- At the end of November, XOYO and its Dalston sister hangout The Nest teamed up for two Saturday nights at Coronet Theatre, boasting live acts and DJs from across the 4/4 spectrum. The South London venue holds almost 3,000 souls, a throwback to the days of Camden Palace and Brixton Academy's raves, and still retains much of its original charm, with a full seated circle, blood-red interior and a stage that hosts everything from bands to DJs to films.
The first of the two Saturdays saw Northern disco heavyweights Crazy P top the bill. Coronet Theatre has historically been a tough nut to crack, but by the time the Leeds four-piece were onstage, its cavernous main room had been a heaving mass for well over an hour—a very un-London pre-midnight throng. Crazy P's well-honed live chops were gloriously on show during their hour-long set, with Danielle Moore slicing through the smoke and coloured spotlights in a typically glam sequined outfit that glittered in the dark room. As the band hit the final part of their performance, a wall of red and white monster-size balloons cascaded from the heavens, making the crowd go wilder still.
Reel-to-reel don Greg Wilson followed this by blending old and new, including Michael Jackson's "Rock With You," Todd Terje's "Strandbar" and cuts from Talking Heads, eventually finishing with Orbital's "Chime" and handing the baton over to Lindstrøm. A wander around the club's three floors found each room in full flow. The only duff note came from Aeroplane, whose bleepy near-techno felt incongruous, even if the crowd's enthusiasm barely waned.
Seven days later, proceedings resumed with gusto. Coronet Theatre's spartan main room filled swiftly as Bristol's Waifs & Strays set the pace with booming, bass-driven house. An unlucky Mylo, whose laptop problems cut his set short, was still met with enthusiasm.
The night's main draw was New York collective Hercules & Love Affair. Their lineup consisted of two stunning vocalists, Rouge Mary and Gustaph, and a semi-naked Andy Butler behind the decks. The set proved that their latest incarnation hasn't taken away any gloss from their vogueing, high-energy performances. Crowd favourite "My House" was the evening's zenith, with the trio connecting with the distinctly mixed crowd.
Leeds hot-shot Miguel Campbell had a hard act to follow, but impressed nonetheless with a set of woozy, Hot Natured-style house. Friendly Fires' drummer and Deep Shit helmsman Jack Savidge came on next, twisting the closing hour into an acid-tinged rave for anyone hardy enough to stick it out. Both nights did an admirable job of filling a huge venue with apparent ease, with a lineup that echoed XOYO and The Nest's tastes. It proved that upscaling doesn't have to mean plumping for the mainstream.