Ed Banger parties have a reputation for being a bit wild, and last night’s sets at Transmission in The Button Factory from label head Busy P and DJ Mehdi were not about to break the mould. Playing to a packed and wildly enthusiastic crowd, the Ed Banger head honcho took over from local boy Arveene shortly before 1am, and, opening with Sebastian’s Motor and Mr Oizo’s latest, Z, things got off to a rocking start.

Ed Banger has come in for its fair share of criticism recently, on account of a couple of lacklustre releases and the label’s extended association with the seemingly less popular US electro scene, but when you find yourself in an atmosphere of such reckless abandon, surrounded by people having this much fun, it’s difficult not to join in.

DJ Mehdi took over an hour and a half later and gave a set that lived up to his delirious standards. Looking slightly surly before the gig, as soon as he hit the decks out came that mile-wide smile, as he sang along to the tracks he was playing with all the delight of a kid on Christmas morning. His set encompassed the expected Ed Banger/Institubes/Boys Noize Records fare, together with other French stalwarts such as Daft Punk (until recently managed by one Pedro Winter, aka Busy P), as well as taking in influences from further afield, such as the Baltimore-inspired Be from Steve Angello and Laidback Luke, and Debonair Samir’s original Baltimore anthem Samir’s Theme.

The last time I saw Busy P and Mehdi on the same bill was a few days before Christmas in 2006, and, given the date, the crowd wasn’t huge. While a few characters surrounded the decks, the stage was full of dancing girls, with the odd stray male being promptly removed by security. This time around, a much bigger, and largely male, crowd ascended towards the stage, again meeting the same fate, all except for two girls who were called specifically to stay on stage by one of the DJs. What a life they lead.

The night closed in a slightly bizarre fashion – while Mehdi’s show in October with A-Trak ended with Junior Senior’s irritating Move Your Feet, the last track played this time around was The Buggles’ “classic” Video Killed the Radio Star. I scoff now, but maybe in three decades Junior Senior will be held in the same regard that The Buggles are today. Shortly after the music stopped, the fire alarms went off for an uncomfortably long time, prompting cries of “I’m in love the disco sirens” … Well, maybe it was just me. Midfield General is playing Andrew’s Lane in a few weeks time, maybe I’ll have someone to sing along with me then. Anyway, fire alarms blaring, P and Mehdi were led out of The Button Factory through hordes of adoring fans, male and female. After the reaction the two DJs had last night, one can only imagine how well a full Ed Banger lineup would go down on these shores. The guys themselves might like the venue, but I doubt The Button Factory could hold the multitudes that would flock to such an event.

Aidan Hanratty
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