The last three gigs at the bassment had ended tragically - two being shut down by noise control, and one ending in a fight when some homies decided they dodn't want to pay, and didn't like the look of somone. The bassment is situated right next to the Plaza international hotel, and the party being outside, in an alleyway right next to the ground floor of this corporate nightshelter didn't make for a good situation. Anyway, all were assured that the neighbours had been talked to (and given free tickets)... the party was going ahead.

I went down during the day to check out the setup ... scaffold stage, lighting rigs 4 meters in the air and a nice tight pumping sound system out in the alley. Inside, the bassment shop itself had been decked out with a pool table, coke fridge and couches. I went home and chilled for a while... about 11.00 we headed down to the seething mass.

As we got arrived, Sweet was housing it out in true hands in the air style. Around 500 people were packed in front of stage, pumping away. I really got off on the range of people there, from (Wellington's typically young crowd) 14 year olds thru cute baby punks, the 20 something ravers, and assorted 30 somthing Cuba st deviants.

After Sweet, DJ8, now an Auckland resident stood up to the decks. Andy started off where Sweet finished, but quickly moved to drum + bass mode, whch was awesome... what blew me away though was the way the crowd reacted, they got off on it!. This was a flavour for the night - the ravers were in to what ever music the dj put on. It seemed like the prejudices against jungle have evaporated and most people finally understand it as a form of dance music.

Thru the night, MC Apollo was ranting and raving over the djs. I went up to my flat later in the night and could hear not much of the party, except Apollo going "Thees ees sarnerc masse - do you lorrve weellinggtun" Apollo in moderation is great, but once he's up there, he doesn't stop!

After Andy finished his set, there was a fine little didjeridoo intro to the LRS - pure live acid - Roland drums in full synch. The crowd really got off on this, especially watching then peak up with the 303 squelches and yelling thru each break... another new phenomenon was the crowd interaction with the djs - each time a new mix went in, arms went up in the air and shit. I've never seen this in Wellington before... normally everyone's in their own little world.

About 3am or so, after Mu and Omni had spun fine drum and bass sets, Tjaden went on, and with his typical abandon nearly destroyed the crossfader in the mixer with his take no prisoners slamming US techno. I nearly destroyed myself dancing to his set. Conspiracy closed the night, but by that stage I'd taken off with Tjaden and Leon to catch the dawn infront of a slightly wobbling Playstation terminal - as if spending all week in front if a VDU isn't enough.

Sonic Mass was one of the best parties around the city for a while... hopestory we'll see more along it's lines in the near future.

Shouts out to Dean + the Bassment crew, all the djs who played, Clint + Rose for their help and Zero for the essential equipment.