Matinee Knockout Club review - Feb 2008

MATINEE KNOCKOUT & MATINEE ENCORE
REVIEW FOR SEENQUEEN

It was with much anticipation of a massive party following the huge success of Matinee’s launch at Fabric in January, that we made our way down to Farringdon on Sunday night. Arriving fashionably late at the stroke of midnight to no queue and the gorgeous Marky B on the door who ticked us off his list and waved us through, we entered and as we commenced our decent down the labyrinth of stairs, the excitement as well as the sound of the music heightened to a crescendo when we swept through the doors and into the room one. It was clear everyone had got there earlier than us, as the club was already heaving with hunky men, party heads and scene stalwarts.

Never failing to disappoint the Matinee crew had staged the venue brilliantly with a huge boxing ring engulfing the main dance floor, being the centre piece of the knockout theme, with Matinee signage adorning the walls. Pagano was holding fort in the DJ booth, pumping out massive sounds and sending the crowd into frenzy. As we got closer to the boxing ring, we spotted the matinee models, boys and girls assembling and climbing through the ropes ready to perform, suitably dressed in a variety of costumes to delight the crowd of onlookers.

All the gay paparazzi had gathered on the side of the boxing ring outside the ropes and what seemed like the whole club full of party goers swarmed to watch the show and marvel at the mix of glamour glitz and gloves (of the boxing variety) parading and prowling around the ring to the continual pumping sounds of the ever present Pagano behind the decks. With cameras flashing and the crowd going wild the atmosphere was electric and just what we come to expect from Matinee.

When the show came to an end, the revellers then started taking over the boxing ring turning it into an elevated dance floor. With this, we sneaked off to room two to listen to the delights of Pier Morocco and then Eduardo De La Torre. Returning to room one, which by now was bursting at the seams with gorgeous men and their admirers, many of whom had stripped off their shirts, we found them dancing to the beats of DJ Brad, who had taken the reigns of the decks from Pagano. The music simply blew our minds, so when in Rome (or Matinee) do as the Romans (Matineeans) do, so we dressed down to the waist and danced on and on, not moving from the main room. Often we bumped into familiar faces sashaying past and we only momentarily paused for liquid refreshment, so as to avoid interrupting a truly fabulous dancing experience.

When Iordee entered the music fray, pitching his talents against DJ Brad, in the turntable version of a boxing match, the atmosphere became fever pitch as they traded record after record rather than punch after punch. Having thought the quality of music was going to be hard to follow the January party, these two talents excelled themselves The crowd showed their appreciation by filling room one to capacity right through till 6 a.m. when their thoughts turned to Matinee Encore, the new afterhours party.

By this time, we were all wandering where the new Room three was and were raring to carry the party on at Encore. Brent Nicholls was also waiting in anticipation and then suddenly it all came apparent as we discovered it hidden away on a new next level, the disco lighting giving it’s location away.

Moving up and fuelling ourselves with energy boosting liquid, Brent was by now in full swing and playing tracks reminiscent of his many nights playing London’s top gay venues, proving yet again why he is very much in demand at Matinee. The music was the perfect afterhour’s antidote to spring board us back into action, with the new room three having an intimate and sexy feel. Track after track kept us moving and grooving to Brent’s unique vibe and we really didn’t want to stop. But this girl’s legs aint as young as they used to be and eventually gave up the ghost, a rarity in the middle of a Mr. Nicholls set.

Sidelined from the dance floor with the crowd still up for it and strutting their stuff, Brent still pumping out the sounds, we took our leave of this magnificent night, slipping into the bland normality of a London weekday rush hour. Back at Encore the party was still in full swing and Brent handed over to Eduardo to finish proceedings and crown yet another hugely successful Matinee party.

In a gay scene that seemed to have become quite stale and with so many of our favourite clubs being infiltrated by straights and chav’s, Matinee proves that stylish, the beautiful and the downright charming gay partying crowd still exists. You could not have asked for a better atmosphere and clubbing experience, so hats off to Oliver M and the team for yet another great night. Bring on the next one!!! (DISCO MATT)