- What to say, where to start?! Hardware's seminal Belfast parties have become almost as glorious as the days of old that they celebrate. You know, way back then when the music was really good, and people went to raves for the right reasons, and man, it's all changed, it just isn't the same anymore! These are the parties that all the ol' timers dig out their big pants and stretch their legs for a good night of shufflin'. To top it all off, it was New Years Eve, and everyone was well enough excited anyway!
I got myself sorted and made my way into the city for the countdown at Federation Square, checked out the fireworks, and set off down Flinders St amidst the masses en route to QBH. A good hour later (look, it was really busy), and we finally made our way in to catch Hardware's very special guest, trance-master Oliver Lieb, who'd just started doing his live thing, and had the whole club pumping already. You heard me right, Oliver Lieb LIVE, first time in goodness knows how many years, and possibly the only time we'll ever get to see/hear it, ever! The vibe on the floor was quite electric, grins as far as the eye could see, and no matter who I spoke too, we were all on the level! Lieb continued for an hour and a half, picking his way through rolling, analogue techno, thumping, ethereal trance and all manner of electronic mayhem. 'Hearts', 'Netherworld', 'Shecan', they were all played, and he finished it off with a cut from his latest album, 'Back To Earth', and back we were. I can''''t say for sure whether it's nostalgia or an honest opinion, but that was the coolest set I've heard in I can't even remember how long. Lieb, you da man.
Of course, it was only 2:30 by this stage, the party was only just beginning, and I was pleasantly suprised to see Andrew Marsh stepping up to the decks. This boy has a record collection to die for, so many of those old tunes you've heard but don't know the title of, and he opened with ye olde 'Melt - Be Liquid'. Everybody had a smile the size of their face! Of he went with all manner of prog/tech/acid goodness, the odd happy house anthem, and then BAM, back to the acid. From this point on I was in dancefloor heaven, the zone, reaching for the lasers, safe as fcuk. The DJs changed, the music got better, and better, and better, Scott Finemore played some ROCKING tunes that had my jaw on the floor, Richie Rich absolutely caned it, I could go on forever. There were so many points in the night I'd turn to a friend and before I'd even speak the words were said, the grin was received and we kept on dancin'. I've spoken to people about how I wish I could get back to that old warehouse thing, we all know what it is... well... this was that. Dance like nobody's watching.
Without a doubt in the world, this was the best Belfast I've been too, and easily one of the best parties of the last few years (although there has been a few good 'uns)! A New Years to remember for sure, thanks to everyone involved, and if you didn't go, don't make the same mistake next time, you have been warned!