With February seeing a heap of new happenings from both new to the promoter game guys & experienced operators, it seems Orange Nation also wants to join the party as it announces the launch of its latest Friday frolic, replacing the ill fated Onyx & A:M “Ultra” forays, we delving into what new meet Manic & its two offshoot’s, District XXX & Panic have to offer that’s dynamically different.
In what can only be described as the slowest start to a clubbing calendar year we have experienced in the capital ever, even NYD falling a little flat in comparison to previous years, there wasn’t that much to celebrate, particularly down Vauxhall way, as there seemed a genuine lack of interest for injecting any sort of life into what is, nevertheless, the most challenging month of the year. But perhaps NYD was part of the problem, an almost monotone repeat of what was on offer the previous year, Beyond leading to WE, but with no As One and no alternatives on offer. Indeed, as the month progressed, many got dragged down by the closure of Profile & Lo-Profile, while the hub of happenings could only muster a free clubbing offer to titivate turnout, while the yawn worthy repeat of one Beyond “Midnight” after the other became too much to bear. However, out east there was plenty to celebrate, while our continental cousins carried on captivatingly, giving us hope that new doors were opening, or at least about to open, February very much providing the proof to that pudding prediction, as new clubs Baked (now BakeBox), Swallow & Butch launched, while eyes began to turn to new clubbing combo, Prohibition, one that will see promoter Alex Erfan make a welcome return to the scene. So, it was just a matter of time before The Orange Group would both react and want to join this new promotions party, although with a new brand whose title, purposefully or not, has raised more than an eyebrow and a titter.
When Onyx launched to an unsuspecting public some three or so years ago now, within a matter of weeks it had transformed the Friday night clubbing scene to the extent that this became the new Saturday, all eyes attentive on Area as this captivating club pulled in the party goers by the hundreds. Indeed at one point, Onyx’s financial & other figures were close to matching the might of Beyond, such had its stature and popularity grown. But a steady rise & rise soon slipped into a speedy fall, Jonny Marsh’s replacement seemingly having the kiss of death on what had been a true success & award winning story. And with Onyx’s demise, came a fumbled attempt to boost Friday’s down Vauxhall way, by tampering with another winning club formula, this time A:M the sad victim, the “Ultra” incarnation only serving to confuse rather than captivate clubbers, the afterhours appeal of this Saturday morning institution dissolving before our very eyes. So, it was clear a remedy to this saddening slump was required, the result a new Friday night club brand which makes its first steps on trepidation onto a highly suspect scene next weekend (Fri 15th Feb), the name also an interesting choice given the predicament the demise of Onyx & the faltering A:M situation leaves Manic in. Yet, the team are being (as expected) bullish about this new venture, hailing it as “…the biggest launch party Vauxhall has seen for years…”, meaning we couldn’t pass on the opportunity of looking deep into what this new concept has to offer that both lives up to that billing and makes it dynamically different to what has gone before.
Well, let’s first start with the name, Manic Panic, for us, immediately sending out the wrong sort of message, as the last thing we would want to subject ourselves to after a hard working week, is a night that has mania and panic part & parcel of its make-up, while for the sceptics across the scene (and there are many) the mere inference is one of a manic panic of a reaction to a faltering Friday format that is in serious trouble of imploding completely. However, taking what the team have to say on face value, the PR spin suggests that there is “…no PANIC!, as we’re sorting your Friday’s once & for all…” adding, “…it’s simply going to be MANIC!…”. So, by that alone we can see that this is going to be a pretty crazy party from a number of angles, something which will clearly appeal to a certain age bracket & hedonistic clubhead, while, as yet, remain to be convinced that it will attract the mainstream as many of its predecessors did. And while, given the state of the scene recently, we agree with the team when they say “…Friday is the new Saturday…” we are really not sure that by taking “…mayhem a step further than ever before with an extreme crazy club experience…” is the answer. However, we are sticking to the plan as Manic Panic aims to attract an eclectic crowd “….from clubkid transformation pods to bearded trannies hanging up their washing, fortune telling to larger than life zoo creatures to shock you into Saturday morning. This Friday experience will keep London talking all week…” and given that, it will certainly wag a fair few tongues, while the team have saved the best line for last when they say “…a team of the craziest, limit pushing, disco pumped club kids will be rolling around the club each Friday night to ensure no one leaves without returning hot sweat flashbacks of their time at MANIC. These will be named The Panics…” sealing the deal by saying of Manic Panic’s aims, “…not just aiming to fill the need for a new Friday night, but taking it WAY too far…”
So, shocked with it all as we are, the Manic Panic statement is nothing but bold & clear, while drilling deeper into the actual format, the club comprising of three “…completely new concepts…” and being based in Area in Vauxhall it neatly fits the three rooms of the venue (funny that), while we are led to believe that these three new concepts will deliver three sets of sounds “…never heard before under one roof…”. Well, let’s take a look at the three sets of sounds, the “Manic” element taking the strain the Area’s main room, the music policy labelled as “…techno, tech & deep house…” delivered by a team of D.J.’s, all of whom will be familiar to followers of Onyx, Deelooded, DISH & Deviate, the trump card that is Pagano played on the opening night, along with Tom Stephan, Borja Pena & Gonzalo Rivas, while Terry Vietheer & Francesco Poggi are interesting additions, no Orange nation event ever complete without Maze & masters in the line-up. And while we very much respect the work of Pagano plus his draw, while we think what Tom & Borja have done with DISH is simply superb, to say that their combinative sounds nave “…never heard before under one roof…”, is pushing realms of reality a little, although we will say that in Francesco, Tom & Borja you have three of the best in the business, the music sure to be as top draw as these towering talents, so you can’t say fairer than that. However, that said, as for the Manic room entertainment & hosting, we can while we can only wonder at what the performances from Antonio & Timberlina will bring to the party, let alone “The Panics”, that band of boys & girls expected to rampage & roll around the club, hostess Andrea sure to fuel them with plenty of guruana yaaaa!!!.
As for the second concept, well we hold out a little more hope here, as District XXX has a distinctly more grown up and, dare we say it, PLAY>TIME feel to it, not least that the host in the concept within a concept is from the old Lo-Profile stable, although we reckon Martin should drop “princess” in favour of something a little more appropriate to the theme, which the team tell us is aimed at inviting “…the hot, the cool, the bad boys and the X rated to all come together in a fantasy playground...” that playground being Area’s second space, the Chapel, which we are told will be transformed into a “…dark’n’draped up back nave where the bad boys hang out…”. And with District XXX bringing live porn shows courtesy of some of Europe’s hottest porn stars along with better than average gogo shows, you can see why we draw comparisons with PLAY>TIME, while the resident team of D.J.’s has shades of Lo-Profile too, Femi B & Zach Burns two that Orange Nation have clawed across along with a whole host of Lo-Pro others, while we remain pretty excited about the prospect of Hifi Sean & Severino behind the decks, whether back to back or in formation. As for other District XXX D.J. influences, Matt Bogard is a Friday familiar to Area, having played his prolific part for Onyx and is definitely a rising scene star, while Rob Sykes completes the resident picture, pretty much once again confirming that there is nothing that new about the sound, as great as it is likely to be. Indeed, while it is pretty obvious that District XXX is following in the PLAY>TIME footsteps, they are very much successful ones that should see this party of the concept fly and is our preferred party by a long shot. In terms of the third concept, well we are kind of scratching our heads looking for the new, the name Panic! being the only tenuous, while whenever we see the word, we cannot help think of Dad’s Army and Corporal Jones running around the embankment space shout “don’t panic, don’t panic, don’t panic” although suspect that will be a job for “The Panics”. However, what Onyx was great for it repeats in this space, terrific talent Sam DMS serving up eclectic house pop, 90’s hits & other garage classics with a weekly rotation of guests, adding a different musical dimension to the whole Manic Panic offer which, while not new, is certainly brave.
Now, as of going to press we have little detail on pricings and with just a week or so to go, the team need to get their promotional act into gear as even looking at the events page, the only additional information we can share and confirm is that the launch takes place next Friday (15th Feb) at Area in Vauxhall, doors opening at 11 p.m. and the club running through to a planned 6 a.m. finish. However, what seems a slight watering down of the D.J. team, sees Borja Pena drop off the main room line-up and Tom Stephan listed as a special guest, while in District XXX terms is Hifi Sean & Rob Sykes on duty for the launch, we bringing you more news as we receive it. As for A:M? Well the great news is that it returns to its afterhours status, new promoter Mauricio Ortiz promising much in terms of guest D.J.’s, names such as Hugo Sanchez, Javier Medina, Micky Friedman and his old pal Leandro Kloppel in the frame, for now we leaving the PR to do our talking which tells us that “…things are heating up for the ultimate re-launch A:M at Fire. Get ready for the most perverted stage performances with your favourite adult entertainers and much more, sexing it up, but bringing back the much loved old-school feel that only A:M Saturday mornings can get away with…” adding “…the re-launch will also see the Fire lounge totally transformed into a naughty boudoir – by invitation. Bringing back the cabaret style lounge ambiance with hot guys in next to nothing catering to your every desire, we will welcome you in, to DIRTY CA$H, hosted by the fittest of guys and with a new table service, Orange Nation is taking Fire to a whole other level: exclusivity and the human obsession for the male body. So with nothing more to say to top that, for more info on Manic Panic head to https://facebook.com/ManicPanicLondon &/or https://facebook.com/events/138652789632644/, while of A:M await further news at https://facebook.com/AMafterhours, a click on http://orangenation.co.uk also keeping you abreast of the event detail as it is released. (DISCO MATT)
