Digital, 2nd May

Sampling a variety of film clips and using specialist equipment, DJ Yoda put together tonight’s 90-minute set which allowed him to scratch the actual film footage. The result was a complete audio-visual show. Armed with four huge screens, a mass of equipment and an actual popcorn stand, he descended on Digital to share the joy of his ‘Magic Cinema’.

Following the rather apt ’20th Century Fox’ theme to rapturous applause, Yoda’s introduction comprised of an adapted version of the scrolling writing from ‘Star Wars’. After scratching his way through ‘Superbad’ and “What’s up Brighton?” clips, Yoda got the crowd moving with frantic, yet precise scratching of various ‘Rocky’ scenes over the Chemical Brother’s ‘Block Rocking Beats’. Behind his two screens, Yoda was evidently enjoying the show, his smile held firmly in place. Other memorable sections were the Sesame Street/Run DMC mash-up and a brilliant remix of the SNES-era ‘Mario Brothers’ theme and footage. The Jackson 5’s ‘I Want You Back’ prompted a mass sing-along shortly before the ‘Simpsons’ opening titles got everyone jumping around when it was scratched up to fit over a D&B track.

Clips from ‘Fresh Prince’, ‘Adult Swim’ and the hilarious ‘Robots’ video by ‘Flight of the Conchords’ all followed. The finale was a funny spin though some footage from the Air Guitar Championships laid over a Papa Roach tune (which only added to the comedy element) before Yoda scratched in the classic Usual Suspects line “… and like that, he’s gone”, raised a hand in a brief goodbye and disappeared.

A mixture of dancing, watching and laughing, Yoda’s latest show was a true assault on the senses, leaving the crowd clearly delighted. On tour around the country for the next couple of months and appearing at Bestival, DJ Yoda is well worth checking out, you definitely won’t be disappointed and will definitely smile.

Words by Chris Leggett
Photos by David Tatnell