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First time to see John Digweed

So in the next month, I am 20 years too late in finally joining everyone else on here to see John Digweed and Sasha separately, but Saturday night, and next month, I have a chance to finally see them live.

Question: Anyone seen them recently, especially Digweed? Should I have high or low expectations based on current form?

inb4omgdeltaheavytwilohacienda

I saw him about four months ago, and I've seen him twice in the last two years. My verdict is that when he's playing growling futuristic tech house he's great, but both times I've seen him he's thrown in a lot of very boring boom-y big room techno. His style of set programming and mixing has changed enormously since the prog years as well. It's not the same smooth journey style any more, and I don't agree with some of the directions he goes in with his flow.

I've not seen him play the more melodic end of his sound, so I would cross your fingers for more of that and less of the techno, because in my opinion he's a shit techno DJ.

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Originally posted by SYSTEM-J I saw him about four months ago, and I've seen him twice in the last two years. My verdict is that when he's playing growling futuristic tech house he's great, but both times I've seen him he's thrown in a lot of very boring boom-y big room techno. His style of set programming and mixing has changed enormously since the prog years as well. It's not the same smooth journey style any more, and I don't agree with some of the directions he goes in with his flow. I've not seen him play the more melodic end of his sound, so I would cross your fingers for more of that and less of the techno, because in my opinion he's a shit techno DJ.

Cheers.

I assume you're referring to Digweed? I listen to Transitions fairly regularly. There seem to be a couple of tracks on there that I like each week, but even on that radioshow alone, sometimes it just 'flows', and other time it seems like a mish-mash of random tech for the sake of being random.

Assuming you were talking about Digweed; Same with Sasha?

Yeah, I meant Digweed. I haven't seen Sasha for about six years. He was boring as piss then and every live set I've heard since then has also been boring as piss, with the exception of his Kumharas beach set for Ibiza Sonica.

Both of them are well past their best in my eyes, but people still suck their dick like it's 1998.

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Originally posted by SYSTEM-J Yeah, I meant Digweed. I haven't seen Sasha for about six years. He was boring as piss then and every live set I've heard since then has also been boring as piss, with the exception of his Kumharas beach set for Ibiza Sonica. Both of them are well past their best in my eyes, but people still suck their dick like it's 1998.

You've pretty much summed up what I've read and/or heard elsewhere. Well, I feel like I gotta go see them once. Thanks for the feedback.

I still have yet to see Sasha or Digweed

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Originally posted by SynthNinja I still have yet to see Sasha or Digweed

my condolences

Sasha has clearly fallen further down. His sets have no direction and he's not anywhere near his pre 00's self. Having said that, Digweed has also felt a heavy decline but he's clearly the healthier of the two when talking about DJing. I agree with Jack with the Digweed criticisms as I can totally see him going way off. I will say that in the 5 times I've seen John play, they have all been completely different stories and there is a noticeable effort towards giving his fans something different. I can' really speak for how he plays in the UK or else where since, well, I'm not there.

I was fortunate enough to have the chance to see them play together last year and it's evident that they do play tracks they wouldn't play on their own. It does have more of an older progressive vibe and the programming is more on point.

I doubt many people will tell you not to go as at worst, you'll be able to check off a line on your EDM bucket list.

I'd still like to see them B2B, no doubt. I had the chance in Barcelona this summer, but they clashed with Lee Burridge's event across town and I wasn't about to miss that. I've seen a lot of clips of them playing together since they hooked up again in 2016, and every tune seems to be a bomb.

I;ve seen digweed about a dozen times since the late 90's.

My most memorable was probably when he played for 6 hours straight at Heaven (Charing Cross, London) around 2005. He was playing stuff that right on the cutting edge at the time, very "renaissance" and it flowed seamlessly between bristling moody tech house to atmospheric prog. It was quite a tour de force.

Last time I saw him was here in LA about 4 years ago at The Exchange LA and frankly it was a bit of a miss. Granted it was somewhat booked as a techno night and Claude Von Stroke was playing as well so the mix was a bit odd, but the problem was that venue is a big room and Diggers basically attempted to bang it out rather than have any semblance of flow.

His mixes in other places in recent years seem to be hit or miss. I'm always a little wary of judging a live set while not in the actual venue but typically it's not been the sort of thing that makes me wish I was there.

I'd still probably go if it's a good venue though.

As for Sasha, I wholeheartedly agree with Jack - I haven't heard a single set from him in recent years that made me think I was missing anything worth a ticket price.

The last time I saw him was Sound hollywood, he was over an hour late (who the fuck flies across country straight to a gig these days?) and although did his best, the club was forced to close 1:45mins in to the set so it didn't really get going, Was such a fucking shame as it's one of the more intimate venues I've ever seen him billed for [insert small basement room pic with having fag lit etc).

I can't quite tell whether OP's post means they're playing b2b, which I've only seen once and it was fucking amazing but it was nearly 20 years ago and I didn't really understand the magnitude then of what I was munting to.


If it is back to back, I probably couldn't avoid going.

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Originally posted by DJ RANN I can't quite tell whether OP's post means they're playing b2b, which I've only seen once and it was fucking amazing but it was nearly 20 years ago and I didn't really understand the magnitude then of what I was munting to. If it is back to back, I probably couldn't avoid going.

This time, it would be separately.

Basically, this weekend is Ultra Japan where there is a Resistance stage. However, I don't wanna $130 to listen to a 90-minute set. So, the after party is at a club in town, so I thought about going.

Last year, Sasha & Digweed did B2B at Ultra, but the set length (90 minutes) didn't justify the cost.

Digweed did a 6 hour club set in Tokyo at Contact back at the end of April which I couldn't make 'cos I was out out of the country, but he released a 6-disc CD of the night, which I bought.

So it's by chance that Digweed is playing at this after-party, and that also by chance, Sasha is playing in October.

Markus Schulz is also back in Japan for the first time in 10 years (literally) at the end of the month, too!

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Originally posted by _Ocean_Drive_ Digweed did a 6 hour club set in Tokyo at Contact back at the end of April which I couldn't make 'cos I was out out of the country, but he released a 6-disc CD of the night, which I bought.

This is actually quite good. Some on here may not agree but I felt it flowed very well for a club setting. Some of the transitions were jaw dropping at points.

After I read this thread yesterday, it did occur to me that over the past 10 years, there has literally only been two Sasha live sets that I'd re-listen to. That's incredible to me.





Have to say the Chicago set is still a killer.

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Originally posted by _Ocean_Drive_ This time, it would be separately. Basically, this weekend is Ultra Japan where there is a Resistance stage. However, I don't wanna $130 to listen to a 90-minute set. So, the after party is at a club in town, so I thought about going. Last year, Sasha & Digweed did B2B at Ultra, but the set length (90 minutes) didn't justify the cost. Digweed did a 6 hour club set in Tokyo at Contact back at the end of April which I couldn't make 'cos I was out out of the country, but he released a 6-disc CD of the night, which I bought. So it's by chance that Digweed is playing at this after-party, and that also by chance, Sasha is playing in October. Markus Schulz is also back in Japan for the first time in 10 years (literally) at the end of the month, too!

Got it.

You should try to find out if Sasha is booked (anywhere) that weekend. Because they often play together, Sasha will sometimes just come along for the ride. It happened in LA a while back. Diggers was playing a arge club but at the after party where it was rumored that Diggers was going to play (as the club shut at 4am) Sasha appears out of no where and they went 2b2 for 4 hours. The after party was mile better than the club.

So basically sometimes you get both, but it's worth checking to see if Sasha is playing on the other side of the planet on that date. If not, there (used to be anyway) a decent chance it might be both.

Given that Sasha IS in Japan on the 12th, there's a damn good chance he might be there.

EDIT - I just check the flyer for Ultra. Digweed any Nicole Moodybear are playing B2B. You'd have to be bonkers to miss that

Re: First time to see John Digweed

quote:

Originally posted by _Ocean_Drive_ So in the next month, I am 20 years too late in finally joining everyone else on here to see John Digweed and Sasha separately, but Saturday night, and next month, I have a chance to finally see them live. Question: Anyone seen them recently, especially Digweed? Should I have high or low expectations based on current form? inb4omgdeltaheavytwilohacienda

I have seen Digweed a decent amount of times through the years and he always delivered for me. I think you will enjoy yourself if you have found yourself to be a fan of him. He is a seasoned vet, knows what he is doing, and will program and mix a good set. Don't worry too much about what other people think though. If you have the opportunity to experience a night with him then go and have a great time.

when they go back to back they are really good still. Separately not so much. Sasha is even more hit or miss than Digweed is nowadays but I heard his recent fabric set was really good so take that for what its worth.

Went to see Digweed for the 20th Bedrock birthday party last Friday at E1 in London. Digweed played first for about two and half hours, Garnier followed for about the same, then the two went B2B for the remainder of the night. Howells played the whole night in room two. It was my first time hearing Digweed play live and visiting the venue. I was hesitant about going, considering how expensive the tickets got by the 7th release (ridiculous!!!), but managed to snatch a cheap one on TS a few hours before doors opened.

For all the hype I've heard about the venue, I thought it was average at best. Both rooms were big enough to remove any sense of an intimate vibe, especially in the room where Digweed and Garnier played. I didn't like that they set up a 10-foot barrier between the booth and crowd; not sure what that was trying to accomplish. The room was also way too bright for my liking, and I preferred the lighting in the room where Howells played. There were plenty of bars to accommodate the diverse droves of punters (lots of old school heads in the house) who attended, which was nice. But by the same token, there weren't enough bathrooms to avoid long lines.

Sadly, Digweed didn't impress me. There were moments when he started playing the old progressive sound I was hoping for. He would begin taking it somewhere only to veer off the tracks into tech territory. I could never get into a good groove while he played, and that compelled me to visit the bars more often than I'd like to admit.

Garnier stole the show, and it wasn't even close. It was my second time hearing him live - both this year - and he was as good if not better on this night. For all his theatrics in the booth, he sure knows how to play a damn good set. The people loved every minute of it, and he never lost the crowd's attention. Fuck, I can't believe he's 52!

What really put the icing on the cake was hearing the B2B and standing as close to the front as I could to watch the action. Digweed looked and sounded like an amateur next to Garnier; his body language and mixes proved that. He never looked phased by it though. He sat behind Garnier for most of his solo set laughing, bopping his head and looking on in admiration. He stood next to Garnier during their B2B doing the same, which I applaud him for because his ego could have totally killed the vibe if he let it.

I did visit Howells in the other room for a few minutes during Digweed's set, but he played as light as you'd expect while Digweed and Garnier are in the other room.

There was a moment in the night when I went out for a smoke and started talking with a 47-year-old guy who grew up raving in the UK. Really cool guy, and he had a lot of insights to share about the past, present and future in dance music. He was totally disheartened by the overall vibe of the party. He wasn't a dick about it, but made it a point to say the generation of today has really lost the plot when it comes to the scene and music. I agreed.

PS: Put your fucking phones away!

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Originally posted by aufenglishbitte Digweed looked and sounded like an amateur next to Garnier; his body language and mixes proved that

What do you mean by that? I would agree that Garnier is much better than Digweed, but I'm interested to hear how Digweed didn't stack up in a B2B.

Watching the two play alongside one another almost felt like a prot�g� playing with his mentor for the first time, and that translated to what we heard. Digweed was bashful in body language and reluctant with his selections and mixes, while Garnier was commanding (or even domineering) and won the crowd over every time he mixed his track into the set. I�m surprised Digweed didn�t find it annoying - at least it didn�t look like it - that Garnier reached over his decks numerous times to make adjustments (he wasn�t just checking for the incoming track). Maybe Garnier was on such a role that it was hard for Digweed to step back into it; that�s possible. I�m not sure how many times the two have played together, if any. But it was apparent that one definitely still had �it� and the other was along for the ride. (Sorry I can't get more technical than that.)

That makes sense, although Garnier has always been exuberant and Digweed is naturally bashful. It's possible it was just a contrast of personality types rather than evidence of Digweed being cowed.

Regarding the crowd, I was in London that same night at a different party, and I was struck by how flat the crowd were. I don't want to say it's just a London thing, because when I was at Fabric in July the atmosphere was electric, but there's definitely truth to the clich� that southern crowds daren't put their hands up in the air. I saw Digweed in a 500 capacity club in Leeds at Easter and it was one of the best crowds I've ever seen. The whole place was screaming when the bass dropped.

Currently at Dasha at Contact in Tokyo. His set just isn`t going anywhere. Pretty disappointed so far tbh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73bm2s8eBhs

Wow, strings of life

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Originally posted by mphreak https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73bm2s8eBhs Wow, strings of life

Hey, I see myself! (front right)

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Originally posted by aufenglishbitte PS: Put your fucking phones away!

you Brit bastards getting to club until 6:30am

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Originally posted by _Ocean_Drive_ Currently at Dasha at Contact in Tokyo. His set just isn`t going anywhere. Pretty disappointed so far tbh.

One thing I wish I did when I was over in Tokyo was check out AgeHa or Womb... did manage to hit up a few videogame themed bars while there at least.

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Originally posted by _Ocean_Drive_ Currently at Dasha at Contact in Tokyo. His set just isn`t going anywhere. Pretty disappointed so far tbh.

Logging on and posting to a vBulletin from your phone in the middle of a set is a level of boredom I don't ever want to experience.

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