BEYOND – SUNDAY 26TH APRIL
REVIEW FOR SEENQUEEN
Now there is definitely something in a name and a name that sticks in the mind, a name which is used on a number of occasions and when you mention it, in conversation or otherwise, means a particular thing, even if it isn’t the “real” meaning (confused, bear with us). Beyond is one such word and whenever it is mentioned we think nothing more than “iconic afterhours clubbing”. Strange? not so, as for us that is exactly what Beyond is and means!
Having held sway, week in week out at Colosseum, Beyond’s demise and then resurrection has been much lamented on, no more than in this review space, yet despite the attraction it held for us over so many years, we have only occasionally visited the club in its new incarnation. Would that be due to the venue? Would that be due to the organisers? Well probably yes, but more truthfully due to other commitments and if we be honest, mostly due to our stamina, which in our advancing years has diminished somewhat.
But this Sunday seemed to be different, as on the back of a jaunt across to the East End, we found ourselves back in Vauxhall in the early hours and still raring to go (yippee!!). So, where else to carry on the partying but Area, with the club that used to do it for us all those years ago, swinging its doors open at the dawn broken time of
6 a.m. In previous visits, especially at Colosseum, arrival at this hour would mean negotiating a queue and interestingly this time was no different, except the door host found his way to wave us to the front of the line, in nothing short of red carpet treatment. So it seemed our night, well actually our morning, was getting off on just the right foot.
So, inside the venue through the uncharacteristic entrance of the Embankment bar, it was clear the departing party goers from a previous event were still spilling out of the main room, which was closed off to our advances, although, the team had opened up the second room (otherwise known as the Black Room), which was scattered with candlelit tables, we suspect a remaining feature from the earlier party. With D.J. Paul Christensen in charge of the decks it wasn’t long until the crowd were kicking back and getting down to the uplifting house tunes he was laying down, although we resisted immediately joining in as we were keen to get our belongings secured into the coatcheck. Encountering another large queue to negotiate, we held back a little before making our way round past the now open main room entrance, spotting that preparations to open the floor space itself were still underway.
Arming ourselves with refreshments, we returned to the second room, which was beginning to swell with party goers, soaking up the musical delights on offer although there was a sense that many were waiting for the main space to open. Looking around, the crowd seemed not to reflect the usual trashy element that has been evident in recent Beyond times, more of old style supporters of a club that has evoked everything that is hedonistic, hip & happening about Sunday morning afterhours. Moreover, with Space at Fire still raging, it was clear that it was down to the purists to get Beyond well and truly kicking.
And kick it certainly did, as with the main space swinging into action, people seemed to come from no-where and swarmed into this massive space, with D.J. talent The Oli firing on all cylinders, delivering a wonderful collection of floor filling house tunes to delight the masses. It made such a change to not only be able to move around the room one with relative ease, but to also not having to squeeze but slide into our favourite spot, just shy of the D.J. booth & directly behind the podiums, which were already filled with ecstatic exhibitionists, strutting their stuff. We were happy to play second fiddle, finding our own stride and soaking up the atmosphere that felt more Colosseum than Area for a change, helped along by familiar faces as we spotted Steve Pitron, & posse and lots more from days gone by.
With The Oli handing over the D.J. reigns to Mikey D, we knew we were in something special and he did not disappoint, taking the music and the atmosphere in the main room to new heights, stringing together an awesome mix of huge funky, electro & progressive house tunes which had us furiously dancing. And when the podiums in front of us were cleared for the arrival of two sexy go-go dancers, followed by ticker tape explosions, eruptions of the laser lighting and plumes of smoke cannons, the main room became the place to be, with the numbers continuing to swell & savour yet another incredible performance by Mikey D, who seems to well and truly thrive in the Beyond environment. With track after track keeping us mesmerised and dancing deliriously, it was no surprise that our energy levels began to sap, but not before we saw out the go-go dancing performance and most of Mikey’s set (the boy did it again!!), before taking respite away from the this amazing action.
Walking back through the club, we headed for the Embankment bar, as the second room was now more like a chillout area with the planned appearance by Rob Sykes obviously shelved. However, we were still in for a real treat, as playing in this third space, was Swedish star D’Johnny, a firm favourite of ours, who has tirelessly worked across the London scene carving a real following and starring in many international clubs & parties, a true testament to his D.J’ing talent. His choice of huge hunky house was just perfect for this more relaxing and alfresco style part of the venue, the terrace swarming with those taking a break from the darker reaches of the main room and recuperating after a hard night of full on clubbing exploits. This space is unique to Beyond, truly connection indoors with outside, better than many other “terrace” options we have seen and for those looking to wind down their experience, socialising and dare we say it, chilling out to great music, a perfect retreat and with D’Johnny definitely hitting the spot what more could you ask for. Nevertheless, as much as we wanted to continue, our legs were telling us otherwise, so with the morning nearly over, we decided to call it a day, leaving a still packed main room & an even fuller Embankment bar & terrace, limping home to wear off our excesses.
Well, what did we think of our latest Beyond at Area visit? The one thing we can say is that it was our most comfortable visit yet. Normally the club is packed to the rafters, meaning no space to dance and to properly savour the atmosphere. On this occasion however, we had all the space we needed which meant we could enjoy the music to the max and with pulsating performances from the team of D.J’s but especially D’Johnny & Mikey D, who both supplied scintillating sets, we walked away pleasantly surprised. Then there was the crowd, this time round, far from the usual trashy Fire tainted freaks, but so much more full of afterhours purists of old, which made for an altogether more enjoyable experience, no GHB overdosers here, the only overdosing happening from the exciting entertainment, which was, for us, Beyond at it’s best. Sadly, we suspect that what we were privileged to witness was merely a rare opportunity of everything magical about this afterhours icon, although it is fair to say an outing we will savour for a long time to come. (DISCO MATT)
REVIEW FOR SEENQUEEN
Now there is definitely something in a name and a name that sticks in the mind, a name which is used on a number of occasions and when you mention it, in conversation or otherwise, means a particular thing, even if it isn’t the “real” meaning (confused, bear with us). Beyond is one such word and whenever it is mentioned we think nothing more than “iconic afterhours clubbing”. Strange? not so, as for us that is exactly what Beyond is and means!
Having held sway, week in week out at Colosseum, Beyond’s demise and then resurrection has been much lamented on, no more than in this review space, yet despite the attraction it held for us over so many years, we have only occasionally visited the club in its new incarnation. Would that be due to the venue? Would that be due to the organisers? Well probably yes, but more truthfully due to other commitments and if we be honest, mostly due to our stamina, which in our advancing years has diminished somewhat.
But this Sunday seemed to be different, as on the back of a jaunt across to the East End, we found ourselves back in Vauxhall in the early hours and still raring to go (yippee!!). So, where else to carry on the partying but Area, with the club that used to do it for us all those years ago, swinging its doors open at the dawn broken time of
6 a.m. In previous visits, especially at Colosseum, arrival at this hour would mean negotiating a queue and interestingly this time was no different, except the door host found his way to wave us to the front of the line, in nothing short of red carpet treatment. So it seemed our night, well actually our morning, was getting off on just the right foot.
So, inside the venue through the uncharacteristic entrance of the Embankment bar, it was clear the departing party goers from a previous event were still spilling out of the main room, which was closed off to our advances, although, the team had opened up the second room (otherwise known as the Black Room), which was scattered with candlelit tables, we suspect a remaining feature from the earlier party. With D.J. Paul Christensen in charge of the decks it wasn’t long until the crowd were kicking back and getting down to the uplifting house tunes he was laying down, although we resisted immediately joining in as we were keen to get our belongings secured into the coatcheck. Encountering another large queue to negotiate, we held back a little before making our way round past the now open main room entrance, spotting that preparations to open the floor space itself were still underway.
Arming ourselves with refreshments, we returned to the second room, which was beginning to swell with party goers, soaking up the musical delights on offer although there was a sense that many were waiting for the main space to open. Looking around, the crowd seemed not to reflect the usual trashy element that has been evident in recent Beyond times, more of old style supporters of a club that has evoked everything that is hedonistic, hip & happening about Sunday morning afterhours. Moreover, with Space at Fire still raging, it was clear that it was down to the purists to get Beyond well and truly kicking.
And kick it certainly did, as with the main space swinging into action, people seemed to come from no-where and swarmed into this massive space, with D.J. talent The Oli firing on all cylinders, delivering a wonderful collection of floor filling house tunes to delight the masses. It made such a change to not only be able to move around the room one with relative ease, but to also not having to squeeze but slide into our favourite spot, just shy of the D.J. booth & directly behind the podiums, which were already filled with ecstatic exhibitionists, strutting their stuff. We were happy to play second fiddle, finding our own stride and soaking up the atmosphere that felt more Colosseum than Area for a change, helped along by familiar faces as we spotted Steve Pitron, & posse and lots more from days gone by.
With The Oli handing over the D.J. reigns to Mikey D, we knew we were in something special and he did not disappoint, taking the music and the atmosphere in the main room to new heights, stringing together an awesome mix of huge funky, electro & progressive house tunes which had us furiously dancing. And when the podiums in front of us were cleared for the arrival of two sexy go-go dancers, followed by ticker tape explosions, eruptions of the laser lighting and plumes of smoke cannons, the main room became the place to be, with the numbers continuing to swell & savour yet another incredible performance by Mikey D, who seems to well and truly thrive in the Beyond environment. With track after track keeping us mesmerised and dancing deliriously, it was no surprise that our energy levels began to sap, but not before we saw out the go-go dancing performance and most of Mikey’s set (the boy did it again!!), before taking respite away from the this amazing action.
Walking back through the club, we headed for the Embankment bar, as the second room was now more like a chillout area with the planned appearance by Rob Sykes obviously shelved. However, we were still in for a real treat, as playing in this third space, was Swedish star D’Johnny, a firm favourite of ours, who has tirelessly worked across the London scene carving a real following and starring in many international clubs & parties, a true testament to his D.J’ing talent. His choice of huge hunky house was just perfect for this more relaxing and alfresco style part of the venue, the terrace swarming with those taking a break from the darker reaches of the main room and recuperating after a hard night of full on clubbing exploits. This space is unique to Beyond, truly connection indoors with outside, better than many other “terrace” options we have seen and for those looking to wind down their experience, socialising and dare we say it, chilling out to great music, a perfect retreat and with D’Johnny definitely hitting the spot what more could you ask for. Nevertheless, as much as we wanted to continue, our legs were telling us otherwise, so with the morning nearly over, we decided to call it a day, leaving a still packed main room & an even fuller Embankment bar & terrace, limping home to wear off our excesses.
Well, what did we think of our latest Beyond at Area visit? The one thing we can say is that it was our most comfortable visit yet. Normally the club is packed to the rafters, meaning no space to dance and to properly savour the atmosphere. On this occasion however, we had all the space we needed which meant we could enjoy the music to the max and with pulsating performances from the team of D.J’s but especially D’Johnny & Mikey D, who both supplied scintillating sets, we walked away pleasantly surprised. Then there was the crowd, this time round, far from the usual trashy Fire tainted freaks, but so much more full of afterhours purists of old, which made for an altogether more enjoyable experience, no GHB overdosers here, the only overdosing happening from the exciting entertainment, which was, for us, Beyond at it’s best. Sadly, we suspect that what we were privileged to witness was merely a rare opportunity of everything magical about this afterhours icon, although it is fair to say an outing we will savour for a long time to come. (DISCO MATT)
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