Paperjam

Ladytron DJs - Medicine Bar, Birmingham

Gigs // James // 23rd May 2003

Birmingham - the UKs second city don't ya know, conveniently located at the centre of a crumbling rail and motorway network should offer sleaze and adventure in abundance.... hmm. Someone out there must know where its all happening in Brum - answers on an email please - 'cos i haven't found out yet.

However, there is the Medicine Bar - located inside an arts/drinking/dancing complex known as the Custard Factory, the big blue building just off the Coventry Road in Digbeth. The Medicine Bar has been the scene of some really rather good nights in the past, and the place has its own small-medium-ish venue capable of dealing with live music and other stuff too - went to an graffiti exhibition there a few years ago.

Anyway - some party bunch called Renegade Robot had organised a set by Richard X - of 'bootlegging' fame(human league get liberty X scrubbed on top etc), but it was changed at the eleventh hour in favour of a dj set from electronic killer pop tune merchants Ladytron (not actually the whole five pieces - but the two ladies - Mira and Helen).

The evening begins with a resident dj delivering what the Medicine Bar often ends up revelling in - techno for the masses. Thing start to look a lot more rosy tho' with the appearance of the 'Tron dj's- who when asked what type of stuff they intend to play, take a deep breath and answer "not this". Good.

Beware: the Medicine Bar is a pretty "hip" place and can often disappear up its own arse - but when it does - you have still got the opportunity of moving outside (weather permitting) and getting away from the beat... The place has its own pool too - exercise caution not to end up in it after a few drinks - but it's really quite pleasant to chill outside if it's not raining. Nice.

No need for any of that tonight tho' cos the Ladytron dj team put on a really splendid mix of some classic old faves - 808 State, New Order, Cabaret Voltaire and some newer sounding tunes of the more - dare I say it - "electroclash" type.

So, although the Medicine Bar has been known to over indulge in the kind of techno beatathons that have me scurrying back to the place of sleep faster than you can say "chooooooon", or "yes I am sure ticket 21 was my blue coat not that pink one", on the strength of this I'll be keeping an eye out for what they're up to, and I can thoroughly recommend looking out for the Ladytron dj evenings.

Links

• Medicine Bar - 03.04 - This site is still down, rather disasterously...
• Ladytron's official site

Update : March 2004

If you've come here looking for an event listing for the Medicine Bar, you're out of luck I'm afraid. We've heard that the old, actually useful version of medicinebarbirmingham.co.uk has been taken down - apparently they're going to do their own thing or something.

I don't know.

Anyway, in the meantime, it might be best to use the dog and give them a ring on 0121 693 6333, or check organisers Different Drummer, Capsule, Jigsawmusic.

There's more I'm sure, suggest away.