DJ YODA- Junction Shed, Cambridge 27/2/2010
Yoda is truly the king of what he does. Fact. Undoubtedly one of the
most original DJs the UK has to offer, whose reputation precedes
him, a tall, dark and unassuming man appears stage-right to the booming
signature Starwars theme which, like himself, therefore needs no introduction.
Though, of course, the man is not just a master of mixing audio, but
the large screen at the back of the Shed tonight will also play host
to the visual show that has ensured his notoriety for transforming clubbing
as we know it. The huge graphics are also Starwars inspired, spelling
out his name to the crowd below, who are already looking pretty excited
at the prospect of what the next 90 minutes hold- which, it turns out,
couldnt be improved even with an appearance by the little old/dead
green wrinkled one himself.
With a cheeky grin behind him, footage seamlessly blends tributes to
Michael Jackson with a collage of Fresh Prince meets Inspector Gadget,
before laughing along with more subtle political jibes at poor stupid
Bush, accompanied by a backing track of sublime old school hip-hop and
funk. Popular film images from predominantly 80s classics mingle
with Youtube favourites in a mass commercialisation that the audience
adore, though Yodas talent and scope are most notable upon launching
into a Johnny Cash clip cut with driving beats and Gladys Knight and
the Pips interspersed with bouts of riotous scratching, providing an
alternative appeal to what could easily otherwise be a standard set.
A combination of his best moments from the hugely successful How
to cut and paste collections, his humour isnt lost in translation,
a happy and enthusiastic atmosphere completely instant in effect. Highlights
are almost certainly the already mentioned nods to the sixties that
emerge throughout the set, catching a glimpse and wishing they were
longer though desperate to see what comes next, Mick Jagger and Jimi
Hendrix standing toe-to-toe with Waynes World, drum and bass and
dubstep with awe-inspiring precision, a blast of Metallica perhaps getting
the biggest and most unexpected reaction of the night. And, as the final
bars of the Beatles The End spill into the small and now
sweaty auditorium, it provides an equally as surprisingly beautiful
end to what has been a mammoth audio-visual feat, proving Yoda is not
only cleverer than some would give him credit for, but far more classy
than could ever be imagined. The plus-one says afterwards that once
you have seen a VJ, a DJ never be the same. And how right he is.
Anna C
Thanks to Dan Gray for guestlist duties.
www.djyoda.co.uk
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