back up to where that glorious Banksy used to be. Corporate, much?

Having been to the Chase & Status album launch many moons ago and listened to 'No More Idols' a gazillion times, and, being familiar with the typical lethargy of a Roundhouse crowd, I thought I knew what to expect.

But badda bing! I was totally blown away. It seems the boys have taken a leaf out of the Chemical Brothers bible and invested in some cracking production. And Nero, oh, lights of my life, how you looked so handsome atop those massive speakers. If only that injunction didn't keep me at least 50 metres away at all times.

I jest. In seriousness those boys smashed it: I've never seen Roundhouse go so nuts. And I've gotten so used to dance music being treated as an underground phenomenon that it's good to see live performances being turned up to the max, a feast for the eyes as well as the ears.

So to celebrate, let's look at their latest video, for the anthem 'Promises'. The superb production on this tells a story somewhere between Big Brother and Brave New World.

The album, 'Welcome Reality', is due out tomorrow and I'm so excited about hearing it I might just wet myself.   

XOYO marks the spot - Aug 2011

On a fleeting return visit to London last week I managed to squeeze in a trip to XOYO, the 800-capacity club tucked into an alley behind Old Street station.

When nearby Herbal club closed in 2009 I was bereft, but this venue has filled that hole well. With a team including my ex Mixmag colleague and Bugged Out! founder John Burgess at the helm, you'd expect them to spot a good lineup from ten paces. Which they can.

Toddla T was playing - regular readers will know I'd never slate him. But the other DJs did a wicked job too, mixing up dubstep, garage, funky, jungle, and all other urban loveliness, into a bumpin' room with a great vibe. Rinse FM DJ Oneman took it a little too RnB but we forgive him for that because he also dropped LL Cool J's 'Doin It'. (Remember that one, kids? No?)

Anyway, the point of all this waffle is that XOYO is a fantastic club and you should all support it (and try to convince the council to let it open past 4am). So get your high tops on and jog down to Soundcrash on Saturday 20 August or the Urban Nerds Carnival Special the week after. Look!

Stanton Warriors at the new Matter

It was a sad day when Matter nightclub closed last year, after the owners of super-underground London venue Fabric failed to keep the enterprise afloat.

I was hesitant when news broke that Proud Group, which owns Camden's Proud Galleries and a bunch of other UK venues, announced it was taking over the Greenwich club, naming it Proud2.

The firm promises 'Vegas-style clubbing' and has completed a £1 million renovation that includes chandeliers, a VIP area and a gentlemans' club on the second floor - a world away from its founders' ethos and the type of club I wouldn't piss on if it was on fire.

So I was surprised to see the venue announce a lineup worthy of the capital's more grimey venues, with breakbeat dons Stanton Warriors, Radio One's Zane Lowe, and dubstep filth merchant Bar9 among the list. The night is hosted by Nottingham-born breakbeat promotion Spectrum.

Are you headed to the party? Leave your comments here and let us know what you think.

Double Trouble

The last time Gravity Skank went down to Corsica Studios' long-running night Trouble Vision was for their excellent second birthday party last year, where Zinc completely tore it up with a set ranging from old school jungle, to garage, dubstep and his own brand of crack house.

This weekend looks even better with the club night taking over Corsica Studios on both Friday and Saturday for the first time ever with a massive line-up featuring artists from two of their favourite labels - Girls Music and AUS Music.

Instead of being tempted to cram David Rodigan, Roller Express (Toddla T and Redlight), Shy FX, Roska, Theo Parrish, Ramadanman and Motor City Drum Ensemble into one big night, they've split them across the weekend and stayed at home in South London, and for that, we are eternally grateful.

Advance tickets are now unsurprisingly sold out, but there will 100 on the door if you get there early. We'll see you there on the Saturday, raving at the front!

How To Dance To Dubstep

You thought you knew how to dance? Think again.

Sit back and learn from the master.

Trust me, it's an excellent investment of your time!