Chase and Status

Review of Chase and Status at Digital 11th October
Matt Hudspith

Previous experiences of drum and bass nights for me have involved standing in room 2 in Fabric (London) surrounded by loads of people drugged up to the eyeballs looking so far from where they actually were it’s scary. Yet last night at Digital (Newcastle), was a completely new experience. I have to admit I had a preconceived opinion that Chase and Status were more intent on making big tunes for the money rather than the love of music, but I’m pleased to say that last night they proved me wrong. The gig was incredible. They had so much energy and the crowd reacted extremely well. It was more like being at a rock gig than anything else. Yet although that sounds strange I’m starting to realize why that is so; although recent production work with the likes of Rihanna and Canadian hip-hop artist Drake may suggest otherwise, it’s clear that some of their major influences are from rock music. The club was packed, a third of the dance floor taken up by the stage and filled with at least 1000 people, the night was full of elbows to the face, sweat drenched t-shirts and a good handful of mosh-pits. The show was hosted by MC Rage who got the crowd moving right from the start and was easily the centerpiece of the whole show, while Saul Milton (Chase) and Will Kennard (Status) were glued to keyboards, synths, and laptops turning the stomachs of those in digital upside down and inside out through the heavy basslines that shot out of Digital’s notorious ‘Funktion1’ sound system. They played the whole of their debut album ‘More Than Alot’ along with personal favourites of mine ‘Heartbreak’ and ‘Saxon’ which aren’t included on their debut album. Plan B, the special guest for the night, was extremely well received and sung their new single End Credits, and finished off the night with arguably everyone’s favourite from the album ‘Pieces’. Their new album on Vertigo Records is set to be finished by next February, and with a release date within the first half of next year this one is not only set to be huge, but full of surprises!