Barcode Vauxhall's 3rd Birthday - Bar Review

BARCODE VAUXHALL - 3RD BIRTHDAY PARTY
SATURDAY 27TH JUNE
REVIEW FOR SEENQUEEN


Ever since coming out on the scene in London, the bar culture has formed a major part of our social lives, whether it be the good old traditional pub, venues like The Pennyfarthing, The Birdcage & Comptons, or the swanky up-market bar, you know, places like Rupert Street The Box & The Edge, but with so many venues to choose from & having frequented so many over the years, it would be difficult to single one particular bar out as a favourite, but there is one that comes pretty high on our list.

Yes, as you may have guessed, Barcode is one such brand that is very much up there and ever since its launch over 14 years ago, we have seen the Soho venue evolve & change, but always end up maintaining its popularity, despite stiff competition. We have made many friends there and to this day continue to grace its doors, especially on a Saturday night downstairs in the dance area, which has proven such a brilliant warm up to our clubbing exploits. So, you can imagine our delight when just 3 years ago, the team branched out, opening a new venue in Vauxhall, which immediately caught the imagination and a bar which we now like to call our local & (if you ask the bar staff) our second home!!

So, there was absolutely no way we were going to miss out on its 3rd birthday celebrations, especially as we had already been warmed up for the occasion at the Clapham Street party that afternoon, followed by a stylist garden gathering not too far away. Swiftly nipping home to change & refresh ourselves before arriving at Barcode’s doors just before 10 p.m., as always we were greeted by the friendly & welcoming Emilio, who waved us into the venue which was already filling nicely with like minded folk who were looking to celebrate the bar’s special day. Having already planned to meet Industri pals, Chris & Stephen as well as hostess extraordinaire, the effervescent Minty, the scene for quite a raucous outing had already been set before we even started.

Heading for the bar, we were pleased to see so many of the regular faces in place, who know & treat us so well, tonight being no exception. With refreshments in hand, we headed straight for the club space to see what was occurring, to find the lovely & bubbly Hi-Fi Sean Dickson behind the decks, mixing up a magical potion of popular house dancefloor fillers to really get the atmosphere going. With the laser lighting at full steam already, it was clear that space to dance would soon be at a premium, as it wasn’t long before a continuing trail of bodies, a true eclectic mix of regulars, scene faces, good lookers & simple party goers began to fill the room, dancing deliriously to the ever increasing tempo of tunes Mr Hi-Fi was spinning.

Despite the temptations of this club space so soon into proceedings, we headed back to the front bar to connect with our pals & found them all gathered around one of the hotly contested tables, Minty, boyfriend Thigio, Industri pals Chris, Stephen, Terry & Paul, all slowly warming to the party mood. Looking around, the team had decorated the venue with very fetching “No 3’s”, cut out from some sort of wood and cleverly decorated with fluorescent blue paint which sparkled in the bright lights of the sweeping spots as well as those clicking pictures with flash camera’s. With one coming off its sparsely strung hanging in our hands (well we may have given it a little gentle persuasion!!), we immediately started parading round the front bar, to the amusement of our friends, who then immediately caught us in action with their camera’s for posterity. Mind you one of the staff didn’t seem too amused and took it upon himself to confiscate the sign from us (the spoil sport), although that was not going to be the last Barcode was going to see of our “No 3” antics that night!!

The front room was now well and truly packed and with Paul Coles really heating things up with his delectable disco house delights, the party was well and truly underway and we were certainly in the mood for more action, although seemed a little wary that our previous antics had not gone un-noticed. So, we thought it better to disappear to the club space behind, “No 3” in hand of course, where Hi-Fi Sean was about to hand over to the handsome & hunky Mattias, a real Barcode favourite who was bound to brew up a storm with his musical mastery. Armed with yet more refreshments, complimentary of the management (a big thanks for that by the way!) as well as other aids, we were now in full swing and decided to throw all caution to the wind, ascending one of the podiums at the back of the venue, dancing most of the rest of the night away, with only momentary rests to catch up with friendly faces, including close pal Benoit, whom we hadn’t seen out in a while (well a week at least!) & who later re-collected how over exuberant we appeared (what caused that we wonder?!?!).

The party atmosphere kept building, not least with the help of Mark M Forms’ magnificent Fierce Intl dancers, who gave a dazzling (as well as revealing) display from the mezzanine balcony, with revellers gazing up in amazement at their altogether (if you catch our drift?) appearances & with D.J Saki (a man of many talents..he also manages BCV you know?!) performing his own terrific trail of heady house tunes it was no surprise that it was gone 4 a.m. before we came to our senses, calmed down and relaxed back in the front bar in the company of Minty & The Box owner, the lovely Frank. We also managed to catch up with Mark to congratulate him on his dancers show, & then happened to be caught on camera yet again, of course sporting the “No 3” sign (we had a 3 on the back of our t-shirt too!), this time by non other than Chris Jepson. Mind you, having danced so much, it was soon time to call it a day, so exhausted from our exploits, we slumped out of Barcode and home to sink into our bed, reflecting on yet another pulsating party & trying to recollect our on audacious activities.

So, did Barcode Vauxhall’s 3rd birthday bash live up to expectations? Well, for us it has to be a resounding yes, simply as we had an absolute ball from start to finish. Not only were we were privileged to be in the company of terrific people, soaking up the amazing atmosphere, especially in the club bar, but prancing on the podium with our “No 3” in hand was genuine fun and being treated to some tremendous tunes from Hi-Fi Sean, Paul Coles, Mattias & Saki was a true delight. Yes there were some D.J. names missing from what was a special celebration, but with the size of the crowd present, it was clear that many had the same idea as us, & with the added bonus of the dishy dancers, it was certainly a beautifully fun-filled birthday, which we won’t forget in a while.

In these difficult times, when many of us are watching our hard earned pennies, it seems that the bar culture is keeping its head above water and there is no doubt that Barcode Vauxhall’s popularity is still there to be seen, particularly on Friday’s & Saturday’s, when it proves a worthy alternative to the clubs both near & far, that don’t offer too much more for a lot more door charge (what do we call that?, value for money?!). However, times are tough and with some of the changes being made to its D.J. line up’s, Barcode needs to tread carefully if it is to retain its custom. What people seem to like, is that you often see the big names of the scene gracing its decks, providing the kind of musical entertainment equivalent to the big clubs, making Barcode Vauxhall particularly, not only a neat place to drink & socialise, but a cool place to dance the night away. We hope that this may long continue. (DISCO MATT)

Claphan Street Party - Event Review

CLAPHAM STREET PARTY – SATURDAY 27TH JUNE
REVIEW FOR SEENQUEEN


In years gone by the scene in gAyland London has been renowned for putting on amazing events, not just for commemorating the equality rights movements through annual Pride events, but in true celebration of music & dance. These saw some incredible post march parties as well as destination gatherings, Brockwell & Finsbury parks proving to be real highlights among many others, including Clapham Common, all of which hold amazing memories for us. However, in more recent times the massive park undertakings have been replaced by smaller scale events, where celebrating in the streets was much more the name of the game, Soho really spearheading this change direction.

But with South London being a traditional host for events, it was no surprise that the Clapham Street party was born and immediately made an impression on the scene, quickly becoming a must visit event and signalling the start of outdoor celebrations across the capital throughout the summer. Much more a social gathering of like minded people, but with the classic ingredient of camp cabaret, in its five years of running it has always attracted a considerable crowd, packing out Edgerley Road next to Kazbar on Clapham High Street, so would this year be any different? And what was in store at this super sized soiree?

Well, with an eye on the weather, which when Wimbledon is in full swing is always doubtful, we were pleased to see the sun shining as we took a short stroll across to Kazbar through the byways of Clapham and as we approached our destination just after 3 p.m., there was no mistaking the hum of music & voices swirling around the streets but clearly emanating from Edgerley Road. Arriving at the entrance & gratifyingly giving a donation to The Albert Kennedy Trust, an amazing charitable organisation, established 20 years ago with the aim of supporting, mentoring, providing advice & information as well as offering safe lodgings for homeless LGBT young people, we headed inside to arm ourselves with refreshments.

Kazbar resident D.J. Julius was spinning a collection of commercial tunes to inject a real party atmosphere and with the revamped & revitalised interior creating a brighter airier feel, not least helped by the new expanse of glass across the side of the venue, the inside felt more like out, but is was outside where we were heading, in time to meet up with our posse of pals, including Chris, & Stephen, both who were on their respective ways. So waiting not too far from the entrance, so as not to lose them in the crowd, which looked a little thinner than last years party, it was inevitable that we would bump into a plethora of familiar faces & friends and it certainly didn’t take long before being spotted by Rupert Street pals Vlad & Enrico with their men & other friends gathered, Vlad’s other half, Brad, affectionately grabbing our attention by shouting out our other nickname, Jessica (a long story!!), which always creates ripples of laughter.

With messages a plenty coming through on our mobile phone indicating imminent arrivals and appearances by friends, with the crowd beginning to swell, we were joined first by Chris, then by Stephen who grabbed some summery refreshments, heading with us to the cabaret stage, where fellow Industri pal Jeremy had stationed himself, with a perfect view of the shows. Slowly winding our way up, we continued to bump into scene & familiar faces a plenty, including Hook’d promoter Paul Beauchamp who had laid on a hedonistic happening just a week ago, we eventually reached the stage area with our posse had gathered, Chris, Paul, Terry, even Andre who had clubbed hard with us the previous weekend, soaking up the sunshine and the unique atmosphere of this social street soiree. With drag star Mrs Moore entertaining, we joined Jeremy’s side to see out her rendition of a Shirley Bassey classic, sporting the longest feather bowa we have seen, then with hostess cabaret scene superstar Sandra, taking over momentarily, cracking jokes & befriending members of the audience as only she knows best, Lola Lasagne took to the stage, delivering her dry humour to efficient effect.

We needed to take a moments respite to relieve then refresh ourselves, so patiently paraded back through the throng, but before we could get back inside, not only did we bump into the Italian Stallion D.J. Pagano, spotting us and coming over catching up on news & exchanging details of exploits out to The Circuit Festival, we then got called back to Vlad’s bunch as great friend Alessandro had arrived to join in the festivities. Then, to add to ever increasing sea of familiarity, we were again halted in our tracks as Salvation supremo Steve Elliot appeared, only to be followed by the SuperMartXe dream team machine, as Logan & his sexy troupe of go-go dancers arrived, all appropriately dressed in camouflage vests, hot pants & sun visors (very cute!) promoting the forthcoming party, with the huge SuperMartXe beach ball hung right above the main outside bar, making a real statement.

With all our hello’s out of the way, we ventured back inside a packed to the rafters Kazbar and instantly realised why as Yonika had taken over the decks and was spinning a string of Michael Jackson classics in an inspired tribute to the King of Pop, which was clearly going down superbly with the revellers around, ramping up the already electric atmosphere and the seventies style multicoloured tiled lightened dancefloor making it all the more a real poptastic party feel. But with scarcely little room to move and the queue at the bar six deep, we retreated back outside and to the draw of the amazing duo on the stage, Miss Jason & Maisie Trollette (known as Two’s Company) who performed, for us, the show of the day, having us in hysterics with their antics, banter and superb songs.

However, when momentarily glancing up into the sky, the look was very ominous, with massive black clouds forming. So, with the prospect of the heavens opening, we headed back down through the crowd, expecting a veritable stampede should the rain arrive, but with no space inside Kazbar, we joined Steve Elliot who had found a semi covered spot just outside, providing us with a surprisingly spacious & comfortable spot. And here we saw out the rest of our stay at this street party spectacular before retiring with pal Alessandro around the corner to a truly gAylist & gorgeous garden party, which proved a real highlight of our day, mixing with likeminded folk, listening to heavenly house tunes & rounding off our day in sumptuous style (a special thanks to the hosts for making us so welcome!).

So, was this year’s Clapham Street party any different to previous outings? Well, it was fair to say that the crowd didn’t seem quite as large as our last visit and that in itself is a reflection of the tough times we find ourselves in. However, in terms of a social gathering it certainly ticked all the boxes for us, with a long list of friends & familiar faces around and for those of you into cabaret, there was no shortage of top notch entertainment. However, for us the music within Kazbar was a little too much pop, not enough house, so for our close knit scene pals, that aspect failed to hit the mark, so when combining it with over inflated dinks prices (warm beer etc), & nothing much else happening, especially if drag shows were not your thang, the draw of the garden gathering in preference was no real surprise We are sure that the street party was again a success & will be back with a bang next year. Will we be there? we suspect so, if only to fulfil our socialising desires. (DISCO MATT)

Hook'd - Paul's Birthday Special - Club Review

HOOK’D – PAUL’S BIRTHDAY SPECIAL – SATURDAY 20TH JUNE
REVIEW FOR SEENQUEEN



Now, when was it that we first got into hardcore techno & tough house? ah yes, in those heady days of Trade, way back when, with weekly homage’s to Turnmills (cutely referred to as “Church” by many) which more than filled our boots with amazing sounds, delivered by such as Ian M, Gonzalo & Pete Wardman (to mention just three of many!) which had us advancing in the aisles, burning up the dancefloor in the then decadent afterhours timing of 4 a.m. Sunday mornings, until whenever it stopped (sometimes as late as 5 or 6 p.m., remember those?). Setting the standard but sadly fading from weekly slots, Trade’s demise at Turnmills left an inevitable gap which needed to be filled, but by whom?

Well, the gap did have to be filled, not least as people couldn’t hold out for the odd special here & there, and so it was that Hook’d came into being, the brainchild of Trade devotee Paul Beauchamp, who like us had spent many a happy Sunday absorbing everything that was great about the legendary club that had us coming back for more. With a massive launch party at The Arches in Southwark, back in July last year, indeed the last time we graced it’s doors (how naughty of us) and reported on what was a great party, but which sadly for us came to an abrupt ending, on our return, we were determined not to see a repeat of that, but rather to go the distance, savouring the whole Hook’d hedonism. So did we achieve it? (what do you think!).

With our day starting really early, but having made firm plans to visit with new found clubbing friend Joel, we also teamed up with his best friend Andre and having sampled a sherry or two in Barcode Vauxhall, took the short walk towards Hidden, arriving at its doors not long after midnight, seemingly perfect timing as we also bumped into Trade baby friend Rob, who guided us in nicely with hardly any fuss with security checks and swiftly into the club having been efficiently ticked off our guestlist entry (thanks Paul). Strangely, however, Hook’d seemed only to have secured half of the venue, with a totally different party being held in the other side, the only conjoining being at the toilets (rather odd, especially as it was a straight party going on!). Mind you, it didn’t bother us much as we dropped our belongings off at the coatcheck, changing into a fresh top for the occasion & Joel sporting a fab t-shirt, the perfect statement for the club (now we wonder what it said on it?!?!).

So, into the singular dancing space for this revised timing of 10 p.m. till 6 a.m. (no more afterhours stuff here), we found ourselves, immediately getting into our stride as Trade D.J. legend Ian M was tempting everyone with techno taste buds, pouring out classic renditions which brought the memories flooding back, as well as up to date tough tunes that really hit the mark. However, it seemed that our third protagonist., Andre, was struggling with the super speeding pace of proceedings and looked a little uncomfortable, until we suggested that, like us, his dancing style didn’t need to change much from that he displays in usual haunts like Beyond, but just simply to step up the tempo. Our advice seemed to work, as it wasn’t long before he too was dancing delightfully cutting a confident combination of moves to rival those around us.

We were keen to catch up with birthday boy Paul and weren’t to be disappointed as he soon appeared, recognising us in an instant, well actually spotting Joel first (how did he manage that? – well another Trade follower that’s how) and as we remarked on what a good job Mr M was doing & how long it had been for us since we had been entertained to his musical mastery, Paul rightly commented “well you haven’t graced our doors that often” – guilty as charged! So with Mr Beauchamp now off to greet and host as only he knows best, we, together with Joel & Andre, immersed ourselves into the heavenly hardcore happenings (musically wise ofcourse), with only the occasional brief respite outside to grab a little fresh air, away from the octane fuelled fantasy’s being laid before us.

With Ian M handing over the reign’s to Hook’d newcomer Ross Homson, who really made an incredible impression right from the start of his scintillating set, reminding us very much of Gonzalo’s similar prominent performances in years gone by, this wasn’t being missed by the captive audience around, who showed their appreciation through non-stop dancing deliriousness to well and truly capture the mood. Looking across to our buddy Joel, he seemed a little perturbed that his fabulous T-shirt was being sported by someone else aswell (a fashion nightmare in anyone’s books) although we tried to make him feel better by saying how much better he looked in his black & white version with shining sparkly bits, showing off his well toned frame to great effect.

As Ross’s set unfolded more, we simply couldn’t resist being drawn in, even leaving Andre to his own devices with Joel (were we jealous? – ofcourse not!) while we continued to catch the cute laddish like barman out of the corner of our eye, who seemed to be spying in on our every move (not that we didn’t welcome the attention). With a slightly thinner on the ground ardent bunch of Hook’d followers continuing to be well and truly caught up in the techno tasties, maintained when JP & Ducsey assumed D.J’ing duties, followed by Barry Harding & more, the frenetic pace was kept going right up to the planned finish of 6 a.m., although by which time both an obviously tired Joel & the effervescent Andre had waved their goodbye’s, leaving us to exchange flirtatious moves & looks with that barman, until our corruption by this beauty had to come to an inevitable end. So, we too decided to call it a day (or morning, whichever way you want to look at it), sauntering across Vauxhall, avoiding the draw of Beyond, rather heading home to reflect on a terrific techno tinged night to rival any.

So, what did we think of Hook’d this time round? And was its revised timings the success it deserved to be? Well, it is fair to say that even though our preferred pace is more Heron, Nicholls & Pitron in style, we nevertheless really enjoyed a trip back towards techno & with pulsating performances by Ian M & then Ross Homson. The sometimes select yet fabulously friendly bunch of people around us really made the night quite special (not least in the company of Joel & Andre), so perhaps the only thing lacking was the addition of a second room, offering a slightly lighter tempo of tunes, which ad it been available would probably have secured our friend Joel’s stay later than as worked out. However, taking nothing away from what was on offer, we thought that this latest instalment far outstripped our previous outing, Hidden proving to be a truly happening venue for Hook’d.

Changing from the afterhours format did seem a little strange at first, but in some ways made perfect sense, especially as the 10 till 6 timeslot felt more accessible & inviting. We would think that promoter Paul was very pleased with the results of his labour of love and that future planned events could do far worse than sticking with this new formula. There is no doubt that Hook’d has certainly filled the vacant gap left by Trade to a point, the inclusion of a second room being the only ingredient that was missing. We will certainly keep our eyes peeled for the next event with interest & if techno is your thang, you will definitely find a friend in Hook’d, that’s for sure. (DISCO MATT)

Beyond - Club Review

BEYOND – SUNDAY 16TH JUNE
REVIEW FOR SEENQUEEN


In a world where everyone seems to be struggling to make ends meet, where words like recession, cutting back, job losses & closures seem to becoming part of everyday life, where wars are raging, where there is much political unrest & the news is full of depressing reporting, there is little wonder that people feel like escaping from time to time. Some decide to immerse themselves into new activities to clear the mind & cleanse the soul, others choose to get away from it all, retreating to pastures new, while some decide to lay low, waiting for things to get better. Then there of those of us that throw caution to the wind, say what the hell & go for it big time, perhaps burning the proverbial candle at both ends, but feeling much better for it.

And where do we end up, when having nearly burnt that candle?, well Beyond of course!!, the club that has so much to answer for over the years, the club that seemingly keeps going, bucking the trend of many, and the club that never fails to disappoint, whether it’s rammed packed solid or where there is room to spare. Yes, we are sure, that reading this, many of you have experienced the Beyond magic at some stage, in one incarnation or another and we bet that in the right circumstances, with a gentle push & caving into pressure, you too would succumb its draw.

Well, that’s exactly what happened to us when the call of our bed fell on deaf ears and rather than a cosy sleep at home after the excesses of Barcode Soho, followed by Matinee, then bpm, we found ourselves in amogst the hedonistic clubbers within Area’s walls, who like us, just didn’t know when to sleep, seemingly never wanting the party to end. With a swift check by security, leaving chief protagonist of our derailment from original plans, Lee Yeomans, behind, we were in through the entrance and paying our dues, heading straight for the main room, up the stairs to park our belongings in the coatcheck, then sweeping back down, well stumbling a bit actually, we headed through, to the terrace bar area & finding no D.J. in situ, made straight for the second room, where we were sure to get a welcoming greeting.

Lo and behold, who was in charge of the decks but the effervescent Hi-Fi Sean, who was spinning some superb sounds, tempting a select crowd who were clearly lapping up his hunky tech infused house and we ran up to the D.J. booth to say hello and look for our mirrorball (an in-house joke). As always with Sean, we received a rapturous welcome and smile, but unlike many visits before where we have paused to savour his musical mixes, we were keen to track down our friend Benoit, whom we were sure would be in the main room, where more upbeat, floor filling & hands in the air music was more the order of the day (right up his street!). So pausing for energy boosting refreshments (well he had been going for 12 hours already!!) we headed into the main space, not before bumping into pal Cliff Jackson again (was he following us around?) who seemed to be having a good time, running a mock between the three rooms in a way only he knows best.

Now we were into the room one and it was immediately evident that this was the place to be, with Beyond (amongst other clubs) legend Steve Pitron in charge of the decks, delivering a delirious combination of huge house hits, often mixing older classics with new tunes to great effect. With the room packed to brimming, we couldn’t see our friend Benoit, so assumed our usual spot to the far side of the D.J. booth where we have always found space to stretch & legs & strut our stuff. By the time we squeezed our way round, the first of a virtual constant wave of dancers appeared onto the podiums in front of us, dressed seductively in black leather outfits with interesting neon light tipped glove apparel that they used to great effect, shining across their audience & adding to the already incredible luminous lighting effects being masterminded by Andrew Harris from behind the D.J. booth. With the myriad of mirror balls on Area’s ceiling, combined with the huge smoke & air cannons which regularly emitted pulses of plumes, the atmosphere was amazing, complimented by the huge screens at both ends of the room display Beyond graphics, adding to the already characteristic production of this now clubbing icon.

With Steve continuing to plough a pulsating pace with his shimmering sounds, we well and truly found our stride, summoning our energies, dancing dizzily on our spot, trading moves with others around us and competing with the performers on their podiums, one of which was go-go organiser Logan Schmitz who gracefully greeted us before assuming his stage to entertain the crowd. We really didn’t want to break away from the fun, not least as Mr Pitron was spinning magnificent mixes, new twists on retro classics like Funk K’s – “Dirty Cash” & Devil Toy’s “Now Your Gone”, not to mention a superb rendition of J Velarde’s Sundays at Heaven” as well as his newbie “Serious Emotions” as well as many of our fave tracks of now, but we needed a moments respite. So, having taken a short stroll, returning to the main room, we were grabbed by this bronzed Brazilian who had clear amorous intentions in mind, halting us in our tracks and then making serious moves to raid our crown jewels (ooh err missus!!), a delightful distraction that caught us by surprise but was a nice one nevertheless.

With Steve eventually handing over the D.J. reigns to Fire resident Alan K, our energy began to sap and we soon retired to the Terrace Bar, where the gorge Jamie Head’s music pace was more akin to our mood and we saw out the rest of our stay here, like many wanting more to move, grove & chill as Sunday morning was fast changing into Sunday afternoon. However, the inevitable hanging up of our boots arrived, so saying our goodbye’s to Jamie, to remaining friends around us and to pal Benoit, who was still at full steam on the main dancefloor, we sidled out of Area and home to relax, recover & recap on our experiences.

So, what did we think of our latest brush with Beyond, was brilliant or boring? Well, what do you think? To say it was brilliant was a little understated. It was true that the club was never packed as we have seen it before, surprising in some way’s as when Matinee runs, the club ends up over spilling, although we love it when there is room to move around and to be fair, we didn’t arrive till well gone 9 a.m. Nevertheless, the main floor atmosphere was awesome, the lighting effects electric & the dancing displays dynamic. However the star performer in our eyes was Steve Pitron, as yet again he proved that Beyond seems to be his favourite backyard, where his first rate D.J. talents always seem to come to the fore, a true asset to the Beyond brand & well worth his legendary status.

There is no doubt that the scene is going through tough times at the moment, with many clubbers either being very selective about where & when they spend their hard earned cash, the big brands feeling it just as much as the little minnows, with Vauxhall more than any other sector of gAyland London seemingly suffering. The view seems to be that people are in search of not just value for money, but something fresh to re-inject enthusiasm and with some promoters already waking up to this desire, there should be some interesting developments as the summer season progresses. However, Beyond seems to continue to buck the trend, perhaps because its recipe is tried & tested and its afterhours appeal remains strong. And on the basis of this latest instalment we are sure it’s longevity will remain intact, we certainly hope so. (DISCO MATT)

bpm afterhours at Barcode Vauxhall - Club Review

BPM AFTERHOURS @BARCODE VAUXHALL – SUNDAY 14TH JUNE
REVIEW FOR SEENQUEEN



The afterhours scene has always been a coveted prize in gAylist London with many of the big names having their go at attracting the “early morning” clubber, although only a handful have stood the test of time and we all know the names of the two most successful brands in the last 18 years, one which still continues to dominate weekly, the other with it’s special events that still draws massive attention & crowds to match. However, it is not to say that there isn’t room for anymore, indeed it is sometimes refreshing to do & be somewhere a little different.

Therefore, we hailed the launch of a new afterhours experience designed in its concept to be a stylish and swish alternative to the norm, where magnificent music was matched by a quality crowd in sophisticated surroundings. So it was that “bpm” was launched with its first outing on Easter weekend proving not quite as popular as expected, but then with tough competition of tried & tested specialist in this field, Trade running, it was little surprise. So how would this latest bpm outing do?

Well, having missed out on the first one, we were determined to make this one and on the back of a Matinee experience across the other side of Vauxhall, it was a mere hop, skip & jump to Barcode Vauxhall, the latest host for this new after-hours brand. And having torn ourselves away from the magical music madness of Pagano, it was definitely time to chill for a while, in comfortable surrounds amidst lots of familiar friendly faces. And we couldn’t have chosen a better place, as we arrived at Barcode’s door at just turned 7 a.m. with pal Benoit, who was itching to keep the party going at fever pitch pace, but this was definitely a more sedate affair as we dropped off our belongings in the coatcheck & then investigated the club space at the back of the venue, before retiring to the middle bar for refreshments.

It seemed that most of the action was taking place in the front room and no wonder why, as Alessandro was in charge of the decks, delivering a deliciously delirious mix of chilled yet upbeat house tunes that had us dancing in an instant. Quite where he had found these superb sounds we weren’t sure, but his choice of tracks was absolutely perfect for the afterhours vibe and spot on with the magnificent music that bpm had sought to achieve from the outset. Record after record had us mesmerised on our spot & we can say without question, this was the best set we have experienced in the hands of this spurning talent, who has truly earned his places as part of the Matinee family of D.J.’s, but looking so much at home in this early morning format.

To add to the atmosphere, there were plenty of familiar faces around, many of whom had enjoyed the exploits at bpm’s bigger sister’s party across at Colosseum. Minty was here looking remarkably fresh accompanied by her beau, Industri pals Chris & Terry were soaking up the atmosphere, Max Sanna, who’s set we had missed but was kicking back & relaxing, Jeremy Precelton was present, having finished shift, slipping into the mood, Cliff Jackson, who had come down to see what was on offer, the delectable Mark M Forms, who had worked so hard & tirelessly to put on the scintillating shows at Matinee, so was trying to relieve the stresses with fellow friend Romano, even Oliver who had beaten us too it and came bounding up, giving us his characteristic welcome, lifting us high into the air in a massive hug, then imparting some very sentimental thoughts which were very touching indeed, so we really couldn’t have asked for better company to slide into a lazy sunny Sunday.

But it was far from lazy, as Alessandro’s pulsating performance kept us moving at a pace and when his set came to an end, far too quickly for our liking, Recreation promoter & established D.J. talent Lee Yeomans took over, keeping up the pace making sure that even with a slight change in the musical style, hinting to a more tech infused house heaven direction, the chilled yet upbeat vibe blended smoothly seeing us continuing to jive away with Chris & others, burning up our spot in mystical motion.

With our friend Benoit having moved on to further exploits, we took a moments respite from the action inside, relaxing outside on Barcode’s terrace, mixing with Oliver, Alessandro & friends, sharing news on Matinee, on Ibiza, on Pride and many other issues as well as gossip, then trading trips inside to soak up Lee’s music and consuming shots of Sambuca amongst other drinks (at gone 8 a.m. in the morning!!) with exploits outside, spotting D.J. Steve Pitron walking past on his way to work, but pausing to say hello, with him hinting us towards another party that was brewing up a storm.

However, for some reason, we wanted to see out the rest of bpm, which with the combination of charismatic company & marvellous music was proving to be just the afterhours chilling ticket the doctor had ordered following the frenetic activities at Matinee. And the remaining select bunch of faithfuls clearly had the same idea as D.J. Devilish shared mixing duties with Lee right up to the slightly premature finish at 9.30 a.m.. But with all best intentions to saunter off home laid to waste we succumbed to temptations, disappearing to Beyond to round off an already wonderful weekend.

Well, what did we think of bpm and did it fulfil our expectations? The answer to that is yes, as in aiming to deliver style, quality & sophistication, it got extremely close to achieving just that. There was no doubt that the crowd were just the sort we loved to mix with (non of your trashy & chavvy set here) & it was true that in the relaxing yet swish surroundings of Barcode Vauxhall, it had the feeling of an amazing chill-out session, not least in the hands of Alessandro who entertained us with some monstrous music. So for these reasons, we thought bpm was superb in a select sort of way, yes it wasn’t packed, but then you know what they say about quality compared to quantity.

However, as we have already said, the coveted prize that is the afterhours experience is just that and in reality bpm was always going to struggle against the competition in the form of Beyond which has grasped a stranglehold on this Sunday morning slot and with it strutting its stuff just next door in Area, in some ways it was a “no brainer” that this legendary club would steal the lions share of punters. As for bpm as a brand, we think it has all the right ingredients to work, but maybe timing and location have been against it so far. However with Matinee under evolution with a move away from Vauxhall, we feel that if bpm follows suit, then it should succeed and deserves to do so. (DISCO MATT)

Matinee "Ibiza 09" - Club Review

MATINEE “IBIZA 09” – SATURDAY 13TH JULY
REVIEW FOR SEENQUEEN


With the summer here, or certainly very close, it was definitely time for the sun to shine on gAylist London and combining this with the launch of the summer season of parties across Europe but moreover on the “golden isle”, Ibiza, a clubbers ultimate destiny, what better way to celebrate all of this with a special party. To give it a true Balearic feel, it wouldn’t quite be the same unless the name behind the event was truly Spanish, so the choice to host a party in the capital was limited to very few, so who would it be?

Well, of course the answer was non other than Matinee, brought to London by Oliver Mohns & his team at Evolved Events, which has enjoyed incredible success in the three years this most well known of Spanish club brands has been making waves on the scene in good old blighty. Having constantly evolved, through not just new looks, but new sounds & mostly new venues, it has been most successful at super club Colosseum in Vauxhall, parties Viva, Erotica & Masked Ball being real highlights & our top three, so the big question on our minds was, would Ibiza 09 prove to be just as good?

After a well earned break since May Day Bank Holiday, Matinee returned to its usual slot, which also heralded our usual warm up habit of a trip to Barcode Soho to get the night going with a bang and it couldn’t have been a better start as Matinee resident & scene favourite Brent Nicholls was holding fort in the club. Arranging to meet up with friend Stephen, it was no surprise that we soon got drawn into the web of excitement being woven by this D.J. maestro, so all plans to jaunt across to Farringdon for a birthday celebration were laid to waste & we really had to tear ourselves away at midnight to make our way to Vauxhall.

But make it we did, as a swift taxi journey found us at Colosseum’s doors in a jiffy and into the welcoming arms of door hostess Minty, looking absolutely gorgeous in a stunning white sequin encrusted dress, a definite change to her normal outfits, but a good one nevertheless. With the promise of our usual shots of Sambuca, we got quickly through the familiar security checks & team, who recognised us in a jot, although we were anxious to relieve our weak kidneys, so left our friend Stephen at the riverside bar while jaunting across the already packed main floor. But as is always seems to be the case, our plight had to be put on hold as we came across a multitude of friends, including Lee Yeomans & Max Sanna, then party animal Romano, whom we had shared a night of fun just 24 hours previously, Fierce International big tops Mark M Forms & Nik Ripley, then spotting Matinee’s marvellous lighting technician Bubbles, the delightful D.J. Hugh Stevenson as well as Cliff Jackson who was making his first trip to Matinee in a while, it seemed the list of familiar faces would never end.

However, with greetings exchanged & duties done, we popped quickly into the VIP room to see Nathan 6 behind the decks, so made a quick return through the main floor and looking across to the D.J. booth, spotted non other than Evolved Events supremo Oliver M behind the illuminated neon floored D.J. booth, spinning some serious sounds and whipping up a frenzy on the dancefloor. Waving and then exchanging hello’s we left him to his devices and headed back to pal Stephen to charge our glasses & sink the Sambuca shots with Minty, before finding a comfortable spot in the far corner of the main room dancefloor, next to the D.J. booth, which gave us a clear view of the stage at the other end of the space, which stretched right along the wall, making for a superb stand for the Fierce International crew of dancers, who made their way out to then perform a scintillating show, dressed in revealing sailors outfits, looking just the part and cutting a confident stride as they entertained the audience.

With superstar Matinee Spain resident Taito Tikaro taking to the decks, the music took on quite an eclectic mood with a mix of euro deep house & more mainstream dancefloor fillers which, for us, didn’t quite hit the mark, but with a couple of trips round into the V.I.P. room proving fruitless & having lost our friend Stephen in the crowd, who had gone in search of fellow Industri pal Chris, we settled back into our original spot to soak up the main room buzz, which was further enhanced by not one but two more dancing displays by the Fierce crew, garbed in scant beach wear, then back in their sexy sailors outfits, carrying explosive ticker tape guns, showering the crowd & building the atmosphere to fever pitch.

With Oliver M’s return to the decks, we felt more secure in our spot, further enhanced with Mark & Nik’s presence and then the arrival of friend Benoit, a complete surprise, but a pleasant one at that. Then to make matters even better, the Italian Stallion Pagano appeared behind the decks, to steady the musical mood with his progressive hunky chunky house and it was clear in an instant that many had been waiting for him, although his slot had been pushed further back from his usual. Nevertheless, we fell into our grove which was only interrupted by a momentarily departure to the V.I.P. room to see Alessandro and savour his more Disco tipped house, which was going down much better than his two predecessors and then having bumped into more friends, Matt Bird, Hi-Fi Sean, Paul Coles as well as a handful of other familiar faces, we settled back on the main room to see out the rest of this Matinee party in the hands of a pulsating performance by Pagano.

But with time moving on and the crowd beginning to thin, our thoughts were turning to the after-hours options on offer across the other side of Vauxhall, so saying our goodbyes to remaining friends, including Pagano, who was determined that we should see out the full extent of his set, we were eventually released into a sunny & remarkably warm 7 a.m. Sunday morning for a slow walk to further clubbing exploits with our friend Benoit, reflecting on the fact that we were still not really over our experience of two weeks ago, which had affected our ability to fully relax.

So, what was our verdict on Matinee Ibiza 09 and can it be included in our top three? Well, if we were perfectly honest it had some heavenly highs coupled with lacklustre lows, the highs being the D.J. performances by Oliver M who lifted the atmosphere on two occasions across the evening, by the stage shows in the hands of Mark M Forms’ Fierce International crew which were breathtakingly amazing, performing from both stages & the large podiums across the room and of course Pagano, who has this unique ability of drawing the best out of an adoring crowd & is clearly at home controlling Matinee’s main room. As for the lows, well our usual V.I.P. room escapades barely got off the ground with a topsy turvy D.J. line up missing a Matinee regular that is always a draw for us & many. As a result we were confined to the main room and despite the need to fill the line up with a Spanish resident, Taito Tikaro simply didn’t deliver to expectations, detracting from an otherwise incredible atmosphere.

With calls by many hinting towards the time for change, it seems that the promoters are looking to do just that with Matinee and chatting with Oliver after the event it is clear that the club is in the process of further evolution, not just in terms of style, but in terms of venue, both to keep the brand fresh and to move it forward, maintaining it’s popularity. There was no doubt that this latest instalment ticked a lot of boxes and had many of the ingredients that make Matinee magnificent, but the cornerstone of any club success, in our view, is the music and it has to be said that it failed to hit the mark where it counted, moreover for the line up & format than anything else. So, our top three remain intact, but despite that, we had a great time, in great company & will be back to see the evolution for sure. (DISCO MATT)

Salvation - Club Review

SALVATION – SATURDAY 30TH MAY
REVIEW

Across the years of our clubbing career (can we call it that?!) there have been a number of brands that have come & gone, some retired to rest, others recently started that fill a major part of our activity, but with a mere handful (well less) that have survived the test of our time. So, when they appear in our calendar of events, we not only reminisce about ventures of the past but rave about what is about to occur. Yes, we like familiarity and you know what they say about that?

Salvation is one such club brand, which has been making its mark on the London Club scene since we can remember, a true gAylisting event attracting a select crowd that know quality when they see it and, for so many years at the opulent, overt and downright outrageously gorge venue, Café De Paris (who can forget that sweeping double staircase!!) then in different incarnations, firstly at The Bloomsbury Ballrooms, then at the humongous Hippodrome. Wherever it has been held, the bywords have been class, charisma & quintessential quality, so with the news that this most exemplary of events was on the move again, this time away from the clutches of Central London, would it continue to evoke everything we expect?

Well, we were excited at this very prospect as we made our way out to The Troxy in Limehouse, one of London’s biggest dance theatre’s, which hosted Salvation’s Easter outing (one we sadly missed due to illness) and is now it’s permanent (as much as permanent is) home, an interesting choice given its somewhat suburban locale, but in reality not a major stones throw from the City, but for some a definite taxi journey from the usual entrapments. And a taxi journey is how we arrived with mates Jeremy, Nick and new found friend/clubbing pal Joel, whom we had spent an over-the-top outing to Orange Summer of Love just a week before, so we were certainly in good company as we pulled up to and poured into this most cavernous of club venues.

Now, some of the criticisms of The Hippodrome were levelled at the heavyweight security and the poor organisation, but there was nothing of that here, as we were both efficiently and courteously managed into the venue, finding ourselves in an enormous entrance hall, which had more of the feeling of a hotel rather than a theatre club, plush carpets smart lighting and decorated to a high standard, certainly sheek rather than shabby, a far better first impression than its counterpart The Coronet. As we set off in search of the coatcheck, we came across Fierce International friends Mark M Forms & Nik Ripley, both out to enjoy themselves rather than face the prospect of working and it was so good to see them both off duty for a change.

Having deposited our belongings into the coatcheck, we made our way back down & into the main room, a huge space, we would say the biggest auditorium we have seen, think The Fridge and times it by three. With two massive bar areas stretching down each side, the room split level with a massive demarcated dancefloor space leading towards a stage area bigger than we have seen in any club and the D.J. booth set back from an extended performance catwalk, it is an impressive space indeed but given its size a real challenge to fill and build an amazing atmosphere. We headed to the bar for refreshments, Joel starting off as he meant to go on, enticing us into the extravagancies, before we headed for the dance space, which was scantly filled with a eclectic concoction of typical Salvation lookers, muscle queens, Latino lovelies & scene faces, intermixed with a more G.A.Y. type crowd who were clearly drawn by the centrepiece of this party, Kelly Rowland, who was due to take to the stage a little later.

We were keen to catch up with Salvation promoter Steve Elliot and found him across the other side of the dancefloor, which had an incredibly bouncy feel, with more investigation, covered by interesting lino tiles, certainly serving as a soft landing for frenetic dancing feet, but strange nevertheless. Steve was in a buoyant mood, looking forward to Kelly’s show and with Sharon O Love in charge of the decks, delivering some delirious dancefloor fillers, the atmosphere was certainly being ramped up. Mis-White arrived to say hello and then went off to prepare herself to take over from Sharon, so leaving Steve to his devices we fell into a spot at the side of the dance space, trading trips to the bar with gyrating to the sounds of Sharon, then Mis-White who continued to entice the building crowd with a string of huge house hits to increase the pace even more.

It was fair to say that this point that the venue was barely half full, although with midnight only just approaching, the crowds began to spill into Troxy’s massive space and with the expectant show by Destiny’s Child’s ex headliner, there seemed to be a feeling more akin to the Astoria, although attention was drawn to the stage by a series of sexy go.go’s and dancers dressed to delight & a collection of performers on stilts to inject some theatre into proceedings. Our attention, however, was on Joel who seemed to be succumbing to the atmosphere a little quicker than we anticipated, drawing us in with him, the advances of a girl armed with what looked like a water bottle but was clearly something else, spelling disaster for him and us as our night was destined to come to an abrupt end, although not before a series of drama’s were to unfold behind the scenes.

At least we managed to see out Kelly Rowland’s fifteen minute performance, as she hit the audience with her smash, “Work” followed by her new single “When Love Takes Over", while a gathering of hands in the air fans surrounded the catwalk stage space setting Salvation apart from any other party we had seen before (not quite our cup of tea it has to be said), before leaving the stage to rapturous applauses, giving way to Pier Morrocco who took over the D.J. duties eventually hading over to Salvation new boy Alessandro to see the night out in wave of CO2 cannon explosions, intermixes with superb lighting shows from the seven incredible lasers bouncing off the Troxy’s walls & ceilings. However, our night was already over as we had our new found friend Joel to look after, comforting him on our trip home, leaving our other pals to see the night out with the remaining Salvation stalwarts.

So, what did we think of the latest instalment of Salvation and what of its new home the Troxy? Well, moving the event from its usual timing of a Sunday evening should have proven popular and it was in a way with a crowd of 1300 or so in attendance, but you cannot escape the fact that with a capacity exceeding 2500, The Troxy with its massive dimensions needs to be much fuller to achieve the atmosphere attained regularly at Café De Paris, which for us is sorely missed. Couple this with a seeming plethora of people over in Ibiza for Space’s launch, as well as for many Salvation signalling the end to a hectic month of partying, the steam may have run out prematurely before May was done.

However, there was no denying that those present at the party had a terrific time, with magical music in the hands of the residents D.J’s Sharon, Mis-White, Pier & incumbent Alessandro, a pulsating performance from Kelly Rowland, all combined with extra special effects to maintain the party mood. For us however, our night came to an end far too quickly and actually proved to be a traumatic experience, no fault of Salvation of course, but not something we don’t want to repeat and there are lessons to be learnt. Our overriding relief is that our friend survives to fight another day, we hope on the dancefloor with us soon. (DISCO MATT)

The Box Bar - Review

THE BOX – FRIDAY 29TH MAY
REVIEW


Now, Friday is becoming a bit of a tradition for us, as with our new day job, we often find ourselves relaxing after a hard days work, winding down within the buzz that is Soho, with our regular haunt, Rupert Street, being the choice pick. However, every now and then we like to break with tradition and whilst this week was not really different to others, we seemed in even more of a party mood, but wanting to connect with great pals and savour something of the gAylist style that is sometimes missing from our end of week antics.

So, with plans to meet up with Salvation promoter Steve Elliot early in the evening and news that our other promoter come D.J. (come lots more!) friend, Oliver Mohns, was in town to play, it seemed that all paths were going to meet at The Box, just off Seven Dials in Covent Garden. With the news slowly spreading amongst other friends, we were anticipating one of those fabulously impromptu gatherings that have proven magical in the past and we weren’t to be disappointed as with a speedy jaunt across from out first stop, Rupert Street, we arrived at The Box’s doors at just after
8 p.m.

A warm and balmy May evening was unfolding, signalling that many were taking advantage, spilling onto The Box’s outside frontage, although with all of the windows open, inside felt just as much like outside, as we squeezed passed alfresco drinkers and into a packed bar, sliding right round the back of the space in search of the D.J. booth, which from memory used to be positioned in the far corner, in an elevated spot behind the bar so the view of the audience was at its best. However, not finding our man of the moment there, we went in search of refreshments at the one space that we could find at the bar, right back out towards the windows and, low & behold, there was Oliver Mohns, behind the makeshift D.J. booth, spinning away and warming up the crowd with some funky house tunes more akin to this bar atmosphere than his regular clubbing exploits.

With drinks speedily despatched from the welcoming bar staff, we were behind the D.J. decks receiving our now characteristic welcome from Oliver, who grabbed us in a huge embrace, lifting us high into the air, even in the confined space, making for a thrilling start that was set to turn out to be one special evening to savour. Looking around the crowd was developing nicely, a genuine mix of Latino lovelies, muscle queens, scene faces and an altogether high quality collection of cuties, very gAylist in its look & attitude and just the sort of people we have come to love & adore. But, it was Salvation supremo Steve Elliot whom we had mostly made the effort to meet, although it seemed he had been drawn away around the bar on promotional duty (and why not?!). However, it wasn’t long before his familiar face appeared from in amongst the masses to give us a big hug and kiss.

Oliver was now well into his stride with his musical choices, delivering some delectable sounds, enticing his audience into the bar which was getting busier and busier by the moment. We were anxious to find out whether Oliver’s beau, Robb, was going to make an appearance, perhaps emulating our celebrations of his birthday just two weeks ago in this very space, although there were plenty of pals around to keep the conversation flowing, including Cliff Jackson, which gave us the opportunity to catch up on clubbing news, not least our conflicting views on the success of SuperMartXe the previous weekend, his experienced eye matching our meticulousness which always makes for interesting intercourse (of the taking kind, silly!). We were also graced with the appearance of Salvation D.J. resident Mis-White (known socially as Emma) a pint sized powerhouse who had entertained us so brilliantly at the Famous party just a few weeks ago and whom we were certainly looking forward to her set at the Salvation outing to come. Then, the arrival of Fierce International figurehead, the gorge Mark M Forms lifted our buoyant mood even further & with the rebellious Romano in tow, this served to electrify the atmosphere, Mark clearly being as pleased to see us as we were him.

With all these faces around, the feeling now was more of a Salvation pre-party rather than a mere outing to The Box on a Friday and with flyers spread all around the bar, with talk on everyone’s lips of Kelly Rowland taking centre stage at the main event, as well as so many Salvation faithful's in situ it could well have been just that, especially with Oliver continuing to mesmerise with his musical magic, pulling out some terrific tunes that really got us dancing away in our select corner, getting down to tracks including Serge Devant’s “Addicted”, Eddie Coulter’s “Now Your Gone” and even the fab J Velarde newbie “Serious Emotions”, all so much more mainstream than his Matinee mixes, but testament to the diverse talents of this grassroots D.J. turned prominent club promoter.

We really didn’t want the night to end and being in such distinguished company, not to mention mixing with a stylish sophisticated crowd (so breathtakingly refreshing to the sometimes mundane morosity of other parts of the bar culture scene in gAyland London) as well as the sumptuous surroundings why would we want to leave. Moreover, with superb service from the bar staff, who were clearly under pressure dealing with the constant four deep thirsty throng, but succeeded supremely, the gorgeous Guilherme giving us fantastic and efficient attention each time we made our way to the bar, this really made our experience extra special. However, the 11 p.m. closing time arrived with remarkable speed, drawing to a close a most enjoyable impromptu evening full of fun & frivolity.

So, saying our goodbye’s to Emma, to Steve, to Mark, to Romano, but mostly to Oliver who had played out a perfect performance, delighting us and everyone around with scintillating sounds, we headed out of The Box and onto further pastures south of the river at Barcode Vauxhall to savour yet more musical magic in the hands of Brent Nicholls, who was captivating the crowd in the club space of our hospitable local hangout.

Well, what did we think of our experience at the Box and will we be returning soon? Simply on the grounds of the true gAylist feel of this Friday night foray, we will definitely be returning, as it is clear The Box is the favoured choice of the stylish set, who want to end their week & start the weekend in the best possible way. Whilst The Box is moderate in size, it makes up for it in sophisticated surroundings complimented by superb service from a sexy selection of staff, unflustered by the demands of a deluge of drinkers. It is clear that the owner Frank and his management team continue to carve out a niche for themselves in a competitive climate to attract the pink pound.

Friday is clearly the most popular night of the week for this Seven Dials situated swanky bar, but it is also a perfect place to meet, any time of the day or night, if its just a catch up over coffee, a social gathering of like minded friends or even a tasty breakfast, lunch or evening meal, selected from their extensive food menu, The Box is an ideal choice for not only the discerning gAylister but anyone in search of an enjoyable experience. We certainly had a exceptional experience this time round, will be back soon for sure and if you need one, it certainly gets our recommendation. (DISCO MATT)