Has anybody seen Carl Cox live?

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If so, how's he?

A friend is nagging me shamelessly to go with her to a show he'll make tomorrow night with a bunch of DJs, but all I've heard about him is his name, I'm afraid.

What's his style? Is he any good? Is he worth it in a staying-up-all-night-and-attend-an-executive-meeting-on-early-Friday way?

Should I stay or should I go?

― Miggie (Miggie), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 19:12 (twenty-two years ago)

For m he's the definition of the pro DJ - famous for very long sets (10 hrs?) - uses 3 turntables, techno, house, tribal, etc. He doesn't out-obscure you or "take you on a journey," - sometimes it seems like he bangs directly onto the breakdown and/or climax of each track and then it's off to the next one. Along with Danny Tenaglia he's very much a "DJ's DJ."

Not really unique but who cares? Go!

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 19:20 (twenty-two years ago)

"m" = "me"

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 19:21 (twenty-two years ago)

(I think most of his own songs are pretty crap, but he is a great DJ!)

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 19:21 (twenty-two years ago)

I saw him a couple of years ago. He played mostly hard banging techno, and was technically pretty good though the style of music wasn't really my cuppa tea. Nonetheless he did manage to capture the rest of the crowd's attention.

But to answer yer question, I don't think he's worth that sort of sleep deprivation. Don't stay, go home!

― Philippe, Wednesday, 29 October 2003 19:24 (twenty-two years ago)

i haven't seen or heard him for a few years now but he was quite possibly my favourite DJ of the late 90s

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 20:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Despite being one of the ILMers least likely to this, I have indeed seen Carl Cox live, though it was 5 years+ ago. It was incredible, transcendent, etc. See? I'm down!

― adaml (adaml), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 20:56 (twenty-two years ago)

"least likely to say this"

― adaml (adaml), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 20:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Adaml talks like this...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 20:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Hehe, I was thinking something along those lines as I wrote that.

― adaml (adaml), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 21:02 (twenty-two years ago)

i have only just remembered how great 'I Want You Forever' is

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 21:32 (twenty-two years ago)

I've seen him a couple of times (never long sets though, 1.5 to 3 hours), and he's always been great. He plays funky techno, not too deep or minimal, very danceable, infectious stuff. Sometimes a bit harder depending on the crowd, but nothing too scary or 'difficult'. I like his DJing style a lot, he isn't too snobbish to refrain from throwing in some crowdpleaser tracks and he doesn't go overboard with the 3-deck juggling. Really sympathetic bloke too.

His U60311 mix CD that came out a few months ago is very much recommended, by the way.

― Siegbran (eofor), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 21:59 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, seen him a few times, and like the others say, plays club-style techno (ie the stuff with builds, breakdowns, the odd vocal), rather than minimal hawtin-style stuff (which I prefer). Starts kind of tough-housey and gets to hardish techno after a few hours. Go if you've got drugs, give it a miss otherwise...

― paulhw (paulhw), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 22:43 (twenty-two years ago)

I've seen him three times, and each time he was fantastic. I'd definetely recommend him if you like harder, darker techno. Just to watch this enormous black man shaking it behind the decks... My favorite time was when he tag-teamed a few years back with Danny Tenaglia at Twilo (best sound system in any U.S. club ever). They played from 11 p.m. until 3 p.m. the next day, and I couldn't leave. There were at least 100 people who had stayed the entire time. It was incredible!

― Shaun (shaun), Thursday, 30 October 2003 00:01 (twenty-two years ago)

I would get so bored. Especially of that music.

― Xii (Xii), Thursday, 30 October 2003 02:02 (twenty-two years ago)

He played live near me recently. I didn't go, but my friend said it "sucked cox". It was probably really good.

― Maxwell von Bismarck (maxwell von bismarck), Thursday, 30 October 2003 02:24 (twenty-two years ago)

No, Definitely go to bed and be prepared for work the next morning. He is a solid, professional DJ and you will have a good time. He doesn't do anything revolutionary or play anything that is super cutting edge, so he is kind of missable.

If I had to choose between losing face at work because I look cracked out from staying out too late, or just hitting the hay early, I would get some sleep. Nothing against Carl Cox, it just isn't anything that is going to change your life.

― Disco Nihilist (mjt), Thursday, 30 October 2003 03:28 (twenty-two years ago)

I saw him as a 'surprise' guest at Laurent Garnier's residency at the Rex and it was pretty exceptionnal. Crowd-pleasing fo'shoo, but if you're gonna make your friend happy by going, then you really have no esxcuse not to.

― Baaderist (Fabfunk), Thursday, 30 October 2003 09:38 (twenty-two years ago)

No way, Nietzsche. Carl Cox is worth calling out of work for one day. Give him that at least.

― Shaun (shaun), Friday, 31 October 2003 07:07 (twenty-two years ago)

four years pass...

four people killed at his gig in caracas. i don't love him but i made the mistake of watching the video and i feel very sad.

http://www.residentadvisor.net/forum-read.aspx?id=35507

― elan, Tuesday, 6 November 2007 07:55 (eighteen years ago)

life threatening exercise seeing carl cox these days innit ???

4 shot dead in raVE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJllkcPCQeA

― pollywog, Tuesday, 6 November 2007 08:34 (eighteen years ago)

rat a tat tat

― blunt, Tuesday, 6 November 2007 09:20 (eighteen years ago)

seventeen years pass...

Ha ha, this racing team is called Carl Cox Racing...

wait...

https://carlcoxmotorsport.com/

― koogs, Thursday, 16 October 2025 19:04 (eight months ago)

six months pass...

Saw him play a two hour vinyl set of old school rave and techno supporting The Prodigy last night and he was fantastic. Way better than The Prodigy were. He even played Rotterdam Termination Source's Poing lol

― groovypanda, Monday, 20 April 2026 17:35 (one month ago)

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