Review: Live Wire presents DJ EZ at Gorilla

Images: Madeleine Penfold 

For some upcoming events the hype is near immeasurable. Excitement is pasted across social media platforms, tickets sell out almost instantaneously and the artists themselves are aware of the buzz. DJ EZ at Gorilla for Live Wire was one of those events. 

Titled as a strictly underground house and techno event, Live Wire’s choice to bring the pioneering UK garage DJ to headline their bill may have seemed initially unsuitable, but the night proved otherwise as residents served up some of the best warm up sets we've had the pleasure of listening to in a while.

The crowd consisted of mainly giddy young students, not the usual diverse age range that EZ pulls in, but just as boisterous nonetheless. The Gorilla balcony provided the right view to watch the main room fill from wall to wall before the night kicked off properly. 

It’s difficult to warm up for someone like EZ, how do you prepare a crowd for a set so hard-hitting and full of classics? But surprisingly, the Live Wire residents had it in the bag.

Chugging, funky house came courtesy of Newtons Law from the word go, it was unusually heavy for such an early slot, but it was appropriate given the circumstances. They worked effortlessly and confidently through bass-heavy house tracks, the duo dropping Green Velvet and Patrick Topping's 'Voicemail' (listen below) was a particular highlight.  

Joseph Edmund was up next and served up innumerable ruthless drops. He teased the crowd with massive build ups, and provoked rowdy and vocal reactions with tracks including SEFF’s new release on Hot Creations ‘Like That’ (read our interview with him here).

At half two EZ stepped up to the stage, greeted by howls from all corners of the main room. The DJ EZ intro sent the crowd into frenzy. Straight into his signature quick mixing, he bounced from a couple of crowd pleasers including Oliver Heldens' Gecko and O.T. Genasis 'CoCo'. 

It wouldn’t be an EZ set without some classics, he worked through some of his set-defining tracks including 'Little Man' by Sia and DJ Zinc and 'Little Bit Of Luck' by DJ Luck & MC Neat (listen above).

Of course EZ's set was a delight, that was a given, but it was an early track selection from the residents themselves that made the night. Live Wire lads, hats off. 

Read about why Becca is such a big DJ EZ fan in her Love Affair feature here. 

Tickets are no longer available for this event