Hiya,
As a typhoon was forecast for tonight (Sunday), the final Rock4four party, of the beach season was brought forward a day. And what a day! Beginning at lunchtime, on the beaches of Kamakura, and ending way past dawn, in the clubs of nearby Fujisawa.
Over the eighteen hour period that the partying lasted we saw six different events, (some simultaneous, one spontaneous), a few fights, a wedding (of Ty and Sayaka - more of that later), and the making of countless friendships; a Rock4four record FIFTEEN DJs, and three live performers. Pick of the bunch, for me (and there was some stiff competition) was the set that began at 6pm on Yuigahama beach, and ended twelve hours later, from special guests, Belgian DJs Franck Boogart and Michelle. An absolutely unforgettable set, which included:
One Dove - White Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGG1eBqc_Hk
PIL - Rise
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzNjmIWbns4
Belle And Sebastian - The Boy With The Arab Strap
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4vooK0WyiM
Elvis Presley - Let Yourself Go 2009 Remix
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN470-Yr0_A
The Jam - Start
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJP8gWLc4IE
INXS - Need You Tonight (Maximus Remix)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBLO4MsC3rA
Westworld - Sonic Boom Boy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9DMUnhfOQo
Keane - everybody's changing (REMIX)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDda0QBD7WU
fine young cannibals - she drives me crazy 12"mix
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7vI7kAjjpg
Radiohead - street spirit (funkagenda remix)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meXSYjLCyO0
The scenes at this, the final beach party of the year were, I have to say, up there, not only with anything I've seen at Rock4four, but anything I've seen ANYWHERE! My young friend, Aoi, who is an aspiring musician was absolutely awestruck. Not only did she say it was the most amazing party she'd ever been to, but said she found great inspiration, from the music, and energy. Needless to say, the beautiful young thing made more new friends than I've ever seen anyone make in one night.
The evening really began, with the firedance, at little Thailand, around 7pm. Franck and Michelle had prepared a special, pumping set, which included Radiohead, U2, Oasis, and REM and was just fantastic - the firedancers delivered an equally amazing performance too. After the show ended, Ty and Sayaka came across the river, from Bar India, where they'd been having their wedding party. Not only them, but around 150 of their wedding guests came too. I have to say, watching Sayaka, dancing in her wedding dress, on the shoreline, as Keane's 'Everybody's changing' was poetically beautiful - as was Sayaka. I've never seen a more blushing, beautiful bride - I swear a tear ran down my cheek. If she could only hold the happiness I saw on her face, at that moment... but can anyone? As tight as you hold such moments, everybody changes... Still, Ty and Sayaka have as good a chance as anyone.
As the sun set, and darkness fell, the already heaving crowd at the Brighton Rock bar was beginning to cause anxiety. Yuji Fuji told me he had no choice but to ask Franck and Michelle to relocate to the party down the coast, at Enoshima, in the hope that some of the crowd would follow. Luckily, his hope worked out, as about half the partygoers headed to the tram stop, as Yuji drove Franck and Michelle to Enoshima.
Back at Yuigahama, Fox and Miki took over, and, I have to say, kept the party pumping as if Franck and Michelle had never left. I stayed for about an hour and a half, and it was brilliant! I got a chance to give my best, to Ty and Sayaka, and say I'd see them, when they got back from their Honeymoon, in Hawaii....
"We ain't coming back, Des... this is goodbye, at least for now. We're going to be living in San Diego'
I was choked. I couldn't speak, for about half a minute. "Can I come and visit you?".
"Of course" said Sayaka. Ty nodded in agreement.
"This is all very sudden!" I managed to croak.
"I'm being transferred" said Ty. "And Sayaka wants to improve her English. It's a good opportunity for both of us".
"Well what can I say, but 'good luck', and thanks for everything. I couldn't have got my career back on line, without you both" I said, hugging them.
"Fox and Yuji promised to visit" sobbed Sayaka. "Will you come too?"
"Of course, of course!"
We partied together, right in front of Fox and Miki's DJ box, for one of the happiest, yet saddest hour's of my life. Ty made fun of 'Miki Ohara, at all, at all!" one last time, before the golden couple headed off, in a taxi, for Kamakura station, The Temple Cat took over, for the final hour in the DJ box, and Fox, Miki, and I headed over for the final countdown at Enoshima....
