The fine art of mixing

There’s chaos on the rain-slicked streets of Manhattan, and a continuing chorus of shrill shrieks as scores of $500 hair-dos and makeovers melt in the downpour.

Uber-trendy venue Capitale has hit its fire department capacity, the bouncers don’t give a damn who anybody is, and the A-list queue snaking around the corner of Bowery and Grand Street is decidedly distressed.
The problem is that just about everybody here is somebody. It’s an invite-only Hennessy Artistry gig featuring Goldfrapp, The Strokes, Carl Cox, DJ Atrak and Kanye West, and, with such a diverse line-up, it’s easily the hottest gig in the Big Apple tonight. Drew Barrymore, Ewan McGregor and Kirsten Dunst are all getting just as soaked as your Hot Press correspondent. This doesn’t make me feel even slightly better about it: hey, I’m not an outdoors kinda guy!
Fortunately, I’m in exceedingly good company. There’s a varied group in tow – the Irish Times' Roisin Ingle, the Indo’s Bairbre Power, Dubliner publisher Trevor White, novelist Colum McCann and NewsTalk’s roving reporter, Henry McKean. Granted, it’s an eclectic media mix, but then, as the line-up of artists attests, tonight is all about mixing. So while Slattery Communications' Emily Cox and Hennessy’s Caroline Sleiman get on the bouncers’ case, here’s a little word about tonight’s sponsor.
Hennessy, the world’s finest cognac, beloved by rappers and royalty alike, is launching a new concept which they’ve called ‘the global art of mixing’. There are four suggested drinks being promoted – Hennessy New York (essentially brandy mixed with cola), Hennessy Shanghai (with bitters), Hennessy Moscow (with lemon juice) and Hennessy Paris (same as Moscow, but doubled; though, given the drinking habits of the inhabitants of those two cities, one would’ve thought it should’ve been reversed).
Keeping with the flow of the whole mixing thing, they’ve launched a promotional series of international Hennessy Artistry gigs, with Cartoon and The Chapters having featured at the inaugural Dublin event, about a month ago, at CHQ.
The culmination of a 15-date US tour (featuring different artists each night), the New York event is the biggest so far, by a long way. Say one thing for Hennessy, they really know how to spoil journalists. First class transatlantic flights, stretch limos, plush rooms in the exclusive Gansevoort Hotel, cocktail receptions and sumptuous meals in exclusive restaurants like Morimoto, Dona and NOBU. (FYI: NOBU is owned by none other than Robert De Niro, though sadly he wasn’t serving tonight).
Only one problem. When we finally get past all the flirting, the bouncers are barring the way. For a while it looks as though it could be non-negotiable, until – after 10 or 15 minutes of high-end diplomacy on the part of our hosts – we eventually gain access, just as Alison Goldfrapp finishes her set.
Inside it’s impressively rammed. Beautiful models circulate, serving trays of free Hennessy cocktails. The celebrity count is high: Joshua Jackson, Maria Menounos, Diane Kruger, Carmen Electra, Dylan McDermott, Danny Masterson, Shawn Ashmore, Lydia Hearst, Drea de Matteo, Shooter Jennings and Tracy Morgan are among the high profile names. The US paparazzi are going nuts.
It’s a great venue. The stage is massive and there are a number of huge projections illuminating the backing screens. Manning the decks, DJ Carl Cox is giving it loads.
The Strokes schmooze on at the stroke of 10pm, and play a straight 45 minutes, opening with ‘Reptilia’, before segueing straight into ‘Ize Of The World’. However, they struggle to get the attention of a crowd that’s as interested in schmoozing as listening. Highpoints of their 45-minute set are ‘Is This It?’ and ‘Last Night’.
Post-Strokes, Atrak – Kanye West’s personal DJ – takes over the decks. By now the crowd has settled in, and – metaphorically speaking – they’re in collective breach of the smoking ban. Unusually for such a hip DJ, Atrak talks quite a lot throughout his set, but it works because the guy’s funny. He sets things up nicely for the main attraction.
Headliner Kanye West comes on shortly after 11pm, and – inevitably – gets the most enthusiastic response of the night. Backed by a legion of singers and musicians (including a mini-string section), West really gives it his all. Why wouldn’t he? Rumours abound that Hennessy have paid him a cool million for tonight’s gig. However, I’m reliably informed that, a) it’s closer to $2 million, and b) he has to play a lot more than just this show to earn it.
West actually namechecks Hennessy in some of his songs – referring to his favourite cognac as ‘Hen’. Which sort of makes you wonder which came first – the chicken or the Hen?
By now, your Hot Press correspondent has a bloodstream that’s 87.5% pure cognac so I’m afraid a track-by-track recount of West’s setlist isn’t possible. However, I do note that the string players perform a medley that includes Gnarls Barkley’s ‘Crazy’ and the Verve’s ‘Bittersweet Symphony’.
About halfway through, undoubtedly aware that there’s a lot of music journalists in the audience, West goes off on a lengthy rant against the media, something about journalists not paying him enough attention. Let’s just say he’s far more enjoyable when he’s rapping. I know. I was listening.
There’s a massive cheer when up-and-coming star Pharrell joins him onstage for a few songs (including, of course, their smash hit duet, ‘Number 1’). The real action’s happening up the front – lots of hands in the air, waving like they just don’t care and spilling free ‘Hen’ everywhere.
West finishes his set with an inspired ‘Jesus Walks’ and then encores with the smash hit ‘Gold Digger’. What can you say? No complaints. The man’s a natural born talent – so much so that he’s been chosen by U2 to open the show on their Australian tour.
For all of the talent on display tonight, though, nothing went down nearly as smoothly as the Hennessy cocktails. Pour me another one, bartender…