IMAGE: Vent Fury

In conjunction with Spine Magazine, Plastic People housed Nonsense, with residents joined by special guest: Jeff ‘Chairman’ Mao.

With the ratio well respected this was no manfest, a diverse mix of cheerful punters getting down on the American Walnut flooring. One of the many breaks to move hips and feet, Benny Blanco pulled out the Guem Et Zaka Percussion LP. D-Angelo’s ‘Devil’s Pie’ got an ever-pleasing run out and by 1am Plastics was packed. The Chairman came on soon after. Unsullied from a fortnight of RBMA interviews, including Mark Ronson, Gabriel Roth and Jay Electronica, the evening marked the New Yorker’s second appearance at London’s finest venue.

Relentlessly laying down vinyl delights, the Chairman cut slickly between tracks, always pulling out canyon-deep selections. Every song laden with meaty drums and bass, some serious rhythm sections vibrated around the room. Willie Hutch’s ‘Brother’s Gonna Work It Out’ typified the punchy funk, a message to be sung in the Hackney constabulary’s direction.  As the groovemeister from NYC continued cueing up uplifting vocal numbers, the crowd kept on getting roused. Track of the night came and came hard. Also played when the Chairman first guested at Nonsense: Emerson’s ‘Sending All My Love Out’.

Nonsense residents took over once more and Theo Parrish’s ‘Chemistry’ rang out, a song’s with its own RBMA affiliations. A hectic fortnight caught up on me and I departed. Another fine rave.

Chairman Mao host two fine radio shows: Spine Blowing Decisions at spinemagazine.com, and for RBMA Radio, Across 135th Street.

NB: Since the evening there’s been a flurry of support for Plastic People and their police-prompted license review.

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