On the back of yet another marquee festival announcement with the regional Groovin The Moo in April/May, the unstoppable time-traveling maestro – Hot Dub Time Machine has announced his one and Australian tour for 2015.
For those uninitiated Hot Dub Time Machine is the World’s First Time Travelling Dance Party, taking festivals, theatres, rooftops and venues all over the world on an transcendent dance through pop music history.
2011 Hot Dub has broken dance floors at sold-out shows all over the globe along with headline main stage slots at some of the biggest festivals. Songs are played in “strict” chronological order from 1954 to 2015 with enormous mashed visuals all scratched live from vinyl turntables. Created and performed by DJ Tom Loud Hot Dub is all about singing, dancing and having the best, party, EVER!
To say Hot Dub has had a killer 12 months would be an understatement, having massive sold-out shows across the globe as well as headlining the 100,000 strong Hogmanay NYE Festival; centre-stage in the domain for Sydney Festival; main stages for Falls Festival nationally; not to mention the lauded Splendour In The Grass performance.
To celebrate the tour, Hot Dub has curated a very special mix of his favourite tracks from each decade (since the 1950s) strap yourself in for a wild time travelling journey.
1950s
Bill Haley & His Comets – ‘Rock Around the Clock’ (1954)
I start every show with ‘Rock Around the Clock,’ because it sums the whole spirit of Hot Dub, rocking through time. It’s a song everyone knows, but have you ever stopped to think about how awesome that intro is? It’s pretty great. 1-2-3 o’clock 4 o’clock rock. Genius
Chuck Berry – ‘Johnny B. Goode’ (1958)
Probably the most perfect 50s song to dance to. There’s something about that walking bassline, the great lyrics… it’s so damn funky. At Hot Dub it’s naturally played with “actual footage” of Chuck Berry which may just be Michael J Fox in Back to the Future.
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1960s
Shirley Ellis – ‘The Clapping Song’ (1965)
This was a song I first heard sampled on a forgotten hiphop track. The hiphop track is forgotten because once you’ve heard the original you can’t go back. I have no idea how to play the game though. She was an interesting ‘one hit wonder,’ she became known for these kind of “game” songs and didn’t do much else. Her other song is ‘The Name Game,’ which is also great.
The Supremes – ‘Can’t Hurry Love’ (1966)
This is a song that drops as hard today as it did in the 60’s. It has a bassline that grabs you from the start, then Diana Ross kills it. My favourite songs have very long choruses, songs that you want to sing along the WHOLE time. This is one of those songs.
1970s
Stevie Wonder – ‘Superstition’ (1972)
Definitely one of my favourite songs ever made. I think this is one of those rare songs that really EVERYONE loves, and I’ve never been at a party that couldn’t be improved by it being played. Yes, even the serious techno parties I used to attend. Come on Speedy J, drop a little bit of Stevie.
We Are Family – ‘We Are Family’ (1979)
One of the MANY Niles Rogers produced 70’s songs that still sound so good. Disco has often been unfairly mocked, but there are heaps of amazing songs like this that are musically and technically brilliant. Go disco.
1980s
The Pointer Sisters – ‘I’m so Excited’ (1982)
There is so much great dance music in the early 80’s, and this song, along with ‘It’s Raining Men,’ are my favourites. It’s a really interesting time in pop as music evolved out of disco, sped up and used more synths. Some of it is average, but so much is awesome!
Madonna – ‘Like a Prayer’ (1988)
If I miss this song, I have to leave the venue by the back door, or I’ll get bashed. And I understand why: it’s the best Madonna song, and it’s such a fun song to sing along to. I HEAR YOU CALL MY NAME!! AND IT FEELS LIKE HOME…
1990s
Oasis – ‘Champagne Supernova’ (1995)
It took me a long time to come back to Oasis. When this song came out, I was one of the people who instinctively hated the Gallagher boys, with their swagger and arrogance. But I was at a bar in Manchester a few years ago, just having finished my show when the DJ after me opened with Champagne Supernova and the place went crazy. By the end I was standing on the bar singing along with everyone else, and I’ve been a fan of this song ever since. I still think the Gallaghers are dicks though. But they can write a bloody good pop song.
Heather – ‘Small Proud’ (1999)
This is a song that I rediscovered recently but haven’t fitted into Hot Dub yet. But I will. It’s such a wonderful, feel good song that has such a heart. Heather Small was the singer for M-People, most often know for dance songs like ‘Movin’ on up,’ but this songs shows how much more she can do. It even ends with a gospel choir. If I wrote music, every song I made would have a gospel choir.
2000s
Eminem – ‘Lose Yourself’ (2002)
I think this song should be considered as one of the greatest ever written. The production is beautiful, but it’s all about the brilliance of Eminem’s writing and the ferocity of his delivery. The rhyming scheme is so complex and wonderful that there is a whole genre of youtube videos explaining it! This is my favourite: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooOL4T-BAg0
The Killers – ‘Mr Brightside’ (2004)
“Breakup songs” is a wonderful genre. My other favourite break up song: ‘Oughta Know’ by Alanis Morrisette. But if Alanis is telling the woman’s side of the story, this is a very male tale of jealousy, paranoia and self inflicted torment. It’s all in his mind, but she’s touching his chest now, he takes off her dress now… Just chill out bro. srsly. After a show an older soundie once approached me and asked: “what’s that song with the guy who only sings two notes the entire thing? It’s great!” Yes he only sings two notes, but it’s AWESOME!
2010s
Calvin Harris Feat. Florence Welsh – ‘Sweet Nothing’ (2012)
What a brilliant piece of dance/pop awesomeness. There is something about the way Calvin Harris’s music sounds when it’s played loud, something you don’t hear on your headphones. It has to be LOUD! And with Florence unleashing her full power it makes for one of the greatest moments in dance music. The third drop is the best: YOU GIVE ME NOOOOOOTHING!!!
Peking Duk – ‘High’ (2014)
We are in a Golden Age of Australian Music. Flume kicked it off when he got hugely successful for making music that didn’t sound like anything else, and now we have a whole stable of amazing Aussie electronic music producers, each more individual and brilliant than the other. And my favourites remain Peking Duk. They are so down to earth and likeable in person, and their music is so brilliant, you can’t help but wish them all the best. GO THE DUK!
Upcoming Tour Dates
Thu 14 May – Metro Theatre, Sydney
Sat 23 May – The Hi Fi, Brisbane
Fri 29 May – Villa, Perth
Fri 5 June – The Hi Fi, Melbourne
Fri 19 June – Discovery, Darwin
Fri 26 June – Republic Bar, Hobart
Info and tickets from www.hotdubtimemachine.com
HDTM also touring nationally with Groovin’ The Moo www.gtm.net.au
