Review: Chibuku Shake Shake with 2manyDJs @ The Masque

Date: 22nd April 2011

Reviewed by: Paddy Sheridan-Ruddy

Tonight Chibuku was celebrating Good Friday in the only way that Chibuku knows how - with a banging line up of big names and carefully selected up-and-comers, this time headlined by 2manyDJs. 

We arrived at the club in time to see Breakage play in the Loft. Not being being much of a Dubstep fan I wasn't quite sure if I would enjoy it, but I was pleased to find that he played a set filled with tribal drum beats and true Dubstep songs with virtually none of the mid range wobble I dislike so much. My highlight of his set was when he played 'Night' by Benga and Coki which for a while back in 2008 was something of an anthem for me and my friends; so it brought back a lot of good memories. The MC on stage with Breakage was both intelligent and subtle. He was quick witted and played the role of "host" perfectly, sticking to hyping the crowd instead of constantly talking over the songs.

After Breakage finished Andy C was set to play, but as the club was filling up very quickly we opted to move down to the main room to get a decent position for 2manyDJs.

The main room in The Masque is by far and away my favourite venue for a club night; its amphitheatre layout lending it a natural atmosphere that only gets better as the capacity increases. And naturally, the place was packed in anticipation for the Dewaele brothers' entrance. 

Having seen 2manyDJs twice before I knew what to expect, and they are one of the few acts that get better every time I see them. The two brothers play together with minimal communication, seeming to instinctively know exactly what the other is going to do next. They play a set full of some of the best dance songs you will ever hear, often teasing the crowd by looping the intro to well known songs without ever dropping them completely. They used this to great effect with The White Stripes song 'Seven Nation Army', building it up only to drop in 80s hit 'Don't You Want Me Baby'. Their sets are often a sing-a-long, with the tonight crowd passionately singing along to what is possibly their biggest remix to date; that of MGMT's Kids. The crowd were fantastic and despite the heat in the room danced throughout their set with a passion I have rarely seen, at the end of the set a rousing cry of "one more tune" led to the lights being dimmed and the Dewaele brothers dropping an incredible edit of 'Breed' by Nirvana. This was quite possibly the most unexpected yet brilliant encore I have ever witnessed.

As is to be expected with a Chibuku night the crowd were friendly, and the night was once again a great experience for all. I cannot recommend one of their nights highly enough.

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