i-D Live @ Underbelly

For the month of August 2005, i-D bedded down with The Cock guys at their regular night at The Underbelly in Hoxton Square - just round the corner from i-D Towers. Princess Julia hosted the night and gave a hysterical performance keeping the crowd entertained between the acts. Tea and cake was served courtesy of Treacle, Readers Wives dragged it up, Best Fwends scared the crowd, Battant rocked the joint and Paul Flynn, Wolfgang Tillmans and i-D’s Dean Langley got the party jumping, jumping. Kemal from Big Brother 2005 stormed the stairs soundtracked to Dolly Parton, and the headline act came courtesy of the midget with attitude, Lady Sovereign, who slew dem with her grimey vernacular skills. The place was packed, the cocks were out and everyone went home with a smile on their beautiful faces.

Underbelly, 11 Hoxton Square , London N1 6NU
www.cantgetenoughcock.co.uk www.treacle.com

In March 2005, i-D invited a genuine rock and roll outlaw to party. And who was the outlaw in question? The one and only Jennifer Herrema, once half of psychedelic rockers Royal Trux and now mastermind behind new venture, RTX. With a crowd stoked up by London’s Artrocker DJs, Comanechi and Gin Palace, coming on like a platinum blonde sorceress with ball-busting glare, Herrema stared out every member of the audience (including the likes of Kate Moss and Bobby Gillespie). Heads were banged, fists were pumped and everyone flew home with Jennifer’s fire burnt into their hearts.

i-D Live Grime @ Cargo

i-D Live bowled over East London with its hotly-tipped Grime night at the Cargo club in June 2005. Plugged into a staggering line-up of London’s newest creative and musical talent tearing up both the rule book and the elevated stage, the crowd came supercharged and emcees rolled out their fierce brooding rhymes over growling bass-heavy beats. Mics were passed, shoulders were locked, rhymes were spat and the club was rammed. Riko and Hattie Collins hosted, Wiley gave a surprise turn opening the show, Lady Sovereign signed herself out of hospital that very afternoon just for the party, whilst Crazy Titch, Klashnekoff, Roll Deep, JME, Katie Pearl and Kano slew the crowd. Following the ‘London 05/05’ feature in the May 2005 issue, i-D continues its support for the capital’s freshest, most exhilarating scene.

Cargo,83 Rivington St, Kingsland Viaduct, Shoreditch
London EC2A 3AY www.cargo-london.com

i-D Live Christmas Massacre (Feb 2006)


i-D rocks the X’mas bells. Take-off at Bar Music Hall commenced with Andy Fraser’s ghoulish rockabilly trawl, superstar Paul Flynn amped us full of hi-NRG shots and eyes twinkled as our own Miss Claus fluttered around the venue. Goldilocked Jonjo fanned the flames on the decks whilst Johnny Woo ramped up the audience participation with his nonchalantly scathing Christmas giveaway bonanza. Pitting revellers against each other as they battled for booty, it all culminated with one of the i-D staff singing Jingle Bells in the style of Lil’ Kim. Then came the bands as Southend’s The Horrors crawled up from the cellar, each one resembling the ghost of Richy Manic, to claw at garage nuggets and incite vicious frenzy. Stage cleared, the headliners Cazals fronted up as only they know how dressed in the sharpest threads, sharp, louche, angry and wearing cardigans. British indie rock exactly how you want it - rebellious and insouciantly charming. They climbed the speaker stacks, launched into the crowd, and threw their guitars at each other. Just as it was coming to a close, the angel delights that are Mairead from the Queens of Noise and the fabulous Lisa Moorish DJed, straight into the small hours. Like all your office parties rolled into one, and just a little bit more. And that rounds off a freakishly awesome year of i-D Live parties. From London to New York and Paris, we brought you sold out shows from amongst others, RTX to Lady Sov, Kano to Cazals, Bernhard Willhelm to Jeremy Scott.

Bar Music Hall, Curtain Road, London EC2A
www.barmusichall.co.uk