Posts Tagged ‘SuperMartXe’
February 24, 2013 | 
Author With new & renewed life about to be injected into a sagging London scene, we reflect on what used to be brilliant, but what then went badly wrong as competition crushing & monstrous monopolies mobbed, while with the winds of change about to blow, we also look at what is to come in restoring & rejuvenating both the diversity and inclusivity that made this capital’s clubbing circuit the most captivating across all the five continents
We have always said that six months in clubland always seems to be a long time, why?, well because so much seems to happen, to change, to shift, that even this relatively short time in our lives, six months can feel like a lifetime in terms of sheer activity. Yet while our continental cousins seem to take it in their stride, the pace seemingly a lot slower and the schedule more measured, here in London, just like the city itself, the clubbing circuit, particularly in recent times, always feels to be on a knife edge. However, it wasn’t always that way, as in our early years circulating the scene, there seemed to be much more harmony, clubs & events, possibly purely by fluke, seemingly dovetailing into each other, never really treading on toes, but playing their part in a richly diverse yet inclusive scene that gained London’s reputation as being one of the most captivating for clubbers anywhere on the planet. Unfortunately, in more recent times, we have found an unwanted evil creeping in, the desire to dominate and in so doing, not only crush the competition, but bully others into submission, on the surface spurning some truly spectacular & prolific parties, but under the veneer, delivering a devious intent to take charge of the circuit centre ground, pushing a whole host of promoters & parties to the edge of existence. But with the winds of change about to blow across the capitals clubbing circuit, the resurrection of what made London’s scene so strong, it diversity yet inclusivity, looks like being the most cataclysmic change we have seen in a long time, creating an more even playing field for all those that want to play their part, the evil of domination & competition crushing banished from the equation.
But before we touch on those changes and the club at the centre of this marvellous movement, let’s take a nostalgic look back at what was so good about the scene a fair few years ago and then what went desperately wrong, our trip down memory lane taking us back to the mid 1990’s when the scene was alive with a whole host of clubs, all playing their part on the most dynamic and diverse scene in the world. And what a world it was, as we had some truly amazing club nights to savour, many that have become legendary, the likes of Fiction on Friday nights, Love Muscle on Saturday’s, Trade on Sunday morning’s, Sherbert then Salvation or Factor 25 on Sunday afternoon/evenings and FF, DTPM & Warriors on Sunday nights. But there was so much more, as it seemed so many more people were out to party, Subsation’s Soho & South, the latter sporting Queer Nation & the very early days of Hard On! (then called FIST), we had the colossal collaborations that was Famous Five, while Heaven was still massive, and London Gay Pride was a festival to be proud of, as was the superb Summer Rites, all evidence of clubs & club promoters coming together to deliver that diversity yet inclusivity that clubbers tuned into by the 1000’s. Plus, while there were rich pickings to be had, it seemed that clubs & events took the place in the scene schedule, never really pitting their wits against each other, rather attracting their followers and taking their small slice of the significant cake that was a truly captivating capital clubbing circuit.
And it was still looking good and feeling great as the century turn arrived, Vauxhall now part of the picture, thanks in the main to a visionary who created the iconic come legendary Crash, this spurning more club nights, including Action and the soon to be brilliant Beyond. That said, Vauxhall was already playing its part with the likes of The Market Tavern, The RVT & others, while it was on the verge of being pivotal in a change that would see that evil competition crushing and domination creep in, the success of Crash in outing the south of the river spot on the clubbing map, itself inadvertently fuelling the greed of a certain group, whose original intent with brands such as A:M & Orange, was simply to play its part in the prolific diverse playing field that was still a fabulous feature. But as the noughites progressed and international players began to look to London, the likes of La Troya & particularly Matinee, there began an undercurrent of deviousness that would end up even putting national party politics to shame, the halcyon days when club nights such as Horizon & Juicy simply played their part, soon pitching their parties in direct competition in incoming new nights. Indeed as the now recognised Orange Group organisation empire began to expand, it became clear that its intentions were not to play a part in the rich diversity yet inclusivity of the scene, but to dominate and to take more than just a slice or two, but the whole clubbing circuit cake.
Now we entered a period where promoter fighting & club confrontations become a norm, very much driven by The Orange Group’s desire to dominate, Crash pushed out of the Vauxhall picture, even its promoter ties with the still brilliant Beyond severed, his attempts to offer alternatives in a brand new venue, Area, also crushed. But he wasn’t the only one, as Matinee’s attempts to play its monthly part were scuppered, again it being a victim of what we call party pitching, so running a popular event up against another, this disturbing direction also rubbing off on other promoters, who themselves began to fight & battle each other, the SuperMartXe story one such example, while we were gratified that experienced promoter players with level heads sought to stay out of these sordid squabbles. But this evil element was to exacerbate itself to an enth degree, as a long list of individuals were drawn into The Orange Group empire, then spat out as soon as their perceived shelf life had expired or, in some cases, where they dared to promote parties that had the tiniest risk of toppling the domination that this greedy group desired. And while, as with our last sermon on this subject, we feel it would serve no good to mention names (there are many), clubs that have fallen prey include Crash, Matinee, SuperMartXe, & Lovechild, all big Saturday players, their fall from grace leaving us with little, well apart from WE, the ins & outs of how it, with the aid of The Orange Group, pushed SuperMartXe out of The Coronet, quite shocking.
We could go on and we could name case after case, promoter after promoter and club after club that has been either pushed out of the clubbing picture or even out of business by this greed and domination, the last twelve months bearing the rotten fruits of this greedy labour, leaving us with a lacklustre London scene that is not a patch on what it was back into those halcyon days. Yes there have been some success stories from within, Onyx, As One & Deelooded three, while now veteran outing Beyond has continued to ride high in the eyes of clubbers. Plus, what this domination has also done, is allow others to re-group, take stock and, in some cases, head off to do their own thing, a perfect example being Shoreditch and the players within it, who have created an environment that harps back to those happy days of the 90’s. But more importantly, what this greed has also created, is a marvellous movement, a powerful & influential one at that, which is seeking to restore the scene to that wonderfully diverse yet inclusive picture & playing field that we have mentioned many times, the individuals behind this wind of clubbing change, passionate about D.J.’s, promoters, players and you the clubber, in engendering the kind of scene where people work and come together, rather than fight or squabble. And it is the new(ish) gem in what was perceived as being part of the Orange Nation crown, that is driving this change, this tight knit team, after bringing the venue back under their control, now beginning to reach out to a number of promoters, to D.J.’s & other scene figureheads right across London, all who seem to want to play their part in the restoration of a London scene that, as a result of this greedy domineering period, is on its knees, the aims & aspirations of these change driving force individuals being to treat people fairly, pay them properly, reward their efforts, create an environment exempt from fear & bullying, but most importantly, restore a scene that makes Londoners proud, where they have choice, they have diversity, yet everyone feels they are included.
So, we have already hinted who is driving this wind of clubbing change, a change we are so pleased to be a part of too, we, ahead of our special feature, “Championing Clubbing Change”, raising our glass to the characters in what could quite possibly be a chain of cataclysmic changes, the like the capital has never seen before. (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Reports | 
Tags: Area, Beyond, Covert, Crash, Factor 25, Famous Five, Heaven, Matinee, Onyx, Queer Nation, Salvation, Sherbert, SuperMartXe, Trade | 
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Having missed reporting on the scene & so with the August bank holiday on our doorstep, we thought it was high time to wave a fond farewell to our summer sabbatical & rev up the resumption of our services, reviews, recommends & reports all back, while our music seventh gear gets selected along with our picks & previews, all the planned scene & other coverage set out below
Well what a summer it has been here in the capital, the weather speaking volumes for the rest of it, our planned full-on sabbatical battered by heavy winds literally a week in, stepping out on the scene over gay pride weekend nevertheless reasonably limited and only a smattering of showings since, predominantly at Play>Time & Beyond. So, there has been much we have missed, WE, Matinee, Salvation & SuperMartXe, the biggies while the launch of Toybox, the continuing success story of WAR, and not one but two Deelooded parties all passing us by. But with plenty more parties we could have made, Gigolo, Room Service, Hustlers, Stripper, all in Soho, along with Shoreditch shindigs, Gutterslut, The Men Who Fell To Earth, SOS & Dish, we have very much been out of the clubbing circuit circulation, this on top of the first few months of 2012 when we were ravaged by personal problems & setbacks. All this means that there is much catching up to do, not just in restoring our website & reporting services, but putting ourselves out & about, in front of club promoters, owners & you, the clubbing crowd, thus showing you that we are back in & meaning business.
So what does all this mean? Well, having taken the necessary break to ponder our position, we have very much missed reviewing, reporting & recommending the scene, yes we have been continuing our support through the promotional banners on our site and, yes, we have also been sharing our “Pick Of The Day” choices through Facebook, Tumblr & right here, although, with the exception of the odd music focus & one (yes just one) review, that is been about it. Therefore, we have set ourselves a stringent target to not only produce at least one post per day, but to devote days of the week to certain reporting duties, the setting of these stringent timescales, timetables & goals hopefully producing the kind of prolific productivity that we used to enjoy this time two years ago. Indeed, as part of the re-expansion plans, some of our much missed reports/posts will be back, for instance our weekly recommendations newsletters “Best Bites” & “Short Shouts”, the first two rolled out for this August bank holiday, while we have a trio of Weekend Focus features too, Toybox, WE & As One all in the recommends spotlight, while from the beginning of September our slightly shortened weekly round-up report, now called “That Was The Weekend That Was” will be back as well.
But it is our core activity that we will be pushing to the fore, our music newsletters also becoming a weekly feature, covering the podcasts & tracks that have either just been released or are floating our boat as well as making big on the dancefloors of the capital. However, it is our reviews that are paramount in our productivity plans, these being what Disco Matt is most famed for and have been in existence from the very start. Yet, 2012 has seen a lack lustre amount of reflections; we determined to put this straight from now on, at least one review a week to come, while for the August bank holiday, it looks like at least three will be on their way, definitely WE Japan & As One, while if all goes to plan, we will be reviewing Toybox too & incorporating our first reflection on new(ish) club venue Covert. And to show that we mean business, August being hailed as our review comeback month, not one or two, but three reviews are due out today & tomorrow, following visits to Play>Time on Friday 3rd, to Beyond on Sunday 12th & to ClubNation just this last Saturday (18th), while we also have planned a short series of reviews entitled “The 2012 Story So Far”, covering brands WE, Matinee, Beyond & Play>Time, also mopping up on our other steps out on the scene from January through July, the plan also to include the likes Lovebox, CasaLatina & more in an “Others” review round-up. As for activity into September, well, watch this space for our “Monthly Message”, while we have already committed to Brighton Pride & to Summer Rites on 1st & 2nd Sept respectively.
So, with our summer sabbatical now behind us and we ready & raring to go, we hope that you have missed us as much as we have missed you but look forward to being back in the scene review, recommends & reports driving seat. (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Reports | Tags: As One, Beyond, Deelooded, Dish, Gigolo, Matinee, Playtime, Room Service, Salvation, SuperMartXe, Toybox, War, WE | No Comments »
Having succumbed to& soaked up the summer sunshine we are enjoying here in the capital, it has certainly put us in a magnificent mood to make our “Pick of The Day” choice today (Tues 24th July), we continuing to look forward towards the coming weekend with our selections, this time landing on “Shine, the new SuperMartXe afterhours, that takes place this Sunday morning (29th July) at The Brixton Clubhouse, all the detail a banner selection away opposite or an image click below, while we once again propel the promoters PR beneath.
Shine’s promoter’s say of this event….
At last a new morning party comes to London. Open air, fresh and bright with a friendly happy atmosphere, SHINE at Brixton Club House gives you all that and more. The labyrinth like in-door rooms and floors is topped by the most incredible open air rooftop dance floor on two levels. Daytime clubbing as it should be. It seems the rains are finally ending and London is in line for the expected heatwave that we are enjoying this week, the sunshine arriving just in time for SHINE, the new summer morning dance party, every month at Brixton Club House.
Expect an Ibiza-style After-Party very few clubs in London can match…There is even a Jacuzzi overlooking the dance floor!!
…and highlight some of the dynamic details…
Directly following SuperMartXe at Electric on Saturday 28th July, SHINE is the perfect way to carry on the party well into Sunday afternoon & what’s more, the first 500 playing customers at SuperMartXe get FREE ENTRY wristbands to SHINE
We can also confirm that SHINE is not only the official afterparty for SuperMartXe “Olympiade”, but also for Hed Kandi’s “10th Birthday”
….D.J.’s currently confirmed….
Alessandro Londra, Ferno, Riano, Fabio Luigi, Gianna Milan, plus an extra special guest to be announced!!!
“…where, when & more info….
SHINE’S host venue is The Brixton Clubhouse, the perfect setting for an After-Party with a Roof Top dance area that puts you in mind of Space Ibiza’s outdoor terrace.., plus it’s just a 2 minute walk from Brixton Electric (SuperMartXe’s host venue)
SHINE @ Brixton Club House (SuperMartXe afterparty)
Doors opening at 5 a.m. & the club running through till 1 p.m.
Entry FREE with special wristband (see above), or £5 with standard discount wristbands given out throughout the week all around SOHO and SMX pre-parties or with QX adverts and flyers. Otherwise, it’s £10 on the door.
Advance tickets also available at http://tickets.rl-lmanagement.com, with tickets & more info available at http://alexerfan.com.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: Alessandro Londra, Alex Erfan, Brixton Electric, Fabio Luigi, Ferno, Gianna Milan, Riano, Romain Lopez, Shine, SuperMartXe, The Brixton Clubhouse | No Comments »
Having revised the format of our “Pick Of The Day” choices, we continue to look forward with our selection’s, today (Mon 23rd July) hitting on SuperMartXe, which makes a welcome return to the capital’s clubbing circuit this Saturday (28th July) with their “Olympiade” event at Brixton Electric, all the detail banner selection away opposite or an image click below, while we propel the official PR beneath
In advance of our own take on the welcome return of SuperMartXe to the capitals clubbing circuit, our Weekend Focus special also entitled “Spanish Super Brand Back” due out in the next day or so, we thought we would propel the PR from the clubs new promoters, (more info on them in our focus) now, as part of our “Pick of The Day” post today (Mon 23rd July) With the detail including D.J. line-up’s venue info, & pre-party plans, to make it easier to follow, we have split it into bite size chunks as follows
The new promotions team say about the return of SuperMartXe to London…
Over the last year the absence of what has become the world’s biggest party brand has been noted by so many loyal fans. Therefore we are very pleased to announce the return of this legendary club to London. Yes SuperMartXe is BACK!!!
…and it’s host venue…
In little more than a year, The Electric Brixton has established an enviable reputation as one of London’s leading dance clubs. With a massive stage and state of the art sound and lights, The Electric is the ideal location and the perfect home for a spectacular party such as SuperMartXe.
…then summarising the “Olympiade” event…
Just a day after the opening ceremony of the Olympics Games, SMX celebrates its return to London with a huge party: SuperMartXe OLYMPIADE 2012
Spectacular stage shows, incredible costumes and production with a whole army of the best dancers and performers from across Europe, so for SuperMartXe “Olympiade”, we are planning one of the most spectacular shows ever seen in London. Raul Gonzales will be directing the shows on the night with an exclusive cast of dancers and performers selected from across Europe.
…and of the D.J.’s…
SuperMartXe London is pleased to present for “Olympiade, SMX resident headliner Hugo Sanchez, who will be joined by London based D.J.’s Tony English, Sharon O Love & Ferno.
Hugo Sanchez, a long standing SMX resident at Ushuaia and Privilege in Ibiza is also one of Madrid Pride’s favourite D.J.’s rocking 10,000+ venues. His many remixes include club smashes “I’ll Be Missing You” “I Drove All Night” & “Lady Luck”, as well as countless original tracks. Get ready for the Hugo Sanchez explosion in 2012!!!!
Tony English has rapidly become one of the most sought-after D.J.’s on the London club scene. He has been one of SuperMartXe London’s residents from the very start alongside Pushca, Lovechild, Lo-Profile & Hoxton Pony Plus, his weekly Gaydar Radio show CLUB NATION has made him a household name overnight.
Sharon O Love has had an amazing international year with residencies and gigs throughout Europe, America and Asia. London is going to see much of this talented DJ.
D.J./Producer Ferno, is a long time Booster resident and has a diary chokker full of international dates, Ibiza to Japan, USA to France, so is jetting into London to play the opening set at SuperMartXe “Olympiade” before flying back out to Europe. With the recent success of his new track ‘Sexy Popcorn’ at the Winter Music Festival, Ferno certain to turn a few heads in this year.
…want to be treated like royality???….
Electric has one of the best VIP Table reservation services in London’s Club land so why not step into the glittering world of Celebrity VIP Clubbing for the night by up-grading to a VIP package at just £25. VIP Tickets are on sale now these giving you access to the VIP Room throughout the night, as well as swift Q-jump entry, complimentary coat check, a very special SMX goodie bag and a glass of Champagne upon arrival.
To reserve a VIP table please contact vip@electricbrixton.com, while your VIP room host for the night will be Julian Bennett (TV personality and presenter of Queer Eye), he joined by D.J.’s Lee Harris and Stewart Who? spinning the sounds .
…to the pre & after parties….
1st pre-party hosted by Friday 27th July Rupert Street on Friday 27th July, with D.J. Saki on the decks, then on Saturday 28th July it’s the turn of at Barcode Vauxhall to host, with with D.J. Riano, blasting out the beats, both parties starting at 8pm.
Then the after-party, “Shine” will take place post at the Brixton Clubhouse from 6 a.m. onwards, the first 500 “Olympiade” paying guests receiving a free entry wristband, while more info on this event will follow shortly.
…and the event summary & ticket details…
So, it’s glamorous, exciting, fresh, innovative, stunning, sexy & simply unmissable, yes SuperMartXe is back with a bang so make sure you are there. And of course book the Monday off work as it is going to be one HUGE weekend!!
Advance tickets at £15 available online at http://supermartxe.clubtickets.com/gb/2012-07/28/supermartxe-olympiade-2012, where you can also grab those VIP options, while tickets are being released to Soho outlets this week, although you will also be able to pay on the door, but expect to pay more.
For further info visit http://alexerfan.com, http://rl-management.com &/or http://facebook.com/groups/50081873616/.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: Alex Erfan, Brixton Electric, Ferno, Hugo Sanchez, Julian Bennett, Lee Harris, Romain Lopez, Sharon O Love, Shine, Stewart Who, SuperMartXe, The Brixton Clubhouse, Tony English | No Comments »
We waited, waited & waited, but the wait was well worth it as the much awaited new Steve Pitron podcast production has simply blown us away, so much so that his “Summer 2012 Part 1” mix simply had to make it to DM’s prestigious Podcast Of The Week position, download/stream options an image click below, while we delve into those delicate drops of destruction delivered by this captivating composition & its creator, beneath.
For the many years that we have been cavorting around clubland, we have been very fortunate to not only bump into but be-friend a whole host of D.J.’s both here in London & across the globe, the music that they play & produce undoubtedly our single most passion of any in our world, while amidst the scores of names we could roll-call, there is one that for all of that time, but particularly in the last small handful of years, has tipped our scales perhaps more than any other. Indeed in the tough months of 2012 so far, it has been this individual that has drawn us out onto the scene where others have failed, his music the magnet that also drives the energy & enthusiasm we have for stepping out on the scene, not to mention powering our pedals during our daytime working week. And focussing just on 2012 but looking back to the first month of the year, it was his podcast release that not only captured the imagination of 10’s of thousands of ardent fans, but has pretty much ruled that pedal pushing periods of our working week ever since, a twenty four track triumph that we have not yet (and probably never will) tire of, while previous podcasts of his rule populate our playlists like no other music producer we know.
We are, of course, talking about Steve Pitron, a D.J. & producer of music that has been at the top of his & the capital’s clubbing circuit game for more years than we wish to mention, such has been the lasting appeal of his sound & style. Indeed while others of his generation have very much fell by the wayside, Mr Pitron continues to plough a prolific path, often headlining some of the biggest brands & parties on the scene, Beyond, Matinee, WE, SuperMartXe, & Orange just some. But it doesn’t stop there, as while his music productions with studio partner Max Sanna (of which there are many) often get overlooked by the casual clubber, their provenance are such that they regularly receive airplay from a host of national & international radio stations, as well as reaching out to revellers on dancefloors across the world. However, while there is no substitute for savouring a live Steve Pitron performance, his podcasts do carry considerable clout among the clubbing community, as well as dance music discerners, which means that when a new recording is released, it is big news indeed, even if he has been keeping us waiting for longer than we would have liked, perhaps a Pitron ploy that in the case of “Summer 2012” has worked like a dream.
So it’s here, that much awaited new Pitron podcast, or should we say “podcasts” as Steve has decided to treat us (like he did last year) to two compilations under the “Summer” title, although unlike the two 2011 releases, part’s 1 & 2 this year are likely to be much more closely tied together in both style & substance, as well as being much closer to the feel of a live Pitron performance. But while we wait for the second instalment with immense interest, Steve has already stolen his own previous podcast show with Vol. 1, very much taking us on a jovial journey through a spectrum of Steve style of sounds that make this first part stand-out from the first of his 2012 productions, kicking off with the familiar vocal track “Such A Good Feeling” which is given a funky twist & update by Crazibiza, remix artists that feature in many of Mr Pitron’s podcasts, the next two tracks straying from traditional territory that, on first listen, had us scratching our heads a little, but as we reach the fifteenth play, fit the journey pattern like a glove. But in the spectacular “Heat Of The Night” which bowled us over when we heard it first at Beyond, Steve certainly drops the first delicate dose of destruction, this already having become one of those coveted Pitron/DM anthems that always gets our trademark tearful emotional eruptions of euphoria when we hear it. So, having firmly planted the heavenly house music hook into us, Steve quickly reels us in like a trapped fish on a line with first Flaxen Beats & then Avicii, although we try to wriggle out of his grasp with another duo of uncharacteristic Steve selections, these nevertheless confirming that he is cleverly steering us on that genre journey that has become amazingly addictive.
As this creative compilation hits the half way mark with the superb “Sky”, erupting our emotions in the same way that “Take Me Higher” did/does on his Jan 2012 release, Steve has certainly selected seventh sound gear, entering the realms of his live performances with precise pronunciation, another classic re-work choice, this time “That Feeling” leading us willingly into more dollops of destruction as the truly towering “Somebody I Used To Know” hits us broadside with its brilliant beats, the destructive door slammed shut with no escape. And like we often get pinned on our spot at Beyond by plumes of Pitron perfection, the 2012 version of “Sundays At Heaven” confirms that any form of resistance is futile, we willingly sinking into successive scintillating selections that include tracks from two of our favourite artists of now, Nadi Ali & Etienne Osborne, both before we are completely consumed, head in hands at this house music heaven when Steve hits us with “Pump Up the Jam” into “My World”, his masterful mixing come blending, which is pitch perfect all the way through, spine chillingly good at this point. But “Summer 2012 Part 1” is not yet over, oh no, as those emotions erupt once more with the Velardi & Vitti re-work of The Lighthouse Family’s “Be Happy”, before Mr Pitron sends us packing with a fantastic finale in the form of Prok & Fitch’s stunning “Symphony” which delivers yet more delicate drops of destruction that leave us clammering for more.
So, it goes without saying that this Steve Pitron summer smash of a podcast should (if it hasn’t already) make it into your collection and one you can download by going to direct link http://stevepitronsessions.podomatic.com/entry/2012-07-14T08_25_40-07_00 where details on the full track listing is available & where we would encourage you to post your own comment of approval for what is most definitely one of Steve’s finest podcast productions ever, thus setting the benchmark extremely high for part 2 to at least match or even better, which in the hands of the masterful Mr Pitron, has every chance of doing so. (DISCO MATT)
There was no George Michael, the prospect of a lengthy journey jaunt, an X Factor finalist lacking a dynamic draw, along with a tardy turnout that looked like laying this Logan Presents Anniversary to waste. But all that was before we made it to Proud2, we then enjoying one of the best P.A. performances ever, along with plenty more besides that left us walking away with a smile wider than a Cheshire cat’s. But did this Anniversary cake of a celebration actually rise to the occasion in our eyes or sink like a soggy soufflé in our minds?
Resplendent Rebeka Rejoice
We can count ourselves really fortunate to have come into contact with a whole host of key players within the capitals clubbing circuit over the years, promoters whom we have held close court with including Wayne Shires, Alex Erfan, Jodie Harsh, Oliver Mohns, Steven Sharp & Suzie Kruegar, all these prolific people commanding our huge respect for all sorts of varying reasons, while there are plenty more we could list that have made this the spectacular scene that it is. Then we turn to a bevy of the best brands these people have produced & promoted, Crash, Lovechild, Room Service, Matinee, Orange & Hard On!, all exceptional examples among stable full of others they have masterminded and have become, at worst, iconic, while at best, legendary. However, when we pinpoint certain promoters like the ones above (and there are plenty more where they came from) in our excellence category, there is another name that we also include in this illustrious company of clubbing commanders, a chap that has influenced the scene as much, if not more that all of the above, an individual that has, in the last three years or so, rarely been out of the spotlight or headlines and is a man that undoubtedly throws one hundred & ten percent into everything he does when presenting both parties & promotions to the masses and to the exceptional extent he does.
Superman Mr Schmitz
Logan Schmitz has already gone down in the capitals clubbing scene history books for, in a way, re-writing a chunk of the words of that book, perhaps also creating his own chapter of achievements, primarily for bringing Spanish brand SuperMartXe to the forefront of the mind’s of Londoners, with a string of successfully spectacular showings, a long list of exceptional events that include “Alice In Wonderland”, “The Wizard Of Oz”, “Under The Sea” & “Hot Wheels” (to mention just a few), a two year reign of resplendence, without question, elevating Logan & his team to the top of the capitals clubbing pile, only one brand stealing his thunder and one which he was heavily involved with at the time anyway. Then you extend your eyes onto the likes of “Hype”, “UP” & “Matinee”, all falling under the promotions umbrella that is Logan Presents, and the wave crest Mr Schmitz found his scene surfboard on was metaphorically has high as those heaped on Hawaii. But even he would admit that the wave came into shore quite sharply, not least due to the loss of his historical home, shortly followed by the debacle of Debut, SuperMartXe’s & Logan’s latest clubbing host, Pulse, not inspiring anywhere close to The Coronet, meaning that, as his 3rd Anniversary loomed, much boat pushing was needed to attract an attentive & adoring audience.
Get Well George
So the game plan was clear and with the fanfare that followed the first trickle of teasers back in early November, it was clear that Mr Schmitz was indeed looking to come back with a bang, the billing of one of the world’s biggest pop stars the centre-piece of his spangled showing, the promise of plenty elements to this exceptional event that would make it the best the scene had ever seen. Indeed, with the picture of this prolific party painted as history making & ground breaking, we were also told to expect an event we would never forget, the inclusion of one George Michael very much in ingredient that would pull the whole celebration cake mixture together, thus making one of the tastiest treats we had ever experienced in clubland. But, with fate dealing Logan a cruel hand, the situation that saw the events headliner land in hospital, the peddles on this event bicycle began to whizz round furiously, the frenzy over this whole unfortunate set of circumstances Mr Schmitz was facing, spiralling out of control, while it was that word, control, which saw a sense of calm return when further announcements revealed a dynamic D.J. line-up, planned pulsating production, a Spanish superstar songstress together with an emerging talent contest finalist, all encased in one of the best venue’s London has to offer. So, having previewed, reported & eventually recommended in extensive detail on this dance diary delectation, effectively talking the talk, it was time to for us to walk the walk, hot footing it down to Greenwich and Proud2 for this Logan Presents 3rd Anniversary accolade.
Stunning Stage
With our clubbing companion Miss Cougar accompanying us and what was a mere fifteen minute journey from the centre of town to our destination, The O2 Arena, negotiating the dome itself then finding the entrance to Proud2 proved a little less straight forward than our tube trip, but when we had completed our semi circular cycle, we were presented with a pretty efficient entry, save for a coatcheck queue that seemed to take longer than the score length justified. But with that formality over with, we were into Proud2 proper and immediately looking to find our bearings, a developing crowd beginning to spread out into the main room space, while we took ourselves up the first of many stairwells leading to the first floor & walkway that enveloped the sizeable space below. Pausing at the bar to collect refreshments for our companion, it wasn’t long before a ferry full of familiar faces began to present themselves to us, Tom Marchant grabbing much of our immediate attention, the long list extending to many more, including the two Ross’s, Paterson & Resicgno, Jorge Branco, & Ariel Mayer while the likes of DJ Alessandro Londra & Nathan 6 also stopped us in our tracks, we slightly aggrieved that we had missed out on Nathan’s opener of a set as he has always been a talent that has impressed us on a number of levels, he surely having done a sterling job in getting this anniversary event going.
Drop Dead Gorgeous Dancers
With much of the greetings over with, it was time to focus on the party in hand, we deciding to take our position by the catwalk style stage that jutted out from the existing performance area, the D.J. booth to its right being occupied by the first of two international guests, Aaron the man in charge now, while AB Garcia would assume the decks much later into the event. But, while we were soaking up the superb scene, our playful partner in crime was acting out his cougar characteristics capriciously, first coming at us with his clawed fingers, very much hinting towards the first of two P.A. performers and then started burrowing under the curtain wrapped stage to see what was there, we calling him back to our spot in an embarrassed instant. And, as it materialised, we called him back just in time, as within seconds, a rope & ring dropped from the ceiling and a trapeze artist commenced to wow the attentive audience with his wonderful acrobatics, this the first of two simply spectacular showings that added just one of many of those star spangled elements that we had been expecting. And as soon as he was done, the stage proper erupted into life, pyrotechnic rockets & flaming effects framing the dozen or so dancers that filled the stage & catwalk, impressive LED displays lining the back of the performing area, lasers & other lighting exploding what had been a pretty sedate affair into an action packed anniversary adventure of the three years of Logan Presents, visuals chronicling the history of happenings for all to see.
Rebeka Rapture
However, it was clear to us that it was the performing artists that the crowd had really come to see, the stage shows as spectacular as they were, a simple side show to the stars that were due to perform, Kitty Brucknall the first to make an impression, rising up from beneath the stage extension, gripping her microphone tightly and then belting out a series of renditions that, if we are brutally honest, we couldn’t recognise, her struts up & down the catwalk commanding enough attention, the smoke plumes & pyro’s also adding plenty of pomp & circumstance, although for us, her performance lacked sufficient substance and dare we say it, the X factor. But in stark contrast, Rebeka Brown was simply spectacular, stunning, awesome, brilliant & magnificent, plus all the other adjectives in the dictionary available to describe her two stage showings. Treating us to a catalogue of her hits, her latest “Big Bad Bitch” included which was all the more appropriate as she had two female dancers on stage with her, both crouching to each side as she intimated abusive treatment, other songs she sang including “Sun Rising Up” and a fabulous favourite of ours “Offshore”, which brought more than a few emotionally joyful tears to our eyes, while she absolutely nailed both “We Found Love” & “Save The World Tonight”, the powerful elegance of her voice the virtual opposite to Kitty’s shrills, Rebeka’s stage presence delightfully domineering & masterfully executed, while her predecessor’s was whimpish in her wake, the chalk & cheese comparison to the two difficult to avoid, while we would go as far as saying that Ms Brown’s performance was the best we have seen in a club ever & anywhere, even topping Peyton’s New Year showing at WE, the goose bumps running all over our body evidence to just how thrilling & roof lifting it was.
Dynamic Displays
Rebeka aside, the other spectacular star of this anniversary accolade was Tony English, this delightful D.J. nestling his set between the two P.A. performances and really setting the place alight with his scintillating sound selections, the brilliant balance between euro come Spanish style beats with more upfront house, a couple of classics from yesteryear thrown in for good measure, including “Downpipe” & “Situation”. And unlike Aron who, for us looked quite miserable behind the decks (Miss Cougar thought he was going to cry), Tony was clearly enjoying every minute of his moments in the Logan presents spotlight, throwing all his energy into his performance and clearly understanding that, as the musical focal point, he was very much on stage in everybody’s eyes. As for the roll call of other D.J.’s, well AB Garcia put in a solid set which started with a recent favourite of ours, Avicii’s “Levels”, while the planned room two didn’t get off to a start, although this did mean that the equally planned boogie with one of its mainstay’s, Nick Tcherniak, was shunted forward in our agenda a little. And, while calls from afar were trying to tug us away from Proud2 & back to Vauxhall, we saw out virtually the whole of the rest of event, before retiring into very nippy early morning, to make the more drawn out journey home and reflect on a night that had plenty more highs than we were expecting hours before.
Athletic Acrobat
So yes, before you ask, this celebration cake of an event did rise to the occasion, added to which, having fended off a fury of folks after the event, seeking our opinion on this Logan presents 3rd Anniversary outing, the next thing we would say is that no amount of words can do justice to the resounding role that Rebeka played in making this a more than worthwhile venture out east, she matching her brilliant billing every single step of the way and in doing so elevating this from what could easily have been an also ran to an absorbing & engaging event. On top of that, the stage setting, the production, the effects, the lighting & the venue itself also lived up to our expectations and in some respects, the LED displays especially, exceeded them, while the acrobatic displays by that amazing athlete, trapeze artist, whatever you want to call him, was another huge highlight, the beauty of his balances, the suppleness of his spins & his handling of the ropes & rings truly tremendous, all adding to a delectably dynamic dimension & drama to this dancing delight of a Logan Presents devotion. Yes we could mention the fact that the club wasn’t packed, although the numbers certainly weren’t anything close to tardy and yes, we could go on & on about the fact that this should have, could have & would have been a history making & ground breaking event had George Michael been there, but the plain fact of the matter is that he wasn’t, so with professional dexterity, rather than dwelling on it, Logan put this sorry situation to one side, making the show & spectacle go on in the best possible way and for that alone we have to salute him. But moreover, we have to commend him for being bold enough to offer the scene something daringly different, Mr Schmitz proving to us that he still knows how to throw a prolific party & a spectacular show, so we look forward to him being back in that spotlight he should be standing in, and before very long at that. (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Reviews | Tags: AB Garcia, Kitty Brucknall, Logan Presents, Logan Schmitz, Nathan 6, Proud2, Rebeka Brown, SuperMartXe, Tony English | No Comments »
We have previewed, we have reported and now it is time to recommend, and in doing so, cut the wheat from the chaff, thereby not just reflecting our continued support for this audacious anniversary, but delving into the detail of what you can expect from this delightfully dynamic dance deliverance on 17th December.
Accentuating Anniversary Presents Positivity
Without exception, there is absolutely no doubt that the one promoter that has made the most massive impact on the capitals clubbing scene over the last three years is one Logan Schmitz, a man whose determination to bring the best parties & production to an audience that, like the man himself, love pushing the boundaries & going that extra mile to impress on all levels, thus creating an event experience that is truly exceptional & enjoyable to the extreme. And through Spanish super brand SuperMartXe, the Logan Presents team have achieved exactly that, a whole string of super sized & successful showings making their magnificent mark, our personal list of favourites extending to “Under The Sea”, “Hot Wheels” & “The Wizard Of Oz”., However, these are just three in a whole catalogue of colossal clubbing compositions that have seen the Logan Presents umbrella of parties play out to packed places of party goers for much of its three year history, whether it be at The Coronet, The Brixton Academy or in previous associations with the likes of As One, while enough has already been said of recent fortunes and something we are determined to pick up in a forthcoming post on London’s clubbing scene.
Prolific Promoter
But Logan’s credentials within the clubbing scene, not just here in the capital but over in Ibiza, on the Spanish mainland & in other areas, such as Miami, extend back much further than the recent Logan Presents family of brands, that family naturally including the popular private party, UP, Logan’s own extension of SuperMartXe, Hype and, of course, his associations with another Spanish super club, Matinee. Indeed, it was Matinee that first drew our attention to the audacious yet engaging American, as it was Logan who was very much behind the spectacular stage shows that Matinee became famous for in the capital, not least when it was stationed at Fabric, “Knockout” an outstanding example of just what lengths Logan is prepared to go to in order to dazzle his dancing devotees and something which he has continued to do throughout his illustrious & headline making clubbing career. And having gained exclusive access to the mind & thoughts of Mr Schmitz just this week, he has been proud to tell us that “…, I give 100% of my energy into all shows that I produce…” he adding that “…I that I spend an enormous amount money and time on production…” these no hollow claims as you only have to see the stunning stage shows he produces to be sure of that fact.
Logan's Logo
So, as a result, Logan’s reputation in Spain, Ibiza, Miami &, of course, here in London has been built on that ethos, his production pedigree clearly undoubted, hence why it came as no surprise that he would once again push the boundaries with the marking of the Logan Presents 3rd Anniversary. And, just before we delve into that detail as we promised, it is worth noting just exactly what has been going in within the tight team that is Logan presents since the event announcement, Mr Schmitz himself telling us that “…I have worked night and day trying to make this event just as spectacular as it should be. I have not spared any expense to show London a new and incredible venue with some really great performances all night long…” he adding that “…I am very excited about this weekend as I am proud to be a part of this scene…” and we are both proud to be supporting Logan as well as proud that he remains a part of this dynamically diverse clubbing circuit we also find ourselves within, as without the choice, plus without Logan’s input, all we face is a monotone schedule of clubs that simply become, as we have said before, same old, same old. Now, stepping back off our soap box, proud is actually a pretty relevant word, as it is Proud2 that will be hosting this Logan Presents 3rd Anniversary event this Saturday (17th Dec), one that we are told is very much a state of the art venue based within the O2 complex in Greenwich, accolades such as this from Time Out magazine “…from the push seating & booths littered around, even the beds circling the new outside bar, to the multisensory atmosphere inside, few venues have been this bold, on this scale…” to London 24’s, which said “…Proud2 is a highly professional event staging venue, the fabulous facilities, air conditioning and bars were all top notch with a huge contained smoking area & merchandising section really distinguishing the club from its competitors…” the team adding that “…Logan Presents will transform this enormous custom built venue into the biggest display of outrageous entertainment that no club in the country has ever been able to provide…” adding that “…the event will feature one massive dance arena framed dramatically by two mezzanine balconies with clear stage views from every angle and a second dance space for those looking for something more intimate…” a all pretty much sealing the deal for us, simply leaving us to say of the venue, it has to be seen to be believed, so like us, Saturday is your rare chance to do just that!!
Pumping Podcast
With the venue credentials pretty much sorted, we now turn to the music and Logan has not spared any expense in bringing a truly terrific team to celebrate this 3rd Anniversary in style, SuperMartXe resident AB Garcia headlining a seven strong team of D.J.’s that includes one of the lynch pins in Logan’s team of London residents, Tony English, this prestigious talent not only having represented the brand here in the capital for the last score or more of parties, but is responsible for putting together the Logan presents monthly podcast. And this latest (Dec) one an absolute corker, not least as it featured our very own Milano man, Danny Verde, but moreover, gives you all the latest information on Saturday’s Anniversary event, so is a definite on the list listen in advance of tripping down to Proud2, which you can do right now via direct link http://loganpresentspodcast.podomatic.com/entry/2011-12-04T23_53_40-08_00). Tony aside, Logan is thrilled to welcome back Nick Tcherniak to the decks, Nick of course also connected with the mother of all clubs, Trade, which played out to a packed out Pulse back at the end of October for its own Anniversary (it’s 21st), Nick very much in the thick of the action then, as he will no doubt be on Saturday too, his pumping tech tones & barnstorming beats sure to go down a treat, a trip to his podcast page at http://nicktcherniak.podomatic.com/ also well worth making, as you will find a catalogue of compilations that will give you a flavour of the musical excellence to expect from Nick come Saturday night. Then add into the mix, the likes of Nathan 6, D.J. Aron, Steven Geller and another terrific talent we are really looking forward to seeing & hearing again, our super Swede, Per Q.X., like Nick, a hugely experienced & accomplished D.J. that has a whole host of brands under his belt, not least the wonderfully whacky Gutterslut, while is studio productions are equally accomplished, the huge hit “Blow Your Trumpet” one among many that Per’s name appear in the upper echelons of music download charts across the globe, a whole raft of his recent releases out via http://soundcloud.com/perqx & like the other two sites, well worth a visit.
Prolific P.A.
So, onto the shows & particularly the performers and while naturally now we know that, due to ill health, George Michael will not be appearing, as this is now very much historical news, we see no point of dwelling on it, rather to instead accentuate the positive as this post aims to do, Logan looking to prolific P.A. Rebeka Brown as one of his ace cards in the production pack, which, to use card gaming terms, should see her playing to a full house. And choosing Rebeka for the line-up reunites her with Logan, she having performed for both SuperMartXe & Matinee here in the capital on a handful of occasions, her return surely to be warmly received, not least as she will be armed with her new smash hit “Big Bad Bitch” (catch a preview at http://youtube.com/watch?v=RhkZczVYuR8), while she has plenty of other tracks in her repertoire including, among a host of others, “Sun Rising Up”, “Don’t Let This Moment End” and our particular favourite “Offshore”, a track that has gripped us with emotion on the capital’s dancefloors for a fair chunk of this year (will she sing it?!?!). Plus, having the stage presence she does, along with now getting a sizable crack at the centre stage whip, we reckon her performance will be something definitely to write home about, or in our case write resoundingly rapturously about. Then there is Kitty Brucknall from X-Factor and while, like with George, we have devoted plenty of attention to her, all that is in effect, water in the proverbial bridge, as having spoken to Logan on the subject, he quite rightly says that “…I was never looking for someone to replace George, that is impossible…” he adding that “…it was Kitty who offered to come on board to help out…” and to be perfectly honest, given everything we have put to print, she one of the highlights we are looking forward to on Saturday.
Exceptional Event
Now to the all important detail of this exceptional event, which takes place this Saturday &17th Dec) at Proud2 (full address, The O2 Arena, Peninsula Square, London, SE10 – website link http://proud2.com/), doors opening at 11 p.m. and the event running through to a planned 6 a.m. finish. Advance tickets, having sold like hot cakes, are still available online via direct link http://clubtickets.com/gb/2011-12/17/logan-presents-the-3rd-anniversary-starring-george-michael priced at £25, while for those looking to splash out, VIP options are available too, tickets also on sale at various Soho outlets including Clone Zone, 50 & Solarstation. As for getting across to Greenwich, there are plenty of options, North Greenwich tube station directly linked to The O2 Arena, while the riverboat service (we have taken this option on a couple of occasions recently) is one of the best ways to arrive. Plus, it is worth noting that Proud2 themselves boast their very own unique shuttle service to & from North Greenwich station, dropping guests less than 100 yards from the clubs front doors, while they also provide guests with a £2 bus to three of London’s all night train & bus stations, Victoria, Liverpool Street & Waterloo, running from 1.30 a.m. each hour until 5 a.m. Travel arrangements aside, Proud2 looks like being on hell of a host venue and like many, we can’t wait to see exactly what a stunning spectacle it is, not least that Logan will be very much pushing the boat out with production unparalleled in any event seen on the capitals clubbing circuit, this among all the other reasons we have mentioned, to make a date with this 3rd Anniversary event on Saturday.
So, while George may not be there, we couldn’t think of a better way to wish him well, than by showing your support for this prolific party, but moreover, taking in a staging that is sure to be stunningly spectacular & far more an exciting prospect than the same old, same old arches options. We will, of course, be there to review it all, so if you see us please come & say hi, leaving us to simply say, make sure you “Go There! Be There! (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Recommends | Tags: Kitty Brucknall, Logan Presents, Nathan 6, Nick Tcherniak, Per Q.X., Proud2, Rebeka Brown, Steven Geller, SuperMartXe | No Comments »
Headliner In Hospital
Three years down the line and there is little doubt in anyone’s minds that since its launch at The Coronet in November 2009, SuperMartXe London has rarely been out of the spotlight, whether it be for good or for bad & sometimes ugly reasons, issues of coatcheck calamities, premises problems & security scandal’s marring what has undoubtedly been a groundbreaking step change in the style of clubbing gracing the capitals circuit. With a long list of prolific parties in the first two years very much dominating the dancefloors, “Under The Sea”, “Wizard Of Oz”, “Hot Wheels” & “Samurai” being just four examples of a score or more of exceptional events, the success story also extended to the full Logan Presents umbrella of brands, Hype Matinee London & UP huge highlights, while the afterhours attempt of M.O.S.T. perhaps signalled a tide change in fortunes for Mr Schmitz & his team. Then, despite finding a new home for SuperMartXe in Pulse, a move that recovered a little ground lost from the debacle of the 2nd Anniversary at Debut, London has not taken to this new home in Southwark anywhere near to how it did at The Coronet (the Logan Presents original venue home), so with WE stealing more than a few strides on its Spanish superclub compatriot, Logan Presents as a proposition had a lot to promise even to their faithful followers when marking three years pushing the clubbing boundaries.
Dynamic Draw
So, Logan very much decided he needed to hit the headlines in a huge way and did with the announcement that one of the world’s biggest pop stars & a gay pop icon to boot, George Michael, would be the headline act for this landmark 3rd SuperMartXe style Anniversary event. And with the thought of seeing George perform live to a gay clubbing audience & at an accessible event like Logan Presents, the subsequent fevered rush to grab a super advanced ticket unsurprisingly ensued, many thinking it would take place at Pulse, all this making for an offering too much to resist. Yet as further trickled updates came our way, we realised that this grand 3rd Anniversary event would in fact be held at Proud 2, the phonenix venue that has risen from the ashes of Matter, this location being within the O2 complex in Greenwich & one chosen to accommodate the expected surge (3000 plus) of numbers, we, like many, considered that the team were taking the michael to think that hoards of clubbers would make this considerable journey jaunt across London, that on top of the tarnished reputation that Matter had left behind.
That said, the draw of George remains (or is that remained?) quite strong for scores, although this has suddenly been put into considerable doubt, not least that just this morning a whisper (some would say careless) has reached Disco Matt H.Q. that the pop star has been forced to cancel ALL remaining dates for his current “Symphonica” tour, this as a result of having been rushed into hospital in Vienna just days ago suffering from a severe case of pneumonia. However, having been pointed to the source of this information, an article in national newspaper, The Daily Mail (online link http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2066278/George-Michael-axes-tour-fears-grown-health.html?ito=feeds-newsxml) it seems that this was far from a whisper, rather a stark reality that the situation for continuance of the tour and likely associated public commitments is very much in serious
Symphonica Suspension
doubt, Mr Michael’s publicist being quoted as saying “….To ensure his complete well-being, George Michael’s doctors have advised that he cannot perform the rest of his Symphonica tour and that he instead takes a full and complete rest. As a result, all of the British dates of the Symphonica European tour will be postponed…”. And this is no real surprise as doctors taking care of George in Vienna have stated that he “… has severe community acquired pneumonia and is being treated as an inpatient….” but further add that “…his condition has stabilised and he is responding to treatment….” although they do state that “…from the current point of view, the time until recovery cannot be estimated, but he will not be able to perform the rest of the tour. Besides medical treatment, complete rest and peace and quiet are mandatory…”. Therefore, reading between the lines, it is quite possible George could be out of action for a number of weeks rather than days, we ourselves having suffered from pneumonia three years ago, so painfully aware of how long it can take to recover.
Pneumonia Party Plight
So what does this mean for the Logan Presents 3rd Anniversary event next month? Well, first & foremost, 17th December is a good three weeks away so this does represent a significant period of time in which a sustainable recovery in George’s current health condition could mean that he would be able to commit to his headline appearance at Proud 2. However, given the fact that his “Symphonica” tour dates have, at best, been postponed, we are left wondering whether his appearance is a realistic prospect, especially given our own experiences of this chronic condition. However, we can take heart from the fact that, as part of statement issued by George’s publicist which stated that “…discussions and preparations are currently under way to arrange the rescheduled dates and further announcements will be made at the earliest opportunity…” this giving rise to optimism of a timely recovery, meaning we will definitely be keeping tabs on the announcements as they are made, on top of which we have approached the Logan Presents team for their own view on the situation, one which we are sure is of no comfort to them given the series of setbacks they have encountered in recent months, but one they will take in their substantial stride for sure.
Rebeka Returns
While we wait on further news of the George Michael situation, we can however announce that Rebeka Brown is definitely scheduled to make an appearance for this 3rd Anniversary event, returning to perform for Logan Presents after a two year break, the team shouting that “…as a regular on the Ibiza season Rebeka has been acknowledged throughout the world for her music, winning the Best Track of The Year award at the annual DJ Awards in 2005, 2006 and 2009. Taking a turn away from the conventional electronic root, Rebeka has released a new single, “Big Bad Bitch” which has received critical acclaim throughout the industry…” And with other tracks like “Sun Rising Up”, “Don’t Let This Moment End” &, of course “Offshore”, while she may have been absent from our shores for a while, her music has been a big part of our year, the latter track very much one of our anthems of 2011. Then, add Rebeka to the planned “…transformation of this enormous, custom-built venue (Proud 2) into the biggest display of outrageous entertainment that no club in the country has ever been able to provide…”, the team also adding that “…the event will feature 1 massive dance arena framed dramatically by two mezzanine balconies, with clear stage views from every angle and a second dance space for those looking for something more intimate & steamy…” and the prospect is a party to knock the socks off all previous events.
Now clearly our thoughts are with George Michael at this time, his recovery paramount in our minds, although we cannot help but feel that the realistic prospect of him appearing at the Logan presents 3rd Anniversary is beginning to look remote. However, we will keep the faith, we won’t let the sun go down on the idea and will listen without prejudice to the news as it hits our desks, naturally keeping you informed as developments occur. (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Reports | Tags: Logan Presents, Pulse, Rebeka Brown, SuperMartXe, The Coronet | 2 Comments »
Having been besieged by a sequence of setbacks during September & October, one of the many casualties included our “That Was The Week That Was” report, the weekly round-up of the movers & shakers on the scene, a report that picked out the highlights and also allowed us to share with you our moment, our tune & our tweet of the week. However, with the dawn of a new month heralding a much more prolific production period, we are pleased to mark this new found fervent with the return of a more focussed report, looking at the weekend just gone & covering Thursday through Sunday. The links to relevant websites will be back too, as will details of dance diary dates coming up, this coupled with our moment tune & tweet picks.
Boys Night Outstanding
So, with further ado, let’s get back into the groove and take a look at the weekend that was, Thursday 27th to Sunday 30th October and one that kicked off in usual style with Room Service stealing much of the spotlight with their “Boys Night Out” event, deck duty masterminded by regular resident Fat Tony & new(ish) kid on the block, Matt Bogarde, while the hoard of hosts, Josias Souza, Flip Jankovic, Kingsley & Kane Luke shared these delectable duties, reporting on yet another packed out Diu venue full of scene faces, party boys & girls and, of course, Jodie Harsh. And clearly still smarting from a truly tremendous 1st birthday just three weeks before, added to the fact that Gigolo has disappeared off the scene radar (our report on this coming soon), Room Service seems to be the continuing success story of the boutique clubbing scene that has taken Soho by storm this year, this coming Thursday (3rd Nov) looking to keep that trend going as the team welcome Shoreditch son Kris Di Angelis to the decks, he being joined by Dmitry Strigun for the second “Sextape Shoot” event, director Thomas Knights back in the club to film the next instalment of the Room Service Sextape, while hosts Kingsley, Johanna, Louis Parson & Maria Fernanda will ensure that is another rip roaring party. Plus, not forgetting the fabulous JJ on the door who, for us, is one of the best reasons to make a date with Diu this & on any Thursday night, more info on Room Service & its events can be found by going to http://clubroomservice.com.
Shadow Soiree
But Room Service aside, Thursday had plenty to offer the scene, particularly in Soho & Vauxhall, two highlights from the former being new(ish) night “XXtra” at The Shadow Lounge, which seemingly wants to grab a piece of this social soiree splendour action and has been making hey while Gigolo is out of action, last Thursday a real ripper as the team held their “Hallow-biza” ball event, resident D.J.’s Sonathaq & Niyi joined by special guest Oliver M, while details on this coming Thursday (3rd Nov) should be out via the XXtra website at http://xxtra.co.uk/ anytime now. As for Lo-Profile, there is no doubt that a huge gap has been left by Gigolo, although the venue has attempted a fill with home-grown brand “Society”, which has been switched from its original Friday night slot, its Thursday appeal still a little difficult to tell as its only been three weeks since it was swapped, details available by going to http://loprofile.com. . Down in Vauxhall and Gravity enjoyed its last Thursday at Fire, well for a few weeks at least, while the venue is closed for refurbishment & to accommodate licensing restrictions (more on that in our report “In The Line Of ….” coming up), so this week you will find Gravity across at Area.
Wonderful Wayne
Moving to Friday and Onyx once again took centre stage down Vauxhall way, very much proving its winning formula of three distinctly different rooms of music, the main very much of the upfront & energetic type, while the second space bears fruit in the form of the legendary Tasty Tim & guests, this week’s special entrant being Norbert M who came close to scooping the Ku-Bar D.J. competition crown this year, but has certainly shown his worth with gigs for Popcorn, A:M, Gigolo &, naturally right here at Onyx, this his second appearance for the brand. But with other stars including Lisa German, Ariel, Jonny M & Lee Harris, the theme of “Primal Fear” was very disco bloodbath in its making, plenty of punters making the effort to dress in Halloween costumes & make-up, reflecting that Onyx has one of the most up for it crowds on the clubbing circuit. So, having continued its success story in the hands of its latest promoter Verity Meyes, this week the whole team are pleased as punch to welcome back another iconic D.J., Wayne G returning to the UK for a short stint from his international globetrotting & marking the occasion by announcing an exclusive residency for this fab Friday nighter, Wayne remarking of his decision to lay his hat with Onyx “…I have loved the club from the first time I played there earlier this year. This will be a great platform for me to bring my new studio sounds directly to the London dancefloor, can’t wait to rock the club again…”. And with a raft of studio remix productions as well as a stable of his own tracks, this is one set & residency you won’t want to miss, more details coming up in an Extra Bites recommends post, although its worth visiting http://gayguestlists.com/onyx to get yourselves discounted entry this Friday (4th Nov) .
Porn-tastic Play
As for the other Friday movers & shakers, there were plenty on offer, A:M’s “Scream” event kind off kicking off the Trade theme, welcoming one of its original residents to the decks, Steve (Janet) Thomas bringing the house down with a superb set, although this week, with Fire closed, it looks like A:M will take a back seat or may roll on at Area straight after Onyx, more info available at http://fireclub.co.uk while we will bring you news as soon as we have it. Over the river in Soho, Shadow Lounge held a Halloween “Therapy” session, Jodie Harsh rolled out a “Gothic” Circus party at Cafe De Paris, although it was Lo-Profile that kept it horny with their “Playtime” outing, scene favourite Brent Nicholls sorting the sounds, the eye candy provided by Hustlaball Berlin award winning porn star, JB Dubois, who short of stole the show & attracted plenty of admirers. With “Playtime” gaining mounting momentum, host Jay Roberts has told us that “…every Friday Lo-Profile will be transformed into a red light district wonderland where only the hottest of the hot strut their stuff, while I get to meet & greet all the pimps, hookers, muscle boys, glitterati, disco freaks, gogo boys and creatures of the night that want to party with us in true Gaydar Style, plus I will also be controlling just who gets to party the night away in our special Playtime Bedroom with our Super Hot Stars…”, this Friday (4th Nov) seeing Randyblue.com’s stars Gabriel Cross & Gio Cruz titillate your taste buds, so well worth a trip down Wardour St way, more info on Lo-Profile out at http://loprofile.com.
Turning Twenty One
To Saturday and for once it proved to be the biggest night of the weekend on the club scene, not least as the mother of all clubs Trade took the scene by storm with their 21st (yes you heard it right) birthday down at Pulse in Southwark. Now, we devoted a special preview to the event which is still worth a read by going to http://discomatt.com/web/2011/10/previews-mothership-of-clubbing-re-docks-trade-21-a-journey-to-the-darkside-saturday-29th-october/, while having missed out on this momentous occasion in the clubs history, it seemed we missed the party of the year, as Pulse was well & truly packed with Trade babies old & new, along with a who’s who of the clubbing scene. Plus, with a towering line-up of D.J.’s, we heard special guest Monika Cruz was a huge highlight among a cast that included the likes of Steve Tomas, Pete Wardman, Nick Tcherniak & Pagano in the main room, our Italian stallion having to extend his set as the crowd simply wouldn’t let him finish. Mind you, just like Trade’s 20th birthday a year ago, Fat Tony was very much in the lite lounge spotlight & once again pulled out all the stops with a scintillating set, lie lounge originals The Sharp Boys also doing their brilliant bit. And it seemed that the organisational might of The Orange group also sealed the success of this spectacular showing, main man Tom Fuller certainly making his mark with yet another smoothest of smooth entrance, very much akin to those halcyon days back at Turnmills, while inside, the production was simply spectacular, plenty of Trade mobiles resurrected from days of old & newer to give Pulse a fabulous feel. Now, we know there are already a couple of video’s knocking around, although with no links to hand, we hope to bring you these in next week’s round-up, but it’s worth keeping an eye on the trade website at http://tradeuk.net for these, as well as news on the Christmas day party.
Brilliant Bite
Our other Saturday showstopper was back in Soho, the combo of Logan Presents, Lovechild & Lo-Profile proving irresistible for those not of the Trade persuasion, Alex Erfan reporting on a much healthier turnout for the second “Superlovers” event, this one having been given a tad of a Halloween twist, the theme of the night being “Love Bites”, although the real star of the show being new club P.A. sensation, Lemon, who gave one of the most prolific performances seen in Profile & Lo-Profile ever. Plus, with a dynamic D.J. team that included Tony English, Alessandro Londra, Tony Bruno, Phil Hewson & Marco Gee, both floors of this Wardour St wonder were packed right through till the 5 a.m. finish, this Saturday slot proving a winner for all concerned. So, it is highly likely that we will be seeing “Superlovers” return for more soon, although all eyes are now on Lovechild proper, which comes back at ya in just two Saturday’s time, next weekend (12th Nov) to be exact, Pulse the place to be and a “Roma” theme to the event, we waiting with anticipation for press release details which we will, of course, share with you in a focus post, while its http://alexerfan.com where you can find out more about both Lovechild & “Superlovers”, a quick mention also going to co-promoters of the latter, Logan Presents, who have announced the date for their 3rd Anniversary party as 17th Dec, special guest George Michael no less a definite draw, more info on this available at http://loganpresents.com.
Afterhours Amalgamation
So to Sunday and with Trade hardly over, the team picked up where they left off, combining forces with awesome afterhours club Beyond, this colossal combo creating a one-off event at Fire in Vauxhall, “Ultimate” perhaps not achieving the roadblock status of certain big Beyond bashes, but by all accounts attracted an up for it crowd that, in the tradition of Trade parties of old, wanted to party deep into Sunday afternoon & way past the 1 p.m. finish. And with the likes of D’Johnny, Hifi Sean, & Alan K flying the Beyond flag, while Nik Denton, Lee Yeomans & Guy Williams traded their Pulse shoes for the Fire variety on behalf of Trade, the jam in the superb sandwich being the star of both clubs, Gonzalo Rivas, treated both Trade & Beyond faithful to a scintillating set that well & truly rocked the place. Plus, with four rooms of fun, this certainly proved a prolific package to accompany the previous birthday bash and to add to the event, Lee Yeomans laid down a podcast which is well worth checking out by going to http://orangenation.podomatic.com/entry/2011-10-26T10_28_44-07_00. Fast forwarding a week and beyond will be back to itself, well in a “Midnight” format over at Area, the impact of Fire’s closure meaning that The Orange Group’s crown jewel of a brand holds an extended event to mark Guy Fawkes Day, no less than 12 D.J.’s across three rooms, treating us to a spectacle in true Beyond style, the team telling us to “…expect massive bangs galore, with rockets, confetti burst, sparks & more…” further hints of what to expect out at http://orangenation.clubtickets.com/gb/2011-11/06/beyond-afterhours and a party we suspect should see us returning to our spinning spot.
Special Sunday's
With lots of other usual suspects filling out Sunday, S.L.A.G.S/Chill-out at The Royal Vauxhall Tavern one, it was actually Lo-Profile up in Soho that once again received a rapturous reception, as the sequence of “Secret Sunday’s” sessions, celebrating Gaydar Radio’s 10years in operation, continued, although with an extra special guest causing a roadblock queue down Wardour street. So, it came as no surprise that last year’s X Factor winner, Joe McElderry caused a real stir & attracted a considerable crowd, the news having leaked out at the appropriate moment over Gaydar Radio’s waves, making this THE place to be & be seen on the scene, further cementing Lo-Profile’s position as the premier & hip happening hotspot in town, well on a Sunday at least. However, if, like us, you were one of the unfortunate ones to have missed out, fear not as there is a YouTube video out, well worth a look by going to http://youtube.com/watch?v=QHmZf7_JUwg, along with a vox pops video out at http://youtube.com/watch?v=yie79qnyP9s that completes the picture on this special Sunday soiree. And this coming weekend the team do it all again, they already getting us guessing with a silhouetted picture of the next “Secret Sunday” star, although have given us a clue by telling us that “…our next surprise performer has written tracks for Kylie Minogue & Diana Vickers…” (heads already scratching), meaning there’s only one way to find out by making a date with Lo-Profile & having ears glued to http://gaydarradio.com.
Majestic Mix
With our highlights of last Thursday through Sunday pretty much sown up, we turn to our moment, our track & our tweet of the week, two of the three pretty tricky as, having been laid low again with our stubborn shoulder strain, we have no nibble size review or other tweets to draw on and moments looking at our four walls wouldn’t prove that interesting. So, that leaves our track of the week, this being a simple & straight forward decision, as Danny Verde’s remix of Lady Gaga’s “You & I” gets the vote, outstripping other contenders hands down and in the process zooming up our 2011 chart. We featured it in our Music special feature, “Protégé Players & Producers” and then also shared a superb YouTube video to accompany the track, very much celebrating the male form & the perfect picturescape to this dubbed Danny dream of a track at http://youtube.com/watch?v=Wokw8JMTedc, while you can catch this tremendous track in full vocal remix form by going to t http://soundcloud.com/holabstudio/lady-gaga-you-and-i-danny.
Right that’s just about it for what was originally planned as a shorted & more succinct version of our former That Was The Week That Was round-up, but for this first “Weekend” edition has proved much more lengthy. However, with our planned return to the clubbing circuit, taking in Onyx on Friday (4th Nov) and Beyond on Sunday, coupled with plans to make future round-up’s more inclusive, we should be back into the usual grove by next week, although leave you by saying that you that that if you want us to shout out for your favourite bar, club or event that rocked & rolled over the coming weekend, 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. And if you see us out & about then please do come say hi & join us by making your mark on That Was The Weekend That Was. (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Reports | Tags: Area, Beyond, Danny Verde, Fire, Gaydar Radio, Gravity, Lo-Profile, Logan Presents, Lovechild, Onyx, Playtime, Room Service, SuperMartXe, The Shadow Lounge, Trade, Wayne G, XXtra | No Comments »
If we thought that June was a pretty rocky ride, having landed ourselves in hospital & so out of action for a handful of weeks, even the personal trauma we went through then, kind of pails into insignificance compared with the sequence of setbacks that has besieged our September & October activity across the capitals clubbing scene, as well as the productivity coming out of our website. So, with not one or two, but three serious accidents laying us low, we can’t wait to turn over a new month’s leaf and shake off the effects of our broken bones, torn ligaments & superficial scars, by stepping back out onto the scene & ramping up our reviewing, recommending, reporting & all other aspects of our website writing.
Indian Summer Setbacks
However, before we do that, we thought we would lay our “Indian Summer Setbacks” to rest, by re-capping on what we managed to fit in during September & October, sharing parties we made & missed, as well as picking on the highlights (or otherwise) of our Reviews, Previews, Recommends, Reports, Music & other posts. Then, more importantly, we will be pointing forward to more positive November & December to come, digging up some delectable dates for your dance diary, as well as our own planned partying which should carry us intact into the coming Christmas season.
Heavenly Highlight
REVIEWS – With a pretty poor picture of productivity during October, it was September that saw the lions share of club reviews, SuperMartXe’s “Blackout” event getting our Bite Size attention, while full-on devotions to Casa Latina’s “Sugar Daddy” & Beyond’s “10th Birthday” marked our most active weekend of the period. But, having missed out on Trade’s 21st birthday, three forthcoming anniversary’s will definitely be dance diary hits in Nov & Dec, Salvation, WE & SuperMartXe the trio of turns among a sea of other activity kicking off from this weekend (5th Nov).
PREVIEWS – Having been pretty lack-lustre throughout much of the year, we stepped up our activity a little, looking at SuperMartXe’s return to the scene, Beyond’s 10th birthday & Trade’s 21st, the theme looking to continue in this vein into November & December with those three anniversaries, as well as one for the forthcoming Christmas season.
Finding A Pulse
RECOMMENDS – Like a spluttering engine, our weekend newsletters were too infrequent, while more attention was paid to our Focus posts, this section of or website still the most productive of any. So, with the determination to return to producing weekly recommends newsletters on top of those focuses, as well as Extra Bites inclusions, both November & December should see posts a-plenty.
REPORTS – With not one report to reflect upon during September & October, we simply have to look forward rather than back, November beginning with a close look at the events surrounding the temporary closure of Fire, as well as a revamp of our weekly round-up report, now called “That Was The Weekend That Was”. Plus, with plenty of other scene news to cover, including Gigolo’s disappearance, there should be plenty to watch out for.
MUSIC – Having posted just one newsletter during September & October, we are hoping to make it two a month from now on, while the special feature, “Protégé Players & Producers” marked a return to the focuses we used to do weekly in our BlogSpot days & these will be back with a bang.
COMING UP – Apart from the increased activity we have already mentioned, the promises of archive D.J. biog’s, along with that special music feature on Javier Medina will herald a re-enthusiasm for all things music, while Disco Matters will be back with a bang too, an interview with Lovechild’s Alex Erfan due in November, with others lined up too. Plus, our “Lists” section will come to fruition, meaning we have our work cut out. Moreover, we aim to post to our website daily at a minimum, meaning no less than 30 inclusions during November alone, while our daily banner updates will continue unabated (more on that in a mo).
Nibble Size Review Tweets
KEEP UP – While our review activity has dipped during October, meaning our “Nibble Size” review tweets have too, these will be one of the best ways to track our activity out on the scene during November & December. Plus, Twitter is a great way to keep up with our other posts too, our notifications hitting our page as soon as the posts go out on our website, all of which you can follow at http://twitter.com/discomatt. Twitter aside, we continue to use Facebook as a major broadcast medium, so why not check our walls via our page at http://facebook.com/pages/Disco-Matt/112730602119746, or our profile at http://facebook.com/discomattlondon, where we post ALL our activity, while we have opened up our group, thus allowing you to post onto our wall by going to http://www.facebook.com/groups/96540615424/. Over & above that, you can head here and watch the home page for the latest postings.
Marketing Medium
SUPPORTING THE SCENE – Having established the “Supporting” section as an integral part of our website back in the summer, we consider this as a vital part of our activity, the advertising banners giving us an opportunity to we visually support e bars, clubs, events & businesses both in London & internationally. Now updated daily, should you wish your favourite bar, club or event to be included, just drop us an e-mail to us (details follow) and we will do our best to include it.
CONTACT US – Very simply, just drop us an e-mail at matt@discomatt.com , or fill in a contact form which you can find at the bottom of our website, a hint of which can now be found in the main body of our website. That aside, you can send us a message via Facebook, or even more simply, just plaster our walls or send us a tweet.
Dynamic Draw
DISCO DIARY DATES – Now just before we go, some promised dates for your diary in November & December, the first big date being Salvation’s 13th Anniversary which is Sunday 13th Nov, while WE Party London’s 1st Anniversary event, “Disco” is on Saturday 3rd December. Then, looking further forward, SuperMartXe celebrate 3 years in London on Saturday 17th December, special guest George Michael an irresistible draw. These aside, watch this space as Fire’s temporary closure raises some interesting developments, while Lovechild is back during November & Meat looks like a must too.
So, while we may have been off the boil in September & October, the coming two months should see a return to the Disco Matt of old, our best foot now firmly forward and pointing us towards an exemplary end to 2011. (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Reports | Tags: Alex Erfan, Beyond, Casa Latina, Fire, Javier Medina, Lovechild, Salvation, SuperMartXe, Trade, WE Party London | No Comments »
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24 Feb 2013 | 0 Comments
Reports – “Winds Of Clubbing Change” – DM’s Seventh Day Sermon – Sunday 24th February
With new & renewed life about to be injected into a sagging London scene, we reflect on what used to be brilliant, but what then went badly wrong as competition crushing & monstrous monopolies mobbed, while with the winds of change about to blow, we also look at what is ...
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21 Aug 2012 | 0 Comments
Reports – “Ready, Steady, Go” – Summer Sabbatical “Services Resumption” – Tuesday 21st August
Having missed reporting on the scene & so with the August bank holiday on our doorstep, we thought it was high time to wave a fond farewell to our summer sabbatical & rev up the resumption of our services, reviews, recommends & reports all back, while our music seventh gear ...
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24 Jul 2012 | 0 Comments
Picks – “Soleil Soiree” – Shine – Sunday 29th July – Pick Of The Day
Having succumbed to& soaked up the summer sunshine we are enjoying here in the capital, it has certainly put us in a magnificent mood to make our “Pick of The Day” choice today (Tues 24th July), we continuing to look forward towards the coming weekend with our selections, this time ...
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23 Jul 2012 | 0 Comments
Picks – “Spanish Super Brand Back” – SuperMartXe “Olympiade” – Saturday 28th July – Pick Of The Day
Having revised the format of our “Pick Of The Day” choices, we continue to look forward with our selection’s, today (Mon 23rd July) hitting on SuperMartXe, which makes a welcome return to the capital’s clubbing circuit this Saturday (28th July) with their “Olympiade” event at Brixton Electric, all the detail ...
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20 Jul 2012 | 0 Comments
Picks/Music – “Delicate Drops Of Destruction” – Steve Pitron “Summer 2012 Part 1″ Podcast – Friday 20th July – Podcast Of The Week/Special Focus (Part One)
We waited, waited & waited, but the wait was well worth it as the much awaited new Steve Pitron podcast production has simply blown us away, so much so that his “Summer 2012 Part 1” mix simply had to make it to DM’s prestigious Podcast Of The Week position, download/stream ...
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27 Dec 2011 | 0 Comments
Reviews – “Resplendent Rebeka Rejoicing” – Logan Presents 3rd Anniversary – Saturday 17th December – Full Size Review
There was no George Michael, the prospect of a lengthy journey jaunt, an X Factor finalist lacking a dynamic draw, along with a tardy turnout that looked like laying this Logan Presents Anniversary to waste. But all that was before we made it to Proud2, we then enjoying one of ...
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15 Dec 2011 | 0 Comments
Recommends – “Accentuating Anniversary Presents Positivity” – Logan Presents 3rd Anniversary “Get Well George Michael” – Saturday 17th Dec – Weekend Focus Special
We have previewed, we have reported and now it is time to recommend, and in doing so, cut the wheat from the chaff, thereby not just reflecting our continued support for this audacious anniversary, but delving into the detail of what you can expect from this delightfully dynamic dance deliverance ...
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26 Nov 2011 | 2 Comments
Reports – “Headliner In Hospital” – Logan Presents 3rd Anniversary – Saturday 17th December – Newsflash Update
Three years down the line and there is little doubt in anyone’s minds that since its launch at The Coronet in November 2009, SuperMartXe London has rarely been out of the spotlight, whether it be for good or for bad & sometimes ugly reasons, issues of coatcheck calamities, premises problems ...
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1 Nov 2011 | 0 Comments
Reports – “Turning Twenty One” – That Was The Weekend That Was – Thursday 27th to Sunday 30th October
Having been besieged by a sequence of setbacks during September & October, one of the many casualties included our “That Was The Week That Was” report, the weekly round-up of the movers & shakers on the scene, a report that picked out the highlights and also allowed us to share ...
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31 Oct 2011 | 0 Comments
Reports – “Indian Summer Setbacks” – Disco Matt’s Monthly Message – Monday 31st October
If we thought that June was a pretty rocky ride, having landed ourselves in hospital & so out of action for a handful of weeks, even the personal trauma we went through then, kind of pails into insignificance compared with the sequence of setbacks that has besieged our September & ...
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