Posts Tagged ‘Fat Tony’
March 21, 2013 | 
Author With much promise posed ahead of its “A New Beginning” event and with plenty of talk about Covert both championing change across the capitals clubbing circuit, was Saturday’s party the proof of the pudding in the eating, what was our verdict on this gigantic gathering and how much more did we learn about this clubbing change concept.
There can be little doubt that the clubbing scene in the capital, certainly as far as big style clubs are concerned, has very much been in the doldrums recently, the weekly, monthly & occasional event calendar being dominated by just one group & the usual set of brands. And will some view this as a good thing, the problem we have with it, particularly of late, as that feeling of same old same old, the same D.J.’s the same venues, the same faces, a regurgitated repetition that has, quite frankly become boring. Indeed the current sorry state of affairs has been a couple of years in the making, many competitor brands either pushed to the sidelines or pushed out of business entirely and with little in the way of replacements from the protagonists of this sordid situation, save for a Friday night clubbing concept that is wrong on so many fronts, we are left unenthused & unexcited about a pastime & activity that used to fill our weekends, wall to wall. Yet that said, while Vauxhall is clearly in the monotonous, same old, same old doldrums, there is plenty more happening, if but on a much smaller scale, a swing out to Shoreditch finding a hip & happening melting pot of parties, East Bloc the most dynamic deliverer, brands such as DISH, SOS, & Gutterslut drawing on clubbers from far & wide, proving that there is life beyond Albert Embankment & South Lambeth Walk.
However, in the eyes of clubbers, Vauxhall is still seen as their mecca, even if it is not quite the dynamic draw it was a few years ago, although with the likes of Colloseum & Hidden hardly used, it pretty much leaves just three full on club spaces, naturally the two Orange Nation ones, Fire & Area and Crash (now known as Union). But wait a minute, what about Covert we hear you say, a venue that used to trade under the name of Factory but was brought by a tight knot group of investors who, when re-constructing the site last April brought Orange Nation into the picture, the initial idea being to let them both manage the place & increase the clubbing offer & variety. Yet while the plans were all well & good in theory, with just one genuine addition in the form of Deelooded, in the short space of 10 months, Orange Nation let what was supposed to be a sophisticated & stylish club venue run down into rack & ruin, the planned works to finish the venue never materialising and, quite shockingly, the group reneging in financial & other promises, leaving the investors with little choice but to take Covert back under their control. But with much more happening in the background, it seems that these investors now have the bit between their teeth, with plans to the driving force behind the re-invigoration of the clubbing scene, both & Vauxhall & London as a whole, their first event to hail this marvellous movement, their “A New Beginning” event.
So with this exciting event and the prospect of something fresh, new & enticing on offer, despite health issues, we simply couldn’t miss this Covert cavort, not least that with a D.J. line-up extending deep into double figures, club promoters, scene figureheads & clubbing friends aplenty, it was one of those mustn’t miss meets, although with our planned arrival for the VIP reception thwarted by a deep disco dose, it was around 11.30 when we arrived, to be greeted on the door by a warming welcoming committee that included heavenly hostess Chrissy Darling, promoter Alex Erfan & Covert’s manager, the terrific Tom Fuller, he having wisely jumped from what we predict as a sinking Orange nation ship. However, on missing the reception, we had also missed Pier Morrocco’s set, although caught a moment with him before he sped off to XXL, we then quickly diving into the club to get out of the cold, a further warm greeting by Steven Sharp sealing what was a perfect start to this “A New Beginning” shindig. And with Steven giving us a guided tour, the upgrading & the finishing to the venue was clear to see, the shabbiness that Orange Nation had allowed to creep in, all but eradicated, noticeable differences including fabulous floor coverings in both the main room & the second space, new laser lighting, new ceiling coverings, a totally transformed upstairs area with sumptuous seating, but moreover the subtle touches to trimmings, bar fronts & the like making the place look finished & fantastic.
However, the most impressive transformation was in the second space, the D.J. booth having been moved downstairs, elevating the feel & the atmosphere amazingly and making it a dance room in its own right and it was here where we bumped into the first of a flock of familiar D.J. friends, Ben Jamin preparing for what turned out to be one of a whole host of superb sets in this space, this very much a bit of a home-coming for Ben, as it was he that was part of the Crash team towards the latter years and this Covert second space, for us, echoing the former quite noticeably. But the D.J. faces from the Crash days & Vauxhall both past & present extended to many more, Guy Williams, Brent Nicholls & Alan X three of a whole host of others, not just this his second space, but back in the main room too, a real brilliant blast from the past, Terry Bryan, pumping up the pace of the party perfectly. Indeed, with the initial slow trickle of arrivals ballooning before our eyes, given our delicate state of health, we retreated towards the safety of the bar area where we bumped into pals Peter & Fabio, our evening just getting better by the minute, the list of friendly & familiar faces lengthening with every passing moment, Dave Cross, Tom Marchant, Louise Port, Nicholas Montenegro, Paul Coals, Tony Bruno and, naturally, Tom Fuller, just a measure of exactly how refreshingly friendly this glorious gathering was turning out to be and certainly what our recent Vauxhall clubbing experiences had been missing.
But the night was still young and with Jamie Hammond in charge of the main room tunes now, we were looking forward to prolific performances from Lovechild’s own Tony English, he failing to disappoint with a sterling set, while with Paulo Moreno, Alan K, Fat Tony, The Oli & The Sharp Boys still to come, this Covert “A New Beginning Event” was certainly living up to its billing, the vast array of D.J. talent, some inextricably linked to that other Vauxhall based clubbing group, proof that Alan’s promise to give D.J.’s the opportunity to play when & where they want, was bearing fruit right before our eyes. So, sinking into the rest of our slightly shortened stay, we traded main room for second space, outside for in, spending some time catching up with Alex Erfan and talking about plans moving forward, both for Covert and for their wider scene plans, some so exciting that we are itching to share, although have been sworn to secrecy. We also took advantage of the upstairs space, joining Peter in resting & escaping what was now a packed & pulsating main room, Paulo Moreno delivering delectable doses of dance delight, while we traded health issue notes with peter who, it seemed, was also going through a tremendously tough time. That said, it was great to be out clubbing again, this our first foray in March and a better choice & place to mark what, given our personal circumstances, was quite a milestone, we couldn’t have made, although with our energy levels sapping & the comfort of home calling, we graced our exit not long after 4 a.m., leaving behind a club that was very much alive, kicking & looking great in every way, not even an ounce of enticement for us to visit our old Sunday morning stomping ground, a small measure of just how times are changing.
So you can pretty much guess what our verdict on “A New Beginning” will be, this very much the huge success that the team had hoped for, a slow(ish) start soon transforming into a truly tremendous turn, a party full of positives in every respect, from the atmosphere & ambiance to the finished feel of the venue, from the style & sophistication oozing from this smart multi faceted space to the amazing additions to equipment, fixtures & fittings and from the depth of D.J. talent, all coming together under one roof in support of this marvellous new clubbing movement, to the party people themselves, all who exuded an air of relaxed & enthralling enjoyment, we not having seen quite so many smiling faces in one club for a very long time. Add to all that, a real sense that the tide of clubbing change that had been promised in so many words, was swinging into action and we walked away from Covert happy with what we had seen, but with plenty of anticipation of what is to come, this event the first building block in a number that will surely build a solid foundation for Covert to them achieve its aims & aspirations beyond its own borders, all for the greater good of the capitals clubbing circuit. Indeed, with the wraps already being pulled off their new Friday night club “Foundation”, plus a new Saturday afternoon clubbing concept on the cusp of creation, there is already much to celebrate in terms of new brand blood, we hopeful that this will kick-start others into action, maybe even collaborating with Covert for the greater good of the capitals clubbing circuit, we raising a glass to Alan, Paulo, Alex, Tom, Steven & the whole team for showing the others how it should be done & what clubbing is all about. (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Reviews | 
Tags: Alan Adams, Alan K, Alan X, Alex Erfan, Ben Jamin, Brent Nicholls, Chrissy Darling, Covert, Fat Tony, Guy Williams, Jamie Hammond, Paul Coals, Paulo Moreno, Pier Morrocco, Steven Sharp, Terry Bryan, The Sharp Boys, Tom Fuller, Tony Bruno, Tony English | 
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Hailed as “A New Beginning” for the capitals clubbing circuit in an event that brings together like minded club owners, promoters, D.J.’s & scene figureheads, we dive into the dynamic detail of this magnificent meet with commentary & links a-plenty.
Having effectively stood back and watched the splendid scene that was London crumble before our eyes, the once dynamic diversity yet inclusivity that was its strength, like a hair shorn goliath left whimpering & weak, well in certain quarters at least, it certainly seems that the success story that was the mecca of gay clubbing in the capital, Vauxhall, has, over the course of the last two to three years, ultimately been the downfall of the majority of big brands & their bashes. Indeed, with victims extending to biggies Matinee, SuperMartXe, & Lovechild, along with a myriad of others that were quashed before even finding their feet, we remained mainly blasé as to the cruel intentions & devious domination tactics that, following our very recent expose features, made us realise just how much damage, upset, upheaval & misery Orange Nation have meated out to individuals, promoters, D.J.’s, scene workers and the like. And when this despicable behaviour, masterminded by the head of this greedy group touched the lives of close friends of ours, we felt it was high time to speak out, our initial post “Finding Our Favour Faltering” (still a worthy read at http://discomatt.com/web/?p=7152) this controversial yet fact filled feature coming right on the back of a momentous power shifting occasion that saw the supposed new(ish) jewel in the Orange Nation, clubbing crown, taken away from them by the owners & investors in this Vauxhall venue.
So, having made our feelings felt across an equally faltering scene and having received rapturous applause for our brave move to speak our mind, especially given the reputation for bullying & strong armed tactics by that greedy group, it seemed the co-owners of Covert had also had enough of the competition crushing, dominance and thoroughly rotten way that Orange Nation operated, also making a stand and, with an upper hand firmly in their grasp, set about laying down the aims & achievements for championing the much needed change the clubbing circuit had and still is craving for. And while we have gone into greater detail on this marvellous movement in our preview, “Championing Clubbing Change” (out at direct link http://discomatt.com/web/?p=7390), the intrinsic part of this change the team at Covert are championing, is to engender an atmosphere of fair play across the scene, to create a more even playing field where toes are not trod upon, where promoters don’t feel threatened & where D.J.’s can play where and when they want without fear of reprehension, something which has plagued this fine profession, and particularly in Vauxhall, for far too long. So, with this cornerstone of change gaining momentum, the first step for Covert is to celebrate what they decided to call, “A New Beginning”, a special event aimed at converting their words into action and bringing together like minded individuals that, like the driving force behind this change, one Alan Adams, were as deeply passionate about making the scene a better place for everyone involved.
And so “A New beginning” was born, the date of Saturday 18th march quickly decided upon as the appropriate time to pitch their exciting proposition, while with much negotiating with promoters & D.J.’s, the event has fast become something quite spectacular, with no less than nineteen D.J.’s playing across a party that will start from 11 p.m. and run through till a planned 9 a.m. finish. So, what are the names in the frames and what can you expect from this “A New Beginning” event. Well, first & foremost, it is very much a new beginning for Covert, the team having tirelessly worked to upgrade the venue and finish what should have been finished by the departed Orange Nation, months ago. And having been shown around just a week ago, the transformation compared to our last visit in November is pretty remarkable, new stylish furniture, fixture & fittings making the upstairs VIP area feel genuinely like one, while with new lasers, lighting, roofing & flooring, plus all the finishing touches to trimmings in the main room, Covert is very much ready to deliver on the promise we were party to ahead of its opening last year. But it is the second space that has seen the biggest transformation, the awkward positioning of the D.J. booth put right and giving it an air & atmosphere, for us akin to the iconic Crash club, but with the style & sparkle that is very much a statement Covert can shout from the rooftops now. So, rather than feeling a little let down by the venue, as we were when we dived into Deelodeed last November, then the floor in the second room ripped & ragged, doors damaged, toilets scruffy and a sense that it was being maltreated, clubbers heading to Covert for this “A New beginning” event will surely be impressed with what they see.
However, what they will also be impressed with is the vast array of D.J. talent on duty this Saturday night, a roll call of residents from Vauxhall clubs past & present, all coming together in the spirit of the marvellous movement to champion change on the clubbing circuit, Alan having secured the services of a richly diverse & dynamic pack of players that each bring their own individuality, style & substance to the show. And the nineteen names, well from Pier Morrocco, Paul Coals, Terry Bryan & Jamie Hammond holding the early main room reigns, the second space sports Ben Jamin, Gianni Morriso, & Guy Williams from midnight till 3 a.m., Lovechild’s star resident Tony English following Mr Hammond in the main room, with Covert’s own Paulo Moreno & main man Alan K carrying proceedings into the early Sunday morning hours, while from Crash days of old in a reunion which is not be to missed is Brent Nicholls & then Alan X in the second space, this space also seeing Tony Bruno, while the real thrill is the inclusion of names that are very much associated with Orange Nation of past & present, The Oli, Fat Tony & The Sharp Boys all playing out in the main room, while Tuesday morning club Desire promoter Steven Geller also hits the decks, the stop press news (although yet to be confirmed) that both Gonzalo Rivas & Paul heron will also be making an appearance. So, with a truly diverse genre of sound across these nineteen scene stars, it would be difficult to single out a particular style or indeed D.J., however, Mr Moreno has produced a podcast especially for this “A New Beginning” event, one well worth a listen & more by going to http://djmorenooctober.podomatic.com/.
As for the event detail, “A New Beginning” takes place this coming Saturday (16th march) at Club Covert in Vauxhall, doors opening at 11 p.m. and the event running through to a planned 9 a.m. finish, while for press, VIP’s and other distinguished guests there is a pre-party reception from 10 p.m.. And to mark this special event occasion, the Covert team have decided to donate all profits from the night, including the whole door and bar take to the worthy cause that is The Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital (GOSH), one very much close to Mr Adams’ heart, a planned raffle throughout the course of the evening hoping to boost the bounty they will be bestowing on GOSH. So, by either paying the flat door tax fee of £10 or by buying an advance ticket via http://clubtickets.com/gb/2013-03/16/covert-presents-a-new-beginning, you will be making a charitable contribution as well as being part of the clubbing change Covert is championing. Plus with a D.J. line up so dynamic, this looks set to be not just an exceptional event. But the real talk of the town, so one surely you cannot miss, the team echoeing our sentiments when they say “…Covert is shifting up a gear and we want you to come and celebrate this exciting new phase with us. DJ line-up is impressive enough, combine that with a few stunning surprises we have planned and you know this will be a night you would not want to miss…”. Add to all that, hosts Chrissy Darling, Sylvia Rebel & the one & only Dior on duty, you will be guaranteed a warm welcome & then heaps of hospitality that sould certainly seal the deal, more detail should you need it, out via the events page at https://facebook.com/events/431518406929706/, while, health fit or not, we will be stepping out on Saturday to soak up the starting point of this clubbing change we are equally passionate about, so if you see us please come say hi, naturally making sure you “Go There! Be There! (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Recommends | Tags: Alan Adams, Alan K, Alan X, Ben Jamin, Brent Nicholls, Chrissy Darling, Covert, Fat Tony, Gianni Morriso, Gonzalo Rivas, Guy Williams, Jamie Hammond, Paul Coals, Paul Heron, Paulo Moreno, Pier Morrocco, Steven Geller, Terry Bryan, The Oli, The Sharp Boys, Tony Bruno, Tony English | No Comments »
What was a brilliant brand and a fabulous favourite of ours, is fast losing both is brilliance and its favour with the twelve hour “Midnight” mould breaker that is effectively laying this colossal club to a first four waste, we once again, yet for the last time, looking at why & how Beyond is being broken when it needs no fixing.
Of the myriad of meets, the catalogue of clubs and the bounty of brands we have come across in the close on twenty years we have been circulating the clubbing scene, not just here in the capital but across in continental Europe, as well as back home in South Africa, there are of these meets, clubs & brands, a figure that must run into the thousands, just a handful or two that we would class as truly legendary in our clubbing lifetimes. Back home it would have to be Cape Town’s Bronx, while in Europe, Muccassassina in Rome, Red & Blue in Antwerp, La Demence in Brussels & Salvation in Barcelona top our legendary continental tree. And while there are clubs further afield as yet untouched by our visiting hand, we look to the capital for a the rest, Factor 25, DTPM, Action, Fiction & FF, while of all these, there are two that sit above even this pronounced party parapet, both Sunday morning afterhours and both accounting for a seventh day of the week wondrous loss to the normality of straight minded Sunday life, each contributing to a run lasting from 1993 to 2012, with just a year or so break in 2006/7. Naturally, Trade is one of the two, Lawrence Malice’s legendary creation without doubt at its brilliant best in the Turnmills era which stretched from 1990 to 2003, while the other, one that wrestled the magnificent mantle for our mothership of clubbing as THE best club of all-time can only be Beyond, it dominating the 21st century like no other club, yet close on twelve years after its inception, is in serious danger of losing its title back to Trade.
So why this falling in favour and what is causing the brand breakage? Well, to answer those questions with qualification, we need to look back to Beyond, two, three or even four years ago, when having risen like a phoenix from the ashes of the split with former host venue, the Collosseum as well as on the back of a fall out between the then joint promoters. Finding its feet within weeks of securing its new home, the amazing Area, Beyond very much entered its most prolific purple patch period to date, a run of events spanning 2008 through 2010 securing it as not just the most popular outing on the capitals clubbing circuit, but gained a reputation overseas, even though it had yet to play out in continental Europe and further afield. And during this period, the format of Beyond hardly changed, a solid residency of stars ensuring its popularity never waned or the need to change was not an issue. Indeed, with Steve Pitron, Mkey D & Alan K masterminding the main room and David Jimenez, Hifi Sean & Paul Christian sorting the sounds in the second space, Beyond was very much at its brilliant best. However, the real magic for us was in the terrace room, where the delightfully debaucherous & decadent feel of clubbing on a Sunday morning played out the most, The Sharp Boys, The Oli, Jamie Head & Fat Tony often outstaying even the main room revellers right up to the midday finish, while that main room lighting the exceptional effects, the trademark ceiling rockets and scores of sterling sets from Mikey, Alan &, particularly an always precision perfect Mr Pitron, earned Beyond its all-time best club status.
Yet, despite all this, the then new promoter, Jonny Marsh, decided in 2010 that Beyond was destined for bigger and better times, not just in London but overseas, his aims to share the brilliance of the brand not just in other capital cities of the world, but in festivals & tours, this programme marking measured successes in Paris & Mykonos, although not that much more, The Week in Brazil playing host just once, Beyond showing its singular hand at Sydney Mardi Gras, while the La Demence cruise and the XLsior festival will go down as Beyond’s best international expeditions. However, back in London, the virtual constant tampering with the format, swapping and changing the D.J.’s at the drop of a hat, the continual desire to throw special events and the theory that by changing & shifting the show around would keep it fresh, actually put many of its earlier years fervent followers off, while this went virtually unnoticed by the promoter and his team, as for every regular they lost, another transient party goer would replace, meaning the bottom line figures didn’t look much different, but that whole fabulous feel & marvellous magic that had been Beyond, was slipping & sliding significantly. But, with Steven Sharp steering a stormy ship into calmer waters, Beyond, for a while at least, regained some of that magic it had lost, although with knee jerk axing & changing of promoters becoming the norm across the group, like Later & A:M, Beyond was an inevitable victim, a situation that has existed now for the last two years.
So that brings us pretty much up to date, although in 2012, while we continued to support our then most favourite frolic of all, our stays were merely extended to Steve Pitron set performances (which will always remain special for lots of reasons) and not much more, the charge laid at our door that it was only his house music we were interested in, but the true fact being that Beyond was not a patch of the party that it was in the years before. Indeed, another element in this equation was the decimation of the scene Saturday schedule , much of which lays at the doors of Orange Nation, meaning there was little to feed our desire to party before Beyond, even the protagonists of this sad Saturday story not replacing their crushed competition with ample or sufficient alternatives. And that brings us neatly to this “Midnight” format, one that was originally devised, like “Super Size” & “Ice”, as simply specialist & one-off events to satisfy increased clubber demand that bank holidays & the like dictated. However, more deviously, this “Midnight” format was also used as a weapon against brands such as Matinee & SuperMartXe, that competition crushing attempt to pitch this afterhours party right into the thick of the Saturday schedule, a place were Beyond in our view, simply doesn’t belong. But with no competition left and no real big parties remaining, excepting WE, Beyond is now simply being used to fill that very gap its timings switching & fixing created, 2013 already proving that as in the last eight weeks, there have been no less than five “Midnight” events, all the current promoter being able to say on the subject is “…we like to let people party for longer…”, a weak response to our critiscm of how this format is being used & abused, if ever there was one.
What we simply cannot understand with the current use of the “Midnight” muddle, is that rarely is the chapel space open before 3 a.m., while a wait till six or even seven is required before the main room swings into action, leaving just the terrace space which, in the hands of one Anna Iwinska, is tortuous tech house terror that wouldn’t be out of place in Berlin’s Berghain, while this week’s zero o’clock start sees an absolute unknown, Daniel Braggins, kick off this once spectacular show. But the favour faltering & all-time status sinking story of Beyond doesn’t rest just at the door of the now maligned “Midnight” format, but the whole atmosphere & feel of the club, the staff nowhere near as friendly as before, the security imposing & sometimes acutely invasive, while the promoter, who we would expect not only to take charge, show himself throughout and generally be the face of the club, is rarely seen after 8 a.m. And while some order has been restored with the once steady resident star line-up’s, we cannot help but feel (without mentioning names) that square pegs are being pushed into round holes, just one example being that certain D.J.’s can be seen playing in all three rooms, whereas each space always did and should have their own distinct sound, these individual’s styles actually no different from one room to the next. However if we are to believe the bullish banter of the clubs promoter when he say’s “…I’m loving the atmosphere at Beyond this year so let’s all raise the roof, take it to the next level and keep it at the top of its game…” those very words a contradiction in terms, as if Beyond really still is at the top of its game, where is that next level? Plus, while he adds of Beyond, “…not just London’s but the world’s best afterhours…” we are seriously casting doubts as to whether it can still rooftop shout that status.
So, with NYD looking like it was our last Beyond and with the winds of clubbing change about to sweep the scene, thus putting this once awesome afterhours amazement’s home in a pronounced & precarious position, we not only fear for Beyond’s future, but reckon that soon Trade will recapture that title as our top club of all-time it lost back in 2001/2, leaving us to simply lament on the magical memories Beyond brought us, both in those halcyon Colloseum days and that purple patch Area period. (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Reports, Reviews | Tags: Alan K, Area, Beyond, Colloseum, Fat Tony, Hifi Sean David Jimenez, Jamie Head, Mikey D, Paul Christian, Steve Pitron, The Oli, The Sharp Boys | 1 Comment »
First there was a month of free clubbing and now there is a month of seventh day deals, Orange Nation following on from their January offer with a February one that focuses on its Sunday soirees, we delve into this deal as well as reporting on the latest news of Later, Orange and new to the group, Society.
When it comes to clubbing, if there is a day in any given weekend that we have always leant towards, it has been a Sunday, the hedonistic days in the nineties when so much was going on, made this seventh day of the week a rich playing field for us party heads that were, still out from Friday. Yet, with so much on offer, the likes of Trade, Sherbert, DTPM, Nutz, Salvation, Factor 25, The L.A., F.F., Warriors, Medikation and many more, you could literally bounce from one party to the next and go from the early hours of Sunday morning right through till Monday lunchtime. Indeed, as the century turned, the offer was still pretty strong, relative new kid on the block, Orange, first setting its stool out in Rotherhithe, but soon moving across to Vauxhall and what was, at the time, nothing more than an empty dusty archway. Yet those early days of Orange in Vauxhall were the epitome of the decadent and naughtiness sensation that came from clubbing on a Sunday and into a Monday, the dusty floors, the makeshift coatcheck, the self built D.J. booth (well hardly a booth) & the basic laser lighting made it quite magical and a period in our clubbing that ranks with some of the best and we will never forget. But Sunday mornings in Trade which filled our early years, evolved to Beyond which has dominated Sunday’s since, the Colloseum days between 2001 & 5 still the most hedonistic, made even better by the advent of Later in the, by then, fully fledged venue Fire, continuing the tradition that the seventh day was all about going clubbing rather than going to church.
Yet while we consider we have seen the best of Sundays in that purple patch period during the nineties & naughties, today’s clubkids can still enjoy their seventh day on the dancefloor to the full, perhaps with less choice than we had, but nevertheless, a chain of clubs that easily sees them party from the early hours of Sunday morning through to late Monday morning, the mini circuit of meets concentrated in Vauxhall. And it will come as no surprise that both Beyond & Later are still in the picture, as is Orange, while relative new kid on the block, Society, completes a quartet of clubs that, under the Orange Nation (ON) umbrella now also make up their newly launched “Sunday Pass”, an offer that runs for the whole of February, fixing the entry price to just £20 for the four clubs or £15 for three. So what exactly is the deal, well the ON team tell us, “…Continuing on from our free clubbing in January, your Orange Nation gives love back to its clubbers as we bring you in February, “The Sunday Pass”. We have long been a firm believer in the rulin nature of Sunday clubbing, after all, we were born on a Sunday night at Orange many years ago!..” adding of the pass itself, “…this incredible February offer will get you a jaw dropping joint entry into your favourite Sunday parties…”. And quite simply, for £20, you get entry to Beyond, Later, Society & Orange, while by dropping Beyond, your Sunday Pass price also drops to £15, pretty good value when you think that standard door charges for the four add up to £38 (at least) and one you can grab each week of February by either upgrading your entry on the door of Beyond or Later, or by going online to http://orangenation.co.uk, it’s as simple as that.
So with “The Sunday Pass” sorted what of the news on Later, Orange & Society. Well, let’s deal with the first two first and we are so pleased to hear that these superb Sunday soiree’s are going back to their roots, returning to the winning formula’s that have made them so popular over the years. Later gets a re-injection of uplifting, chunky & heavenly house with The Oli back every single week and special guests such as Emma J White & Marco Gee brought in to re-ignite the daytime disco energy into this enthralling event. As for Orange, well we reported a while back on Fat Tony taking over the promotion of the club and his desire to bring back the fun and the accessibility that always made Orange so popular, Plus with Glendora back and the RAW room rolled out too, Tony is definitely making his mark on what he considers as his baby, not least that he was involved right back in the Rotherhithe days and has played for the brand ever since. To Society then and many will recognise this as a party from the Profile paddock, although following the sad demise of this Wardour St wonder, a significant slice of the team have switched on ON and Society has now become “The Sunday Society”, having launched just last weekend (Sun 3rd Feb) and returns this with Lee Harris & Zach Burns on the decks and while many t-dance delectations in Area have quickly fallen on their swords, we reckon Society will be given a good go & run, more detail on this new addition to the ON family out at https://facebook.com/SocietyProfile, wile for more news on Later, head to https://.facebook.com/LATER.INFO.
Well, we may still look fondly back on our Sunday’s clubbing back in the 90’s & 00’s, but the one thing we didn’t have was a deal like “The Sunday Pass”, so giving credit where credit is due, we say horary to Orange Nation for serving up this Sunday special offer, one well worth grabbing if, like us, you love your Sunday clubbing. (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Recommends, Reports | Tags: Beyond, Emma J White, Fat Tony, Later, Marco Gee, Orange, Orange Nation, Society, The Oli, The Sunday Society | No Comments »
As the Deelooded day draws captivatingly close, we follow up our preview, “Making Majestic Moves” with the latest news on this Eastside event, including the announcement of the second space line-up, while also recapping on the important info ahead of this must be seen on the scene spectacle.
We just love it when a clubbing event causes the kind of excitement that sends our senses soaring and our arteries bursting with anticipation, evoking the days of our youth when each & every weekend would rear these reactions, while we treasure these magical moments which these days, are sadly seldom. However, in Deelooded “Eastside” we have one such example that has created a real buzz in our body, perhaps exacerbated by the majestic moves & considerable changes the club is making, not least switching from the same old same old south, to the brave new wonderful world that is East. And with Shoreditch already a melting pot of alternative & in-vogue parties, the likes of DISH, Gutterslut, SOS & WAR attracting the kind of crowds that wouldn’t be out of place in Soho, plus with nearby Kings Cross hip & happening hangout, The Egg, transcending the hetro/homo divide, Deelooded, in situating itself in Shoreditch, is finding itself very much the centre of attention. So, in true to form style of this marvellous meet, the team behind the most talked about club of 2012, is charting its new chapter in clubbing, doing exactly what it did when it launched, turning heads, wagging tongues & creating a scene stir that other clubs & events must surely look onto with envy.
Having gone into dynamic detail about Deelooded in our preview “Making Majestic Moves”, one well worth a read at http://discomatt.com/web/?p=6708, as the day for this brilliant brands “Eastside” event draws close, this coupled with the formal press release of the line-up for this Sunday soiree’s second space, we thought we would, in addition to sharing this latest announcement, recap on some of the important info of this must be seen on the scene spectacle. So to that second space news and an announcement that pretty much confirms what we deluded (no pun intended) to in our preview, the line-up is however boosted by a back-to-back duo direct from Deelooded’s old stomping ground, while this second space at “Eastside” will now very much be the domain of Dupé, that’s Mark-Ashley Dupé, the heavenly host that has been with Deelooded from the start and has amassed networking skills that see him as a significant Shoreditch scenster. And “Dupés Deelooded Den” is an extension of Dupés Den Presents, a polysexual promotional events brand founded in the heart of East London by Mr Dupé, the team telling us that “…he will be taking over Room 2 at Xoyo, with hot urban house D.J.’s Dayne Harper, Tom Frankel & Maze & Masters providing all the bass & beats that are keeping this new vibrant London club scene funky & fresh with a deelooded twist..”
So, with that dynamic duo Maze & Masters confirmed, it’s worth running back over the rest of the D.J. line up, one which should see Deelooded packed & pumping like never before, the headline act, in our books at least, surely being Boy George, this a-list star of the music scene obviously famous for his chart topping hits with Culture Club in the 80’s, while his more recent career behind the decks has seen him play in some of the biggest clubs in the world. 
However, being a close friend of Fat Tony’s has seen this true superstar play at a number of gigs in Vauxhall, he having featured most recently for Deelooded’s “Coz Not Everything Is Black & White”, while he also rocked the “Royally” romp in June, as well as helping the club launch new venue Covert (Deelooded’s former home) at the beginning of May. So, you could be mistaken for him being a fully fledged resident and, in some ways he is, while Tony does like to mix it up a bit, although is sticking safe with other regulars Tom Stephan, Jodie Harsh, both familiar faces in Shoreditch Tom having promoted, alongside Kris D Angelis, the marvellous meet, Meat< which he neatly followed with DISH, while Jodie plays for Tom’s clubs and was at the centre of the Meat off-shoot, Downtown., this queen of the socialite scene naturally an integral promotional part of Soho’s Room Service, while featuring regularly at East Bloc’s Friday frolic, Super Electro Party Machine. Add to that, Hannah Holland, a true east end influence who is a brilliant & brand new addition to the Deelooded team and we reckon Tony has scored a heavenly house music hat trick with this five-a-side winning main room team (George, Jodie, Hannah, Tom & Tony).
Well that’s the D.J. line up, so let’s recap on the event information, Deelooded “Eastside” taking place on Sunday 10th February, so a switch from Saturday’s, the timing also changing to the t-dance traditional 4 p.m. till 1 a.m., the other big change of course, being the move to Shoreditch and the hi-tech industrial warehouse venue Xoyo, which nestles just south of Hoxton on Cowper St. (full address 32-37 Cowper Street, EC2A 4AP). As for admission, we are still awaiting news of advanced ticket options, although with just over two weeks to go, we suspect it’s an entry on the door arrangement, that price at least confirmed as a very reasonable £6 before 8 a.m. or £8 thereafter, as long as you are accompanied by a flyer or ad, while we suspect standard door taxes will be between £10 & £12 accordingly. So, the place to watch for pre event ticket ordering is Deelooded’s page at https://facebook.com/deelooded, while we will, naturally, bring you the news as soon as its hits, the addition of new host Daniel Lismore & his pulling power, combined with all the networking skills Fat Tony, Jodie Harsh, Tom Stephan and the dynamic draw of Boy George, hinting to a word of warning as we reckon you will need to be at the door by four to secure your entry, the queue of clubbing clamberers’ likely to stretch a country mile down Cowper St and beyond come five of six.
So, with our anticipation in the ascendency, our expectations heading for eruption and our excitement close to fever pitch, we can say with complete conviction that Deelooded is a date in our disco dance diary that sends every other into the shade in comparison, meaning come rain or shine, hook or crook, we will, and you should also “Go There! Be There!” (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Previews, Recommends | Tags: Boy George, Daniel Lismore, Deelooded, Fat Tony, Hannah Holland, Jodie Harsh, Mark Ashley Dupe, Tom Stephan, Xoyo | No Comments »
It was the soiree sensation of 2012, turning heads & wagging tongues even before the actual launch in February, while true to form in 2013, the divine Deelooded is doing it again, making majestic moves out east, throwing the cat amongst the pigeons and creating a scene shake-up stir, we looking at this brilliant brand & it’s “Eastside” event in our first preview of the year.
We have so often said that if we had a penny for the sheer volume of club launches we have seen come & ago, some with alarming speed, we would not just have pennies, but pounds enough to fill a jam jar & more, while of all those pounds that we could have amassed, just a few remain today after all the years we have been circulating the capitals circuit, Beyond being one, Orange another and A:M a third, all surviving well beyond the so called seven year itch. However, more recent additions to the dynamic & diverse scene that is London, continue to make their mark, Room Service, Gigolo & WAR, three examples, while just this last weekend, we helped DISH celebrate its first birthday and, given its success, should be celebrating the second in a year or so. Indeed, as for second’s, one of the biggest import successes of late has been the Spanish splendour that is WE, the “Formula 2” anniversary back in December proving just what a prolific &popular party it is, while this coming weekend, a shindig on a smaller scale also marks its second birthday, Jim Warboy’s SOS celebrating in style at the enthralling East Bloc. So talking of East and talking of recent additions, there is a club brand that has been turning heads & wagging tongues since its start back in February last year and looks set to create as much of a stir twelve months on with a majestic move out east, also switching from a Saturday to a Sunday, a change of location, of venue and of appeal set to send this club on a soaring course of success.
Deelooded has certainly created a stir on the scene, this brilliant brand having gained considerable kudos even before it opened its doors at Factory in Vauxhall almost a year ago now, a rundown space that was soon converted into what we now know as Covert, the eye catching Deelooded advertising campaign certainly turning those heads more than any other club launch we can think of, and we have seen a lot in our time. The brainchild of Fat Tony, a scene figure that has gained iconic (some would say legendary) status over the years, Trade having propelled him into the eyes of the world, while T.V. documentary appearances and regular inclusions in the press have kept this colourful character in the scene spotlight for as many moons as we have been circulating clubs. But with his Deelooded creation, Tony had his the first full-on promotion that he could call his own, his involvement with many others, Orange included, along with his extensive portfolio of D.J. gig appearances, as well as scores of scene connections, placed Deelooded in a very powerful pulling position from the off, the tongue in cheek poke at celebrities & stars, not just of the clubbing scene, but much further afield, attracting plenty of attention and setting the club on a course that would see a sequences of successes from February through November last year. Indeed, with an a-list of scene D.J.’s having played for Deeloooded, Superchumbo, Danny Rampling & Boy George included, plus with the likes of Kate Moss & Jake Shears having paid visits, the club has certainly made its mark magnificently.
So what of that string of successes in 2012? Well, the launch night on 25th February at Factory was an absolute roadblock affair, by all accounts queues stretching close to Vauxhall tube station, such was the desire of droves to be at what was THE place to be & be seen on the scene, Tony & his terrific team transforming the rather squalid space into something quite special, this pulsating party followed by a repeat roadblock performance on May Day bank holiday weekend, while just a month later the brand was royally Deelooded, joining the while country in celebrating the wedding of Will & Kate. And the strength of these successful showings remained in the marvellous marketing deployed well in advance of outings, Tony always armed with Deelooded stickers at each & every club he played, while that playful poke at people also ensured it remained a focal attention grabber, even we getting the “Deelooded” label across a score of social networking pages. But the success story continued deep into the summer, the “Cos Everything’s Not Black & White” benefitting brilliantly from that amazing advertising placement campaign that the club had become so adept at, while capturing the mood of the moment in August, as Olympic Games fever swept across London, its “Let the Games Commence” event boasted its own team of dynamic D.J. athletes, Pagano among them, while others in this resplendent run have included Jodie Harsh & Smokin Jo, Tony also pushing new talent Matt Bogard into the spotlight, along with established others like La Gosse & Guy Williams.
Yet, as big a splash & as a much a resounding success Deelooded had proven to be in that run between the launch in February & the amazing August outing, it seemed that the promotional wheels came off a little, the usual advanced advertising & propelling of the next party, “Fake Realness”, noticeably absent. So, even to he untrained eye, there was definitely destablising forces distracting Deelooded from doing what it did best, sods law for us, as this would be our first appearance at the brilliant brand, although with a sterling set performance from Danny Rampling, an equally entertaining evening among many friends & familiar faces, Jamie Head’s second space showing a heavenly highlight, we had a good enough time. However, over & above those discontented distractions, there was a feeling that the Deelooded head of success steam was running out, a turnout that fell short of expectations signalling the need to change, we having been privy to plans from the clubs promoter to switch from south to east, his aim quite clear, to put this brilliant brand in amongst what has clearly become an artisan alternative scene spot, the likes of East Bloc, The Dalston Superstore & The Joiners Arms attracting a clubbing crowd that has made Shoreditch the latest marvellous melting pot of a place to be seen. That said, Deelooded was still making its mark on mainstream clubbing, the very first day of 2013 seeing it “Take Over WE Vogue”, sporting the second space at The Coronet, the team talk back to its fabulous form, Tony remarking that “…we all know that everyone’s been dying to go to WE Party Vogue for the sole purpose of partying it up in the DEELOODED room…” adding “…we are back, fresher, more fabulous and slightly more DEELOODED than the last party…”, while eyes were already pointing towards that move out east and renewed fortunes for this faltering frolic.
So, with the Deelooded movement cast dyed, all eyes are now on the brands effective 1st anniversary event on Sunday 10th February, yes a Sunday rather than a Saturday, but a switch that we have every confidence will go down just as well as the move out east, Xoyo the new host venue, one situating in the epicentre of Shoreditch. Nestled between East Bloc to the west & The Joiners Arms to the east, Xoyo can be found on Cowper Street and is s a warehouse style venue but with a sophisticated style, a trip to http://xoyo.co.uk/ revealing more about the place & its parties, while from talking to Tony, he has is just as assured as us that it will prove as good if not a better space for Deelooded than Covert was. And, while this move of locale puts Deelooded firmly in the “East London” bracket, Tony is keen to stress that his brand is “…not just about East London, this party is about London as a whole…” adding that “,,,last year Deelooded shook up the scene, bringing east and south together in South London, now it’s about taking the best of the south and the east and taking it to a fresh venue in the east..” although we would go as far to say that this next event will attract guys & gals from the north & west too, not to mention the central Soho set, as Tony & his team set a brave new & wonderful world course for Deelooded, the PR going on to say this, “…look what the cat dragged in to 2013…” this, “…set to shake up London even more…” and this “…the cat is well and truly amongst the pigeons and the fur is gonna fly!…”.
With the PR doing the talking and the amazing advertising beginning to kick in, what of the event detail itself? Well Deelooded “Eastside”, as we have said, takes place on Sunday 10th February at Xoyo in Shoreditch and pitches its party at the t-dance timing of 4 p.m. through till 1 a.m., hence our prediction that this majestic move will prove very popular with party people & fervent followers alike, the team talk brimming confidence when they say “…Deelooded will bring a scale to the east that is rarely achieved, in a big, industrial warehouse style location, combining the fun to be had in Vauxhole with the coolness of east across 2 rooms…” that tongue in cheek reference to its former home spot, true to Deelooded form, while familiar D.J. team territory balances the switch stauts quo, Boy George, Superchumbo (aka Tom Stephan) , Jodie Harsh & Tony himself all returning for “Eastside”, while an east end influence was inevitable, Hannah Holland a welcome addition to the main room team. However, with Deelooded host of old, Mark-Ashley Dupe also hosting the second space, taking to the decks himself, along with Dayne Harper & Tom Frankel, this “Eastside” event certainly has a fresh feel to it, Daniel Lismore another ample addition to the team, he taking over the main hosting & promotional duties, while Alex Palumbo completes the lustered line-up. As for entry prices and advance tickets, we expect to receive details in the next few days, so watch this space for news, while to keep tabs, you can always visit the club’s Facebook page at http://facebook.com/deelooded.
So, concurring with the clubs creator, we reckon that Deelooded, with this majestic move, has definitely put the cat amongst the pigeons and already looks like being THE place to be & be seen on the scene with its “Eastside event, meaning Sunday 10th February should be in your disco dance diary, as it is ours. (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Previews | Tags: Boy George, Danny Rampling, Deelooded, Fat Tony, Hannah Holland, Jodie Harsh, Mark-Asley Dupe, Matt Bogard, Tom Stephan | 2 Comments »
With Orange getting a freshly squeezed citric shake-up, new promoter Fat Tony taking the helm from tonight (Sun 13th Jan), we simply had to land our “Pick Of The Day” on this clubbing institution, all the event detail a banner selection away opposite or an image click below, while after our own party précis, we share the Boyz interview with Tony beneath.
Of all the clubbing brands that are fill out the capitals clubbing circuit calendar currently, Orange has to be the most enduring, a full fourteen years & counting seeing it still reign supreme on a Monday morning, although like many, it too has faced some challenging times in recent months. Indeed, when previous promoter Steven Sharp bowed out in favour of steering A:M & Later, Orange took a bit of a nose dive, its numbers dwindling and its direction wavering, a lack of promotional drive & enthusiasm partly to blame, the awful (and they were) advertising artwork pieces a sign that something was not right with this citric splendour of a weekly shindig. So, to the rescue has come Fat Tony, the man who was at the epicentre of its launch back in the heady days of Rotherhithe and in all the times since, he an indelible part of the D.J. residency line-up, so very much the man in the know when it comes to harnessing the historic highlights of this heavenly happening into the winning formula that used to see Fire rock towards Monday lunchtime, packed to the rafters. And with the recent success of his club Deelooded, plus the excellent work he has achieved with Gravity, handing him the Orange reigns is the best news this club has had in months, Tony very much wanting to recapture some of the magic of this Monday meet, his interview with Boyz magazine revealing all.
What’s it like taking over the reins of Orange?
For me, taking over the promotion of Orange is like coming home. I was involved right back at the start with Craig in Rotherhithe and have played at all the various incarnations and venues since
What are your thoughts on where the club is now & where you want to take it?
After 14 very successful years it has been left to its own devices a bit and is very much seen as the final destination, the last party of the weekend. I want to give it some love, rebuild and restructure the night to restore it to a prime destination club in its own right, an event that is fun, something special and unique. However, I am not kidding myself, it’s still a Sunday night/Monday morning party but I want to change it from somewhere you shouldn’t be, to somewhere you should.
What about the music?
The constant of Orange has always been the music. The main floor music is Orange; it is the brand and will be the very best in fresh & funky house, big tunes, glorious disco samples and stuff with real zest. The D.J.’s will include existing resident The Oli who is one brilliant form at the moment and Orange regular Hifi Sean, plus names like Tom Stephan, as well as loads of exciting new guests. In room two we will be doing different things, RAW will still be part of it and sometimes we will hand over the space for people to do their own thing completely, like Verity Mayes & Bryony Masters with their party, “Shame”.
Is anything else new?
I want to add fun back to the night, so the fab Glendora will be back with her own unique brand of special hostessing magic, plus there will be special guest P.A.’s and all sorts of surprises. A great club night should drag you through the front door, whirl you around the dancefloor, throw you up to the roof, bring you back down again, bounce you over the bar and then home with a huge smile on your face. My vision of Orange is a club for everyone, whether you’ve been out all weekend or just getting started.
So we reckon, with a promotional attitude and game plan like that, Orange will soon feel the force of this freshly squeezed fat style recipe, tonight the start of juicer citric splendour to come and we will be watching developments with a keen eye and even laying our hat on this happening sometime soon. (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Recommends | Tags: Craig Elder, Fat Tony, Glendora, Hifi Sean, Orange, The Oli, Tom Stephan | No Comments »
Having dived into our last dance of 2012 within its wonderful walls, the New Year could only commence with a rapturous return to the brilliant Beyond, it’s “NYD Super Party” very much proving the spectacular new season start that we hoped it would. But what made this first 2013 capital clubbing circuit colossus so captivating & which stars of the show shined the brightest?
For as many years as we can remember, we have spent New Year’s Day on the dancefloor, when we were younger, partying right through from New Year’s Eve, while in the period when we worked in the industry & in hospitality, we would always ensure that 1st January would be our day to party, often working the previous evening when many would have preferred it off. Indeed there would be nothing that would get in the way of what has become as much of a tradition as the rituals we follow over Christmas, even the distance from previous Essex & Kent county bases, not enough to stop us from being London bound and ready to party, sometimes into the following day. But it is New year’s morning that holds the most magical memories for us and while we can remember the days of Trade on this day with fond reflection, since the turn of the century it has been Vauxhall rather than Farringdon that has seen the lion’s share of our New Years Day dancing devotions, Matinee holding sway for one year, while what has become the biggest and, in our books, the best brand not just here in the capital, but across the globe, has dominated proceedings. And while we may have missed out in 2011, for reasons we won’t go into, we were right between 2002 & 6 when it reigned supreme at the Colosseum and then at the truly awesome Area for 2008, 9, 10 & 12, meaning making Beyond for the first morning of 2013 was a foregone conclusion.
Now some would think that returning to the same club & venue within two days would be a little like overkill, although while we would agree in the vast majority of cases, when it comes to the brilliance of Beyond, we could probably succumb to its splendour from Sunday to Saturday, if that were ever possible, while there have been periods when we have turned up at its doors on a weekly basis. And that is a reflection of the regard in which we hold this heavenly happening, as we have said, the brand in our books the best by far and has become an all-time favourite, it having had a massive effect, not just on our clubbing exploits, but in our very way of life, many of the close friendships we have forged having been formed as a result of this outstanding outing, while every time we pull our keys from our pocket, both Beyond fob & chain is a resplendent reminder, not that we need to be, while it extends to other personal parts of our existence that, for good reason, need to remain confidential. But you get the gist of what we are saying, So Beyond as a brand and as a club is right up the top of our tree and one that, during 2012, has seemingly gone from strength to strength, confounding its challenges, continuing to make its mark both in London & internationally, while, given what we have said, it will come as no surprise that it scooped 2nd & 3rd spots in our annual club event review, only beaten to top spot by the phenomenal WE “Formula 2” party.
So, having dived into our last dance of 2012 within its wonderful walls, that “Music Is All You Need” on the Sunday scoring second to WE, the New Year could only commence with a rapturous return to the wonderful walls of Area, although with expectations high following that scintillating Sunday at the magical mercy of a stunning Steve Pitron set, plus with knowledge & experience that NYD parties are not just packed, but roadblock affairs, we were already resigned to not being able to dance on our spot with the usual vigour. And arriving not long before 6 a.m., we found a main room wall to wall with revellers, it taking us an age to get down to our hallowed turf, otherwise know at “the spot”, although the D.J. booth was our destination, The Sharp Boys in full flow, captivating the crowd with a truck load of towering tunes, while Smalls was sorting the exceptional lighting & effects as only she can do best. However, having been out at a fantastic NYE house party & then to a friends to crash, we were not in our usual club clobber, our dancing boots & adjustable jeans already much missed, not least that it was hot, hot hot, meaning that both a drinks dive & a dip into the open air was in order. Soon leaving Steve in the crowd, the terrace was calling where we found Edna waiting, like many, at the bar, just one person serving making our start not the best, the music completely out of synch with what we would expect in Beyond, it better suited to Berlin’s Berghain.
It was therefore the main room that we were heading back towards, after that much needed cool down of course, the place packed, some would say over packed with party people, our eventual return to our spot finding it brimming with Brazilians, relegating us to a secondary spot further into the floor, this, on top of our tired disposition from lack of proper pre-club sleep as well as our uncomfortable attire, we were not feeling the party at all, an awkward rebuff towards our fellow party animal & fab friend Peter, not going down well at all. And with both Steve Pitron & Mikey D having started their back-to-back set, you would have thought we could have shrugged off these inhibitors to our fun & frolicking, but not at all, even beautiful Brazilian Bel unable to lift a sagged spirits, the sardine style of this super party not helping either. But, with a head tap from Mr Pitron stirring something inside us, we forced ourselves back onto our spot, which was nothing short of standing only room, Mikey’s selections of both “Naturally & “Let The Sunshine” making their mark and waking us up to the realisation that this would be a prolific party in the making, yet would never quite reach the delightfully dizzy heights of the “Misc Is All You Need” meet of two days previously. Plus, with the space on our spot spreading before our eyes, it seemed that others had felt our vibes and were making room, meaning it was now time to engross ourselves into this euphoric event.
With Steve & Mikey trading tremendous tunes, we had well & truly shrugged off shady start, rather soaking up their superb sounds with gusto, Steve leading the way with a scintillating string of selections which included “She Loves”, “Pressure”, Fusion” & “Time”, it was clear that he was aiming this sector of his set sections in a classics direction, Mikey following suit with similar sorts of sounds, the crowd lapping up every terrifically tender morsel of their magnificent music, this very much the place to be. But with Mr Pitron sending us off to the bar for refilling refreshments, heading into the chapel found it also packed & pumping, D’Johnny deep into his tech toned turn, clearly finding favour with more than just a fervent fan base & flock, while given the strange sounds that we had encountered in the terrace earlier, we thought better of checking it out for now, rather heading back with our provisions and into the roomy respite of the main room D.J. booth. And it was here where we would finally feel the enormity of this event, the view from the privileged position seeing a sea of splendour before us, while an unexpected yet welcome boost was to come our way, very much giving us a further spring in our heavy booted step and sending us smiling back to our spot, even our impromptu door duty not stopping our ever increasing enjoyment & excitement which was helped along by friends & familiar faces, including the marvellous Mauricio Ortiz, Mark Williams, Peter Graham, Beyond’s promoter Ben Kaye and, of course our brilliant Brazilian’s Bel & Celso, Mr Moura looking after his two visiting friends who had found themselves back in London a little earlier than planned, but who were clearly amazed by Area & the brilliant Beyond bash.
Now nothing was going to stop us from partying deep into New Years Day, Steve sending us skyward with more mesmeric music mixes, “Beautiful Lie” and “To The Moon & Back” hitting their heavenly mark, Bel’s boisterous with their beats, her cocktail dress the loser in this bravado, the arm lining hanging precariously from its former position, while we kept getting draw into door duty as the security switches left the out of bounds corridor unattended to the virtual constant advance of party people in the habit of using this exit to gain access to the toilets. However, in amongst all of this extracurricular activity on behalf of Beyond’s operations team (Craig Elder & Tom Fuller please note), Mikey’s marvellous music & Steve’s spectacular sounds were delighting us enough to easily compensate, Mr Pitron’s picks possibly pointed in our direction on purpose, his knowledge that both “Symphony” & “Strange Fruit” were sounds that were well & truly rocking our world, the former fabulous enough, while it would be the latter that sent it delightfully delirious, its breathtaking beats leaving us in a head in hands pose on our sacred spot, this phenomenal piece of progressive come tech tune tower, once again leaving us magnificently mind blown, just as we had been two days before when Steve had sampled in “Sunday’s At Heaven”, the singular “Strange Fruit” stunning enough on its own. Yet, as gigantic it was, this selection would mark the final few of a back to back performance to savour for scores of seasons, the dream team of Mikey & Mr Pitron giving way to special guest Pagano, but not before Steve serenaded this enormous event with the heavenly “I Heart You”, proving the perfect curtain call to his scintillating showing.
With our Italian stallion now in control of the tunes, the post Steve set bravado was about to begin, playful photographer Nico arriving to add to the about to ensue tickling frenzy, we sent squealing down the corridor by both him & Steve, not once, twice or even three times, but for a full ten minutes of constant chasing, only to be saved by Steve’s bailing out of this Beyond bash. So we were now free to take a wander, the terrace our target at The Oli was stirring up a set storm, crammed with classics that proved a welcome break from the main room madness, he on fabulous form and holding a considerable crowd, who like us, were enjoying every musical minute. But with a sense of devotional duty towards our Italian stallion, it was back to Pagano’s pumping progressive parade we headed, Bel in a boisterous
mood, ducking & diving to Francesco’s barnstorming beats, even though they were far removed from her preferred genre of uplifting & upfront house, indeed with the lack of vocals right through his two hour showing, the music policy of Beyond was being tested to the limits. That said, with the room still packed & pumping at the close of his set, as it was at the beginning, it was clear this New Year crowd were up for anything, the atmosphere amazing, Smalls sorting the effects & lighting exceptionally as always, even our usual “throw in the towel” time of 10 a.m. passed with hardly a blink, such was the terrific time we were having, not least those magical minutes up in the booth with the Sicilian superstar who was showcasing some of his most recent & prolific productions and even played a request, “That Disco Fever”, sealing the delightful deal on our magnificent morning.
So what was our final verdict on this first foray of 2013 and did it deliver as expected or fall short in style & substance? Well, while it didn’t get off to the best of starts, not down to the door we have to say, Mark Williams a star player here, while the security check was pitched perfectly, and not really that we (literally) couldn’t swing a cat or bust a move, as we were expecting it to be a roadblock situation, even though in reality, at times it was too busy. No, the shaky start was down to the fact that found ourselves in a funny frame of mind & mood for the first hour or so, our awkward & uncomfortable attire not helping, while the monstrous music in the terrace room definitely put us off our stride. To say it was awful was the biggest understatement of the century, the D.J. looking like she was the only one enjoying it, certainly not the style we would expect from this let alone any Beyond room, while fortunately her replacement, The Oli, restored the superb status quo in this space, evoking magnificent memories of old and what, for us at least, the terrace is all about. However, what the early awfulness the terrace turned out, was totally outweighed by the wonder of Beyond’s main room, the D.J.’s, from The Sharp Boys through to Fat Tony & all between, proving just what the superstars they are, the music very much doing the talking, well along with the exceptional lighting & effects, down to the sterling work of Smalls, the stage showings, as good as they were, always going to play second fiddle to all these other prolific players.
As for our stars of the shows?, Well Pagano was right up there, even if his set, with a complete & utter lack of vocals, wasn’t really our Beyond bag, The Oli’s superb classics serving a huge highlight, while the simply stunning back-to-back Mikey D & Steve Pitron performance not only won the day, but proved just what a prolific dovetailing playing partnership they make and how much part of the Beyond furniture they have both become, both as a joint playing partnership and as individuals. Indeed, in terms of New Years Day, we cannot remember not one in the last five or six, when they haven’t been part of the playing picture, so when you consider that, until virtually the eleventh hour, that Steve had been left off the list, was simply shocking, although sadly symptomatic of the lack of proper promotional planning & organising that has become apparent of late, while we remain mystified by the now weekly “Midnight” meets that seem to have turned Beyond more Saturday than Sunday, surely & hopefully not the direction the club is heading. That said and having shrugged off that shaky start, Beyond sparkled with both style & substance this New Years Day, the scintillating sounds from the string of superstars speaking the loudest volumes of all, while the captivating company & the myriads of magical moments certainly made it a spectacular new season start, even though it had a hard act in the final Beyond of 2012 to beat. So did it better that bash?, a definite no, will it live in the memory banks?, a possible maybe, will we be back next NYD?, a very most likely, is Beyond still the best club ever?, a resounding yes, yes & YES (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Reviews | Tags: Area, Ben Kaye, Beyond, Fat Tony, Mark Williams, Mauricio Ortiz, Mikey D, Nico Montenegro, Pagano, Smalls Lites, Steve Pitron, The Oli, The Sharp Boys | No Comments »
As the song goes, “…It’s called a dance floor and here’s what it’s for, so come on…”, these lyrics very appropriate for WE Party London’s “Vogue” NYD Tea-Dance event which has landed our first “Pick of The Day” for 2013, WE Spanish resident D.J. Carlos Gallardo heading a London main room team that includes Jamie Head, Gonzalo Rivas & D’Johnny, but excludes a scene star player, while Fat Tony’s club, Deelooded, hosts the second space, all the detail a banner selection away opposite or an image click below, while we orate our own opinion on this outing before delivery the dinky detail beneath.
From the “A New Formula” launch right up till last month’s 2nd Anniversary event, aptly named “Formula 2”, hardly a WE Party here in London have we missed, the only two in 2012 being “Pharaoh” and “Players”, we having fallen head over heels for this happening every since the scintillating “Safari” a year ago to the day. Indeed, WE has been part of our New Year’s Day partying picture for the last two seasons, January 1st 2011 sporting the amazing “Attacks” outing, while NYD aside, we can count ourselves both privileged & blessed to have witnessed both the “Fast Food” & “Fluro” forays from the stage, “Safari” the first time we were allowed this amazing advantage, while we marvelled on the mesmeric “Formula 2” meet from here too. But while we have been fortunate on all these occasions, WE has been & is about much more in our books, the party people, the exceptional effects, the magnificent music and the prolific players that deliver these delightful dance delectations, two real stars of the show in recent times having been WE Spanish resident Carlos Gallardo and London superstar Steve Pitron, both have played a huge part in making “Safari” & “Formula 2” the fourth best & best events in our 2012 club review round-up.
Yet, despite all of that, we sit here on our sofa on this New Year’s Day 2013 disillusioned, as we were shocked, no let’s get it right, disgusted to discover that Steve had not been booked for this WE party, the season opening soiree that, in our humble opinion, should have his name written all over it. But interestingly, when we study the poster PR, Mr Pitron is in clear print, so it seems, on the face of it at least, that is was considered when the line-up was originally agreed, after all, the posters would have gone to print a good three weeks ago at least, meaning that there has been a monumental mix up, a chronic organisational catastrophe, or, as we suspect, too many facilitating fingers in the promotional pie exacerbated by a significant shortage in communication, the phrase, “the left hand doesn’t know what the right is doing”. And before we drop the subject, given this inexcusable error, as let’s face it Steve Pitron is by far the biggest draw on the capitals clubbing circuit, there will be scores, nay hundreds of party goers heading to The Coronet tonight, expecting to see their main man play, only to be severely disappointed, as we are. But, we are confident that the team behind WE in London, will make best endeavours to put this situation right in time for the next event, as failure to do so could alienate more followers than they had bargained for.
So, safe in the knowledge that one of WE’s star players will not be playing, what can you expect from this “Vogue” inspired tea dance delectation?. Well, this is the dinky Pr come event detail…..
Strike a pose!
After the roadblock WE FORMULA 2nd Anniversary WE are raring to go and have an almighty first party of 2013 lined up, kick starting the year as we mean to go on, that is to say jam packed tight with thousands of London’s finest in the Coronet Theatre!
Ladies with an attitude let the battle commence, as WE take the action up a level with our supersized stage production to the theme of VOGUE. Legendary WE theming embraces fashion and fury with posing outfits and staging direct from Madrid, but adding a London edge bringing that realness that make WE your favourite UK party.
Already the biggest club dance production in the city, WE are set to make it even bigger and better as the super-hot gogos are joined by dance stars to create the HOUSE OF WE for the most rulin’ dance battles live on stage, and this time, we’re bringing it to the crowd! Plus pyrotechnics, co2 cannons and live visual shows in true We London style.
D.J.’s: Carlos Gallardo, Gonzalo Rivas, D’Johnny, Jamie Head
WERK! London’s coolest new clubbing brand DEELOODED takes over room 2, bringing fierceness of attitude and sound to the monumental We Party.
D.J.’s: Fat Tony / Verity Mayes & Bryony Masters
With further information, including door entry fees, opening times & venue direction available through http://orangenation.co.uk, http://wepartylondon.com & on the events page at http://www.facebook.com/events/462705037106251/, despite the notable absence, WE will always receive our resounding recommendation as it is, far & away, the biggest & busiest bash this bank holiday and while we will be missing WE too, the first on NYD, we are sure that you will want to “Go There! Be There! (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Recommends | Tags: Carlos Gallardo, D'Johnny, Deelooded, Fat Tony, Gonzalo Rivas, Jamie Head, Steve Pitron, WE Party, WE Party London | No Comments »
Turkey & all the trimmings devoured and nothing much to watch apart from repeats means that there is only one chrimbo choice tonight (Tues 25th Dec), that being the clubbing institution that has become an Orange outing to break the boundaries of Christmas conformity, this enthralling event our “Pick Of The Day”, all the detail a banner selection away opposite or an image click below, while we extra bite on the bash beneath.
In all the years we have been stepping out on the scene, if there has been one day in the clubbing calendar that has broken the boundaries of conformity more than any other, it has been Christmas Day, the time when the masses spend time with family, cook the traditional turkey, eat indulge and the flop, even falling asleep among the myriad of repeats, like Morecombe & Wise, The Two Ronnies & Victoria Wood, while its Eastenders, Doctor Who & Emmerdale that does it for others, that and tucking into a sumptuous supper before cracking open the tin of Quality Street. But while we cannot miss out on our Christmas fix of Strictly Come Dancing, its other dancing that we have on mind this festive season night topper, that being the institution that has become a trip to Fire, in the case of this year to a outstanding Orange outing that has all the hallmarks of a heavenly happening to round off what has already been a captivating Christmas Eve & Day, probably the best this decade and even millennium.
So what’s on offer should you want to shun the Christmas pudding & stodgy supper in favour of a fabulous frolic at Fire, Well, this is what we had to say in our Orange Nation Festive Focus….
“….Let’s crack (or is that cracker) on and head to Christmas Day (or night actually) as the institution that is Orange swings open its doors, flying in the face of conformity, dragging you away from the comedy repeats on the Beeb and giving you an outstanding opportunity to work off the excesses of the day. And while the promotions team claim “…let’s face it, you’ve been very bad this year so Santa won’t be coming anywhere near your chimney, so screw the turkey, let’s go to Fire!…” perhaps an excessive amount of clubbing during 2012 being their point, although we doubt you have been that naughty but will want to indulge in a little post dinner decadence while others fall asleep over that traditional Christmas supper. But we much prefer the promotions tack when they say “…Join together under the shining star of Orange with your London family this Christmas Day at our annual institution, and live the alternative nativity scene that didn’t make the gospel. Kings (& queens) travel far and wide to the stable of Fire where it all began, for a festive celebration like no other…” and if previous year’s experiences are anything to go by, then it will be a pumping & prolific party to plunder, Orange standing on its own two feet this year rather than previous chrimbo combo’s with that other Christmas institution Trade.
Well, what will this Christmas Day delectation deliver?, well citric sound splendour from start to finish as the D.J. line-up is pure Orange old school, The Sharp Boys, & Fat Tony on deck duty, while another original resident makes a special festive appearance, Gonzalo Rivas jetting in from his home & base of Valencia in what will be the first of a string of showings that include Beyond, A:M & WE Party, although he cannot contain his excitement for being back behind the Orange (potentially RAW) decks on Christmas night, so much so that he has laid down a special compilation to mark the occasion and one you should go grab without delay by clicking on http://orangenation.podomatic.com/entry/index/2012-12-20T08_37_46-08_00 while his set will definitely be one to savour. However, with the party kicking off at Fire this Tuesday (25th Dec) at 11 p.m. and the event running through till 7 a.m., plus with the potential of not just one but two rooms of fun, the D.J. set length maths dictate that the so called “…special guests…” will be required for duty, likely includee’s being Verity Mayes & playing partner Bryony Masters, while if they are in town, both The Oli & Paul Martin may be called up, the prospect of all these spinning stars sorting the Christmas night sounds surely too much to resist. So, having netted your hook, line & sinker, all we now need to say is go grab your advance tickets now, online at https://orangenation.ticketabc.com/events/orange-2-2-2-2-2-2/ still priced at just £10 or you can pay on the door although expect to pay more, further event info, is out at http:/facebook.com/events/424553537610538/…”
So, who’s up for a party tonight?, we are for sure this every much a DM institution as any, plus with no play on Boxing Day due to work commitments, we will be making the most of this festive fanfare, beckoning you to come say hi if you see us out, making sure that you “Go There! Be There!”. (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Recommends | Tags: Danny Boyce, Fat Tony, Fire, Gonzalo Rivas, Hrh Minty, Orange, The Sharp Boys | No Comments »
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21 Mar 2013 | 0 Comments
Reviews – “Superb Scene Shift Start” – Covert “A New Beginning” – Saturday 16th March – Full Size Review
With much promise posed ahead of its “A New Beginning” event and with plenty of talk about Covert both championing change across the capitals clubbing circuit, was Saturday’s party the proof of the pudding in the eating, what was our verdict on this gigantic gathering and how much more did ...
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13 Mar 2013 | 0 Comments
Recommends – “Charitable Clubbing Change Champions” – Covert “A New Beginning” – Saturday 16th March – Weekend Focus Special
Hailed as “A New Beginning” for the capitals clubbing circuit in an event that brings together like minded club owners, promoters, D.J.’s & scene figureheads, we dive into the dynamic detail of this magnificent meet with commentary & links a-plenty. Having effectively stood back and watched the splendid ...
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22 Feb 2013 | 1 Comment
Reports/Reviews – “Not Another One!!” – Beyond “Midnight” – Saturday 23rd February – Special Reflective Report
What was a brilliant brand and a fabulous favourite of ours, is fast losing both is brilliance and its favour with the twelve hour “Midnight” mould breaker that is effectively laying this colossal club to a first four waste, we once again, yet for the last time, looking at why ...
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8 Feb 2013 | 0 Comments
Reports/Recommends – “Seventh Day Deals” – Orange Nation “The Sunday Pass” – Friday 8th February – Extra Bites Mini Feature
First there was a month of free clubbing and now there is a month of seventh day deals, Orange Nation following on from their January offer with a February one that focuses on its Sunday soirees, we delve into this deal as well as reporting on the latest news of ...
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25 Jan 2013 | 0 Comments
Previews/Recommends – “Spectacular Shoreditch Second Space” – Deelooded “Eastside” – Sunday 10th February – Preview Extra
As the Deelooded day draws captivatingly close, we follow up our preview, “Making Majestic Moves” with the latest news on this Eastside event, including the announcement of the second space line-up, while also recapping on the important info ahead of this must be seen on the scene spectacle. ...
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15 Jan 2013 | 2 Comments
Previews – “Making Majestic Moves” – Deelooded “Eastside” – Sunday 10th February
It was the soiree sensation of 2012, turning heads & wagging tongues even before the actual launch in February, while true to form in 2013, the divine Deelooded is doing it again, making majestic moves out east, throwing the cat amongst the pigeons and creating a scene shake-up stir, we ...
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13 Jan 2013 | 0 Comments
Picks/Recommends – “Freshly Squeezed Fat Style” – Orange – Sunday 13th January – Pick Of The Day/Extra Bites Special
With Orange getting a freshly squeezed citric shake-up, new promoter Fat Tony taking the helm from tonight (Sun 13th Jan), we simply had to land our “Pick Of The Day” on this clubbing institution, all the event detail a banner selection away opposite or an image click below, while after ...
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6 Jan 2013 | 0 Comments
Reviews – “Spectacular New Season Start” – Beyond “NYD Super Party” – Tuesday 1st January – Super Size Review
Having dived into our last dance of 2012 within its wonderful walls, the New Year could only commence with a rapturous return to the brilliant Beyond, it’s “NYD Super Party” very much proving the spectacular new season start that we hoped it would. But what made this first 2013 capital ...
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1 Jan 2013 | 0 Comments
Picks/Recommends – “Don’t Just Stand There, Let’s Get To It” – WE “Vogue” NYD Tea-Dance – Tuesday 1st January – Pick Of The Day/Extra Bites Special
As the song goes, “…It’s called a dance floor and here’s what it’s for, so come on…”, these lyrics very appropriate for WE Party London’s “Vogue” NYD Tea-Dance event which has landed our first “Pick of The Day” for 2013, WE Spanish resident D.J. Carlos Gallardo heading a London main ...
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25 Dec 2012 | 0 Comments
Picks/Recommends – “Classic Chrimbo Cavourting” – Orange “The Christmas Day Institution” – Tuesday 25th December – Pick Of The Day/Festive Focus Extra
Turkey & all the trimmings devoured and nothing much to watch apart from repeats means that there is only one chrimbo choice tonight (Tues 25th Dec), that being the clubbing institution that has become an Orange outing to break the boundaries of Christmas conformity, this enthralling event our “Pick Of ...
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