The Mayhem And The Music With Jon Carter

Liverpool is a city that really has a good and proper love of electronic music. It might not have the musical creativity of the likes of Berlin, Chicago and Detroit, the pioneering impact and melting pot of cultures New York possesses or the rich vein of experimentation that courses through Yorkshire metropolises Leeds and Sheffield, but as a club scene there are few locations that can compete.

Acid house took off to a huge extent in the late eighties at institutions like the State and Quadrant Park; a venue Laurent Garnier regularly cites as better than the Hacienda and the scene of Frankie Bones' classic live mix in 1990 (above).

Whilst the brass necks of several of the protagonists at scenes in neighbouring city Manchester and Southern chancer London ensured they both received hefty plaudits, you won't find Liverpool revered to the same extent - that is until the story took a turn in 1992.

That turn came in the shape of Cream, which in the 23 years since has been ruling clubland across the world in various guises, from nightclub powerhouse right up to  world beating festival brand.

The glory years for many occurred during its tenure as a weekly institution up until 2002, serving as the catalyst for the Cream reunion which reconvenes on Saturday February 7th - you can check us waxing lyrical about that event here.

One of the DJs appearing that night is Jon Carter, who as well as holding a residency at Cream during its heyday was also a frequent player at its fellow tenant of Nation Bugged Out! - making him one of the best qualified custodians of input on how much of an impact Liverpool has had a city.

We had a quick chat ahead of the show and found his love for the city was still strong, as we reminisced about Daft Punk rocking up on the bounce at Nation, and those fabled after parties...

Thanks for speaking to us Jon​. You're due to head up North to play the Cream Reunion in February, how much did you enjoy playing for Cream in the nineties heyday, and their Full On parties as well?

It was one of the best residencies I ever had - anywhere in the world. I could pull out some biggies, but also made a concerted effort to do something different every time.

I could go for whole sets that were sometimes completely different to how people had seen me played before, and the place always went for it - they would just take to that new sound. And boy, did they go for it.

It was such an enjoyable place to play. I wish every DJ could experience something like that in their career.

The relationship carried on with a few Boxing Day parties in the later stages of the last decade, and you also played a fair bit for Chibuku too. Has Liverpool still got a special place in your heart?

It always will - the people, the reception, the after parties! The mayhem and the music. Liverpool will never stop feeling magical.

We were big fans of your sets for Bugged Out as well at Nation. How much did their anarchic spirit resonate with you, and is it good to see them still alive and kicking after twenty years?

Like I said in relation to Liverpool and Cream, the anarchy was reflected in the unexpected sets I could pull out, and in the attitude to throwing berzerk parties. That really resonates with my own personality if I'm being honest.

You played at the infamous night where Daft Punk turned up for their Fourth Birthday unannounced - how special was that show?

They played 'Happy Birthday' by Stevie Wonder, and I can remember most of the Bugged Out owners, DJs and various celeb types bouncing round on the stage like bloody great fools. Brilliant night.

Can you give us an indication of the breadth of music you're looking forward to playing in the night? and how much do you enjoy these journeys back into time musically?

I’m digging into the older vinyl, as well as newer stuff - I’m bringing everything up mate, so the crowd can expect anything. Whatever floats their boats is what counts, I'm sure it'll be as crazy as every other Liverpool set I've played.

Where else can we catch you djing in the future, and will you be embracing the festivals this summer?

I’m sure I’ll be at Glastonbury again, and Festival Number 6 is a regular fave with me.

Final question, you've been kidnapped by Aliens and they want three songs off you to summarise your love of electronic music. If they're good you're free to go but any duff choices and you're vapourised along with the rest of is. What three tracks would you pick to save the human race?

I'd go for Donna Summer 'I Feel Love' and Green Velvet 'Preacherman' (below) straight off. Third would be Mos Def 'Mos Dub' - it's a Max Tannone Bootleg LP everyone needs to have, even if you're not an alien.

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