Organ transplant

>> London's Peter Vickerman brings over the funky tracks you wish you had

by RUPERT BOTTENBERG

With a background in England's neo-mod scene and a current obsession with Hammond organ dancefloor jazz, London's Peter Vickerman is a champion of raw funk, rare grooves and other pre-electronic dance music. So pull on a parka, or a dashiki if you want, and make your way to Nantha's for a night of infectious vinyl obscurities.

Mirror: You've been involved with a number of clubs in both Oxford and London. What did you do there?

Peter Vickerman: I got interested in DJing when I was studying in Oxford. Me and some friends started a club night in a local venue called Panic and it went amazingly well. It was on a Monday night, but we used to get a regular crowd of over 200 people. It was basically a mod club and at the time there was a big mod revival, so we had people coming from 50 miles away all, suited up mod style.

The next really good thing I did was in a bar called Yesbut every Saturday night. It was called Intoxica and we played funky Hammond, mod tracks, weird funky stuff and anything else we fancied. This was a revelation--we had queues every time from 9:30 in the evening. Brilliant, but then I moved to London. The clubs I have been involved in here are either funk or mod clubs. I don't organize the nights but I regularly DJ at two or three different clubs. It's always a thrill DJing for different crowds and still getting them going.

M: Have you been at all involved in the northern soul scene over there?

PV: I do like some northern soul but I wouldn't say I was involved to a big extent in the scene. However, because I'm from Manchester, you can't avoid it and I seem to get most of my cheap funk bargains from northern soul collectors as they cast them off. I am more interested in the mod and funk scenes. The music is a lot more raw, I find.

M: You seem to have a penchant for all things Hammond. Score any good records lately in the B-3 department?

PV: Yep, they are a passion for me. My latest prized Hammond tracks are the Mohawks' "Pepsi" (amazing Hammond funk from the U.K.'s best funk stars), Buddy McKnight's "Everytime" (Hammond boogaloo on the part two, loud), Kalooky's "i Bisquei" (Italian unknowns with a storming Hammond b-side, even if it does sound as though they were a tad on drugs), and Nilsmen's "The Winston" (mod Hammond through and through).

M: Any hobbies or pastimes other than spinning and scrounging for dusty lost vinyl gems?

PV: Luckily, yes. I'm really into cycling and hiking the mountains of the north, and following the ups and downs of Manchester City Football Club.

At Nantha's Cuisine on Friday, Nov. 17, 10pm