The last ever University of Dub at The Brixton Recreation Center, an emotional night!
Entebbe Sound System, King Earthquake and Aba Shanti I in attendance. In general, if i'm being honest i thought that, musically, it was a tiny bit bellow par - but that's a general comment, all systems performed solidly - and i was jumping around like a crazed loon on at least three or four occasions, so probably more a comment on the general high standard that has been set?
My musical highlights, were Aba's last slot (more on that later!), hearing Burning Spear's Travelling (Earthquake i think) very eary on followed closely by Legalise It by Peter Tosh and the dub version (!) from Entebbe - big tunes! The baseline from Legalise It is dirrrty, a solid wall of low end from the low lows up, with loads of 400-600ish cycles in there, so tons of grit driving and driving away... and driving - loved it! Also from Entebbe, the tune that goes Jah Give Us The Victory is... I'm lost for words... just amazing. Big up the differently abled badman who turned on his flashing lights for this one! Entebbe again at about 3am i think came out with two or three 1970's super-minimal drum and bassline rockers in a row - tunes with groove for days - i was trapped between a hypnotic out of body state and wide eyed rapture of awe for the pure genius of the b-lines. So first time i've seen Entebbe, and impressed, would say they need to work on getting those mic levels up a touch, and don't be affraid to give so of the older tunes a little top-end when they need it. Trying to be brief: suffice to say Aba and Earthquake - big selection - jumping around like crazy. Both played personal anthems - "King Earthquaaaaake!" - "Aba the father, Shanti the warrior!". I remember Aba smacking it so hard, practcially the whole crowd had to go for a sit-down, left the room, poor Entebbe (who had to follow) - was comedy checking Mark Iration and some dreads chatting just outside the main hall being like "what's going on? ...its an exodus?!?!" : ) And oh yeah, definite highlight was Earthquake feeding back his bass into his bass (that's what it sounded like), i've literally heard nothing like it, uncontrollably building and building, feeding back out of control - i swear the crowd stopped what it was doing and stood paralysed in fear looking at Earthquake (who low end is all powerful as standard) as if to say "what are you doing man, can't you see that its feeding back, quick do something, act, you're gunna kill us alllllllllllll" - we were looking to see if something was going wrong, and then just at the last moment he switched it hard off, and looked up and grinned his head off - he knew exactly what he was doing, silence - "come thru Aba". Brilliant.
So yeah the crowd and the vibes: Great to see Mark Iration milling about, paying respects, doing the rounds, and generally having it! Crowd slightly low in numbers, presumably coz the last UOD was two weeks ago (this one was brought forward coz of the refurbishment of the rec) and the fact that it was to be the last one at the rec ever was not widely publised - not sure why - i'm sure if it had been widely advertised it would have been crazily rammed so maybe better this way. The crowd was totally diverse as always, it seemed to me the Krusty crew was almost totally missing (two in a month to much for them?) and maybe a few of the young clubby types were under represented. Also: Loads of hot and interesting looking girls, loads man. So many familar faces i wanted to exchange words with, not to mention the staff, the door staff, security, venors, cloakroom crew etc. etc. to thank them for the their role (whether they knew it or not) in what has been an important and positive part of my life - when i put it like that i totally regret not doing so!! Anyway you lot are wicked... you knew that anyway. Thanks to the door staff in particular for looking after my friend Katy who had to leave early (with a stomache bug), checking she was getting home ok, thanks. Gotta say hope the new incarnation of the University of Dub has as good wheelchair facilities, that's gotta happen one way or the other.
So yeah, the last one. When i saw all the posters around the place for nights gone by i knew it was farewell. Nice touch tho'. Aba gave a great speach at around 2am i think, annoucing the news, upbeat, postitive of course, and i wonder if a tiny part of him is ever so slightly relieved - he's earned a break! 11 years he said the night had been running, and he's missed two dances! "I make that 98%" he said proudly.
Looking back i've probably been attending, on and off, for almost ten years. I remember the first one i went to, taken there by a friend, Mark Hedicar, when i was probably 18, we got there very early, i think we might have even just walked in the side door, and maybe not paid, (hi Mark), i sort of rememer entering the hall from that side and sitting on the floor, and i think possibly even leaving before the lights were turned out, maybe one of the sounds was running late that night, maybe its was getting past our bedtimes? Anyway, that was the first. But it had all started with Mark giving me a copy of one of Aba's tapes, or at least it said Aba Shanti I on it, and that tape was to do the rounds and be copied several times, many times it was lost and someone would have to get back in touch with someone to get a copy. It was great to copy it for the man who had given it to me in the first place, that was about two years ago, he was very happy to be reunited with it and i was happy to return the favour, and complete the circle. Recently, I had lost my second copy, thought Jo had the only remaining copy in knew of, but he said he'd lost his (and wanted another one!) - oh dear. But happy days, after battling through eons of dust in my attic the other day, there it was, the original! Pity i don't have a tape player any more! : ) Spotted one at work with a digital out that i might try and use and make a master version. Later on that year and subsequent years i'd go there with a mate Ben Ashton and his crew, including our mutual mate Rob and another Ben, I remember seeing Aba at The Fridge in Brixton with them. The way i remember it was Ben Ashton and two of his boys in a row, hands behind back, bobbing back and forth in sync... literally all night like that! Hope they're alright these days. And it was always there. Anywaaaay, i have digressed.
After the 2am ish announcement the party continued through the night, the knees and the back particularly were weak : ) but the skanking continued. At one point i started to worry i'd have to sit out the last stint, i think Chris went off for a rest at this point, but then Earthquake came through with the bangers, had me and Jo, and certainly those around us, jumping around like mad, and knew there were hidden reserves of energy, always, waiting to be tapped.
And so it continued until 6am. It seemed Aba's father was in attendance to witness the last dance, lots of smiling, he looked cool, apparently Chris reckoned he may have spotted Aba's mum too. The way the rotations went, 6am was approaching and it looked like it would not come back to Aba in time to do a last set! At about 2 minutes past 6am, Earthquake finished... and the lights turned on... and Aba began. What a moment. The hall felt still half full, people of all races and ages and religions, lots of familiar faces and we danced and appreciated, regardless of the lights being on, instrumental heavy weight stuff, not vocal weepies as i had expected, it could be read as definace but i think it was fun and upful buisness, Aba not holding back with the dubs, long feedbacks on the delays, flicking them off, then slamming in the bass uncharacteristically brutally, pushing his system to breaking point, the warmth man! A bit of dub-drum fx that took me back to the old tape. Two sirens put through their paces. But mainly it was about being there at the end to see loads of people dancing unashamedly with the lights bright on, surrouded by the flags of the world, under the banner of peace and UOD. My feet were more off the floor than on, guys utilising huge strips of dancefloor, legs going everywhere, one guy moving like his body was limp and violently animated by bass alone, my man Jo doing 360's in the air, sick sick sick sick, such strong outward emotions on display.
Before the very end Aba again reminded us that if it was up to him the night would go on and on and on, and that the vibe in this hall would last and last regardless, check the website, and when one door close another door open. Its been an honour sir. Thank you.
This night has brought people together, Aba told us, the crowd is diverse, and this is the foundation that will be built on in the future, what ever form it takes.
Big up Chris and Jo for being there til the end and very regularly sharing UOD experiences with me in recent times. Although it is sad that it has come to an end, at least we made the most of it before it was too late, and we went out in style, what more can you ask for? (Also very pleased to have Kate, Katy and Jamie's company on this one - big up for making it).
Right!
What's next?
Stay tuned.
One love
