Posts Tagged ‘DouGuim’
September 28, 2011 | 
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Brazilian Brand Benchmark
London is probably now recognised as one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world and the same could be said for its clubbing scene, a wealth of nations represented on its dancefloors, at its events & even within the industry itself, not one corner of the globe left out of the picture. However, following the lead that the so called “Spanish Armada” invasion of club brands created with the likes of La Troya, Matinee, SuperMartXe & WE, it seemed inevitable that another major Latin nation would want to get its say on the London scene, the Brazilians being quite strongly represented as clubbers on the capital’s circuit making the introduction of one of its biggest brands, The Week, a foregone conclusion. Yet while the first outing was exceptional, moving it to a different venue, in this case The Coronet, lost its London identity somewhat, the comparisons to WE party clearly apparent, which, in itself, was to see the emergence of a home-grown Brazilian brand attempt to make its mark on the capitals clubbing circuit.
With Casa Latina the product of a burgeoning Brazilian influence on the scene here in London, our initial scepticism of its intentions were soon apparent, although having been away in the sunny climbs of South Africa for the launch back in March, we were not on hand to witness the muted response by the capitals clubbers for ourselves, perhaps choosing to launch it within days of The Week’s return to London not the best of timings. But with Casa’s return in July boosted by the involvement of ex SuperMartXe lynch pin Mauricio Ortiz, the “Super Car Wash” event proved a spectacular success, Fire’s main room a roadblock, the stage shows simply superb and the collective of D.J.’s across the two rooms all proving a huge hit with party heads that packed out both dancefloors. So, with the Casa Latina standard & stool very much set by this scintillating second showing, there was much to look forward to for Casa’s third throw of the capital clubbing dice, not least in the Brazilian credentials of promoters Thiago Drewry & Mauricio Ortiz combined, as well as D.J. stars Leandro Kloppel, DouGuim & most notably new boy Junior Moura, making “Sugar Daddy” a very tempting prospect which we were not going to turn down.
Sugar Candy
So, having drawn a bit of a warm-up blank at Kazbar, a quick dive into Barcode Vauxhall having made up for the situation, we were set fair to make the hop, skip & jump across to Fire and for Casa Latina’s “Sugar Daddy” event, safe in the knowledge that liaisons with the likes of Tom Marchant, Steve Thomas, Steven Artis & Mattias Dabo had made up for the earlier disappoint in Clapham and that we were ready to rub shoulders with some of the best of the Brazilian bunch down Casa way. And it couldn’t have got off to a better start, the warming welcomes by guestlist guy JJ Clark & “Sugar Daddy” hostess Elektra Paris making us feel right back where we belonged, in the thick of this Casa clubbing cavorting in the capital, our efficient entry seeing us released into the awaiting action. But with just a handful of hedonists having chosen the midnight arrival that we had, it was clear this latest third Latina turn would take a while to get going, the planned opening of three rooms an optimistic prospect, not least given the negative vibes floating around about the venue that would surely be a factor in deterring some from showing their faces.
Having quickly surveyed the territory and armed ourselves with refreshments, we found a spot close to the extended stage in Fire’s main room, catching up first with Altina Ha & the Chris Ho, our live reviewing tweeting already in full flow as we exclaimed “…just waiting for Tom He & we have a full house…”, while opener D.J., Brazilian Ale Ameral making a marked impression with a succession of superb sounds, the mix of uplifting & funky tones with tribal & Brazilian-esque beats hitting home heavenly, while the crowd continued to build slowly. And looking at the extended stage itself, it was clear the team had gone to town with the production a huge throne the centre-piece, while the flanks of giant lollypops which were, admittedly a little WE “Candy” like, as well as two supersized dollar signs, all certainly shouted a statement of what to expect from the impeding stage shows. Then, with a host of familiar faces making their appearance, not least the delectable Dorin, masterminding the already impressive lighting, effects & pyrotechnics to his usual high standard, then the adorable Andrea, very much full of beans & ready to party hard, we could feel us finding our Casa stride, the event itself taking on a dynamic direction with more & more gorgeous guys & girls filling out Fire.
Superb Stage Showing
With outstanding opener Ale Ameral handing the main room decks to the more experienced & accomplished D’Johnny and the other J, in this case, Jonny M playing out in the Latina lounge, we tossed our devotion coin as to where who & where to dedicate our dancing devotions, jumping between the two the outcome of decision making. With Mr M attracting with a ton of terrific tunes including “Enjoy the Ride” & “You’ve Got The Love” which were too tempting to resist, D’Johnny’s more euro-style euphoria, tech tones & progressive pronunciations were going down an absolute treat with the now pretty packed Casa main room, although with “Sugar Daddy” now close to its third hour of operation, the empty stage became all too apparent, both Mauricio & Thiago coming & going as much as the drop dead gorgeous dancers were, the anticipation of the stage show, not to mention the appearance of PA Tara McDonald too much to take. However, like all the good things that come to those that wait, our wait was well worth it, as with no less than 10 dancers adopting their individual positions on the stage & the lights dimming to create the maximum effect, a flash of spots, an explosion of ticker tape & a blast from the CO2 cannons heralded a hive of amazing activity in front of our eyes, our position right next to the stage paying immediate dividends, not least with the muscular men touting their taut torso’s in our direction.
Now this Casa Latina party was in full swing, even if the throne was occupied by more of a “Sugar Baby” than a daddy, the dancers flirting with the flock in front of them fabulously and D’Johnny well into his superb sound spinning stride, serving up a set that had us not only incredibly impressed but amazingly absorbed, the cavorting crowd lapping up every tasty morsel of his magnificent music. And with a glance in our direction as well as a welcoming hug by an arriving Zach Burns making us feel even more at home & comfortable with our lot, it would be Brazilian beaut Giuseppe that would further ferment our frolicking in fire, his playful antics not going unnoticed by the crowd around us which now included D.J. DouGuim, we now just hopeful of the arrival of fellow Brazilian Junior Moura to complete our tremendous trio. But with our eyes on incumbent guest D.J., Spaniard Leo Blanco, it was actually Tara McDonald’s appearance that was to attract more of our attention, she taking to the stage and sharing a selection of tunes from her classics cupboard, first “Delirious”, then “A Little Closer” while predictable inclusions, were played out perfectly, “Elevated” & then her new track completing a prolific performance and leaving the Casa crowd suitably energised & ready to dance deliriously just like her opener had hinted.
Towering Tara
Then, with Leo Blanco taking charge and selecting a set of Spanish inspired sounds that were definitely drawing a deluge of devotees, the drop dead gorgeous dancers continuing to display their wonderful wears, with Zach Burns assuming the Latina lounge decks, we decided this would be the spot where we would see out the remainder of our Casa cavorting, we being joined by both Andrea & Giuseppe, as well as a whole host of others who were keen to give this cute yet capable D.J. the support he deserved, this marking his first appearance at Fire and surely one that looks set to repeated, not just for the Brazilian brand but for other parties under the Orange Group umbrella. And Mr Burns certainly entertained exceptionally, a selecting of sounds seeing us spin on our adopted spot, his terrific take on one of our all-time favourite tunes, “Upside Down”, just one of a mound of magical musical moments that ended up sending us on our wonderfully way to a battery re-charge ahead of Beyond’s “10th Birthday” bash which was already beginning to consume our thoughts. So, leaving behind a still packed out main room which was to see both Leandro Kloppel & DouGuim share the final playing plaudits, we wended our way home to reflect of a Casa Latina “Sugar Daddy” event that certainly set the benchmark for this Brazilian brand’s future frolicking at Fire.
So, what did we think of this latest home-grown Brazilian brand showing? And do we think it has the legs to survive in the tough climate the capitals clubbing scene currently finds itself? Well to best answer those two questions, lets combine our conclusion into one, by say that, despite a slow start, Casa Latina “Sugar daddy” certainly pulled in a considerable crowd, a good looking one at that, not the stunners of SuperMartXe for sure, but a bunch of Brazilians & plenty of others that certainly knew how to party and make magnificent merriment to mounds of majestic music. And with outstanding performances from D’Johnny, Zach Burns & newcomer Ale Ameral, there was much to celebrate on the musical front, while the succession of superb stage showings by the gorgeous gathering of gogo’s framed a P.A. performance for Tara McDonald that gave “Sugar Daddy” an added dimension over the last Casa outing. Add into the mix Casa’s prolific production, its exceptional effects & its amazing atmosphere, ingredients that made an incredible impression back in July & did again this weekend, and we can definitely see the crowds swarming back for the next event. And we would go further by saying that, despite having thoughts to the contrary at the time, reflecting on this third outing, it is clear Casa’s whole team combine really well & give it a fabulously friendly feel, which on top of everything else it displays delightfully, is all you could want from a truly terrific time out on the town. (DISCO MATT)
Postscript
If you happened to miss out on this Casa Latina party, then fear not as Chris Geary has put together a video capturing elements of “Sugar Daddy” superbly, hostess Elektra Paris’s snapshot interviews to the backdrop of brilliant beats & stage shows, all gives you a real feel of just how prolific the party was, this fabulous film available at http://chrisgeary.co.uk/london/2011/CasaLatina/.
Posted in Reviews | 
Tags: Ale Ameral, Casa Latina, Chris Geary, D'Johnny, DouGuim, Elektra Paris, Fire, JJ Clark, Jonny M, Leandro Kloppel, Mauricio Ortiz, Sugar Daddy, Thiago Drewry, Zach Burns | 
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Brazilian Roots Brand Returns
There can be no doubt that the Latin influence has been washing on the shores of London’s landscape for a few years now, the Spanish armada that included Space, La Troya, Matinee & SuperMartXe spearheading a wave of other nationals that have tried to crack the capital’s clubbing circuit nut, some succeeding more than others, an Italian mini invasion pretty much short loved, while the Brazilian’s have made a much bigger impression, not just packing out the dancefloors, but in brilliant brand The Week, shining as bright as the sun does in its home city of Sao Paulo. Yet, as great as The Week was when it landed in London, with the amount its country folk floating around in the capital, it was only a matter of time until a home(ish) grown Brazilian roots brand was created, Casa Latina launching within a hairs breath of The Week’s second showing and as a result getting a muted response. However, the case was quite different when Casa’s second bite at the cherry, “Car Wash” rolled into town, as the difference was remarkable, the turnout terrific & the event exceptional, the clubs original promoter Thiago Drewery joining forces with Mauricio Ortiz to create the best Brazilian promoter combination you could wish for.
Tara McDonald
So, given the success of its second coming, Casa Latina has certainly earned a place on the clubbing calendar and has chosen the irregular route to keep the brand fresh & its followers sufficiently enticed, a majestic move that should see its return this Saturday (24th Sept) prove just as popular as the last outing. With the team continuing with the winning recipe although shifting the theme with their “Sugar Daddy” event, billed by its promotions team as “…an even more audacious & exotic event…”, it looks like being another superb smash, well on paper at least, they promising that this latest outing will be “…even more pumped up with oversized decor, supersized props and tongue in cheek stage shows from the sexiest gogos in London, incredible special effects and custom visuals, transforming Fire’s refurbished main room in a spectacular stage-show production…”. And we have no reason to doubt any of their claims, especially after being so impressed with “Car Wash”, the joint efforts by both Thiago & Mauricio evident for all to see, Mr Ortiz’s influence bringing a SuperMasrtXe style feel to the event which we fully expect to be repeated come Saturday, not least as given the success of the last outing, the Casa crew have pushed the boat out further this time, as the inclusion of P.A. Tara McDonald is a mjor coup for the brand and will add an extra dimension to this already exceptional event.
Leandro Kloppel
As for the music, well it seems to team have pulled out all the stops, bringing together a mix of Brazilian home-grown talent & some of London’s top stars, not to mention the injection of some Latin from a different quarter as one Leo Blanco (not to be confused with the famous piano composer), who flies in for an exclusive performance direct from Ibiza. And he brings with him plenty of Balearic beats to mix in with the Brazilian ones that will surely be on display, Leo’s production capabilities pretty prominent, as he has teamed up with SuperMartXe’s Hugo Sanchez on a few projects, more latterly on their remix of Macy Gray’s “I Heart You” which has been officially released on the clubs label, while his latest podcast, simply titled “D.J. Mix Sept 2011” is well worth a listen as it will give you a good idea of what to expect from his headlining set in “Sugar Daddy’s” main room, one which you can check out via http://soundcloud.com/leo-blanco/leo-blanco-promo-summer-11. But the Brazilian influence on the main floor will come from Leandro Kloppel who has himself laid down a new podcast very much devoted to this “Sugar Daddy” event well worth some attention and one that is very reflective of his tech come tribal come progressive come Eurobeat style, (catch it at http://leandrokloppel.podomatic.com/entry/2011-09-09T07_47_31-07_00) so perhaps a reason, apart from his Brazilian connections, why he has been chosen to play at Casa alongside Leo and the other main room star, Berlin based D’Johnny.
Junior Moura
However, the list doesn’t stop there as some of the capitals bi hitters are included in the line-up too, Jamie Head, a man on truly terrific form at the moment is there, as is Paul Heron, or is he?, as it seems this man can be in two places at once, playing here in London for Casa, as well as in Paris for Beyond & D.J. Ben Manson’s birthday bash, so the jury is out as to where Paul will actually be. Those two apart, no Casa Latina would be the some without the dynamic Brazilian duo of DouGuim & Junior Moura (or do we call him Celso?), Mr Moura having also laid down a new compilation which will get some more microscopic attention in a forthcoming music newsletter, although is well worth a listen now at http://djjuniorspodcast.podomatic.com/entry/2011-09-16T09_31_53-07_00, while the line-up is completed by rising star, the cute yet considerably capable Zach Burns & relative unknown Ale Aamaral, making this one of the strongest Casa line-up’s to date and injecting plenty of young blood to bring some vivacious variety to the party.
Get Sugared Daddy
So what about the all important detail?, well Casa Latina’s “Sugar Daddy” event takes place this coming Saturday (24th Sept) at Fire in Vauxhall, doors opening at 11 p.m. and the club running through to a planned 7 a.m. finish. Advance tickets have been on sale for a while now, although it seems that the early bird £10 ticket offer remains in force online at http://orangenation.clubtickets.com/gb/2011-09/24/casa-latina-sugar-daddy, where there is also an option to purchase a joint £20 ticket which gains entry to Beyond’s “10th Birthday” party as well. Otherwise, you can grab a £10 (plus booking fee) advance ticket for “Sugar Daddy” at the usual Soho outlets, Prowler, Clone Zone & 50, while entry is available on the door, but expect to pay more. And, as if you need any further persuasion to make it down to Fire on Saturday, the official “Sugar Daddy” video should definitely seal the deal and is a must view by going to http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=2379031198886, while we will be there, no doubt fighting of the naughty pranks of a certain scene favourite D.J., while nibble size review tweeting our way through the whole event. So if you see us, come say hi, but to be seen on the scene this Saturday, make sure you “Go There! Be There! (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Recommends | Tags: Casa Latina, D'Johnny, DouGuim, Fire, Jamie Head, Junior Moura, Leandro Kloppel, Leo Blanco, Mauricio Ortiz, Paul Heron, Tara McDonald, Thiago Drewry | No Comments »
Sublime Sunday Service
Sunday t-dance style parties have been a feature of the capitals clubbing circuit for as long as we can remember, a whole host of brands trying their hand at this sometimes tricky timing, some with more success than others, good examples from the halcyon days being Salvation, DTPM & Factor 25, while in more recent times some new concepts have not been so fortunate, both Famous & TTD falling foul of an expected following that simply didn’t materialise. That said, if a party is pitched right, then success it can achieve, Downtown, the collaboration between Thursday phenomenon Room Service & Saturday sensation Meat, having created a Sunday t-dance that both attracted & appealed in significant numbers.
So, sensing a slight tide change in Sunday clubbing, plus with an eye towards more qualitative clubbing, The Orange Group decided it was time to up their own ante with a new club that echoed all of these sentiments, Blessed being the result. And from the moment of its announcement, this new venture very much set its stool as the new way to fill the sandwich of group’s Sunday schedule, fitting neatly between Later & Orange, thus replacing Booster, the niche club event with a more specific following & musical direction. The aim with Blessed was clear, it wanted to offer a more sophisticated setting, a lounge style space with tables & wine waiter service, matched by more mainstream music from scene favourite D.J.’s, along with live shows & performances from credible artists, the question being, how did Blessed actual deliver with its launch and what were our impressions of this improved offer?
Chapel Congregation
Landing back in Vauxhall after the Later boat party, we were in pole position to take in the Blessed launch from the off, although it seemed they weren’t quite ready for us, the planned 7 p.m. start slipping a little, leaving us to gather ourselves & effect a clothes change before arriving at Area to a warming reception from dutiful dudes Romain Lopez & Paul Vlad, both fresh from the regular Later at Fire. So, it was mere moments before we were inside although we were one of only a handful of post boat party goers, many probably having chosen to head home to refresh themselves from an afternoon on the high seas. Feeling a little like a lost sheep, we headed first into the terrace space, which had been subtly transformed into a chill-out space, a smattering of tables, candles & ambient lighting; although it seemed that the lion’s share of activity was spread between the outside space & the aptly named chapel room. And it was here where we found Fat Tony, standing proud in his D.J. pulpit serving us a sermon chorus of chunky tunes, many uplifting & euphoric but with tech intentions, a Blessed bible of beats that were striking just the right chord with his holy congregation.
However, after the antics of the afternoon, it was the outside space that we decided to spend most of our time for this Blessed t-dance launch, we soon being joined by a wave of familiar faces that had, as we thought, refreshed themselves after the Thames trip and made it down for this sublime Sunday service. Included within the ever increasing crowd were the likes of Johnny Marsh, Verity Meyes, & Mauricio Ortiz, although many more that had been boat bound were also here, Jamie Head with partner tiff soaking up some social splendour, while there was also no shortage of muscle hunks, good looking guys & girls, as well as a mixture of club kids that had now made it across from Fire. Plus, with three very fetching bar waiters dressed in tight shorts, black bow ties & not much else, circling around offering table served drinks, there was a sense that the aims of a more qualitative feel to this concept were being met.
Blessed Beats
With The Oli arriving and stepping in for an absent Mikey D on the Blessed decks, we continued our socialising outside, now in the captivating company of Craig Elder, the man a picture of health and clearly revelling in both the success of the Later boat trip and the pitch of this party. And there was now a real buzz building across the outside area, a photo shoot space having been set up for plenty of people to pose & pout, while Fat Tony was nailing the Blessed cross with a set of biblical proportions. Then, as if his prolific performance wasn’t enough, first The Oli assumed the pumping pulpit to preside over a packed out chapel room that would have put any church gathering to shame, the boy selecting a succession of sounds to savour, all added to by a spectacular showing by the vocal diva dynamite that is Kristine Cummings, she jumping on the stage & shepherding her flock of followers with rapturous renditions of club classics that were as towering as the ten commandments. However, as good as the party had become and as much as we wanted to stay, the call of an early start saw us throw in the towel a little earlier than we would have liked, leaving Area & blessed to party away till midnight & then an onward encounter with Orange, we wending our way home to reflect on a club concept with lots of promise.
So what did we actually think of Blessed? Well, it would be fair to say that it was a luke warm start, the crowd & the party taking a while to get going, but there was no doubt in our mind that pitching it with a more upmarket feel to its replacement worked well. The use of scene D.J.’s like Fat Tony, Mikey D, The Oli & DouGuim will certainly attract a more mainstream clubbing crowd and while Booster as a club does have its place, we like the direction Blessed looks like taking Sunday evenings in Vauxhall. We perhaps feel that the terrace space should have a more lounge like feel to it, possibly more seating to compliment the chill-out feel and that the table service should extend beyond just bottles of wine, but all in all, we were impressed with what Blessed achieved with the launch, the inclusion of weekly P.A.’s sure to boost its appeal even more, so wish it the best of Sunday service success and long may it preside over a crowded congregation. (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Reviews | Tags: Area, Blessed, Craig Elder, DouGuim, Fat Tony, Fire, Kristine Cummings, Later, Mauricio Ortiz, Mikey D, Paul Vlad, Romain Lopez, The Oli, Verity Meyes | No Comments »
New Times Two
We never cease to be amazed by the wealth of new ideas, new projects & moreover new club nights that continually spring up across the capitals clubbing circuit, some ideas really capturing the imagination, others sinking without trace within weeks of launching. While Soho has clearly been getting much of the attention lately, successes Gigolo & Room Service two clear winners, not least as their marketing machines and social networking has been the key to their success, something that G&T was either lacking or failed to deliver, it seems that the spotlight over the next two weekends will move back onto Vauxhall, which continues to strive to serve the clubbing community with a wealth of events. And while Casa Latina was one of this south of the river scenes new(ish) success, all eyes will be once again on The Orange Group as they launch two new nights, one aimed at the male market and another at the Sunday evening (so called t-dance) scene that continues to bubble on the surface of success.
Be Blessed
So, it is to “Blessed” that we first devote our attention to, this new Sunday evening club launching this weekend (Sun 31st July), taking up the slot at Area that used to be held by Romain Lopez’s creation Booster, that club having started life in Union but came across to The Orange Group when the prospect of better marketing & promotions support presented itself, very much the key elements of a successful club. And whilst Booster very much found its niche, attracting a clubbing crowd that simply didn’t want to stop as well as a core following that made it one of the more colourful events on the weekly clubbing calendar, it was always seen by many as a stop gap between Later & Orange, being fed & then feeding its two peer parties. But by this very virtue, Booster has proven a success and will continue cut its own stride, whether seen as a feeder or a niche offering, but perhaps doing both as it moves from a Sunday to a Thursday at Area, the timings shifting slightly as it will run from 9 p.m. through till 3 a.m. each week
Blessed With Doug
However, we digress somewhat, “Blessed” being the first focus here and in creating this new brand the team are looking to strike a new identity for Sunday evening’s, attracting a new & discerning audience that like to know what they are going to get, the music makers coming from a stable of residents whose names & reputations speak for themselves, while in the brand, the connection with Sunday’s was a clear marketing move that will hopefully see this new outing being blessed with success from the off. And in the launch, the magnificent music for which the club bases itself on looks pretty much assured, as Fat Tony, Mikey D & DouGuim head up a residency list that also panders a little to Booster fans, as Ferno & Matt King will feature. Spread across two rooms, in the promotion teams own words, “…The Chapel is our sacred place to celebrate & dance your holy Sunday away whilst the Area Terrace room becomes the garden of Eden, with table service, wine selections & shisha’s for the perfect summery Sunday…”. And if that wasn’t enough to whet your appetite, then news is that a surprise guest P.A. will be centre staging the event too, although with details still under wraps, like us, you will just have to make it down to Area to see who.
So, it is clear from that statement that Blessed aims to be offer something much more akin to a Sunday t-dance, a room specifically set aside for music, while the other will be a place where clubbers can relax, take a breather, yet be pampered with table service, good quality drinks & all in an ambient area, the venue also benefitting from an outside space directly linked to this so called Garden Of Eden room. With us very much liking the sound of this new launch already, we will be sure to be heading for Area in Vauxhall, this new launch kicking off from 7 p.m. this Sunday (31st July) and running through until midnight. Now, if you are setting sail with Later this Sunday (check our Extra Bites post at ) then your “good ship Fire boarding pass” will gain you free entry to “Blessed”, while if you have been to the regular Later which takes place at Fire terra firmer as usual, then a stamp from there will get you in for just £5, otherwise tickets are on sale online at http://clubtickets.com, entry on the door available but for more.
Le Man
Now to Le Boy, a concept born out of the desire for something a bit more macho but without the usual dirty, sleazy feel of some clubs that have run at Fire in the past, this new venture very much a men only club, but one where sex is not the predominant feature, more a club where men can booze, cruise & dance. And when we look across the scene & then cast our minds back, this kind of club has very much being missing & wanted for quite a while, too many offerings falling into the trap that all gay men just want to get their dicks out, watch porn or watch others up to it (yes we know there are lots of you that do, but there are as many who don’t!). In fact Vauxhall has filled itself with clubs like that for too long now, Le Boy marking a refreshing change and in many ways, harping back to those halcyon & pioneer days of Crash, the club more than any other, responsible for putting Vauxhall on the clubbing map. Moreover, le Boy is aiming to bridge the gap between the vanilla style of Onyx & the sleaze that clubs like Rudeboiz were labelled, get our drift?!
Man & Boy Both
While, undoubtedly, this new venture will have a sexually charged & underground feel (we would be naive to think otherwise), it will be the music that will do most of the talking, the launch seeing three internationally renowned D.J.’s take to the decks, Paul Heron, Gonzalo Rivas & Hifi Sean, between them having covered every single continent of the globe three times over at least, added to which Paul Heron can claim to have been one of the residents from Crash (well he was a mere babe in those days), while Gonzalo’s clubbing pedigree stretches back even further, Trade being a major stomping ground of his before Crash was even thought of. As for Hifi Sean, well he is a bit of a Fire veteran, having made a name for himself at Juicy, since when he has featured in a whole host of parties there, not least Orange, where he is part of the RAW team alongside Mr Rivas & others.
Add to this, the prospect of a special superstar guest D.J. for the launch night & a regular guest slot for future parties, while no men only club would be without sexy, muscular & drop dead gorgeous go-go dancers, Le Boy being no exception, it will be more a case of sexual seduction rather than all out porn. That said, the team will be lining up a top London stripper, while they have also set aside a “Seduction Lounge” space, which has been described as somewhere where “… you can get hypnotised by the super sensual go-go boys & pole dancers captivating the room with suggestive moves and lots of flesh on show, a spot where you can also chill & relax with a drink with friends and take advantage of our titillating waiter service in an arousing and inviting surrounding..”. And this air of slight sophistication looks like it is in good hands, as co promoter Mauricio Ortiz has good experience in this field, plus given the excellent job he has done with Casa Latina, we have big hopes this new men only club in his hands.
So to the all important detail and Le Boy launches next Friday (5th August) at Fire in Vauxhall, door opening at 11 p.m. & the club running straight into A:M at 4 a.m., so ALL customers to Le Boy can stay on for A:M for free (bargain!). Advance tickets priced at £10 are on sale both online at http://clubtickets.com and at the usual Soho outlets, while entrance on the door is £6 with a flyer or ad before 12.30 & £8 with the same before 2 a.m. and if you haven’t seen them around as yet, the Le Boy promo guys will be offering discount entrance passes over the coming weekend at all the Orange Group events & around Soho, so keep your eyes peeled for them. And once in the club you can expect the big room experience every with live shows from our sexy go-go boys every hour from 1 a.m., as well stunning visuals from the massive LED wall, as well as video & plasma screens, pyrotechnics and big production that has become a byword for Fire. More information on this party launch can be found at http://fireclub.co.uk/gayparties.
So, two new nights on the clubbing scene within a week that will definitely switch the focus from Soho to Vauxhall, both very much on our reporting radar meaning that if you see us out then please come & say hi, remembering that if you want to be & be seen on the scene, either at Blessed or at le Boy, you need to “Go There! Be There! (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Recommends | Tags: A:M, Blessed, Booster, DouGuim, Fat Tony, Fire Area, Gonzalo Rivas, Gravity, Hifi Sean, Later, Le Boy, Mauricio Ortiz, Mikey D, Onyx, Paul Heron, Romain Lopez | 1 Comment »
Mud, Mud, Hideous Mud
We sit in our study looking out onto a bright & sunny Sunday afternoon, not a hint of rain in the sky, rather a warm July day that we could have done with at the same time last week, rather a shower soaked Sunday & a muddy meet the order of that day. However with another seven to also review & report on, including a pack of prolific parties & some not quite so, it’s time to once again look back on “That Was The Week That Was”, this latest lament also covering our moment, our track & our tweet of the week. But we will also be saving a small space for some of the latest news of upcoming outings to watch out for, as well as providing links to the websites of those bars, clubs & events that we cover.
Service Latin Style
So, let’s get down to the detail and to Thursday first, Room Service leading the way with their pre-party for Casa Latina, although drawing on the D.J. talents of resident D.J.’s Fat Tony & Kris Di Angelis, who were joined by East End boy Dan Beaumont. However, with Casa’s Mauricio Ortiz & Naomi Ruiz on hand to balance out the Latino influence, it was clear the appearance of George Michael the previous week had attracted attention, Diu absolutely packed to the rafters, a queue of hopefuls outside desperate to get a piece of the audacious action. So, it seems that whatever style of Shindig Jodie & her team turn their hands to, in Room Service they can pretty much guarantee to terrific turnout, this week looking no different Paul Heron kick starts his Room Service residency, Severino picking up the second slot. More info on Room Service in London, as well as their Monday nighter in Ibiza, can be found by going to http://clubroomservice.com. Plus, don’t forget that if you are a Room Service key holder, then complimentary champagne is available until 11.30 p.m. each Thursday, now we like the sound of that!
They Did It
Across Soho at Lo-Profile and it seemed that Gigolo was also getting its fair share of the action, its “Do It” party attracting a healthy crowd of scene faces & socialites, while the amazing Aussie Terry Vietheer treated the turnout to a terrific set of tunes, this tremendous talent seemingly fitting the clubs style like a glove, he being followed by the mighty Jamie Head, a Lo-Profile/Profile favourite who ensured Gigolo gyrated right through till the 3 a.m. finish. Now, whilst it has been a while since we have made a personal appearance, our undercover reviewer has been making it down virtually every week and it certainly seems that David & L.a. Hart’s creation has found a following that will definitely see it remaining a feature of Thursday’s for a long time to come. And the next event on the calendar (Thu 28th) may even see us gracing Gigolo with our presence, as Zach Burns is back, along with Guy Williams, a duo sure to score with the Soho social set, more info on this & much more out at http://gigolodisco.com.
Soho Society Set
Moving to Friday and the usual suspects swung into action, Onyx drawing breath before a double bill of birthday bashes at Area, celebrating 2 whole years in the business, while up in Soho, it was Society at Lo-Profile with Nick Evans & D’Johnny on the decks that reported the best turnout across a host of other venues making hay now that Barcode has closed. But it was the alternative bights that were really doing the business, all inclusive & generally gender bending gorgeousness Club Wotever, taking over The Royal Vauxhall Tavern, to celebrate its 8th birthday, very much kick starting a weekend of anniversary’s, promoter Ingo telling us that the night went down a storm, especially with the theme being “Carry On Wotever”, everybody did!! Then, sprinting across to the East End and the lads into lads club, Fitladz, made the move from Vauxhall to uber cool underground outfit East Bloc, the switch from west to east attracting a horny set of boys from far & wide, the underground nature & feel of East Bloc working really well, while another club on the move was Bodyshakers, which now finds itself at The Brixton Clubhouse with resident D.J. Steve Thomas, the unique roof top style of this south London gaff adding a new dimension to Steven Geller’s club creation. With the momentum that Friday’s gained earlier on in the year seeming to wax & wane a little, to choice of where to be & be seen has become quite diverse, but as they say, variety is the spice of life, so check out the following websites for info on happenings this coming week, http://loprofile.com, http://eastbloc.co.uk, http://thebrixtonclubhouse.com, http://thervt.org.uk. & http://fireclub.co.uk/gayparties, one highlight to watch out for will be the second in Onyx’s “Double Bill” of birthday celebrations, the club being transformed into a beach oasis & welcoming special guest P.A. Kathy Brown.
Casa Carwash Colossus
Saturday saw Vauxhall standing under the scene spotlight the most, not least that there were two birthday celebrations, club of colour Bootylicious celebrating 10 years in business, opening its doors at Colosseum & attracting many of its longstanding regulars along with some new faces too. Then there was Barcode, this venue on Albert Embankment that took the scene by storm when it launched 5 years ago, throwing an anniversary celebration that certainly packed in the punters, although having sent in our undercover reviewer, it seemed that the birthday element was a little lacking (check out our review at http://discomatt.com/web/2011/07/reviews-birthday-bamboozle-barcode-5th-anniversary-saturday-16th-july-bite-size-review/). But the plaudits for us had to go to Casa Latina, which held its second showing at Fire and had the venue absolutely rammo with a magical mix of drop dead gorgeous Latino’s, club kids, muscle hunks & everything else in between. With a Brazilian based main room D.J, team that included Leandro Kloppel, & DouGuim, it was new boy Junior Moura that really tipped our scales with a superb set, while this “Super Carwash” event saw one of the best productions in Fire we have seen, no doubt as a result of in Mauricio Ortiz influence, while the lighting in the hands of Dorn Andrei was simply spectacular. Having had so much more to say about this Casa colossus, we lauded our full review treatment on the night, which you can check out at http://discomatt.com/web/2011/07/reviews-junior-jamboree-casa-latina-super-carwash-saturday-16th-july-full-size-review/.
Homo Headliners
With Sunday set to be dominated by Lovebox, which in itself was dominated by the good old British summertime, we made our mind rule our heart, so skirted around Beyond which reported an average turnout, many of the Casa lot thinking the same as us, indeed with this third day in the music festival over at Victoria Park having a distinctly gay influence, it seemed that the world & his wife were heading east on Sunday afternoon. However, with a completely rain soaked Saturday leaving the park a Hippo’s haven, it was definitely mud, mud, hideous mud, as slipped & slided around Lovebox while the likes of The Scissor Sisters, Marc Almond, Boy George, Kelis, Robyn & The Sugarbabes performed. But the gay influence also extended to Horse Meat Disco, Trailer Trash and the highlight for us, as Circus pretty much stole the show, not least with that eight piece orchestra on stage, truly amazing. Now, we did report on our account of Lovebox with our special reflection, “Music & Mayhem In The Mud” at http://discomatt.com/web/2011/07/reviews-music-mayhem-in-the-mud-lovebox-sunday-17th-july-special-review-reflection/, while this Sunday we will be swapping the mud for the water, as Later takes to the seas, well the Thames actually, with its “Summer Boat Party” during the afternoon, while its a new club launch in the evening as Blessed takes over from Booster, more details of both coming up in the first of three Weekend Focus posts this week.
Tasty Monday Trap
Monday through Wednesday was pretty much a case of same old, same old, Popcorn riding the popularity stakes at heaven on Monday night with another packed out student affair, Citrus doing the pseudo Popcorn pre-party bit at Ku Bar, while it was eyes down for a full house at The RVT, as their final bingo session for the summer took place. Tuesday’s were given away to Vauxhall with Ashley Ryder’s “Strip Academy” at The Eagle, while Bar Wotever were still recovering from a severe birthday hangover following the clubs birthday bash the previous Friday, Wednesday being all about the fantabulous “Shinky Shonky”, Boogaloo Stu’s madcap meet gaining popularity by the week, the combination of pop-tastic music, game shows & performances making it one of the most fun-filled parties of the week. However, while it seemed business as usual for many, there was a new club launch, Lo-Profile in Soho playing host to Bear Trap, the creation of Manu Cartegenero of Cafe Ole fame, the evening attracting a smattering of scene faces supporting the launch, filling the gap left by The Cave (also a Manu creation). With D.J. residents Ben Jamin, Phil Marriott & Leonardo Glovibes rotating on a weekly basis, time will tell whether the club will survive the ravages of the current dip in the scene, but with the might of Gaydar behind it, there is no reason to suggest otherwise. For more details on these week night happenings, check out websites http://loprofile.com, http://eaglelodon.co.uk & http://ku-bar.co.uk.
10 Years On
Now to some news and this week, Thursday (28th) in fact, sees The Shadow Lounge celebrate 10 years as one of the Soho scene’s smartest & sophisticated spots with their “official” birthday party which looks like drawing in the who’s who of the gay celebrity scene, very much reflective of its first 10 years. However, with doors re-opening tonight (Monday 25th) when free (yes you heard us right) membership will be on offer, plus a 50% reduction on drinks prices, tomorrow seeing “OMFG” return, those free membership still up for grabs, while new Wednesday night affair “Balearic Beats” completes the mid-week line-up. With more info on their weekend parties coming up in our new “Bar Bites & Club Cuts” newsletter later this week, you can check on all the happenings down at the even smarter & sophisticated new era Shadow lounge at http://theshadowlounge.co.uk.
Casting our eyes forward a few months, to October actually, when The Wig Party takes London by storm once again, although with many more celebrities wanting to get in on the act, it seems the organisers are aiming high with this year’s party, a new much swankier venue already lined up (think Mayfair & you’re getting close) which will fit the bill more than Cafe De Paris. Mind you having been made privy to the details as far back as last November, we have been asked to keep it under wraps for now, although as the wig parade come pageant is likely to be bigger & better than before, the team are already asking for entrants, details along with the £30 ticket purchases available at http://wigparty.org.
Blessed In The Chapel
Now, we gave a hint towards a new club night down Vauxhall way this coming weekend, “Blessed” being joined by another the following Friday, as Fire kick back with a new men only night called “Le Boy”, the name kind of suggesting a Rudeboiz style shindig, especially when you consider that the co-promoter of this new night is Kian Lee Thompson (aka D.J. Devilish). But none of it to be honest, as the night is much more of a music & macho meet rather than the porn & filth of the former, the D.J. line-up pretty grown up too, Paul Heron, Gonzalo Rivas & Hifi Sean taking up the musical mantles for the launch next Friday (5th August). We will be combining both “Blessed” & “Le Boy” in one of those Weekend Focus reports we deluded to earlier, so keep your eyes peeled for that.
So, we are on the home straight, meaning it’s time for our moment, our track & our tweet of the week, the moment (or is that moments?!?) having to go to the “Porridge Woman”, our Alyson making us jump out of our skin at Mile End tube station on the way to Lovebox last Sunday, it coming as no surprise that Steve Pitron was behind the ploy to get us trapped in her amorous arms & stare, the tweet of the week coming from the same day, a few minutes later in fact when we said “…Disco Matt has arrived at Lovebox & is with Steve, Celso, Pabs, Jess & a very amorous Alyson who keeps undressing us with her eyes. Papa bear is scared…”. For this and many more Nibble Size review tweets, you can tune in live or simply follow us by going to http://twitter.com/discomatt.
Review Nibbling
As for our track of the week, well there were actually a handful, a couple that made it right here in the last two weeks, so we had to choose another which we hope to include in our “Autumn Arousers” podcast, that is of course if our “Summer Scorchers” release actually gets to a final pressing, two attempts already taking the ten track compilation back to the mixing board or maybe even the scrap heap. However, in the Roy Davis Jr’s hit, “Enjoy The Ride”, we have a track that not only sends superb sensations up our spine, but is really appropriate to our Sunday of fairground fun at Lovebox, the James Talk & Ridney remix so very addictive, not least the amazing vocals by Kaye Fox, the full 6 minute version available to listen to at http://youtube.com/watch?v=yL2hBGwhc4E.
Right, that’s it for another “that Was The Week That Was” review/report, leaving us to remind you that if you want us to shout out for your favourite bar, club or event that rocked & rolled in the coming week, then plaster our Facebook wall with your details at http://facebook.com/discomattlondon or drop us a line at matt@discomatt.com. As for our upcoming activity, well its Shadow Lounge’s 10th Birthday this Thursday (28th July), which means we might swoop on Gigolo & Room Service too, while Friday sees the second Onyx birthday session, definite other dates being Later’s “Summer Boat Party” on Sunday afternoon (31st July) & then new club launch “Blessed” on Sunday night. So if you see us out, come say hi, but remember it’s good to “Go There! Be There!” (DISCO MATT)
Done & Dusted
Posted in Reports, Reviews | Tags: Ben Jamin, Beyond, Blessed, Brent Nicholls, Casa Latina, Circus, David Hart, DouGuim, Gigolo, Guy Williams, Horse Meat Disco, Jamie Head, Jodie Harsh, Junior Moura, Kri Di Angelis, Ku Bar, L.a. Hart, Later, Leandro Kloppel, Lo-Profile, Lovebox, Onyx, Phil Marriott, Popcorn, Room Service, Society, Steve Pitron, Terry Vietheer, The Eagle, The RVT, Verity Mayes, Zach Burns | No Comments »
Junior Jamboree
In this very cosmopolitan world that we find ourselves within, it seems that all corners of the globe seem to be represented across the gay clubbing scene here in the capital, Eastern Europe, Spain, & Italy three of a whole raft of others playing their part in making our outings the colourful & spice that they are, although in recent months we have seen a significant surge in the numbers of Brazilians making their mark. Indeed we have often remarked & mentioned them in our reviews & report a bunch having befriended us at Beyond & elsewhere, the likes of Bel, Giuseppe, Pablo & Sophie part of the Pitron posse of people that inject so much fun & frivolity into our frolics. And it seems they are having their say within the clubbing infrastructure too, Brazilian import The Week having spurned a new club born out of the influx of its country folk to London & headed up by two guys that themselves have played a prolific part in brands such as Lovechild, Matinee, Onyx & SuperMartXe in the last couple of years and who joined forces to propel this new club into the scene spotlight after a less than auspicious start earlier this year.
Casa Latina was a concept that had its roots planted in the London clubbing scene following the resounding success of The Week here back in September last year, the switch of this Brazilian brand form Fire to The Coronet in April pretty much taking the wind out of the sails of the Casa launch which was inappropriately scheduled for the following Saturday. And whilst we were not there to report on it all, having found ourselves away in Barcelona for the Delice Dream festival, by all accounts it received a luke warm reception, leaving much work to do to make it a viable proposition for further parties. However, with the marriage of minds between dance choreographer Thiago Drewry & ex SuperMartXe operations cog Mauricio Ortiz, plus with the organisational might of The Orange Group behind it, the second Casa Latina outing had much more promise. With the Brazilian theme played to its strengths by the injection of D.J. talents Leandro Kloppel, DouGuim & new boy Junior Moura, as well as packing a punch with scene favourites Jamie Head, Nathan Six & Brent Nicholls, the promise of prolific production, dextrous dancers & superb stage shows making a visit this time round a must, leaving the question, how did this second showing score? and which of all the shining stars shone the brightest?
The Car Is the Star
Arriving a little later than originally planned at midnight, the club having opened a hour earlier and our liege for what turned out as an entirely engrossing evening (well night come morning actually), Steve Pitron, having requested our company from the start, we were a little wary as we entered Fire, having been sent a signal that the “Porridge Woman” was lurking ready to pounce. So, having easily negotiated all the formalities, we made our gingerly way down the main room dancefloor in the direction of the D.J. booth, our attention diverted by the superb stage stetting, a life size model of a 1950’s American roadster which made a superb statement of intent for this “super Carwash” themed event. Then, with Steve waving us across to greet fellow friend Adam, we also popped up behind the D.J. booth to say hello do Celso, aka D.J. Junior Moura, who was already setting about selecting a string of storming sounds, very uplifting in their making & just the captivating curtain raiser Casa was in need of.
With no sign of Alyson (she of “Porridge Woman” fame!), it was down to Steve & Adam to chase us around on our spot, as more & more people began to arrive, Fire’s main room filling to capacity before our very eyes, the lion’s share of capitals Brazilian club scene landing on this Latina love-in, including our bunch of Casa compatriots, Giuseppe & Sophie, both very much in party mood, while Casa cogs Naomi Ruiz & Paul Vlad graced our presence & made us very welcome. And Junior’s prolific performance behind the decks was clearly going down well, the main room alight with action, the effects, pyrotechnics & lasers kicking in, elevating the atmosphere to amazing heights, deliverer of this delight, the delectable Dorin, spotting us and giving us a hearty hug, while our playful pals continued to test our iron lung with their Alyson inspired antics.
Delectable Dancers
By now Casa Latina was bursting at the seams, even the lounge space jam packed as Ariel & his percussionist laid down bags of Brazilian beats to a cavorting crowd, the heat of this happening resorting us to quick dives outside with Steve for some fresh air, the expectation of the third space opening not coming to fruition, rather the sheer volume of people at the party making the choice where to lay out hat a tricky one. But the decision to stick with Junior’s jives in the main room was the right one, as when the stage shows kicked in, we were in for tons of terrific treats, Mauricio & Thiago having pulled out all the stops with a team of drop dead gorgeous guys & girls, who caught the crowd’s attention immediately, using that 1950’s car as their motion machine, creating a simply stunning stage show that went on & on, a whole bank of camera’s flashing furiously, including fab Photographer Chris Jepson & SeenQueen’s own Brent Nicholls, both who had spotted us and pointed their camera’s in our direction, the naughty Mr Jepson even pushing us into his boot while Brent caught this audacious action on film.
With Junior’s superb set over, D’Johnny assumed control of the marvellous music, dipping in & out of tech toned tracks, merging them with progressive beats that for us were not quite casa, but nevertheless seemed to be doing the trick, Fire’s main room showing no signs of slowing down, rather the numbers swelling even further, making this one of the best atmospheres in the club we have witnessed in a long time. However, with Steve & co having melted into the night, we regressed into the lounge where Brent Nicholls had taken over the action from Ariel, we soon finding our favoured spot just by the D.J. booth and sinking into a succession of sounds, his set having much more of a Latin flavour to it to begin with, but he soon sliding in some dancefloor favourites including the DM classic “Release Me”, quickly followed by a remix version of the Pitron/DM anthem “Stronger”, the inclusion of “You’ve Got The Love” pretty much inevitable, our reaction as always filled with tearful emotion. And, it was clear that whilst the main room was very much the mainstay of this magnificent meet, the second space was having its say too, Brent doing his bit brilliantly, while Leandro Kloppel was masterminding the music next door.
Gyrating Go-Go
With an eye towards our following day frolic across to East London for Lovebox very much playing on our minds now, we sought the solace of a small space at the bottom of the lounge room, where we bumped into Beyond’s best Tom Fuller, he very much lapping up everything about this Latina lauding, not least the shots of Sambuca which a succession of cut boys were buying him. And this seemed to be the place to stand, as a myriad of other familiar faces wandered past, including scene mistress Minty, dextrous dancer Luke & the marvellous Mr Marchant, less his D.J. partner Nick Tcherniak, but clearly enjoying this exceptional event. However with the clock striking 5 a.m., in our minds at least, we headed back to our final resting, well dancing spot by Mr Nicholls, who was close to handing the reigns over to the bold & beautiful Nathan Six, we having had a moment with our iron lung as Brent played what looked like becoming our track of the weekend, “I Rock, I Sweat, I Dance”, before we finally threw in the towel, heading home to reflect on one of the best events in Fire in a long while.
Well, you can probably gather that we thoroughly enjoyed this second Casa Latina outing and whist not being able to compare it with the first, as we weren’t there”, it was clear that the Mauricio Ortiz influence had a major part to play in the success of this exceptional event, the SuperMartXe style stamp in terms of the production, the dancers & all the upfront promotion, especially the video viral that set the “Super Carwash” theme scene superbly. And, that Mauricio magic shone through from start to finish, although the whole team have to be congratulated on what was an outstanding outing. In terms of our highlights, prancing around with the Pitron posse was up there, as was our second session in as many weeks in Fire’s lounge space, spinning on our spot to Brent Nicholls brilliant beats. However, top of the tree for us was Junior Moura, who, given this was only his fifth gig on the scene, his performance was professionally polished, dynamic in its delivery & pitched perfectly and whilst we have to admit that he has been taught by one of the masters at this art, it is clear that he has the talent to turn to this skill. As for Casa, this second outing looks set have secured its place on the capitals clubbing circuit, the irregular gathering format sure to maintain its market position which, after this outing, ranks very high in the popularity stakes. (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Reviews | Tags: Ariel, Brent Nicholls, Casa Latina, Dorin Andrei, DouGuim, Fire, Jamie Head, Junior Moura, Leandro Kloppel, Mauricio Ortiz, Naomi Ruiz, Nathan Six, Steve Pitron, Thiago Drewry, Tom Fuller | No Comments »
Brazilian Beats Bonanza
Casting our minds back three or four months, while we were in South Africa actually, the phrase Casa Latina (or should we say Casa Latino!) first came to prominence and having landed back in London it seemed that a small seed that had been sown by a certain D.J. and his podcast, along with a promoters keen idea to build on the wave of Brazilian-ism that seemed to be spreading around London at the time. And so it was that a new club night in London was launched, Casa Latina seen at the time as the capital’s answer to the huge Brazilian brand & offering, The Week, which had enjoyed a spectacular London debut the previous September, although was met with mixed reactions & comparisons when the promotions team decided to move it across to the Coronet in Elephant & Castle. As for Casa Latina, while it had plenty of Brazilian credentials, not least in the tight team of D.J.’s that were lined up for the launch, it was a relative slow burner of a start, lacking the punch of its alter ego Sao Paulo protagonist.
However, Casa Latina, having seemingly become another also ran on the capitals clubbing scene, has picked itself up, dusted itself off and is ready to start all over again, but this time in much firmer footings and with a terrific team behind it, well versed in all the necessary departments when it comes to promoting an event in London. And rather than what was seen as a bit of a half hearted effort back in April, come this Saturday (16th July), Casa Latina’s “Super Car Wash” event looks like being not just super, but spectacular, as host venue Fire looks set to, as the promotions team promise, be completed transformed into a scene from a “…Carwash store…” with some of the “…biggest productions ever seen on the Vauxhall club scene…”, a considerable claim and one we cannot wait to see for our own eyes. But when you consider the team involved, we are pretty sure they will deliver, not least as the driving force behind the production of some of the most jaw dropping parties we have seen.
Main Man Mauricio
So, who is part of this terrific team & what can we expect from them? Well, first & foremost, having moved across to The Orange Group a few weeks ago, ex SuperMartXe London lynch pin Mauricio Ortiz is now in the very much in Casa Latina driving seat, his notoriety when working for SuperMartXe very much speaking for itself. Mauricio brings with him a wealth of promotions & productions experience, along with a host of contacts within the clubbing scene that should set this emerging brand on the rock solid road to success, while his unstinting promotional activity has secured Room Service as a key pre-party player for Casa (more on that in a mo). Then we turn to Brazilian bombshell Thiago Drewry, the dynamic dancer & choreographer who will be in charge of all the dancers & stage shows, Casa Latina looking set to be an eye candy feast, showcasing some of the sexiest muscle hunks & Latino lovelies ever seen in Fire, very much matching the likes of WE Party & SMX’s of old, Mr Drewry sure to deliver with, “…topless car wash boys, sexy stud’s in suds & muscle bound Brazilian’s showing off the best of their assets…”.
Now to the music and co promoters Mauricio & Thiago have handpicked a D.J. team that is sure to delight with every turn & track, a magnificent mix of music makers from across the world, Brazilian boys DouGuim, Leandro Kloppel & Junior Moura flying the Casa flag for their country, while Casa Latino creator Brent Nicholls adds plenty of that Latino flavour into the mix, this being a trademark genre style of his. But with Jamie Head, D’Johnny Nathan Six & Ariel completing this talented team, you can pretty much guarantee that there will be something for everyone, dance, disco, funky, tech, tribal uplifting & vocal with plenty in between. Now, we took a focused look at Doug & Junior a couple of weeks ago, Mr Moura having completed a podcast dedicated to this “Super Car Wash” event which is full of Brazilian style beats & upfront house, very much finding favour with us in an instant and will give you an idea of the range of music to expect, this marvellous mix available to download at http://djjuniorspodcast.podomatic.com/entry/2011-06-30T01_39_10-07_00, while Doug devoted a compilation to Casa for its launch party back in April and gives a distich nod towards the style of sounds we can expect from this delectable D.J. come Saturday, so well worth checking out at http://douguim.podomatic.com/entry/2011-04-09T06_28_40-07_00. But we couldn’t move of from the music without sharing the podcast that very much put the Casa name out into the forefront, Brent Nicholls having devoted a Latin infused mix, that while some four months old now, has this event written all over it, especially when you look at the title, “Casa Latino” (no A at the end!), this prolific podcast still available by going to http://djbrentnicholls.com/web/2011/03/04/podcasts-casa-latino-2011-no-americano-two/, while surely give you a flavour of what to expect from Brent on Saturday.
Now, we almost forgot to mention the Casa Latina pre-party (oops), which takes place tomorrow night (Thurs 14th July) at Room Service on Greek Street, Mauricio & his merry men on duty handing out passes to passion (all will be revealed), while Mr Ortiz will also be sporting some of those sexy studs of go-go’s that will surely pop the eyes out as the pump their pecs, while choosing the Casa tunes will be Fat Tony, Kris Di Angelis & Dan Beaumont, more info on Room Service a click away at http://clubroomservice.com.
Casa Colossus
Turning to the all important detail of this brilliant Brazilian branded bash, we firstly remind you that Casa Latina takes place this coming Saturday (16th July) at Fire in Vauxhall, door opening at 11 p.m. and the club running through to a planned 6 a.m. finish. Advance tickets priced at £10 are available both online at http://clubtickets.com/gb/2011-07/16/casalatina-super-car-wash, with joint Beyond £15 options also available here, while those £10 tickets are on sale at Soho outlets Prowler, Clone Zone, & 50. However, if you were out & about last weekend and are around Soho & Vauxhall this Friday & Saturday, then watch out for Mauricio & his Casa boys, who will be handing out “…your pass to passion…”cards. Now, more tickets will be available on the door, but expect to pay more, although it seems you will pay less once inside, as a whole host of drinks offers will be in place, to make sure this exceptional event is anything but extortionate. More information on this, should you need it, is available at http://fireclub.co.uk/gayparties.
So, it’s time to polish off those cha cha heels, practice your capoeira moves & groves, then join the carnival of Carioca’s heading for Fire & this Casa colossus, no doubt sinking a shot of cachaca or a caipirinha cocktail or two. And we will be there, sporting our best Brazilian look & on full review duty, so if you see us, come say hi, but do make sure you “Go There! Be There!” (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Recommends | Tags: Ariel, Brent Nicholls, Casa Latina, D'Johnny, DouGuim, Fire, Jamie Head, Junior Moura, Leandro Kloppel, Mauricio Ortiz, Nathan Six, Room Service, Thiago Drewry | 1 Comment »
Purple Patch Period Of Partying
With our second weekend back on the scene stealing much of our time, we find ourselves looking back on the previous one & the days around it, as London’s Gay Pride looks set to dominate our latest That Was The Week That Was report, we hitting the ground running, with more activity on one week than we had for a sizeable chunk of June. So let’s no delay you anymore as we reflect on what was most definitely a purple patch period of partying.
WE Check's In
Thursday’s of late have certainly been proving to have become the start of the weekend for many, it being no exception for us this week, as we headed down to Room Service for the WE “Heroes” pre-party, also taking in another pre-party at the same time, Room Service’s at Circa to be exact. And finding ourselves back in our feet meant we were also in review mode, capturing the whole evening in our reflection, “Pitron Posse Packs A Punch”, which kind of says it all, so worth look if you haven’t or another if you have, at http://discomatt.com/web/2011/07/reviews-pitron-posse-pack-a-punch-room-service-we-heroes-pre-party-thursday-30th-june-bite-size-review/, while the night marked the first of our march towards a Pride weekend in London that we won’t forget. With both Steve Pitron & Kris Di Angelis treating us to a superb soundtrack of towering tunes, Jodie Harsh & her team certainly know how to throw a prolific party and this time was no different, while news of the Ibiza launch, which went down a storm, was the icing on a resplendent Room Service cake. Watch out for another pre-party this coming Thursday (14th July), as they entertain Brazilian bash Casa Latina & keep checking http://clubroomservice.com for the new look website coming your way.
Proud As Peyton
Part of the reason why Thursday’s seem to have become the new Friday’s again is due to Gigolo attracting more & more people out into Soho, David & L.a. Hart having established this gathering in response to the success of Room Service, pitching their party against the former that has since seen the two sit as comfortable bedfellows among a scene circuit that sees many jumping between the two before laying their hat on one or the other. Throwing a Pride pre-party of their own, picking on Peyton to head up this magnificent meet, was just the attraction they needed, a packed out Lo-Profile reflecting on one of the best Gigolo’s yet, Messrs English & Fisher sorting the sounds spectacularly, Tony turning up the musical heat with an inspired & uplifting set, while Gutterslut guy Nick gave Gigolo that East London edge that played into the hands of the Hoxton lot that love his grooves, With their themed nights continuing, the Hart boys turn out another treat this week, as Terry Vietheer & Jamie Head “Go To It”, more details on this & all Gigolo gatherings available at http://gigolodisco.com.
Perfect Place
Moving to Friday and we found ourselves back in Soho for the third night in a row, this time taking in a splendid set from new(ish) boy in town, Brazilian beaut Junior Moura sorting the sounds at Profile Bar, while we engrossed in plenty of socialising with Steve Pitron, Naomi Ruiz & co, an exceptional evening of fun & frivolity ensuing with floods or familiar faces aplenty swinging by to say hi, while we were in our own floods of hysterical laughter at Steve’s naughty antics. And whilst there were pre-pride parties aplenty across Soho & Vauxhall & elsewhere, the mood was very much more Brazilian at both Profile & Lo-Profile, a special “Carioca” inspired Society tempting us downstairs, the delectable DouGuim setting this social splendour alight, while fellow countryman Leandro Kloppel continued to fly the Brazilian flag of banging beats. But Profile was enough for us, Mr Pitron pushing our delicate iron lung to its limits, a planned drop-in on Onyx shelved in favour of a respite, indeed with , top notch D.J’s on duty every Friday & Saturday, with one of the friendliest bar teams we know, plus a food offer to rival many eateries in town, as well as 2 4 1 drinks offers, a Sunday lunch that is unbeatable value, as well as their Tuesday “Steak Night”, this is one bar you simply have to swing by soon, full & further details out at http://profilesoho.com.
Capacity Colossus
Onto Saturday and London Pride 2011 was in full swing by the time we arrived at Soho Square about 4 p.m., the parade over & done with, the main stage at Trafalgar Sq having attracted considerable numbers, while the streets of Soho were crammed with revellers, our choice to head for The Fire Dance Stage & the heavenly hospitality of Craig Elder, Tom Fuller & the rest of The Orange Group team. And with a succession of superb back-to-back sets, as well as two P.A. performances, the second from Shawnee Taylor no less, belting out “Stronger” then “Live Your Life”, we played witness to one of the best square Pride parties we had seen, our review “Exciting The Iron Lung”, reflecting just how amazing it was, so worth a look at to http://discomatt.com/web/2011/07/reviews-exciting-the-iron-lung-london-gay-pride-2011-the-fire-dance-stage-saturday-2nd-july-full-size-review/.
As The Pride Saturday for many continued in the streets of Soho, all eyes were pointing toward WE “Heroes” at The Coronet, although we preceded our planned trip there with a romp around Barcode Vauxhall, a night that became a huge part of the purple patch period or partying that we deluded to, the phrase of the weekend becoming “I WANT MY PORRIDGE”, which was cause for much hilarity, screaming, shouting & running (you had to be there!), our third review of this wonderful weekend give you a Bite Size idea of our antics on Albert Embankment, out at http://discomatt.com/web/2011/07/reviews-i-want-my-porridge-junior-moura-plays-profile-barcode-friday-1st-saturday-2nd-july-bite-size-review/, also combining our previous nights shenanigans with Steve at Profile Bar. However, whilst the world & his wife went to WE, we were so tired out from mummy bear chasing goldilocks, we had to return home & rest for the following morning, instead sending our “Secret Squirrel” undercover reviewer into the thick of the “Heroes” action, our caped crusader reporting back on what proved to be a resounding success, not quite the sensation of “Candy”, but by far the largest party of the weekend, Coronet filled to capacity, Pagano & Carlos Gallardo apparently stand-out as was Shawnee Taylor’s P.A. performance. But don’t take our word for it, check out over “Secret Squirrel’s” take on this WE wonder at http://discomatt.com/web/2011/07/reviews-pumpimg-pride-party-we-heroes-saturday-2nd-july-bite-size-review/, while WE will be back for more this August Bank holiday, the place to watch for more info as it breaks being http://wepartylondon.com.
- At It’s Brilliant Best
So Sunday dawned and there was now only one place to be, all roads once again leading to Beyond, who had joined forces with barcode for a second time, cresting another super sized event, this one aptly called “Super Pride”, it turning out to be just that. And while we didn’t grace its doors till turned 7 a.m., it seemed everyone had got their bright & early as Area & the extended outside space was absolutely rammed, each of the three rooms of the traditional beyond side of this super sized space buzzing with brilliant beats, the likes of The Oli, Fat Tony, Paul Christian David Jimenez & Gonzalo Rivas doing the business. But, as usual, it was the main room that stole the show for us, first Mikey D delighting us with scores of superb sounds, although it was Steve Pitron that sent us over the top and into floods of emotions, a real tear jerking moment towards 10 a.m. requiring us to seriously get a grip as what we were witnessing in this, probably our best Beyond of the year yet (and there have been loads!!), just the thought that we were there but were so close to not have been so, enough to erupt our emotions, although the string of Steve sounds did their own job of pushing over the edge, so scintillating was his set. Indeed with such a lot to say, we laid down our first Full Size review n over two months and for good reason, one which you can catch at http://discomatt.com/web/2011/07/reviews-rapturous-return-erupts-emotions-beyond-super-pride-sunday-3rd-july-full-size-review/, while Beyond stretches its magic far & wide, a world tour which saw them feature on the La Demence cruise, continuing this Saturday in Paris, with Brazil, Spain & Greece still to come. Plus they are on the radio each Sunday morning, then pushing the envelope each week in Area, http://jonny-m.co.uk/beyond, the site to keep your eyes peeled for news on this brilliant brand.
The Only Way Is Orange
While our weekend was drawn to a premature end, having over pushed those still healing bones, it was far from it for many others, first Later at Fire with its “Funfair” theme bringing out the alfresco adorer, while so many who had been partying since Friday, continued unabated right through till the early evening when Booster took over. Naturally S.L.A.G.S/Chill-out had their say too, the sun shining enough for the famed “Grassy Knoll” to fill out, while a much better (funny that!) Dame Edna Experience made it an entertaining early evening, having got plenty of stick for missing the Pride main stage the previous day. Back to Booster and it clearly benefitted from the Pride effect the roll from WE to Beyond, to Later & then to Romain Lopez’s lure, Orange then carrying a near capacity Fire main room deep into Monday morning & the raptures of RAW. With Steven Sharp’s club night seemingly riding a never-ending wave crest at the moment, it was a shame our legs couldn’t carry us there, but August Bank Holiday will be a must, if we don’t make it before, more details of Orange & other gay parties at Fire available at http://fireclub.co.uk/gayparties.
Open For Post Pride Business
Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday kind of took a hit following such a huge weekend, the usual hangouts reporting quieter numbers than usual, even a student filled Popcorn not quite the same as previous weeks, our “Secret Squirrel” having left early as it really wasn’t for him.Tuesday has always been a bit of a dead duck and this week was no exception, although it dawned with a Pride special Open at Fire, very much giving all those scene workers & others who couldn’t party across the weekend, the opportunity to do so, numbers filtering across for Popcorn and whilst never busy, it did better than usual. As for Tuesday night, it seems that “Candy Boys” at Candy Bar keeps sticking at it, while Mr Ryder’s strip shows pulled in a plume of punters. As for Wednesday’s, with no Industri, Barcode having closed its doors the previous week, Shinky Shonky at Ku-Bar & new(ish) night, Everything Taboo at Shadow Lounge, to hit with retro style sounds & clubbing, while Patrick Lilley’s Work, having found new residency at Fire in Vauxhall continues to pull in the people of colour & their admirers. Useful websites for these outings include http://popcorn-heaven.com, http://ku-bar.co.uk, http://eaglelondon.com, http://thehadowlounge.co.uk & http://patricklilley.com.
A New Era
Now to some news and to The Shadow Lounge first, which closes its doors this weekend (Sun 17th July), but not before a party to wave farewell to the old look of the venue. Yes, don’t panic folks, it’s not closing for good, but for a serious make-over, we being told it’s a little more than the nip & tuck we thought it was, the builders having already started this week, in places away from prying eyes, although it seems eyes have been straying onto those builders bums & other bulges (if you know what we mean!!). As for Saturday, Andrew Elmore see’s everyone off with stacks of latest hits, floor fillers & reams of remixes, while apparently, if you fancy the look of a piece of furniture & can carry it home, tables & all seem to be up for grabs and free at that. With their website getting a new look too, keep your eyes peeled at http://thehadowlounge.co.uk for that all important detail regarding the re-opening.
To another Soho institution that has closed for good. Barcode having been sold to the highest bidder, in this case Freedom, who, rumour has it, will be turning this trendsetter of a venue spot into a private members club, (boo hoo!!), we suspect for our breeder brethren to bask within. And having not been able to give Barcode a fond farewell, the way the transition from one owner to another was handled being a bit cock eyed to be honest, and given the 15 glorious years Barcode Soho has been not just contributing to, but making the scene a much stronger place, it was a crying shame that we couldn’t celebrate its achievements with a right royal send off. However, with Barcode Vauxhall still going, we won’t say strong, but like its former sister, playing a vital role in the gay bar/clubbing scene, this Saturday (16th July), marks its 5th Anniversary, so good reason to celebrate. We will be giving it a mention in our upcoming Best Bites & Short Shouts weekend newsletter, so watch out for that, while details on happenings on Albert Embankment can be found at http://bar-code.co.uk.
So, as we begin to round-up our weekly report, it’s time for our moment, track & tweet of the week, although having been so busy, we are finding it difficult to choose our favourite moment as there were so many, from the raptures of Room Service, the delights of The Dance Stage & the bravado of Barcode. But whilst the phrase is an easy one, “I WANT MY PORRIDGE” going down in legendary history, while our numerous “iron lung” incidents also proving classical, the moment has to go to Beyond when two tracks caught us with our emotional pants down, “Starry Eyed” & then “You’ve Got The Love” leaving us with eyes flooding & poor pal Andrea looking really worried. It was real emotion alright & many thoughts were flowing over us, but it is only Steve (& possibly Mikey) that can do that to us.
As for our track of the week, as hefty those two were, our vote simply has to go to the incredible “Pressure” which was with us pretty much every step of the way this week. With a number of versions knocking around, it is the original version by Nadia Ali, Starkillers & Alex Kenji that gets our vote, having been played at Room Service, Profile, Barcode & Beyond. No so much a dancefloor smash, its melodic rhythms & those sultry vocals very much hit the mark & while it has missed our “Summer Scorcher” list, will definitely be an “Autumn Anthem” and fighting for a top ten position in our year end chart which looks like being the most hotly contested of any so far. Check this terrific track out in full 6 minute glory at http://youtube.com/watch?v=NKfcg85fhTU.
Nibble Size Review Tweets
To our tweet of the week and after trawling through the 45 live Nibble Sized review posts we popped onto our Twitter page, the one that just about stands out over some real gems is one we sent to someone else (we won’t say who but you can probably guess), it stating simply “…oh!! The iron lung!! What are you doing to us? I WANT MY PORRIDGE!!…” this painting a magical picture of a truly memorable weekend that we will remember, probably for ever. Now, as if we need to remind you, if you want to catch our live commentaries this coming weekend (Sat 16th & Sun 17th July) at Casa Latina & Lovebox, then log onto http://twitter.com/discomatt, as we could have a repeat performance of Pride weekend on our hands.
Now, we finish with our usual reminder saying that you that that if you want us to shout out for your favourite bar, club or event that rocked & rolled in the coming week, then link into us via our main Facebook page at http://facebook.com/discomattlondon and plaster our wall with your details or then drop us a line now at matt@discomatt.com. As we have hinted towards, this weekend will see us down at for Casa Latina & the on Sunday we will be across at Victoria Park for Lovebox, but will be back before then, rounding up the seven days from 8th to 13th July, so watch out for that. (DISCO MATT)
That Was That
Posted in Reports, Reviews | Tags: Barcode Vauxhall, Beyond, Booster, Carlos Gallardo, DouGuim, Fat Tony, Gigolo, Gonzalo Rivas, Jodie Harsh, Junior Moura, Kris Di Angelis, Later, Leandro Kloppel, Mikey D, Nick Fisher, Orange, Pagano, Paul Christian, Peyton, Popcorn, Profile, Room Service, Shawnee Taylor, Steve Pitron, The Fire Dance Stage, The Oli, The Shadow Lounge, Tony English, WE Heroes | No Comments »
Brazilian Boy Beatmasters
There is little or no doubt that Spain has had its fair share of say on the music of the capitals clubbing scene in recent years, brands Matinee SuperMartXe, Space & now WE Party, very much the overseas invasion of London that has, along the way, sported some real stars, while also serving up plenty of also rans. However, when Brazilian brand, The Week, landed in London last September, there seemed to be a slight tide change, a few figures popping over the parapet & showing the new way & wave of Latin American beats that have also inspired new club Casa Latina, which has its second coming in two weekends time. However, before all that, two of its shining bright new stars will be playing out at Profile & Lo-Profile and tonight (Friday 1st July) no less, this cool clubbing combo hosting a night of Brazilian boy beats, including a “Carioca” themed Society party that should see plenty of Latino’s & their admirers wend their way to Wardour St to savour stacks of superb sounds. So, we thought we would take a look at the two stars, dipping a little into their past & then linking into their latest music creations to give you a flavour of what to expect both tonight & at Casa Latina later this month.
Delectable Doug
First up is the delectable D.J. DouGuim, full name Doug Guimaraes, a native of Brazil of course, having grown up in his home city of Sao Paulo, his early steps into D.J.’ing very much being influenced by the city’s sensation The Week, the likes of Leandro Becker & Renato Cecin inspirations for Doug’s decision to pursue a career behind the decks, he making the bold decision to head for the even brighter lights of London. And not having long landed in the capital he was talent spotted in a D.J. competition held at Ku Bar which pretty much launched him onto the gay bar circuit, earning him a regular residency at their Monday nighter “Citric”, although his big break came when Lovechild’s Alex Erfan teamed up with The Week and in so doing so, gave floor space to Doug at the launch party at Fire, he very much proving his worth with an outstanding opening set which was very much the opening he was after.
Now it seemed the floodgates to his career had opened, spots at clubs within the Orange Group quickly following, not least a regular weekly slot at Beyond no less, Doug’s uplifting & funky yet tech & tribal infused sounds suiting his slot at this awesome afterhours superbly. Since then, DouGuim has consolidated his position within the scene, a break back in Brazil & then gigs across Europe including Paris, Rome & Madrid seeing him drop below the radar for a while, although now back in London, his future is looking very bright indeed, as not only has he gained a new residency for Thursday night social “Soho Chic” at Green Carnation, but it seems, with his debut for Lo-Profile tonight (Friday 1st July), more doors will be opening for the delectable Doug, he having also turned his hand to promoting with Tuesday morning outfit “Open”, while Casa Latina will be another opportunity for him to excel with his Latin infused style of sounds and in front of many of his country folk to boot.
Rythmn Revolution
And in terms of those sound styles, Doug has been no real slouch in the studio, at least compared to some of his peers, having produced ten podcasts in the last twelve months alone, each one showcasing the broad spectrum of sounds & genres Doug dips into, two out of the ten devoted to his appearances for both the Week & for Beyond. However, it was his Casa Latina inspired compilation that really caught our attention, serving up plenty of those Latin funky tones & tribal beats that underpins Doug’s roots & inspirations, but with sufficient amounts of uplifting & accessible tunes that rank it as one of our favourite works of his. However, in his latest release “Revolution”, we see a DouGuim that has grown further into his art, careful selections of tracks taking us on a magical mystery tour, from funky, through progressive, tech & tribal, with enough accessible tunes to keep us glued from minute one to seventy three, he even dropping in “Offshore” in the middle to leave us truly delighted. Yet, whilst we hold our hat on “Revolution”, you can do no wrong by added all the other nine to your collection, by going now to http://douguim.podomatic.com/ and make sure to come see him in action at Society or at future events across the capital & beyond, as this is one Brazilian boy that is really going places.
Junior aka Celso
Now to our second terrific talent, yet one that came as a tad of a surprise when we heard he was turning his hand to D.J.’ing, although Junior Moura finds himself in distinguished company, as his significant other is none other than superstar Steve Pitron, who has without a shadow of a doubt had a tremendous influence on Mr Moura’s decision to dive behind the decks. Indeed, it was a young Celso who saw his future partner in action for The Week in Brazil, a chance meeting bringing them together & forming a relationship that has seen us observe Steve at his happiest in all the years we have known him. But the road to exposure on the bar & clubbing circuit in the capital has been a slightly trickier one for Junior Moura than his compatriot DouGuim, although with the expert guidance from Steve, as well as a couple of brilliant breaks supported by Doug, the spurning talent that Celso as D.J. Junior, has seen him play at Ku-Bar, at Casa Latina’s launch and just this coming weekend sees him play at two gigs in two days, no mean feat for this fledgling disc spinning star.
Away from the bars, clubs & scene, Mr Moura is a very hard working individual, very much earning his keep & stay in his adopted home, while this engaging & handsome young man is also a sporty individual, having played volleyball to a national level for his country, this coming as no surprise when you stand against him, Celso towering over even our lofty height. So, with a seemingly much work & little play schedule, we are surprised he has found time to not only hone his skills of blending beats, but has also laid down two podcasts in the short three/four months that he has turned his hands to D.J.’ing, his first mix very much inspired by Brazilian beats as well as a handful of his favourite tracks, some out of the Steve stable. And listening to his second offering, Junior (we keep wanting to call him Celso) follows a similar trail of tracks, although with much more of a Latin flavour, lots of drum beats, lots of vocals & tribal influences, while a couple of crowd pleasers are thrown in for good measure, a remix of “Sweet Dreams” one example of a few across the seventy minutes of marvellous music on this “Casa Latina” compilation, which you can grab, along “Episode 1”, at http://djjuniorspodcast.podomatic.com/.
Junior Does Casa
As for this weekend, Junior will be playing for the very first time at Profile Bar tonight (Friday 1st July) from 8 p.m., the team very excited about his first inclusion, having been quoted as saying, “…another of Brazil’s best exports will be making his Profile debut, he’s an amazing D.J. & he is ridiculously hot too!!…”, (say no more), Profile having proved a terrific testing ground for fellow D.J., Zach Burns, his exposure there having created opportunities much further afield, while Mr Moura will also be playing tomorrow night (Saturday 2nd July) at Barcode Vauxhall, among a Gay Pride party line up that will certainly get him noticed by peers & a captive audience alike. Then, of course, there is Casa Latina for Junior on Saturday 16th July, meaning that in just these short few months, he is making good headway with surely bigger & better things to come, meaning that we both wish him well with his endeavours & hope to be close by to see him develop behind the decks. (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Music | Tags: Alex Erfan, Beyond, Casa Latina, Celso Moura, DouGuim, Junior Moura, Ku Bar, Leandro Becker, Lo-Profile, Porfile Bar, Renato Cecin, Society, Soho Chic, Steve Pitron, The Week | No Comments »
Pride 2011 The Orange Way
When we were making our gingerly steps out onto the clubbing scene some twenty years ago, Gay Pride celebrations in the capital were somewhat different to what they are today, our first ever foray being down in Kennington Park, a reasonably sedate affair which was followed by successive years at Brockwell Park, Clapham Common, Victoria Park & Finsbury Park, the big baby being Hyde Park when Pride in London was at its peak. However, sustaining such large park style events & keeping everything free proved a battle the organisers were never going to win. Add to that the surge in popularity & size of competitor pride events in Cologne & Madrid and in the last three/four years Gay Pride in London has become a shadow of its former self, although with the staging of post parade celebrations in Trafalgar, Leicester & Soho Square(s), have seen it regain some of its status in the yes of the public, the central London locale of the celebrations, taking in the gay village of Soho, seems to work well, although it has to be said that the previous park cohesion has been replaced with a more fragmented offering.
Now whilst there is no doubt that we do miss the fabulous dance tents that used to feature large in the park celebrations, we have also enjoyed the replacement dance stages at Soho Pride on a few occasions and there is no doubt that when it comes to London’s current Gay Pride set up, of the three designated square set up’s ,the dance stage is our favourite by far. However, with the this arena being consigned to Leicester Square last year, a whole load of excuses being waged by Westminster Council & the police as to why Soho Sqaure couldn’t be used, while sponsors The Orange Group made the most of a bad job, it wasn’t a patch on the dance stage’s natural home, many complaining about the overzealous security & lack of facilities, plus the feel that everything having seemingly been implemeted & orchestrated by Gay Pride’s organisers at the last minute. That said, we had a terrific time, not least being treated to a back stage pass & in so doing, hooking up with many of the D.J.’s & Orange Group top brass, this outstanding organisation digging deep into its own pockets to support Pride both morally & financially.
Outstanding Orange Offer
So, with London Gay Pride 2011 literally days away, but with there being somewhat of a hush surrounding this year’s festival, we can celebrate in the fact that not only do we have Soho Square back, but the dance stage will once again be hosted & sponsored by Fire. And furthermore, with a whole succession of peripheral parties across the weekend, it seems that London Gay Pride 2011 looks like being dominated by the “Outstanding Orange Offer”, as no less than twelve separate parties will be hosted by the group, making them the biggest single contributor to the Pride festival, Craig Elder & his terrific team very proud to play a prolific part in Pride this year. So, with so much activity, on the clubbing front at least, we thought it only fair to devote a special Weekend Focus post to all things Orange, showcasing their outstanding offer, focussing on club nights Onyx, A:M, WE Party, Beyond, Later, Orange & Open, as well as looking at The Fire Dance Stage, which centre pieces the weekend.
Head To Head Happening
So, while the Orange offer actually starts this coming Wednesday (29th June) with Patrick Lilley’s Work, then continues on Thursday (30th June) with both Deuces at Area & & Gravity at Fire, it is the “I A:M Onyx” party that gets our first full focus, the clever play on words indicating that Onyx will be going head to head with afterhours A:M, spreading across the three rooms of Area on Friday 1st July, very much the group’s main pre-pride affair and combining the tip top talents from both clubs for one night only. And looking at the line-up, it seems we will be in for a magnificent musical treat, as the main room will very much be an Onyx/A:M head to head, with Onyx residents Lee Harris, Jc Christopher, Jonny M & new promoter Verity Mayes squaring up to the might of Gonzalo Rivas & D’Johnny from A:M, making for a lavish line up, especially given given the club is open for just eight hours (we make that 70 mins each!), while it seems to be Onyx business as usual in the other two rooms, regulars Lisa German & Ariel tearing up the terrace with their tech & electro house, while Tasty Tim commands the chapel room ably assisted by Jason Price & James St James, all serving up pop-tastic tunes that make this room the popular place it is. Add to that the Onyx influence of fire eating displays & drop dead gorgeous go-go’s, while the dynamic David H adds the A:M percussionist touch to proceedings, while hosts Chrissy Darling & Glendora share the spotlight both on the door & inside the club, steering you through this spectacular showcase from start to finish. And what of that start?, well this Onyx/A:M head-to-head kicks off from 10 p.m. this Friday (1st July), with the club running through to an advertised “superlate” timing. Advance £5 tickets are on sale online at http://clubtickets.com, while if you get yourselves on the guest list by going to http://gayguestlists.com/onyx, it’s a mere £1 before midnight, while for others its £2 before & £8 after.
Soho Sqaure Smash
Onto Saturday and daytime gives way to the Fire Dance Stage in Soho Square, probably looking to prove itself as the most popular of the three, it coming as no surprise that The Orange Group will be digging deep into their reserves to serve up a colossal combination of D.J. stars & P.A. artists, this Soho arena famed for offering the best in open air clubbing, the intimate yet absorbing atmosphere of the square perfect for this post pride parade celebration & the whole proceedings in the superb & safe hands of tip tip promoter Steven Sharp. Now, having been given exclusive access to the line-up for The Dance stage, we can confirm here & now that, in terms of the D.J performances, Steve Pitron & Mikey D will be playing a special back-to-back set, with other names in the frame include Fat Tony, The Oli, D’Johnny, Jamie Head, & Jonny M, with the likelihood of further names & back-to-back sets, while The Sharp Boys will be closing proceedings around 8 p.m. As for the P.A.’s, Sonique has be confirmed and there will be an extra special guest appearing, although this is very much being kept under wraps, but we are hedging our bets on it being something to do with the word “Stronger”. Plus, we have been reliably informed that prolific percussionist David H will be on hand, along with a host of other artists to compliment the D.J.’s sets. So, with a line up like that & much more surprises in store, the Dance Stage arena will be packed with post pride party goers, although as the capacity within Soho Square will need to be limited for safety reasons, we recommend you get there early, as experience from previous years means that post 4 p.m. you will expect to find a one in one out situation, especially as entry is free, although the organisers do urge you to dig deep & make contributions however big or small, to ensure that London’s Gay pride remains a free festival. More information on this Fire hosted dance stage event can be found by going to http://freclub.co.uk &/or http://pridelondon.org.
Post Pride Party
Then, when dusk turns to dark, the choice widens to three, between “official” post pride party, Liberation, the chunky & hunky Bear Necessity & the Spanish Sensation WE Party, all things Orange very much catering for all clubbing tastes. So, let’s look Liberation first, this post pride party taking place at Fire this Saturday (2nd July), kicking off extra early at 8 p.m. with a special “Smirnoff Garden Party”, this brand one of the main pride 2011/2012 sponsors & hosting this alfresco offering across the extensive Fire outside space, with expertly made drinks served by the specially selected Smirnoff team, while relaxing ambient music will both serve as a welcome interlude from the frenetic action of the Fire Dance stage, but will also allow you to draw breath before the heated up post pride action inside, which kicks off from 11 p.m. And the Liberation line-up is very impressive, probably the strongest yet, showcasing some of the capitals best talents across four very different & diverse rooms. So what’s on offer?, well the main room will be spearheaded by Fire residents Mikey D, The Sharp Boys, Fat Tony & Lee Harris, while the second space will have a definite Onyx “Pop”, feel to it, residents Tasty Tim, Jason Prince & James St James joined by Gaydar Radio’s Alex Taylor. Then across in room three it’s all about RnB, as Queer Nation’s Big John Freeman Jeffrey Hinton & promoter Patrick Lilley take charge, the fourth space given away to the very cute Ku Bar boys & resident jock DouGuim. Plus, Fire have secured two terrific P.A.’s, Elloitte Williams, famed for the massive hit “Pride (A Deeper Love)”, while Sharlene Hector will also perform her hit “Sunshine Into My Life” and we are also told to expect a very special guest. So, with diversity very much the name of the game & Liberation attracting the glitterati of the Pride Festival, Fire looks set to host Pride’s best “official” party yet, advance tickets available online only at http://fire.clubtickets.com/gb/2011-07/02/liberation-pride-party priced at £12, with door entry at £15, those doors opening to the main event from 11 p.m. & the night running through till 6 a.m.
Hairier Area
Across at Area & it’s about chunky, hunky & funky action as big brand Bear Necessity rolls into town for a Pride special party , welcoming special gust Nick Tcherniak to the main room decks, he being joined by Bear Necessity London resident Micky Galliano, while over in the chapel room it will be all about Tonker, head honcho Tim Jones taking turns spinning the sounds with fellow bear brute Paul Coals, while Bruno Knight’s 21st Century men will be spilling the brawn, a line up of the hottest bear god go-go’s gyrating in the many podiums across both rooms, while a special stage show should set the whole event alight with action & compliment the touch tech & dance music. Add to that special host for the night, the attractive Andy Garcia , aka Dr Woof, along with a special pre-party at Tonker on Friday (1st July), Megawoof’s Tim Mcloone taking to The Eagle decks, and the all-in package advance tickets priced at just £14 are already selling like hot cakes and are available at http://clubtickets.com/gb/2011-07/02/bear-necessity-london-pride, while if you choose just the main party at Area, which kicks off at an early 9 p.m., then the £10 options are also available, while entry will be available on the door, but for more. Now, as the venue will need to prepare for the massive Beyond “Super Pride” party, Bear Necessity will run until 5 a.m. & not into Beyond as before.
Shawnee Stronger Show Stealer
However, despite these two amazing attractions, both which should draw their own crowds, there is no escaping the fact that the big party of the weekend (we reckon the second biggest) will be WE party, which, following the massive roadblock sell-out of “WE Candy”, is expected to be a repeat, this “WE Heroes” event having created a real buzz literally days after the last party. And for good reason, as it is clear this brilliant brand has taken over from where SuperMartXe left off, The Coronet proving both a popular & perfect home for the huge lighting, laser & stage installations that WE has become renowned for. So, whilst we are expecting amazing things from this latest party in terms of the stage shows & all the effects that will surely make it one of THE most prolific parties of the Gay Pride weekend, it is the music which should make this “Heroes” happening a real winner. So who can you expect to marvel you with their scintilating sounds?, well it goes without saying that Spain’s best import, Carlos Gallardo, will be making a rapturous return, WE party never quite the same without his inclusion, while he will be joined by our very own Italian Stallion, Pagano, who plays for WE in the capital for the first time & should go down a storm, especially as he seems to excel on the big stage, London WE residents Gonzalo Rivas & D’Johnny completing the current line-up. But the really exciting news for us, is the inclusion of PA Shawnee Taylor, who will no doubt be performing her massive new release “Stronger”, a track that has quickly established itself as the Pitron/DM anthem and is spreading across the dancefloors of the clubbing world like wildfire. Now, given the positioning & size of this event, we expect it to be a complete sell-out, which means you need to grab your tickets fast, advance £18 ones available online at http://wepartylondon.com, similarly priced tickets on sales at Soho outlets Prowler, Clone Zone, 50 & Solarstation, as well as The Yard, Rupert St & Profile Bar(s). However, if you leave it to get in on the doors, which open at 11 p.m., then expect to pay more & be prepared to get there early as if the last event was anything to go by, the queue will be massive, this latest WE party running through to a planned 7 a.m.
Now, as we head onto the next & what looks like the biggest party of the weekend, we suspect that many of you WE party goers will want to head to Beyond too, the terrific team headed up by Tom Fuller having laid on transport you from The Coronet to Area, the convoy of coaches leaving from 6 a.m. & setting you down at Area, all for the very reasonable price of £5. But here is the real deal clincher on this, as that £5 & coach trip will not only get you free coatcheck for up to two items, but it will also gain you fast track entry into the club, the Barcode side of this Beyond “Super Pride” party set aside for coach arrivals only. However, you will need to be in receipt of a ticket for Beyond, advance online ones at £15 available at http://area.clubtickets.com/gb/2011-07/03/beyond, while the usual outlets in Soho (see above) have tickets on sale too. However, for those of you that don’t manage either, then never fear as £20 ones will be on sale at WE, so keep your eyes peeled for Tom & his team.
All Pride Roads Lead Here
So to Beyond, all roads surely leading to Area come Sunday morning (3rd June), the road slightly widened as the club once again joins forces with Barcode to make this a super sized “Super Pride” event. Now for those of you that missed out on Beyond “Super Size” on the last Bank Holiday weekend, then prepare to be amazed & impressed with all that extra space both inside & out, Area’s & Barcode’s frontages combined to make one huge alfresco hangout from the hectic happenings inside, while the usual Beyond three dancefloors will be increased to five with the addition of Barcode’s front & back spaces. In terms of the D.J. line up, we can confirm that the following Beyond all stars will be present, the main room spearheaded by Steve Pitron, he joined by Mikey D, The Sharp Boys & Gonzalo Rivas, while The Chapel Room will sport Paul Christian & D’Johnny, The Terrace space most likely the domain of Jamie Head, The Oli & Fat Tony. However, with the additional two spaces next door to consider, names in the frame include Alessandro Londra, Ariel, Onyx’s promoter Verity Meyes & Beyond promoter Jonny Marsh, although as yet no news on any Barcode D.J.’s. Now, it has to be said that we are far from keen with the idea of a club promoter also D.J.’ing, especially as in this case, Beyond’s super size will need its promoter in the spotlight, but we suspect Mr Marsh will be drawing on additional talent to compliment the line-up, so watch this space for news on that. However, what you can expect of this “Super Pride” event is “…more space, more music, more dancers, more effects, more everything!..,” and Beyond itself will be digging into its own pockets to donate £1 per person to Pride, to keep this festival free. As for the detail, Beyond opens its doors at 6 a.m. the club running through till 1 p.m., online tickets available at http://area.clubtickets.com/gb/2011-07/03/beyond, priced at £15, along with sales at Prowler, Clone Zone 50, Rupert St & The Yard in Soho & Barcode in Vauxhall, a reminder of this & last minute detail on both Beyond & WE “Heroes” coming your way via an Extra Bites post later this week.
Helter Skelter Heaven
Next up in the all things Orange Pride weekend line-up is Later on Sunday afternoon (3rd July), who roll out one of their infamous “Funfair” parties, this Pride devoted one sure to be popular, especially if the sun is shining. With the team turning out all those fabulous funfair rides, some in miniature scale, the helter skelter is sure to prove a winner again, while the extensive outside space will be packed with revellers who will want to take respite from a sequence of parties already counting seven. But there will be no rest for the wicked inside, as promoter Jay Sharp leans on his towering residents team to turn out truck loads of tech toned tunes, with dollops of dance to delight, D.J.’s The Oli, Paul Martin, Jamie Head, & D’Johnny, sure to pack out the place, advance £8 tickets on sale online only at http://fire.clubtickets.com/gb/2011-07/03/the-later-funfair-pride-party, while entry on the door is priced at £10, although discount stamps will be on offer at Beyond, so make sure you check with Area’s door staff before you head across to Fire. Plus, all Later entrants will be able to get their hands on a free (yes free!) ticket to the “The Only Way Is Orange” Gay Pride closing party.
Orange Is The Only Way To End Pride
So that neatly moves onto Orange who, after hosting some of the biggest & most successful Bank Holiday parties this year, have been invited to officially close Gay Pride proceedings this coming weekend, opening their doors on Sunday (3rd July) at 11 p.m., the club running for a massive eight hours until 9 a.m. on Monday morning, promoter Steven Sharp & his team pulling out all the stops to make sure this is a party for Pride to be proud of. And looking at the D.J. line-up, there is lots to savour, the main room masterminded by the famed Orange “Citrus All-Star” residents Paul Martin, The Oli & The Sharp Boys, although the duo of Fat Tony & Tonnic should prove a crowd draw & pleaser too. Add to that shows from Elektra Paris & her dance troupe, while the gregarious Glendora will no doubt attract a flock of followers as she hosts like no other. But it doesn’t stop there as the Orange RAW room will be on duty too, original residents David Jimenez & Gonzalo Rivas welcoming extra special guest Nick Tcherniak to the fold, Nick making his second appearance in this special space. As for entry, it seems that if you make it to any of the Orange Group parties across the weekend & keeps your eyes closely peeled for special free entry passes, then this closing party will prove as a massive thank you for supporting the group & Pride itself. However, if not then £10 advance ticket are available online at http://fire.clubtickets.com/, while a limited number of £5 tickets will be handed out at the Fire Dance Stage post parade celebrations, standard Orange entry prices of £12 before midnight & £15 thereafter applying.
Final Pride Fling
However, whilst Orange officially closes the Pride weekend, it isn’t quite over as Tuesday morning madness Open makes a rare return to London afterhours clubbing for, in the words of the promotions team, “…the party to end all parties!…” and we highly expect that it will, especially for those that don’t have any work commitments on Tuesday (5th July), the club opening at 5 a.m. & running through to an advertised “superlate” timing, which in translation probably means 11 a.m., while this party is also aimed at those scene workers how have toiled away across the weekend, Open giving them an opportunity to let their hair down, now the hard work is behind them. As for the D.J. line up, well none other than Gonzalo Rivas will headline the neat & tidy team of talents, Mr Rivas treating us to a “classic” set that will no doubt include a mixture of the vast genre of sounds within his amazing armoury, while The Sharp Boys, George & Steven, who incidentally are co-promoting this event, will also feature, with guests yet to be announced, but possibly to include DouGuim & Fat Tony. Entry to the club is just £3 before 7 a.m. with a flyer, while for scene staff with suitable I.D., it’s just £2, the Open team out on the streets of Soho on Monday night, handing out special discount flyers, more info available at http://freclub.co.uk/gayparties.
So, that’s The Orange Group’s biggest Gay Pride weekend yet in a nutshell, well not quite a nutshell, more the most comprehensive guide you will find anywhere and testament to the fact that this clubbing company is making a massive contribution to London’s Pride Festival, both in terms of offering clubbers a complete experience from Friday through Tuesday & very much underpinning this “Outstanding Orange Offer” which includes some of the capitals best clubbing brands & artists. Therefore, it goes without saying that we will be joining Craig Elder & his team across this prolific Pride weekend of clubbing & hope that you will also “Go There! Be There! (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Recommends | Tags: A:M, Alessandro Londra, Area, Ariel, Bear Neccesity, Beyond, Carlos Gallardo, Chrissy Darling, Craig Elder, D'Johnny, DouGuim, Elektra Paris, Fat Tony, Fire, Fire Dance Stage, Glendora, Gonzalo Rivas, James St James, Jamie Head, Jason Prince, Jc Christopher, Jonny M, Jonny Marsh, Later, Leandro Kloppel, Lee Harris, Liberation, Lisa German, Micky Galliano, Mikey D, Nick Tcherniak, Onyx, Open, Orange, Orange RAW, Pagano, Paul Coals, Paul Martin, Pride, Pride London 2011, Queer Nation, Shawnee Taylor, Soho Sqaure, Sonique, Steve Pitron, Steven Sharp, Tast Tim, The Oli, The Sharp Boys, Tim Jones, Tom Fuller, Tonker, Verity Meyes, WE Heroes, WE Party, WE Party London | 1 Comment »
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28 Sep 2011 | 1 Comment
Reviews – “Brazilian Brand Benchmark” – Casa Latina “Sugar Daddy” – Saturday 24th September – Full Size Review
London is probably now recognised as one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world and the same could be said for its clubbing scene, a wealth of nations represented on its dancefloors, at its events & even within the industry itself, not one corner of the globe left out ...
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23 Sep 2011 | 0 Comments
Recommends – “Brazilian Roots Brand Returns” – Casa Latina “Sugar Daddy” – Saturday 24th September – Weekend Focus
There can be no doubt that the Latin influence has been washing on the shores of London’s landscape for a few years now, the Spanish armada that included Space, La Troya, Matinee & SuperMartXe spearheading a wave of other nationals that have tried to crack the capital’s clubbing circuit nut, ...
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10 Aug 2011 | 0 Comments
Reviews – “Sublime Sunday Service” – Blessed Launch – Sunday 31st July – Bite Size Review
Sunday t-dance style parties have been a feature of the capitals clubbing circuit for as long as we can remember, a whole host of brands trying their hand at this sometimes tricky timing, some with more success than others, good examples from the halcyon days being Salvation, DTPM & Factor ...
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27 Jul 2011 | 1 Comment
Recommends – “New Times Two” – Blessed & Le Boy – Sunday 31st July & Friday 5th August – Weekend Focus Special
We never cease to be amazed by the wealth of new ideas, new projects & moreover new club nights that continually spring up across the capitals clubbing circuit, some ideas really capturing the imagination, others sinking without trace within weeks of launching. While Soho has clearly been getting much of ...
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25 Jul 2011 | 0 Comments
Reviews & Reports – “Mud, Mud, Hideous Mud” – That Was The Week That Was – Thursday 14th to Wednesday 20th July
We sit in our study looking out onto a bright & sunny Sunday afternoon, not a hint of rain in the sky, rather a warm July day that we could have done with at the same time last week, rather a shower soaked Sunday & a muddy meet the order ...
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22 Jul 2011 | 0 Comments
Reviews – “Junior Jamboree” – Casa Latina “Super Carwash” – Saturday 16th July – Full Size Review
In this very cosmopolitan world that we find ourselves within, it seems that all corners of the globe seem to be represented across the gay clubbing scene here in the capital, Eastern Europe, Spain, & Italy three of a whole raft of others playing their part in making our outings ...
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13 Jul 2011 | 1 Comment
Recommends – “Brazilian Beats Bonanza” – Casa Latina “Super Car Wash” – Saturday 16th July – Weekend Focus
Casting our minds back three or four months, while we were in South Africa actually, the phrase Casa Latina (or should we say Casa Latino!) first came to prominence and having landed back in London it seemed that a small seed that had been sown by a certain D.J. and ...
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12 Jul 2011 | 0 Comments
Reviews & Reports – “Purple Patch Period Of Partying” – That Was The Week That Was – Thursday 30th June to Wednesday 6th July
With our second weekend back on the scene stealing much of our time, we find ourselves looking back on the previous one & the days around it, as London’s Gay Pride looks set to dominate our latest That Was The Week That Was report, we hitting the ground running, with ...
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1 Jul 2011 | 0 Comments
Music – “Brilliant Brazilian Boy Beatmasters” – D.J.’s DouGuim & Junior Moura – Friday 1st July – D.J./Music Focus Special
There is little or no doubt that Spain has had its fair share of say on the music of the capitals clubbing scene in recent years, brands Matinee SuperMartXe, Space & now WE Party, very much the overseas invasion of London that has, along the ...
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28 Jun 2011 | 1 Comment
Recommends – “Proud To Play A Prolific Part In Pride – London Gay Pride 2011 – “Outstanding Orange Offer” – Friday 1st to Tuesday 5th July – Weekend Focus Special
When we were making our gingerly steps out onto the clubbing scene some twenty years ago, Gay Pride celebrations in the capital were somewhat different to what they are today, our first ever foray being down in Kennington Park, a reasonably sedate affair which was followed by successive years at ...
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