Given the party vibe that DJ Marky always brings to town, an eclectic and colourful crowd descended on Metro City on Anzac Day for the latest Heavyweight Soundz show. Girls were decked out in colourful shirts, and more than a few Brazilian flags were being waved inside the venue.
The night began with local DJ Dair. Dair’s track selection was perfect to start the night, however it was hard to create a party vibe when Metros had only just opened and many were still waiting outside in the queue.
Old favourite and Loaded Dice stalwart Diamond D then stepped up to the decks as more people arrived. While many punters were hitting the bar, the dance floor began to fill as the beats got fatter and the set progressed. With Diamond D almost baiting the crowd onto the dance floor, by the end of the set Metros was well and truly bumping.
High Roller followed, taking the vibe in a different direction. Shying away from liquid beats, High Roller played a dark jump-up set with enough wobble to shake the walls. While it was a solid set, it felt out of place with the vibe of the night.
Fresh from releasing his latest mix, The Masterplan, on his Innerground record label, DJ Marky hit Metros with a crate full of the latest cuts and party favourites. As High Roller’s final track faded out and Marky took the reins, the temperature inside Metro’s soared to match the hot beats that fired from the speakers.
Tearing through a host of liquid and samba flavoured tracks, it wasn’t long before Marky played the seminal Back Like Dat, with every girl in the crowd singing the lyrics back in perfect unison. The biggest surprise came when Hazard’s latest track Machete suddenly twisted into The Upbeats’ new remix of Ed Rush & Optical’s Pacman.
Marky’s partner in crime, UK’s Stamina MC, did not disappoint either. Stamina’s technique on the microphone is unique in drum & bass. Preferring not to shout and tease the crowd, Stamina rolls out lyrics to match the music and often sings his way over the beats. Friday night was no exception. Stamina’s smooth lyrics flowed over the liquid beats. Reaching out to the crowd and dancing his way across the stage, Stamina’s understated approach is impossible to ignore and a perfect complement to Marky’s style.
Impressive as his mixing skills are, it is Marky’s scratching that sets him apart. Picking up the turntables and scratching with the record upside down is a rare skill, and when Marky hoisted the turntable onto his shoulder, the crowd stood in awe. As the set drew to a close with Pendulum’s Girl In The Fire and Marky’s remix of Snow Patrol’s Open Your Eyes, there was not a single sweaty raver in the room without a smile.
With the crowd still more than up for it, Loaded Dice’s DJ Morry took the decks. However, barely 30 minutes into what was supposed to be a two hour set, the house lights came on and security moved everyone out. For those still on the dancefloor it was a sudden and disappointing end to what had otherwise been a fantastic night.
Marky’s greatest asset is his ability to unite a room full of strangers in the space of two hours. Marky and Stamina MC only hit Australian shores once per year – if you weren’t lucky enough to catch him on the Anzac weekend, don’t miss out next year.
