Few people earn the title ﾓKitchen veteranﾔ more deservedly than Dave McDonnell. The first (and second-last) DJ ever to play the club, he always maintained a special relationship with clubbers and DJs alike at the Essex St venue. With the Kitchen Reunion night coming up on the 9th October, Dave took time out to chat to Novadance.com to share some of his memories and shed light on his current musical plans. Here he is, in his own wordsﾅ:

Dave McDonnell: ﾓI remember how I got the job, I was playing at the Rock Garden (now Eamonn Dorans) at the time. The management approached me one night and I started playing the Kitchen on Valentines Night, 1994- the first proper night it opened. The previous two nights had been for journalists and VIPs only; they were closed off to the public. So I built up my relationship with the crowd from the very start. They were probably sick to death of me after a few weeks!ﾅ

ﾓI used to love playing the warm-ups. Most times I did it, it was easy to get a party atmosphere going. As long as you focussed on the music on the floor, and kept it going, the place would be bubbling by 1am- people would be walking into a good atmosphere. It had a great soundsystem, the dancefloor was compact, enclosed. The Kitchen was a purpose built dance club, you picked up on that once you entered. It never felt like it was just a room with a soundsystem stuck in it, like you get with a lot of other clubs. I particularly liked the large blocks of cheese in the roof- nice touches like that. I actually met the designer once, he had some great ideas, and really had fun designing the place. The DJ box was supposed to be a teacup, with the leather laid out like blocks of chocolate, small touches like thatﾅ.

ﾓBetween 1994 and 1996 was a really hot time down there, when clubbing became above board and respected. The Kitchen always had that vibe where you had suits on the dancefloor alongside regular clubbers; youﾒd also get a lot of tourists in looking for Bono. So the crowd was always there from early in the night, and when you started your set at 11 oﾒclock, thereﾒd already be queues forming down the roadﾅ.

ﾓWhen I used to warm up for Podge on Saturdays, I could get away with playing some of that more experimental stuff, lots of tunes on Mor Music or City Centre Offices. Anything I could get away with really. I was playing Ulrich Schnauss before anyone else in Dublin! (laughs) Thatﾒs really the kind of stuff Iﾒm into now. Iﾒve being collecting music like an animal, not so much house music, mainly electronica and trippy, chilled kinda stuff. I put together an album with Mick Clarke, lately Iﾒve been making some tech-house records as well. But donﾒt worry itﾒs going to be strictly house music on the 9thﾅ

ﾓWhy do I think it closed down? I think it was mis-managed and ran into the ground a bit. I heard on the grapevine that Bono made a comment about it, saying it was like a toilet. He probably wanted it closed down before someone was found dead in the place (!) Thatﾒs probably a rumour, but then again, no-one was really sure what the reasons were. For that reason, Iﾒm really looking forward to the gig on the 9th, it sounds like it could be a really good night. Itﾒs been so long! None of the regular punters that used to come down on the night have really experienced the Kitchen atmosphere since it closed; this gives us the opportunity to resurrect that atmosphere for one night. And its for charity as well, so hopefully weﾒll pack them inﾅﾔ

Collective-Music Presents:
The Kitchen Reunion: Aid Of Crumlin Childrens Hospital

With Special Guest Djﾒs
ﾠPODGE
DAVE MCDONNELL
SHAY HANNON

Saturday 9th October 2004.

Tribecca Bar,
Earl of Kildare Hotel, Nassau Street, Dublin 2.

Admission: Free (Donations accepted on the door).
Doors: 9.30pm til very late.

For guaranteed entry, invitations are available by emailing info@collective-music.com