Just twenty four hours after the end of the world, Beyond looks set to prove that the fun is only just beginning as it celebrates the end of the end of the world myth with a magnificent midnight meet which does mark the end for a former resident D.J. & promoter of this brilliant brand, DM delving into the detail, propelling the P.R., but also casting a constructively critical eye over some missing jigsaw pieces in the Beyond party package.
As we entered the last month of what has been an anus horribilus for us on many fronts, there was however one particular calendar that we were keeping our eyes upon, the tradition of an advent calendar very much a celebration of the countdown to Christmas and, for us, to our birthday which we celebrate just five days before. However, if you have had your eyes on another calendar, the Mayan version that is, it is not Christmas you will have been focussing on, but the end of the world, which they predict as hitting home in no uncertain terms this Friday, the 21st December 2012, a day that also marks the winter solstice which normally points us here in the northern hemisphere to brighter & longer (literally) days ahead. Yet as part of Russia & most of the new age world are gripped by this so called global cataclysm which will likely to be merely a “consciousness shift” for those believers of this end of the world event, it seems that the clubbing community are marking this momentous occasion with not commiseration but, in the realisation that there will be post 21/12/12, have decided that celebration is the name of this global ending game.
So, while we breathe a sigh of relief that if the Mayan’s are right, we will at least have got our birthday in, the reality is that we will be joining the clubbing celebration train this weekend, not least within the wonderful walls of our favourite & most brilliant brand, Beyond striking a chord when it says of its “End Of The World” event on Saturday (22nd Dec) that “…the fun is just beginning…” the question they then pose “…if the world ends, where would you want to be?…” begging the answer to be Beyond and to be honest, if the world is ending we couldn’t think of a better place to go out with a bang. And while we all know that the world is not going to end (do we or will it?) given that the likes of Muccassasina, Red & Blue and many others besides are celebrating this fabled finale, why not Beyond too, promoter Ben Kaye clearly with his eye on this brilliant brand rather than the apocalyptic armageddon when his premonition of reactions come Saturday night suggest this of our favourite clubbing followers, “..no way, shut up!, did the world just end?!! I didn’t even notice – excuse me can you turn that tune up please, my name is on the list; I’ve got some good times to be had and I haven’t got time for the world to be ending right now…”
Well by now you get the gist of this latest Beyond bash, very much a tongue in cheek poke at the ludicrous suggestion that he world is going to end and while some say that Friday may the last day of your life, it is probably just the last working day of the year, well if you’re one of the lucky ones that are off until January. But even if you’re not, this is definitely the last Beyond before Christmas, so is likely to be a jam packed affair as everyone gets firmly into some festive frolicking with a dance work out to make room for all that Christmas Day chow. And having ruled the capitals clubbing circuit waves for the whole of 2012, Beyond is certainly not holding back with this final fling before Christmas, as they roll out one of their now infamous “Midnight” affairs, hence why it’s billed as a Saturday start (even though we all know it’s actually Sunday when the doors open), the possibility that the club will run extra late as certain as death & taxes, especially given how popular its parties have been this month alone, the “all roads lead to” reputation should play out to exceptional effect as both Soho & Shoreditch shindigs empty out and their party heads forge a path to Vauxhall. But do beware folks as while the Beyond boys & girls may be in festive mode, the touch of scrooge means that as part of door entry revision rules, those on the guestlist need to be in by 4 a.m., as Ben tells us “…them are the rules, no exceptions!…” (even us it seems), while he also tells us that we are gonna give you go-go heaven with a little end of the world naughtiness, the production is being pimped as we speak…” although we did feel the need to put him straight about his claim “…there is no work on Monday…. whets your excuse…” ours & many others being that here in the UK, Christmas Eve is a working day and not a public holiday Mr Kaye, savvy!!!
That said it’s still a Sunday lunchtime finish, even with that death & taxes certainty and with a glittering line up of resident D.J.’s to keep you dancing way past dawn, who could resist taking in the full extent of this “End Of The World” event, Beyond’s main room sporting Jamie Head & Fat Tony, both having established a presence in this premier pitch during 2012, having graduated from the terrace space where, in actual fact, we feel they both perform much better. However, given the quality of their set showings this year, we can pretty much guarantee that they will rock the main room to its fabulous finale fable foundations, while finale is very much the byword of what will be the last ever (so we are reliably informed) set from Beyond’s former promoter Jonny Marsh, who has recently spread his wings of the jet packed variety having taken a well earned break from Orange Nation director of events duties to sow new rooting seeds in the southern hemisphere, Australia to be exact. But not having properly said farewell to his old backyard Beyond, Jonny will be “…opening the main room personally…” performing his last set in London before flying back out to Oz, the whole Beyond family present to wave him a fond farewell, so is one bon voyage you won’t want to miss, whichever side of the Marsh fence you sit on.
However, the biggest and best news for us and we think for Beyond under the current premiership of Mr Kaye is the wonderfully welcome & resounding return of Paul Christian who has, in our view been sorely missed, Paul synonymous with The Chapel space and the start up D.J. to beat them all, even Hifi Sean whom we were also pleased to see back last weekend after protracted problems following a hernia operation. So there should be a real buzz about Beyond’s second space on Saturday (or is that Sunday!?!), Paul one of we hope many moves to restore our faith it what has become a brand that has, despite its continued popularity, has been losing its way. Yet as good as Paul’s return is, as good as the inclusion of D’Johnny & David Jimenez in the Chapel this weekend are, it is our beloved Terrace room that is desperate for corrective attention, the lack of the likes of The Sharp Boys, The Oli & others that have, like us, adored the atmosphere & electricity of this special space, recent times seeing the dynamic duo of Verity Mayes & Bryony Masters having played to a mere handful of hedonists. And when you see that the P.R. doesn’t even mention the word “Terrace” rather refers the room to “The Embankment”, there remains much for Ben & his team to do to rekindle the magic that made this the heart beat that pumped the blood into the vibrant veins of the Beyond body that is the main room & second space, the terrace always the place we would retreat to after an intensive main room work out to the likes of Steve Pitron, Mikey D & Alan K, our Tom Fuller catch-up’s sorely missed and one of a few reasons why we tend to have taken an early Beyond bath throughout 2012.
With soap box shouts over and one with, lets hone in on the detail of this Beyond “End Of The World” bash, we reiterating that this is a “Midnight” event meaning it is billed as starting on Saturday (22nd Dec), Area’s doors opening at midnight and the club running through to a billed late, late finish which we suspect could be 10 or even 11 a.m. advance tickets very much the way to go as always, £10 tickets available online at http://orangenation.co.uk/events/beyond-5-2-2/ and clicking on the ticket icon, while a trip to Soho outlets Prowler, Clone Zone (both stores) & 50 Dean, as well as at Comptons, Rupert St & Lo-Profile, while you can pay on the door but expect to play more. Plus it is worth reminding guestlist hopefuls that door host JJ Clark will close the list at 4 a.m. (he will be inside hosting the VIP area afterwards), while Concessions are available with an ad or flyer and its just £5 before 1a.m, but then sharply increasing to £12 till 7 a.m., while you won’t need to worry about a long wait to get in as we cannot contain our pleasure & relief in saying that Tom Fuller is back masterminding the queues and your smooth entry. Add to that the amazing Area lighting & effects, plus that pimped up production that been has promised and we reckon there will be no better place to celebrate the end of the myth that is the end of the world, we leaving some of the last few words of this special focus to Mr Kaye who takes the opportunity to send “…you all the best xmas wishes and hope 2013 is all you want for and more. I want to personally say thank you for making 2012 such a great Beyond year for me, while to see everyone having so much fun week in week out really makes all the hard work worth it…”.
And what better way to return those thanks than seeping out on the scene on Saturday and heading to Beyond for this fabulous finale fable, safe in the knowledge that the world hasn’t ended but you can rather “Go There! Be There! (DISCO MATT)
