UK gig review: Soulwax @ Bristol Carling Academy: Sept 28, 2005

UK gig review: Soulwax @ Bristol Carling Academy: Sept 28, 2005

UK gig review: Soulwax @ Bristol Carling Academy - Sept 28, 2005
By Tom Knight

I have to be honest - it's difficult to know what to think of Soulwax. Like pretty much everyone I was first introduced to the Dewaele brothers through 2 Many DJ's, the kooky production project that enthrals the dance fringe with their improbable remixes. Destiny's Child vs Nirvana. Kylie Minogue vs New Order. Basement Jaxx vs The Clash. Inspired musical reworkings or dressed up novelty party music? The jury's still out on that one. You can't deny their technical skill but personally, I prefer my Billy Jean straight.

Before attacking me violently, the faithful would quickly point out the obvious but often overlooked fact that 2 Many DJ's is only a part of the Soulwax set-up. The "Radio Soulwax" tour is in fact the third UK showcase of "Any Minute Now", the dance / rock LP recorded by the full live band last year. The band, which includes the Dewaele brothers (vocals, keyboards and guitars), Stephane Misseghers (drums, loops), Stef Van Leuven (bass), and Inge Flipts (keyboards) cut their first EP over ten years ago, with a sound far more akin to post-grunge rock than to electronica.

Following the release of their sample-heavy 1998 album "Much Against Everyone's Advice", the boys from Ghent began to market themselves as a live dance band. Eight years on and they're at the top of the pile: "Any Minute Now" spawned several UK top 40 hits, a string of club anthems and critical acclaim across the board. Thus, I was rather intrigued to see them on stage.

Indeed, there were early flashes of brilliance as the bone-shaking bass whipped the student, up-for-it crowd into near frenzy. When it came down to it though, Soulwax didn't quite live up to expectation. Listen, I would be the first to defend live drumming in dance music (The Bays instantly spring to mind), but this time there was a real flatness to the rhythm section that unravelled the whole show. Neither were they particularly engaging on stage - almost static in identical white suits, they were too busy staring at their buttons to pay any attention to the fans below.

By the time the band had downed instruments a significant proportion of us felt disconnected from the performance, and weren't even watching the stage. It was up to 2 Many DJ's, who were to play the night out, to save the day. There's nothing that irks me more than seeing live performers just go through the motions. It's quite right that the ticket-buying public expect to see something spectacular for their money. Instead, those who stayed whilst the crowd thinned out were rewarded with two skulking DJ's hidden behind a booth in the corner, illuminated by a bedside lamp. Their famous crowd-pleasers were conveyed with such disinterestedness that, dare I say it, I got rather bored. "Smack My Bitch Up" was a highlight, but then it's always a highlight.

I don't doubt that on their day Soulwax are great. Heck, the band that put Belgium on the musical map deserves some credit. On Wednesday though, something didn't quite fit. I must say that walking past the mountains of flight cases and enormous tour-bus on the way out, I couldn't help but wonder what all the fuss is about.