Disco in the St.Pauli way

Hello, people! It may sound as a paradox, but I'm busy and lazy at the same time, that's why posting so rarely. (Shall I add that song "This is excuse" herewith? No, not this one again -- I hear people shouting:))

Meanwhile I've been to Hamburg -- it's a great city (and St.Pauli neighbourhood in particular). Like Berlin it has an alternative and punkish vibe, but Hamburg is smaller and more compact (Kompakt, but that's Cologne's thing), hence probably cosier than the capital.

One night I was spinning some rather easy e-disco tunes in a lobby lounge at Haus 73 -- a brand new cultural centre, which is located next to the legendary Flora building, a former squat or smth. like that, -- while there was some local street festival going on outdoors. A flea market, some punk/rock bands performing, drinking and stuff like that, which was fun. So far, so good. But then suddenly the peaceful street event turned into a riot: somebody set on fire something there, then fire-fighters arrived, and soon riot police came in, with water guns and barriers pushing people aside from the street. The cops pushed some poeple inside our bar and blocked the entrance thus no-one could leave the lobby. (It looks like forcing somebody to attend a party against his own will -- funny.)

I had never seen something like that before, except on TV. I guess it was the wierdest event I've been DJing at. Music was rather easy and therefore contrasting to what was happening around. If I knew I'd propably had taken some more riotous tunes with me (N.W.A. - Fuck tha police comes to my mind), but the only kind of fitting song that I had was The Clash - This is radio clash. I dropped it in, when the police actually entered our venue seeking for some "rebels". Later, when I finished DJing, I had to use back-doors to leave the place. Oh, that was a night to remember! (The same thing said Felix Kubin after visiting Riga, and he comes from Hamburg, ha ha.)

Morning hours we spent having a great time at the Golden Pudel Club, near the harbour (check also their compilations). Amazing place! Tiny, trashy, run-down, cheap, packed, empty-bottles-everywhere, but great electronic music. The resident DJ Rüftata110 was behind the decks -- he didn't have the best mixing technique, but his selection was just brilliant. Plus he had a funny slogan on his t-shirt: YOU ARE NOW IN HAMBURG, SO WHO FUCKING CARES ABOUT APHEX TWIN (well, maybe it is not exact, but you've got the idea, don't you?). And, indeed, Hamburg has a lot of cool stuff to offer.

The Clash - This is Radio Clash

p.s. This great song might be regarded as an early example of what is currently known as dance-punk / punk-funk, and, as far I know, it is one of James Murphy's most favourite tunes.