One of our musical highlights in 2023 was living our best lives, lost in 90s nostalgia, watching Blur back onstage at Primavera Sound in June. There were tears. But last week Damon Albarn broke our hearts once more saying the Blur reunion was only temporary. The nerve!
But fear not for Barcelona now has Common People, a night specialising in all the best Britpop, Rock, Indie, Nu-Rave, Alternative, Synth Wave anthems from the 80s, 90s and even early 2000s. Hosted at Razzmatazz, the team really kicked the night off after the pandemic but the audience has been growing steadily ever since and now the Sunday afternoon event regularly sells out.
Razzmatazz‘s next Common People is Christmas is Over, Hallelujah on 7th January with DJ Amable and Marc Dorian. Tickets are onsale now and can be bought at www.salarazzmatazz.com. DJ Amable tells Loverboy more about Common People and his five favourite 90s Women in Rock.
So, DJ Amable, tell us, how did Common People start?
We wanted to create this big party and bring together all the people that have enjoyed nights at Razzmatazz since it opened in 2000 and even at its previous incarnation as A Saco (Zeleste). We wanted to have it in the afternoon too to make it more accessible for everyone.
There’s definitely a specific vibe to the music at Common People. Do you have like, a manifesto?
Only dance and enjoy indie, pop, rock, electronica and alternative music from the 80s, 90s and early 2000s.
How strict are you with those genres?
In Room 1 we play 90s and anthems from the first fifteen years of the new millennium. Also recently we have launched a new offering with the New Wave room, dedicated especially to the 80s.
How have you seen Common People grow since it started?
We started the club night with between 800-1000 people coming each time but at the last two parties we have been completely sold out, with around 1500 people enjoying the event.
Why did you choose Razzmatazz?
We have been working with Razzmatazz in one way or another since it opened. In my case, I have worked with them since even before then, when the place was called A Saco (Zeleste). I have DJed in the same venue since 1994 and always played very alternative genres of music.
I’m living for this idea of a an early Sunday evening, tea-dance situation…
We call this a ‘tardeo’ in Spain and it’s a concept that is popular and maybe more common in Valencia, Alicante and Murcia. They’ve been hosting these tardeos for more than a decade. In Barcelona, Madrid and the rest of Spain it’s more of a relatively recent thing. For us it’s ideal with the type of people who come for Common People that don’t necessarily come to late night events at Razz anymore, whether that’s because of age, kids or because maybe they just don’t like the music played in the main room (La1) on a Saturday night in Razzmatazz anymore.
What is your favourite musical memory of the 90s?
For me it was the beginning of A Saco in 1991. A club night that started in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat in the suburbs of Barcelona. It had a capacity of just 200 people but then the club grew and grew, finally moving to Razzmatazz, still Zeleste at that time, and with more than 2000 people coming.
I remember the fight for #1 between Blur and Oasis like it was yesterday. Whose CD did you buy?
I like both but I am probably a bigger fan of Blur than Oasis.
Our last question is usually about our namesake Mariah Carey. But maybe instead you can tell us your five favourite Women of Rock from the 90s?
PJ Harvey, Björk, Justine Frishcmann, Kim Gordon, Poison Ivy and Karen O. These are women who were, and still are, so talented, provocative, seductive and innovative. In the case of Justine Frishchmann I even had the pleasure of sharing the DJ booth with her one night in Razzmatazz.
PJ Harvey – ‘Rid of Me’, Björk – ‘Violently Happy’, Elastica – ‘Connection’, Sonic Youth – ‘Bull in the Heather’, The Cramps – ‘Human Fly’ and Yeah Yeah Yeahs – ‘Date With The Night.’
Ticket for the next Common People can be bought now at www.salarazzmatazz.com
