Friday night in Belfast and the badness is rising. We re seated in the suave ballroom of the City Hall to witness the Belfast Arts Awards. Most of the people around us are wearing monkey suits or velvet ensembles the chic set and the wannabes. We re the ugly table; unkempt, nasty-mouthed and well into the whiskey supplies before the dinner has even been served.
To the left is David Holmes, an acclaimed DJ, composer and vibes conductor; a nominee in the music section. Spikey hair, interesting shirt, tab-smoking, ever-jabbing and joking. He s with his girlfriend Lisa and his mate Paul, plus a raft of other sharpies that he s managed to scam in.
To the right is Shep the promoter, plus Dave Sinton and Shaun Arnold from the Project Rype business. Collectively, they re representing belFEST 97, the rock n roll event that made some good openings in town last year. They re also shortlisted for the music award, which, again, is happy recognition.
Last year, this ceremony degenerated into a farcical game, with political extremists storming around, shouting the odds and grandstanding in the name of art. Usual old Belfast shit. But on this occasion, you sense that there s no obvious sign of entrenchment. More than anything, there s a feeling that these may emerge as genuine rock n roll awards a far cry from either small-mindedness or the precious, self-serving clique of the art world at its worst.
Another special guest is promoter Eamonn McCann. He will carry off a special trophy for bringing U2 to Botanic Gardens. It s a nice choice, although there s an irony to the gesture. Both McCann and Holmes have experienced many difficulties in the past with Belfast Council, often getting dissuaded from bringing fun times to the town, and yet here they are, lauded in the heart of the system.
Still, David also gets his recognition (singled out in his field ahead of jazz, proper orchestras and stuff). He insults the house band, cracks some jokes and leads the evening into awful, degenerate scenes. But he s in good company. The likes of playwright Gary Mitchell and author Glenn Patterson add to the sparky qualities of a night that terminates in a mod club on Brunswick Street, shockingly drunk and howling the odds about The Supremes. A result.
Tuesday night, and another Homer gig. This time the location is the Mogwai cafe by Queens University. David has put some of his energies and his finances into opening a unique joint that may also enliven the town.
In the old days, it was a hairdressers. Occasionally, a select bunch of people would come here after the clubs had shut, and kept the party vibe rolling. On one famous night, there was Andrew Weatherall and The Sabres Of Paradise, DJ Ashley Beadle, some associates of The Sandals, a sizeable Manchester posse and Jeff Barratt from Heavenly Records who was cueing up Stay Free by The Clash and roaring by the hand basins.
Now the place has become legit. The mood has been successfully transplanted into a real nighterie, that aims to stay open 24 hours at the weekends, and until midnight at other times.
It s a listed building, but the redesign is still impressive. Because David (in association with his friends Jay and Barbara Anne) has gutted it, and emphasised the concrete and the girders bringing the presence of the street into this small venue, highlighting the funky ambience with plastic, metal and neon. It s a bit like The Hacienda in Manchester, or maybe some classy hang-out in Berlin or Reykjavik. The electricians are still fixing the peripherals when David and Barbara Anne open the doors to the press (including representatives from Elle, Minx, Muzik, the UK inkies, the broadsheets, every demographic and interest) , but that just adds to the exciting dynamic of the occasion.
So David, the obvious question then. Why the name Mogwai?
We think it s a brilliant name, he enthuses. You can t really identify it with anything. You ve got Mogwai from Gremlins who turns nasty and starts eating people s flesh after dark. Mogwai is a Himalayan mountain cat. And it s the name of a great Scottish band. We asked permission off the great Scottish band and they were totally up for it.
It s just a sharp name that rolls off the tongue. We re gonna make really mental compilation tapes. That s my job; playing Herbie Hancock and then Nancy Wilson and then Ash. I mean, you ll come in and hear Spiritualized, but we re gonna use it as an educational thing for people who haven t got access. I m very fortunate because it s my job and I get to travel so much and pick up all these really brilliant records. It s just a matter of putting them on tape.
And the ultimate point of this bold endeavour?
You travel in all these different countries and see 20 Mogwais in every country. And Belfast hasn t got one. Belfast needs it and you all know it. It s gonna spark more off. I know people are gonna rip us off, but it s a matter of being the first people to do it. If people follow, that s great.
Mogwai opens to the public on April Fool s Day. There will be loads of coffee specialities, and hopefully a scheme will be devised that can deal with the licencing laws. As well as listening to Homer s compilation tapes, the visitor can chow down on bread-based ensembles , bits of sushi and Thai food. However, the boss may be jesting when he suggests that the employees will be scantily-clad girls in leather G-strings and German army helmets . Arf.
The spontaneous regime may allow for surprise gigs by visiting bands, DJ sets on a Sunday and other stuff that s too surreal to imagine just now. The can-do attitude of Holmes makes everything seem like the best of entertainment. Another ten of him and we could invade Europe.
There s some things that you ll fucking hate and there s some things that you re gonna love, he promises. But at least it s gonna be interesting and it s not gonna be predictable.
And his next gig? David has a Stateside meeting with Danny DeVito (on his private plane, natch) about the soundtrack for a treatment of an Elmore Leonard book, Out Of Sight. George Clooney s in the movie. So is Jennifer Lopez. David is scheduled to work on the music with members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Like you do. Another targettable project for this adrenalin-fuelled homing device. n