Reply With QuoteThere's a thread on the high energy section that lists stuff that was big at the Saint.
Indie Release [Level 4]
Hey Im sure this topic may have been covered already but seeing as there seems to be a few ex Saint heads on this board and a serious lack of info about it on the web aside from http://www.mylandofmakebelieve.com, I thought Id ask about it from those who were there as Ive recently being listening to tapes from the likes of Roy Thode, Jim Burgess and Warren Gluck over the past few months.
What was the soundsystem like? Who were the main resident DJs over the course of the 8 years it was open? Who would have been the best/your favourite? What would be some of the Saint all time classic records?
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
There's a thread on the high energy section that lists stuff that was big at the Saint.
DiscoMusic.com Owner / Administrator
You may want to read the Saint page over in the clubs section of this site at >>> http://www.discomusic.com/clubs-more/884_0_6_105_C/ and the Robbie Leslie interview at >>> http://www.discomusic.com/people-more/47_0_11_30_C77/
Chart Hit [Level 6]
Bernie, I don't know whether you agree, but it's a shame that all the big clubs get all the reverence because there were some really good smaller clubs, even local clubs, that played a good set even better sets. Mind you, it wasn't always the case.
DiscoMusic.com Owner / Administrator
Although I'm a little too young to have first-hand knowledge, many have echoed similar comments. This is why I started the Clubs section and it has gotten filled up with some long forgotten clubs with many responses from those that recalled them.Originally Written by Davicillo
You may want to consider adding some UK clubs as right now everything is US-centric. It would be nice to see what you guys were doing across the pond.
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
One club here in Manchester that is legendary is one called Heroes & it was going at the same time as the saint (early 80s). I never went unfortunately as like Bernie i'm too young but everyone who did go says it was one of the best gay clubs ever in the UK (including London!). The DJ, Les Cokell (RIP), a good friend of Ian Levine's, played all that early hi-energy & classic disco such as patrick cowley & Carol Jiani & lesser known underground stuff that many here would be familiar with.
DiscoMusic.com Owner / Administrator
SD,
You should really add these UK clubs (both straight and gay) to the Clubs page as you may be surprised by the responses of others who may remember. Just try and list as much detail (address, resident DJs...) as possible. Submit clubs here... http://www.discomusic.com/clubs-submit
Advance Promo Copy [Level 3]
Conor l,
Tapes from Jim Burgess, Roy Thode, etc. ? Here, in our cosmopolitan capital ? It seems the time has come to get on down to Bodytonic so don't leave home without Magnifique...
Indie Release [Level 4]
I never do! Ive found myself getting more and more into the stuff the above boyos played over the past few months and have gotten a load of the tunes of some of the tapes ive heard including an original promo of the Jim Burgess mix of Alton McClain & Destiny - Crazy Love
What clubs do you go to in Dublin?
Advance Promo Copy [Level 3]
'Crazy Love, i love it...', got the album on cd last year - love the sleeve too ! - not sure if its the Burgess mix on there but sounds very similar.
I like a night with the boys so recently i've been going weekends to the Dragon Bar on George's St., quite commercial but very good. The odd Sunday, usually Bank Holidays, we venture to Spirit. Went to see David Mancuso last June long weekend at The Sugar Club. He was, like too many visiting big name djs, mediocre but didn't mind much, had a great night regardless and really nice crowd.
'Magnifique, fanstastique...'
Indie Release [Level 4]
Its become a favourite of mine recently, that song.
As for clubbing, Im straight so I wouldnt really be into dragon bar or the likes. A close friend of mine is gay and goes to there, spirit and the likes of the george and says the music is shite there. Ive been to spirit on sundays a few times and like the other nights there its never really been my thing. Been to the george with friends once aswell and again, I wasnt really into the music being played there.
I think its a shame really as Id play a lot of records that would get me funny looks from the odd person and I think its a shame that there are so little musically driven mixed/gay clubs or nights in Dublin.
Kinda had a feeling that the Mancuso gig wouldnt work. I didnt make it down myself as my father has been seriously ill recently but I think part of what makes Mancuso so special is the atmosphere generated by the fact that his parties are run in his home to people who all know one another and have been going ofr years to them and as such there is a great sense of community and unfortunately, that cant travel.
Advance Promo Copy [Level 3]
I agree with you, the music played in gay venues here does leave a lot to be desired, there all too often being an overemphasis on 'camp'. However, i go out to have a good time not to trainspot (ok, maybe just a little bit !) and there is a really good vibe on the Dragon dancefloor even its not your cup of tea. We've been having a blast there lately getting down to the likes of Inaya Day's 'Nasty Girl' !
La Mancuso i was later told had been in town since Thursday and on Sunday was feeling 'edgy' which probably explains his vanishing halfway through what was supposed to be a 5 hour set ! Never mind, we still had a really good time !
Where and when can we find you behind the decks then ?
Underground Hit [Level 5]
Heroes was indeed a legendary gay club. Although I never personally went, I met Les Cokell on numerous occasions buying records at Spin Inn in Manchester.
It wasn't until years later that I realised that Les was one of the DJ's from Manchester's 'Twisted Wheel' - the legendary Soul venue of the 60's / early 70's (Dave Godin actually coined the term Northern Soul following a visit to the Twisted Wheel).
Indie Release [Level 4]
Its an awful shame though as aside from HAM all there seems to be is places that play mainly charty crap. Ive often found most people who would be into dance music dont 'get' a lot of the female vocal disco which would be girly or camp. I cant imagine getting a good reaction to playing a record such as France Joli - Come to me, Cher - Take me home or Johnny Bristol - Hang on in there baby which is annoying at times but Ill play a record if the moment is right and I wouldnt give a **** about playing them records if it felt right, but then im a stubborn ******!
Having said that I got a great reaction to playing dan hartman -relight my fire recently although that would be slightly more accesible IMO
Do you DJ at all? you seem to be up to fairly knowledgeable about good disco music and the like
Advance Promo Copy [Level 3]
I'm a dancer not a dj though i do sometimes feel like hijacking the dj box ! Case in point: the completely overrated HAM. Music policy: lacklustre overall, nowhere near as cutting edge as it fancies itself or could be but you can have a good time. The dj there always seems to play 2 Chemical Brothers tracks for some reason when really they could make life so much easier for themselves by adding a 'girly' vocal tune or two !
Like the new Redbox but that costly makeover did no favours to the POD where the dancefloor is actually more cramped than before and in the Lobby Bar the sound is incredibly even worse - you can hardly hear the music in there over what's being played on the main floor !
You can of course get away with programming a Disco era classic but its easier if its a tune the crowd are familiar with like 'Relight My Fire' and there's no reason why you can't have fun with Cher 'Take Me Home' - work it ! I actually prefer the Bette Midler version of 'Hang On In There...'
Here's a Saintly classic tip for you: Queen Samantha 'Close Your Eyes', originally from 1979 but go for the Megatone remix from '83. Yes, it's (laughs) 'female vocal disco' !
Indie Release [Level 4]
I stand corrected! Ive actually never been to HAM, but friends of mine have gone and said it was good for music. Unfortunately its probably somewhere Ill never visit as Bodytonic is the only place Id go on a friday night
I dunno, its never really a doubt for me personally as Id generally play loads of disco when I play out but I often feel that certain records would be just too 'gay' sounding for most dublin clubbers. Maybe im just overreacting but sure theres only one way to find out.....You can of course get away with programming a Disco era classic but its easier if its a tune the crowd are familiar with like 'Relight My Fire' and there's no reason why you can't have fun with Cher 'Take Me Home' - work it ! I actually prefer the Bette Midler version of 'Hang On In There...'
will try and track it down. Sure speaking of female vocal disco, next time I do a long slot I really wanna stop the music dead at a peak and play Sharon Ridley - Change, now that would get a reaction alright! :lol:Here's a Saintly classic tip for you: Queen Samantha 'Close Your Eyes', originally from 1979 but go for the Megatone remix from '83. Yes, it's (laughs) 'female vocal disco' !
I noticed that you made the trip for one of the RTP parties in San Fran recently enough. How was it? How different would it be to dublin clubs?
Permissions
Bookmarks