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)
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)
No comments:
Post a Comment