"Profiling A Prolific Prequel" - SuperMartXe's Samurai Pre-Party - Special Review

PROFILING A PROLIFIC PREQUEL” –
SUPERMARTXE SAMURAI PRE- PARTY
PROFILE & LO-PROFILE – FRIDAY 19TH FEBRUARY
REVIEW FOR SEENQUEEN


There is little doubt that over the last twelve months or so, the gAylist clubbing scene in London has, like many other aspects of our life, suffered & struggled with the ravages of the economic downturn worldwide, which seems to have hit blighty a little harder than others, although there have been a small handful of clubs that have definitely bucked that trend, not only attracting huge numbers, but in one case, injecting the kind of vitality into the scene that has seen 2010 dawn with a bigger, better & stronger prospect for many more. Packing out its theatre style venue home with numbers rarely seen elsewhere in recent times, it has very much captured the imagination and has left some of its main rivals floundering in the wings, this dynamic club brand even shaking off the considerable levels of controversy it attracted in its early days, now seemingly to be the yardstick by which other big club events measure themselves against.

SuperMartXe very much changed the clubbing landscape following its launch in London and since marrying with Profile & Lo-Profile to be hosts for its pre-parties, these outings have increasingly attracted nearly as much attention & interest as the main events themselves. The first prequel to be hosted by the duo on Wardour Street, “Under The Sea” back in October, saw the Logan Presents team cleverly transform the frontage of Profile Bar to superb effect, creating the illusion that the dancers performing in the window space were literally under the sea and subsequent parties have seen similar levels of commitment to make these prequel outings proper events in their own right. So, it was inevitable that we were going to make the trip into Soho, even if we had to face a chilly & damp Friday evening journey to do so, knowing that we would be in good hands once we arrived.

And we were certainly not to be disappointed, as entering Profile at just turned 9 p.m., the party was already in full swing, two of Logan’s team (we affectionately called the then schmitzels) Lunarde & Mauricio were in attendance and busying themselves with preparations for the dancers who were due to take their positions in the window, which was suitably decorated with Chinese style lanterns and large red drapes. The rest of the venue had been decked out too and as we approached the bar to seek refreshments, Mauricio arrived to give us a warm hug & kiss, sparing a few moments from his busy organising to take us through some of the plans for the evening, as well as promising to source us that illusive SuperMartXe t-shirt we had been dying to get our hands on. As he sped off to tend to the go-go’s, we turned to the bar where the ever present, smiling and attentive Philippe had already lined up our drink in expectation, despite having been busy mixing cocktails for other eager customers, one of the main reasons we have come to love our trips to Profile, this charming man always giving us the royal treatment like some long lost friend, a true testament to his brilliance at his vocation and a real credit to the Profile team.

Leaving Philippe, we turned to head towards the D.J. booth in the corner, our usual sanctuary & seating spot, expecting to see Phil Marriot behind the decks, although instead were pleasantly surprised to see Nick Evans standing in command, so bounded up to say our hello’s, inquisitive as to his presence, which was a last minute arrangement due to Phil being unwell. However, Nick turned out to be a brilliant replacement as he set about laying down some superb sounds, slowly warming up the crowd for the activities downstairs, pulling out of his bag some of our favourite tunes of now, including Mark Knight’s “Downpipe”, Joey Negro’s “Can’t Get High Without You” and the euro dance smash Remaday’s “No Superstar”, in every way reflecting his talent for pitching the music perfectly for the occasion, the sounds fitting nicely with the SuperMartXe theme to the evening and certainly encouraging the dancing moves of the muscled go-go’s in Profile’s front window. Having not really sampled any of Nick’s set’s, knowing him more for his close friendship with fellow D.J. pal Paul Heron, we were well & truly impressed and many a venue could do far worse than consider or add him to their list of resident jocks.

By now Profile Bar was well & truly pumping, the gay paparazzi royalty that is Chris Jepson having arrived to snap away the plenty of familiar club & scene faces that were in attendance to soak up this special prequel of “Samurai” splendour. Included in this was Naomi Ruiz who had arrived with friends, but spotted us at the bar while the gorge Philippe was refreshing our glass, floating over to say hello and catch up on news from the past weekends string of events. Logan’s partner Michael was also close by, the man himself, like Mr Marriot, not being well enough to be present, so we passed on our get well wishes through Michael also re-capping on other news since seeing him at Matinee. Then turning, first Lunarde popped up to say his hello’s, then the busy Mauricio appeared, SuperMartXe t-shirt in hand, which we duly slipped into, entering fully into the pre-party spirit as Nick continued to add to the already brilliant atmosphere with yet more splendid sounds.

But, all too soon the 11 p.m. Profile close time arrived, although in reality the party was only just beginning, as down in Lo-Profile, Paul Heron was stoking up a storm with some mesmeric music to elevate the atmosphere in this underground space. With a whole host of people making their way down from Profile upstairs, as well as folks arriving direct, it wasn’t too long before the club space was filling nicely and the anticipation for the incumbent dance shows grew, although the wait seemed to go on a little too long for us. Mind you, with Chris Jepson still around and tempting us down onto the small dancefloor for a boogie, then Paul Heron keeping us entertained with conversational quips in-between his energetic track mixing, we were far from bored, indeed were having great time, made even better as we headed to the bar to see the smiling face of Philippe, probably the most hardworking server we have ever come across, yet obliging & charming as always.

Then, back in our place by the D.J. booth, Mauricio’s hurried to’s & fro’s signalled the arrival of the dancers, dressed in silk oriental style trousers, sporting cute pointed cone hats on their heads and carrying samurai style swords, perfectly fitting for the theme of the party, both setting out to dazzle the by now packed Lo-Profile with a brilliant dancing display on the two small podiums not far in front of us. They then proceeded to trade places with other muscled go-go boys & glamorous geisha styled girls in a sequence of short shows that certainly lived up to the high standards we have come to expect from the Logan Presents team. But the quality of music also matched the shows, Paul Heron treating us to some terrific tunes that had our feet more than tapping to the tempo’s, although he was soon to complete his set, handing over the reins to SuperMartXe resident Tony English, who took up where Paul had left off, serving up the kind of sounds that had the club well & truly rocking and most evocative of his sets at “Alice” and at the recent “Lovechild” 1st birthday where he entertained us brilliantly.

Unfortunately however, by now the sad personal news we had received earlier in the day & had pushed to the back of our mind, was unshakably grabbing our attention too much to allow us to continue enjoying this pre-party extra-ordinaire, so we thought better of continuing our night unabated, rather collecting our belongings from behind the D.J. booth, in preparation to head for home. We managed to say our farewells to Paul Heron, whom we wouldn’t probably now see before his trip down under for Sydney’s Mardi Gras event (although as it turned out we did see him in Profile Bar the following night, giving us the opportunity to apologise for our odd behaviour), also making a point of waving bye to Philippe behind the bar, before we made our way up & out of Lo-Profile’s space leaving behind a pumping prequel to SuperMartXe’s main “Samurai” event, sinking into a soaked Soho to negotiate our way to our restful & comforting bed.

Well, how can we sum up SuperMartXe’s Samurai pre-party at Profile & Lo-Profile? Well, simply by saying it was splendidly paradisiacal, superbly pleasurable and spot on, a real peach of a prequel. From the magnificent music to the delightful dancers, from the terrific team to the cool crowd, we couldn’t have asked for a more engaging night of pleasurable fun, made especially great by Nick Evans, Paul Heron and of course Philippe. But that takes nothing away from everyone else involved and we have to give special thanks not just to Lunarde but moreover to Mauricio who obviously worked so hard to make the night a success and his passion for SuperMartXe and his mentor Logan shines through and Mr Schmitz should be proud to have him in his team. And a final thanks goes to Profile’s G.M. Rosella, who has nurtured the product that is Profile Bar to not only play its part as the prolific host for SuperMartXe’s pre-party but a perfect place to socialise in absolute pleasure. So you can bet your bottom dollar we will be back very soon, especially with Philippe behind the bar. (DISCO MATT)

Orange "Citric Seduction" - Club Review

ORANGE “CITRIC SEDUCTION” – SUNDAY 14TH FEBRUARY
REVIEW FOR SEENQUEEN


Sunday nights used to be a hot bed of activity across gAylist land London, with not just the early evenings attracting out the glitterati to party the night away, but with the slot proving so popular, a whole load of options were available to take you into Monday morning, often meaning that either a weary day lay ahead in the office or a rain check was taken on the day, one club being more responsible than any others for laying to waste the start of the working week. But as late Sunday clubbing began to tumble off the edge of the popularity stakes, it was going to take only the toughest to survive the drought of activity, while many new ventures simply floundered barely weeks into trying out the timing. But one club did survive and seems to be re-kindling desires to delve deep into the devilish decadence that is afterhours on a Monday morning.

Orange, since its inception at the turn of the century has really stamped its mark on the afterhour’s market, being the first club to take over the then named “Viaduct” venue in Vauxhall, which we all now know as Fire, adding another dimension to an already spurning clubbing village. And as the years have rolled by, it has made an immense impact on the scene, sparking one of the most successful, if sometimes controversial promotions group that now has an incredible hold on this market south of the river. Taking its name from the club itself, The Orange group has become very influential, although its perceived cut throat activity has definitely attracted adverse publicity, but in reality the team of today is very much about creating superb events attracting a like minded crowd with music & dance central to the theme, although some would argue that was always the case.

So, after a period of absence, but never regularly being able to party into Monday morning, our Valentine’s weekend would not really have been complete with another trip on the wild side, especially as pal Joel was determined to make his first weekend of clubbing in 2010 a special one, we decided on a post DTPM trip to Orange’s “Citric Seduction” party, arriving at Fire’s doors at not long past midnight. On the door to greet us was none other than club promoter Steven Sharp who seemed thrilled to see us, handing out complimentary tickets to ensure our smooth entrance through into the club proper, which was already pumping with action, the main room sparkling with the brilliant laser lighting that Fire seems to do brilliantly. So, having deposited our belongings into the coatcheck and thinking to ourselves, here we go again, we were down onto Fire’s main room, finding a spot in the surprisingly packed space to dance away to the delights emanating from the D.J. booth, as resident jock, The Oli, was beating out a fabulously uplifting yet funky collection of tunes to deliver some real energy into an already up for it crowd.

Now, not having been to Orange for quite a while, we were very much taken aback by the quality of the crowd, none of your drunken G head queens that seem to have plagued the clubs reputation, but a responsible crowd of hard core hedonists that were definitely up for some audacious action, savouring the superb sounds on offer and with the relative low key production, but with vivacious citric visuals on the screens, it was clear the music was doing the talking and it was definitely gabbling at a gorgeous pace, with one floor filling sound after the next adding to the already incredible atmosphere. Having sampled some of The Oli’s magic a while ago, when Sunday afternoon outings Later formed a major part of our clubbing landscape, we always enjoyed his musical mixes and he once again proved to us that he definitely hadn’t lost his touch, although his set was over all too soon, handing over the reins to one half of The Sharp Boys, George, who set about laying down a tougher edged style string of sounds, but with plenty of oomph in them to keep the party pace at fever pitch, before being joined to Steven to continue the revelry.

Amazed at our effortless enthusiasm to dance, we hardly feeling tired despite the 48 hours of partying already under our belt, Joel & pal Julian kept seeking respite through energy boosting drinks and powdering their noses, while we continued unabated on the dancefloor. And when uber chic & legendary D.J. Fat Tony arrived, warming up for his main floor set, making his presence felt, dancing away in the company of on off duty Paul Martin, not far from us, this seemed to spurt us on more. Seeing him arrive, we knew that we were in for a real treat, although it would be a case of deciding between him and Paul Heron who was due to start in the “raw” room next door, a difficult choice as we love the style of both, each in their own way delivering distinctive magical musical sets.

With Joel have returned following friend Julian’s departure for work commitments later, we paused on the main floor for a while, as Tony took over the decks, continuing where the Sharp Boys had left off, but our attentions were turning to the second room and agreed with Joel that we should go an sample a bit of Heron hedonism, it evident that others had the same idea too, the space soon filling to brimming, as Paul began to lay down some serious sounds that had us dancing dizzily on our spot. Our enjoyment was increased with the arrival of Nick Tcherniak along with boyf Tom, both whom we had seen earlier at DTPM and, like us, didn’t want their night to end, so it seemed the “raw” room was the place to be. And as we were circled by a handful of hunky men with more than an eye on us, with Joel, Nick & Tom in close quarter and even French fancy D.J. Steven Gaeten Scott Haler wafting by & saying his hello’s our night (well morning!) couldn’t have been more perfect in the “citric seduction” hands of Orange.

With Paul’s stupendous set coming to a far too quick end, Joel decided his night was up and waved goodbye, leaving us in the company of Nick, Tom & co, Fat Tony having now joined the fray following mopping proceedings up in the main room, but with Gonzalo Rivas firing up behind the “raw” rooms decks, we found second (well probably more like sixth) wind as his choice of tunes was simply stunning, a fabulous mix of old time classic hard hitting house tracks, intermixed with current masterpieces that short of took our breath away. Having enjoyed so many great sets of his at a whole host of parties that this brilliant D.J. has played at over the years, our memories of his performances at Trade always stand out and as we danced away deliriously, memories of the terrific times we had there in his hands came flooding back to mind, although his set this time probably had more shades of Salvation to it, but whatever it was, Gonzalo was simply scintillating and we loved it.

By now, Paul Heron was by our side and we congratulated him on a fabulous performance, then man exclaiming what a joy it is to play in this special space and alongside Mr Gonzalo and it was great to see him smiling and having a good time. But, with the morning creeping on in front of our eyes and having been out partying since Friday, the inevitable call of time arrived and we decided to hang up our boots, collecting our belongings from the coatcheck, then saying our goodbye’s to Paul and also to Steven Sharp who seemed more than pleased with both the turnout and the whole vibe of this amazing afterhours experience, thanking us for making the effort to attend and pointing the way to bigger & better things ahead for Orange. So, leaving Fire behind, we sauntered into a chilly Vauxhall Monday morning to make the short journey home and collapse into our bed to recover from a marathon weekend, but with some many great memories to recap.

Well, how did our trip to Orange for its special Valentines “Citric Seduction” party go? and what are our thoughts on the club having been away for so long? Well, it is probably evident that we had a brilliant time. Not only was the music mesmerically great, with exceptional performances from both Paul Heron & Gonzalo Rivas, but the company we held was fabulous too, friends Joel & Julian helping to make it a night/morning to remember, the presence of Nick Tcherniak & Tom a real bonus. And the crowd in general seemed a much more mature lot, yes there was a smattering of klub kids, but none of the reckless & trashy bunch that seemed to plague Orange parties of old. It definitely seems that the club has really made massive improvements, in the music, in the people, in the atmosphere, well in truth in virtually every respect and we can easily see ourselves returning for more afterhours action in the hands of Steven Sharp & his team sometime soon. (DISCO MATT)

"From DTPM With Love" - Club Review

“FROM DTPM WITH LOVE” – SUNDAY 14TH FEBRUARY
REVIEW FOR SEENQUEEN


There are only few clubs that have graced the gAylist scene in London that command the kind of attention that turns them from popular to iconic then to legendary, in fact for all the years we have been frolicking around the countless clubs that have made it big in a vibrant cosmopolitan capital city, we can count on just one hand, those club events/brands that hold this very special distinction. Yes, there have been plenty of protagonists to the legendary crown, but in truth, it takes an exceptional string of experiences, that indescribably brilliant feel of anticipation, excitement & fulfilment and the kind of respect that truly sets it aside from the mass of other offerings, for a club to reach the dizzy heights of this sought after status.

But in amongst this elite list shines one such club brand which, after being put into early retirement by its promoter, decided to come back in true style, not just making waves, but causing the kind of stir virtually unprecedented, so much so that the first event was a sell-out within days of the ticket release and was followed by a similar reaction to its NYD party. Yes, DTPM was back and seemingly riding on the crest of a tsunami style wave, hitting the headlines and brushing away the competition like houses in the path of a tornado. So, it seemed that with the build up for their Valentine’s Day outing “From DTPM With Love” suitably poised, another repeat was on the cards, or was it? As news of the latest instalment was released, which was followed by furious sale of early bird tickets, all seem set fair, although there was something holding back our pledge to making it down to host venue Jalouse, with reviews talking of heavy handed security & drinks prices to match.

But with plenty of prodding & cajoling, not least from our clubbing pal Joel, a last minute decision was made to add it to an already hectic “love” weekend schedule and, still reeling from another brilliant Beyond party in the superb hands of Steve Pitron & co, we refreshed ourselves and made our delicate way into central London and the glamorous venue to the stars, arriving at a fashionable 6.30 p.m. With little or no queue to negotiate and being treated perfectly by a very friendly door host and security, our start couldn’t have been better and as we descended into the basement space, all things seemed well, although with the controversial fingerprinting coatcheck system in place, we reluctantly gave our details, allowing us to deposit our belongs and begin this latest DTPM extravaganza.

Entering the space, which very much had the feel of a classy bar & members club, rather than the all out & overt venues that have been home to DTPM’s of old, there was a definite sedate feel to proceedings, although the myriad of circular lights spread across the ceiling made an impact and the multi levelled seating areas, all pointing towards the compact dancefloor, leant to an altogether intimate feel. The sweeping bar was our first port of call, where some familiar faces had gathered, including promoter Lee Freeman, who greeted us warmly before going about his duties. We paused for refreshments and whilst we were expecting the prices to be somewhat exaggerated, were slightly taken aback by the £5 charge for a energy drink, but then if the place entertains the likes of Maria Carey, Leonardo Di Caprio & Pixie Geldof, who were we to argue.

Turning towards the dance area, we came across the D.J. booth, which was suitably perched above the space, giving the incumbent jocks a real sense of being in amongst the party goers rather than being cocooned in a sterile space, we catching eye with The House Husbands who were injecting their own passion into proceedings, sharing the decks in harmony and choosing some raw edged tunes to stimulate a crowd that seemed more in sociable rather than dancing mood. Mind you, with the level of security parading around the venue, there was little chance of indulging in much naughtiness, there being a real feeling of restraint. Although there was no shortage of familiar faces as a selection of pals arrived, first Clington Forbes, whom we had not seen for quite a while, then Tamsin Roberts who was one of those eager to ensure our presence at this latest DT outing, as well as Jerry Boston & his troupe of pals, whom we had rubbed shoulders with less than 12 hours before. Then finally, close clubbing pal Joel arrived, resplendent with a smart new haircut and still sporting a bit of a tan from his South Africa trip (or was it fake darling?!), with the lovely yet crazy Julian in tow, so we knew in an instant our night was about to perk up considerably.

And perk up it certainly did, as Nick Tcherniak & boyf Tom graced Jalouse’s doors, Nick setting about shifting the music into top gear while Tom honed in on our by now trademark DTPM accessory, our braces, giving them a massive twang to heighten the mood more. But having said our hello’s to both, our attention was on Joel, whom we hadn’t seen since Christmas, although both him & Julian were keen to find their bearings around the club, not that there was a massive amount to see. But we left them to drift for a bit, while we sank into the serious sounds Nick was selecting, the delight written across our faces when he picked out Celada’s “The Underground”, a track that has made an impact on us right from the first day of the year and may well form one of those illustrious top ten come then end.

With Joel & Julian back and in close attendance, we tried to step up our dancing pace and whilst we were loving Nick’s choices, there seemed to be something holding us back and were even reluctant to strip down to our waist in usual fashion, although it seemed that a few around us were being more brave, so we soon succumbed, letting ourselves go and sinking into the hard & progressive house, tinged with tribal that Mr Tcherniak was treating us to. With Joel looking to boost his night with trips both to the bar and then off to powder his nose, we continued to circle close to the D.J. booth, spotting Industri regulars David & Stuart who were very much in the mood to party and when the vivacious Tony Tansley & the fulsome Frank joined the fray, it seemed everyone that should have been present was.

Now we were well into our stride, choosing to mingle with the crowd, spotting faces we had seen pop up at previous parties, like us, seemingly not wanting their “love” weekend to end, plenty of muscle mary’s mixed in with hardcore DT fans as well as plenty more along for the ride, although it would be fair to say that the club never seemed packed and the feel of restraint never seemed to go away. Not that the music was showing any forms of restraint, Nick continuing to deliver one hard hitting tune after the next, he looking very much in the zone and loving the experience. But there was going to be more, as the legend that is Steve “Janet” Thomas appeared to say hello and with him due to take over from Nick, we knew we were in for yet more musical magic and were certainly not to be disappointed as a sequence of pure gems lifted our sagging mood, including Joey Negro’s “Can’t Get High Without U” (yes that record again!) that got our feet well & truly tapping, as did what seems to be a bit of a “Janet” anthem, a superb remix rendition of the classic “Show Me Love” and then diving deep back into some heavenly hard house to send us on a divine musical direction.

However, with the witching hour drawing closer, Joel & Julian were looking to take their partying south of the river, to continue the story of their weekend and of ours, at Orange. So agreeing that a momentary chill in the hands of Barcode would be a good idea, we did a quick run around, making our excuses to those people left, including Nick who was re-charging his glass at the bar, then retreated to the coatcheck to collect our belongings, before saying goodbye to Jalouse and the band of beauties still looking to bop their night away in the confines of this exclusive venue.

Now, what did we think of “From DTPM With Love”? and how do we see future parties panning out? Well, if we are honest, this event wasn’t a patch on the October outing, virtually in every respect. Yes the crowd was as friendly as before and the music in the hands of Nick & Steve was superb, but there was something that was missing. The venue was glamorous enough, don’t get us wrong, but it just didn’t seem to suit the style of DTPM. The overriding feel that you were being watched by the overpowering numbers of security present, in many ways held the party back from being the downright debaucherous & decadent affairs DT have been known for. So despite the efforts of the D.J’s and the lovely people in our presence, we were far from in love with Jalouse and what could have been another delectable DTPM.

So, what of future parties? Well, there is no doubt there is still passion for DTPM as a brand, evidenced by the rocketing ticket sales of the first two “come-back” events, but perhaps people are actually looking for that big party feel, which promoter Lee & his team always seemed to pull off perfectly at Fabric. In our view some of the old resident D.J’s were definitely missing and having got the formula so right at Paramount, we are not sure why this was changed. Planning the next party for Easter Sunday should ensure a return to success, so we hope that the team choose a suitable venue that allows the capacity to match the demand, although if exclusivity is what the new DTPM is about, then we regret to say that many look like being disappointed. We have no doubt the demand is there, but if people don’t get a look in, then they are likely to turn their backs on this undoubted legend of a club brand. (DISCO MATT)

"Loving the Love 2 Love Love-In" - Lovechild's 1st Birthday - Club Review

LOVE 2 LOVE – LOVECHILD’S 1ST BIRTHDAY
– SATURDAY 13TH FEBRUARY
REVIEW FOR SEENQUEEN


There is something about Valentines that always seems to bring the best out of a healthy gAylist scene in London, although with much of the big guns showing their cards on other weekends, it was down to one club event to steal the show on Valentines Saturday, actually running into the day itself. What’s more, with the name evoking the theme of the love saint’s anniversary and the added bonus of celebrating its first birthday, plus on the back of an amazing time in their nominated room at the massive New Year’s Day party, “As One”, added to the ever increasing list of accomplished & scene favourite D.J.’s, there was hardly going to be anything to stop us from attending, warming everything up with a brilliant pre-party at Rupert Street the night before (see separate review).

The party? the celebration? the outing? Well Lovechild of course, the brand that looked to change & re-invigorate the Sunday clubbing scene, but instead found its niche on a Saturday, really hitting the good times securing a residency at Fire in Vauxhall, adding a healthy dose of raunch, sex & seductiveness to the glamour it quickly became famous for in its original London home Pacha. Choosing the second Saturday of the month to host it’s events in the capital, the move was a very tactical one, yet very astute, meaning it didn’t face the prospect of clashing with the other big gAylisting gatherings, although with the team that promoter Alex Erfan has developed & nurtured, there is no surprising that the brand has become the success it is and that the best decisions are being made.

So, with our head still recovering from the Sambuca shots the previous night, kind courtesy of Chris Geary, we tarted ourselves up and made to shortish trip down to Vauxhall, arriving at Fire’s doors in good time to see Saturday turn into Sunday, meaning Valentine’s Day had started for real. Greeted on the door by the fabulous Naomi Cuiz, looking as resplendent as ever in a gorgeous fur number, holding court controlling the entrance as only she knows best, we knew we were in good hands at this “Love 2 Love Lovechild’s 1st Birthday”, with thoughts that we might find our own Valentine for once. And just after having deposited our bits & bobs into the coatcheck, it seemed our wish was going to come true as we came across the gorgeous Norbert & the sexy Mariusz, who had arrived not long before us and were finding their feet at the top of Fire’s main room. Having always had so much fun with these pair and especially Mariusz after a saucy outing at Barcode Soho, it seemed our night was going to be full of treats, especially with the infamous contact “back” room on tap. But, eager to search out the spaces, we left the duo to their devices and headed off to check out the club.

With the contact room yet to open, the main room was the focus and was being warmed up nicely by D.J. Phil Hewson, who was pumping out some sparkling house tunes to inject some pump into the atmosphere, the space having been festooned with glittering ruby red love hearts & the fixed screens added to with clever stretched white fabric ones, displaying fantastic Lovechild visuals to add to the incredible laser lighting effects. However the dancefloor proper was taking a while to fill, it seemed that many were grabbing drinks or catching up socially in the “love lounge” next door, an intimate space offering a delightful breather to the larger rooms next door, but with plenty of uplifting music on offer, Craig Daniels behind the decks delivering some really groovy & funky tracks to compliment the party mood. There we caught up with a plethora of faces from the night before, including Roni Inan, smartly dressed top to tail in a matching leopard skin like suit & huge hat, really cutting a stride, then Jerry Boston, hirsute and in heels looking every bit the part, Danny Shubert, cute as ever, Jeffery Davids, dressed to deliver in a Hustlaball sort of way, and the man himself Alex Erfan, looking his usual smart self, all who had eager anticipation over their faces for a brilliant birthday bash which was due to unfold.

And that it did, as the main room quickly filled, Phil Hewson handing over to Push FM’s Tony English, who not only treated us to a SuperMartXe style set, but injected some real passion into the party, all added by the sexy go-go’s that ascended the podiums, framing a overtly dressed tall drag queen pouting & sashaying to the delight of the crowd of onlookers & Lovechild’s video snapper, recording it all for posterity. We were really getting into our stride with Tony’s set, finding our favourite spot next to the D.J. booth as the space became busier & busier, although some were anticipating the contact room firing up in the hands of Gabriele Cutrano. However, like the main room, this second space took a while to get going, but this did not detract from the super sexy sounds Mr Gabriele was selecting, the perfect backdrop for the two dancers a-top the podiums, who were definitely not holding back, stripping down to their jocks & then more, revealing their assets for all to see and certainly popping our eyes out with their prone positions.

But we were, by now, “love lounge” bound in search of Brent Nicholls who had pledged an early arrival and found the space brimming with a gorgeous mix of muscled queens, party girls and a plethora of cute boys, very much a delightful change to Fire outings of old, all soaking up the terrific tunes that Lee Harris was serving up, who had taken over from Craig Daniels. Having tracked Brent down, who was clearly in demand, we grabbed a quick hello before leaving him to his devices for a while, returning first to the main room, catching Pagano’s arrival, shortly followed by that of Alessandro, heralding yet a further delectable direction in the music. And it was long before they were both in their respective places, Alessandro picking up where Tony had left off, with a superb selection of sounds, latin beats & funky tunes to keep the main room pumping, but it was Pagano that really grabbed the party by the neck, gave it a good shake & delivered some awe inspiring tracks that had us breathless in a minute, packing out the contact room with his mesmeric musical magic. By now the steamy shows were at full tilt, the mass of sexy go-go’s being caught in pose by the gaggle of gay camera clickers & with the lighting & pyro rocket displays elevating an already electric action to pure fever pitch, this was definitely the place to be for most.

But the night was far from over and we were once again “love lounge” bound where we grabbed a little more of Brent Nicholls attention, before being pulled away to the bar by Jerry & Naomi, where Alex was uncorking a bottle of champagne in birthday celebration mode offering up a glass, although with our favourite track of the moment being played, Joey Negro’s “Can’t Get High Without U”, we tore away to the D.J. booth for a moment to find Brent in situ. This heralded a start to a two hour stint of stupendous sounds, with one track after the next really hitting our sweet spot, a brilliant collection of funky, uplifting, electro & hard hitting house that had is dancing deliriously. And the lounge was littered with a mix of cuties & disco queens that were definitely in the groove, but was also tinged with moments of hilarity & delight, including a man dressing down to his underwear, handing his i-phone to Brent to store safely behind the booth, to another who appeared with a massive bag of sweets, in a moment toppling us from our candyman status. But nothing was going to detract from the monstrous music and only a moment of guilt drew us away to seek out Alessandro in the main space & then Paul Heron, who had taken over in the contact room, very much keeping the party going.

With Brent finishing a polished performance and Pagano waving his goodbyes to us after another terrific turnout, the focus was very much on the contact room where Hugh Stevenson had taken the helm, the main room never really injecting anywhere near the excitement of earlier, even though the lovely Mattias was doing his best, but with 6 a.m. quickly turning to 7, it seemed that the call of afterhours partying at Beyond was draining the crowd and it wasn’t long before we called it a day too, losing a departing Brent in the melay of the coatcheck wait and then saying our goodbye’s to Alex, Roni, Paul & Alessandro before heading off into a Vauxhall dawn to carry on our partying deep into Sunday morning.

So what did we think of the “Love 2 Love – Lovechild 1st Birthday”? and what were the real highlights? Well, despite the party taking a little while to get going, once it did, this latest instalment at their new home Fire, really did set alight. There is little doubt that the contact room is the space where most of the action happens & certainly Pagano had the crowd eating out of his hands with some magical music, although Brent Nicholls really pulled a special set out of the bag, seemingly revelling in the intimate “love lounge” space and raised the thermometer of action to melting point with some spectacular selections But that takes nothing away from the other D.J.’s who all performed really well and made for a truly fantastic party that Alex & his team should be really proud of.

There is no doubt that Lovechild has really found its feet in its new home and choosing the second weekend of the month to host its events has not detracted from the numbers, rather has added to its popularity. There was definitely no shortage of the new style of sex & seductiveness and these new dimensions have really seen the brand strike its own identity, yet still having the capacity to draw a varied crowd. Add to that one of the strongest line up of resident D.J.’s that would make anyone envious, coupled with some of the horniest dancers around and this club looks like celebrating many more birthdays to come. We certainly cannot wait for the next party in March and recommend you make it a date too. (DISCO MATT)

"Terrific Trio" - Rupert St, Lovechild Pre-Party & 2010 Escort Of The Year Awards - Special Review

2010 ESCORT OF THE YEAR MEETS LOVECHILD PRE-PARTY
AT RUPERT STREET – FRIDAY 12TH FEBRUARY
SPECIAL REVIEW FOR SEENQUEEN


We definitely like a good old fashioned knees up, you know the sort of thing, a collection of people either wanting to end their week of work, winding down in the company of good friends, holding something cold in their hands at their favourite bar, or those looking to kick start a weekend of activity, maybe some non-stop clubbing with all sorts of different ingredients mixed in, music being central to the theme. Well, in truth we often fall into both camps, with virtually every weekend heralding at least one club event, but always feeling the need to wave goodbye to a week of work at a selection of our favourite Soho bar haunts. But, when we heard that one of those bars was not just holding a pre-party but also had some saucy sexy awards show on, adding to the emerging Valentines feel in the air, Friday 12th Feb became a firm date in our diary.

For as long as we can remember, Rupert Street has been part of our socialising splendour, from the times when we popped in virtually every day, working just around the corner, to the part of our life when London was lengthy train journey away and daily became weekly, sometimes less often, seeing plenty of changes, not just in the style of the clientele, but in the staff & management. But through it all & through the myriad of bars that have come & gone, it’s popularity continues and has gained a reputation for hosting some spectacular pre-club parties, the marriage with Matinee, followed by some special SuperMartXe showings and now the linking with Lovechild keeping the good times going. However, joining forces with one of the world’s biggest online escort agencies was to prove a resounding success and provide just the kind of oomph to the forthcoming weekend.

So, glamming ourselves up, well making more of an effort than turning up in our work gear!, we arrived at Rupert Street’s doors at just before 9 p.m., being greeted by D.J. close pal and resident behind the decks for the night, Alessandro, who seemed in usual high spirits, yet showing the fiery Sicilian side to his nature in a furied conversation down the telephone at someone very deserving of his roth, but with a calming smoking break, dashed inside to channel his energy into playing some fantastic music. And we soon joined him, although entering the bar, were truly taken aback by the sheer numbers squeezing into the space, battling with a veritable wall of people as we struggled to make our way to our usual spot at the top of the bar. It was clear that the Lovechild pre-party was already in full swing and Alessandro was very much in the groove, setting about playing some top notch house tunes to really hit the mark. Arriving at our spot, we were pleased to catch G.M. Cathy, who gratefully stored our bits & bobs behind closed doors, as there was little room to swing a cat, although as usual the speedy service we always seem to enjoy at Rupert Street was on tap, as our hand was soon filled with a glass of our favourite tipple.

Looking around, it seemed that the glitterati of the social scene was out for the dual events, our corner being occupied by the Q.X. magazine top brass, we being pleased to see Tony Claffey in fine fettle and Stephen Vowles very much in party mood, but turning towards the elevated seating area, we were immensely impressed by the transformation into a perfectly formed stage space, glamorous red drapes framing the area perfectly, with a similar backdrop hiding an exclusive area where the incumbent escorts could change into something saucy. Then, out from the space appeared Lovechild promoter Alex Erfan, weaving past the crowd, then coming up and saying a hearty hello, immediately offering to re-charge our glass and eager to introduce us to Rentboy.com & Hustlaball principal Jeffrey Davids, although our tracks halted first by Alex’s business partner, the enigmatic Roni Inan who was really pleased to see us. Then, Chris Geary and his team of gorgeous muscled go-go’s, dressed in luscious Lovechild gear including fetching caps to really please the eye, appeared, having completed their run-around the rest of Soho, now ensconced in Rupert St for the rest of the evening, very much up for some raunchy action & party frolicking. Chris was definitely in the mood to get our party going, lining up a series of Sambuca shots for us and his band of beefy boys, although Roni also had kick start partying in mind as he grabbed us, heading to the stage along with Alex, to introduce us to Jeffrey & his crew, host for the evening Jasper Emerald and then backstage to some of the sexy contestants gearing up for the awards ceremony to come.

Now, it seems appropriate at this stage to mention co-promoters for this eventful evening, http://rentboy.com/ which has a brilliant tagline that states, “money can’t buy you love, but the rest is negotiable” and the site gets straight to the point, delivering a fantastic array of escorts on offer across the whole globe. And it couldn’t be easier to register to tap into the bevy of beauties (if that is your thang) and it took us less than a minute, the registration being free but obviously the escort services carrying a cost. But with a whole load of interesting links, fabulous photo’s, and specialist sections including blogs, events, a cinema page & “rentboycam”, you will definitely not get bored and budding escorts can advertise and start earning. The site is masterminded by probably the biggest cyber pimp around, the handsome & friendly Jeffrey Davids, who, as we have already mentioned also heads up one of the world’s most sexy & seductive club brands, Hustlaball, which has taken London by storm in the last two years and will be back in May for more audacious action.

But returning to the action, and having indulged in a bit of naughtiness, we were back in our spot and ready for the show as Alessandro’s superb sounds were halted and all eyes were stage bound as Jasper counted the crowd down to the start. Standing in the company of Alex, Roni and cutie Danny Shubert and with the Sambuca working far too well, our minds drifted (but only momentarily) from the hunky men on the stage, showing their wares and answering some saucy questions as well as revealing some sexy secrets, before the winning escort was crowned, a muscled bound & experienced looking man (if you know what we mean!!) who’s art at escorting was clearly evident, pipping a very steamily gorgeous looking brunette hunk to the prize of a trip to New York to enter the world pageant in March.

With the awards over and the gay paparazzi having clicked away delightfully, Alessandro resumed behind the decks, delivering a delectable string of sexy sounds to further charge the electric atmosphere, while we indulged in charismatic conversation with Alex, Roni, Danny & co, even welcoming Lovechild PR queen, Jerry Boston, to the party, exclaiming that he was “fashionably late”, certainly making a glamorous entrance & stamping his mark on proceedings. And with the drink flowing, our evening was set fair, the company of Roni proving truly terrific as we talked our heads off in delightful chat about all things clubbing, working & everything in-between, the man still cocooned in a most glamorous fur number, a mark of his show-stopping style. With the love of Lovechild’s party really running through our veins, we really didn’t want the night to end, being treated so well by Alex & his band of merry men, the vivacious visuals on the screen, designed by Alan Cross, setting everything off perfectly and it all being caught in photo framing pictures by Neil Gillespie, Rupert Street’s bar boys getting plenty of camera clicking attention against the superb love heart & lippy balloons decorating the back bar.

But as the inevitable midnight finish arrived all too quickly, it was time to say farewell to Alex Erfan, Roni Inan and the rest of the Lovechild team, who melted into Soho to refresh themselves & prepare for the main event itself, none taking up our offer to continue the party celebrating Oliver M’s birthday at Barcode Vauxhall, also waving bye to the Q.X. lot who thought better of a trip south of the river. Then, having thanked Cathy & her team for a terrific time, as well as Alessandro for a magical music journey, we turned tail, heading down to our second home to succumb to yet more partying & champagne drinking in the company of Oliver, Minty and many more others.

So, what did we think of our evening at Rupert Street? and did the combo of Escort Of The Year & Lovechild work well? The simple answer to both questions is yes, yes, yes! We haven’t seen the bar so packed in ages, everyone clearly drawn by the prospect of a bit of sexy fun & entertainment. And they weren’t to be disappointed as the collision of party’s couldn’t have turned out better, Lovechild’s new saucy style sitting perfectly with the escort theme and with a healthy hint of Hustlaball about proceedings, it was a thrilling night that definitely did it for us. Not only were we in impeccable company, Alex, Roni, Danny, Jerry, Chris & all the Lovechild boys, but meeting Jeffrey was a delight and it was all topped by Rupert Street as a perfect host for the evening, Cathy & her team treating us superbly. Add to that Alessandro’s amazing sounds, serving up a scintillating selection of magical music and we couldn’t have asked for anything else from an evening. Well done, Lovechild, Rentboy.com & Rupert St, what a way to start a weekend! (DISCO MATT)

"Beyond The Best" - Club Review

"BEYOND THE BEST” – SUNDAY 7TH FEBRUARY
REVIEW FOR SEENQUEEN


Of all the clubs we visit (and there are a lot!) there always seems to be one that rises to the surface, like the cream in a milk bottle, one that keeps us wanting more, like the most gorgeous of chocolate cakes, and one that we love to play in over & over again, like our most favourite movie. This club, like just a few others that we can count on one hand, has most definitely formed a major part of our life and it is only one of two that we hold closest to our heart & soul, its image being in our minds eye each & every day and the thought of its demise, again, most definitely be a feeling far too much to bear (it was bad enough the first time). To have & to hold such a significant grip on our existence shows how much it has an influence on us and just the mere mention of the name creates excitement short of stopping a heart beat or two, even 7 years after it all started. What club is it? well we thought that was obvious!!

Beyond hardly has any equals, and you will just have to guess the other four that we count on our one hand (we have two but you know what we mean!), but not one of them comes close to this mammoth afterhours weekly party, which since re-launching at Area in Vauxhall back in 2008, has literally gone from strength to strength, securing a reputation for being the leader it its field, not only just as an afterhours event but the best club in its class of any. Scooping the club award in the prestigious Seenqueen.com 2009 poll, there is no better way of confirming its status as tip top choice of the masses, but to claim not just best club, but top slot in the whole poll, is pure vindication of it also being our top club for the year and an indication of its immense popularity. So, it comes as no surprise that Beyond is probably the singular choice to follow up any Saturday clubbing event, some choosing even to rest easy and get up in time for it all starting at Area on Sunday morning.

So, in recognition of its award winning status, we really wanted to celebrate with the team the weekend of the announcement, although an unfortunate incident precluded our arrival, missing out on what everyone has kept reminding us was a brilliant Beyond Belief party. But, we were certainly going to make up for it, needing little persuasion from both Steven Sharp & Tom Fuller as we left Matinee this week, being ushered onto the final coach to take us straight to Vauxhall in comfort, a perfect way to start our morning of partying heaven. Arriving at Area’s doors later than planned, we were grateful for the guestlist inclusion as we passed the till, although the security team had indicated that the list had closed, deterring a handful of people in front of us, although nothing was going to stop our advance into the club.

With pals Jeremy & Andrew leaving as we arrived, giving the tip of the day about an extra coatcheck in the “chapel” part of the venue, we were released in a trice and grabbing refreshments headed straight for the main room, avoiding the temptations of Gonzalo Rivas whipping up a storm in the Terrace bar & David Jiminez doing his thing in the “black box” room, rather finding our spot next to the main room D.J. booth where we always feel the most comfortable. Immediately we came across familiar faces & friends including Kieran (aka Sweety Pants) who grabbed us in an all encompassing embrace, as well as Martin Zatko who had just last week celebrated his birthday but was up for more clubbing action. George Sharp was behind the D.J. decks, delivering a fantastic collection of up-beat tunes to further enhance an already electric atmosphere & with the Area laser light treatment & pyrotechnics at full tilt, it was difficult to see how much better the party could get.

But better it did, and some, as music maestro Steve Pitron took charge of proceedings, taking our experience to new heights, his arrival being signalled by Logan Schmitz’s band of go-go muscle boys & gorgeous girls taking to the podiums in front of the booth, entertaining the audience to dazzling dancing displays amidst plumes of CO2 cannon waves & ticker tape pyro explosions that short of blew the roof off and resounded with whoops of delight from the packed out main room. Steve was definitely in not just fifth but more like fifteenth gear, selecting stupendous track after track that had us merrily dancing away in our spot next to the booth, all around us doing exactly the same, hardly drawing for breath. Renditions of classic tunes intermixed with latest dance hits meant Mr Pitron had the crowd eating out of his hands, especially when he played the Freemasons remix of the Eurythmics song, “Here Comes The Rain Again” as well as his own remix work of Paul Harris’ hit “I Want You”, a superb take on yet another Eurythmics record “Love Is A Stranger”. But there was more besides, the dance hit of the night “Addicted” forming part of Steve’s prolific playlist, a track which echoed through our ears both here & at Matinee, combined with so many more octane fuelled choices that resulted in us craving his superb sounds.

It was only to catch breath that we headed away to other parts of the club, the main room definitely dominating proceedings, although the ever present & evervescent Naomi Cuiz tempted us into liquid refreshment for a while and then the draw of the Terrace bar kept us from the main room audacity for a short while, as D’Johnny was now in charge & playing it tough yet funky, drawing in a healthy crowd of hedonists who wanted it a bit more tough. There we found Pagano, winding down after his superb sets at The Fridge & Hidden and Nick Tcherniak & boyf Tom, also lapping up some afterhours action, having played out at Barcode earlier. But the faces kept coming, first club promoter Paul Beuchamp appearing out from the crowd & saying hello, Simon Patrick, whooshing around the venue, possibly in search of Mr Francesco, and even the lovely Emma Mis-White sporting a lovely cute miniature red hat & accompanying outfit, definitely in party mood. Having said our hello’s (to some, not for the first time this weekend) we headed back into the main room where all the fun was continuing as we had left it, Logan Schmitz having now arrived along with both Mauricio & Lunarde who were still sporting their Matinee t-shirts, both greeting us passionately, even pal Dorin wandering past with a party grin on his face. Mind you the list of familiar faces seemed endless and we felt so flattered by the attention, among them Matt Joshua who remarked that he loved all our work (don’t we adore comments like that!).

But in reality there only one thing, the music and one person, Steve Pitron, that was grabbing our full attention, we hardly needing to glance at our watch & not wanting to, in case of reminding ourselves of the disappointment that would signal the end of his set. But even when that fateful moment came, we were far from ravaged with sadness & deflation, as Alan K assumed the decks and not just took over in style from where Steve had left of, but grabbed hold of a main room crowd that had pure energy seeping out of their pores, his brilliant mixing of not one, not two but three & sometimes four tracks keeping our toes on tips and our minds dazzled by the perfect blend of tunes. Retreats back to the Terrace bar, where Jamie Head was now holding court only served to re-ignite our enthusiasm for this brilliant Beyond party, Nick Tcherniak still in close quarters, allowing us a little breather to catch up on news, chat about the forthcoming DTPM event and trade moves on the dancefloor with Tom. Whilst Jamie’s music machinations were hitting the spot, we just couldn’t resist the draw of the main room, as morning changed to afternoon and we spent the remainder of our visit to Area, soaking up Alan’s remarkable set, the man being right in the zone and every bit the perfect end to our stay, the lengthiest in a long time and worth every second of it.

But with four clubs now under our belt and the promise of a fifth later, it was time for our body to rest a little, so collecting our belongings and waving farewell to Alan, to remaining friends Kieran & Dorin, then making our escape before being drawn back to the action (it has happened before), we headed through to the Terrace Bar, embracing Jamie and then exiting into a bright yet chilly Vauxhall Sunday afternoon, heading the short journey home to reflect on yet another bumper Beyond that exceeded all expectations, eclipsed all previous parties and left us buzzing for the rest of the day.

Words simply cannot describe how good this Beyond party was, but there is something about the club that is truly amazing, the energy that emanates from the crowd, the performances it pulls out of the D.J.’s and the atmosphere that it creates cannot be compared. Yes the parties at Colloseum were wonderful, holding some really special memories for us, but Area has really taken Beyond to new heights and to say that the club improves with every visit could not be more true. The formula hasn’t changed that much, but the crowd has got better, the music quality just keeps improving and its popularity increases unabated. Quite what the exact formula is, we cannot pinpoint, it probably being a delightful combination & collision of every element which ends up working in pure harmony and we just don’t want it to stop.

With news that the team are considering a special “classic” party, with the series of “belief” events growing every time they are held, but with the regular weekly outings showing no sign of slowing down, quite the opposite in fact, we truly salute a club that looks destined to be the best of all time in our books. If you haven’t yet visited Beyond at Area, where have you been? We cannot begin to describe what you have been missing and what a brilliant time you are likely to have. Yes, it is true that that the phrases “each to his own” or “one man’s meat is another’s poison” have some meaning, but in the case of Beyond we challenge anybody to apply these words. Winning the 2009 club poll speaks for itself & may Beyond continue to reign supreme, as we know for sure, it will be very soon indeed when we grace its doors again. (DISCO MATT)

Matinee "Under Construction" - Club Review

MATINEE “UNDER CONSTRUCTION” – SATURDAY 6TH FEBRUARY
REVIEW FOR SEENQUEEN



If there has been one club that has dramatically changed the gAylist clubbing landscape, creating immeasurable interest and then spurning a whole wave of other clubs to follow its lead in delivering dynamic production, spectacular shows & groundbreaking music, there can be little doubt which club we are talking about. Ever since its arrival in London back in 2006, the brand which is known the world over, and one that has laid siege to its dominance of the gAylist scene in the capital until recent times, is a genuine measure of its success & popularity. But the scene can be a cruel & ruthless place sometimes, with promoters fighting tooth & nail for the lion’s share of the market, some employing devious tactics in pursuit of the dominance goal, often overlooking the desires of the clubber in just wanting to have a great time and with some huge parties going head to head in 2009, some would say, promoters ganging up to see their rivals downfall, as 2010 dawned, we were faced with dramatic news, as the club responsible for the so called “Spanish Armada” in London was changing hands.

Matinee, for virtually all of its history in the capital had been in the hands of promotions team Evolved Events, headed up by Oliver Mohns, who had steered the brand in the capital through a series of homes & incarnations, although the splitting of company with his then fellow business partner was set to be the catalyst to the change that this New Year revealed just hours into 1st January. But with heads in a spin over the news of the Logan Presents outfit claiming the Matinee prize, this team already responsible for hosting competitor brand SuperMartXe’s London parties, it would be fair to say that feelings were divided as to what lay ahead for Matinee and who the potential conflict of interests would be handled by Mr Schmitz & his team. But in typical Logan style, the calm & collected professional approach was quickly adopted and the theme of “Under Construction” was broadcast to an expectant public, in an instant creating the kind of curiosity that, as the going says, killed the cat.

So, with Saturday 6th February a date in our diaries and The Fridge named as the host venue for the new look Matinee (haven’t we been there before with the brand?), our Soho jaunt the night before included popping into a packed The Box, host bar for the pre-party & perhaps an indication of things to come, as we had never seen the place so busy, asking ourselves whether it was the Logan magical wand being waved or just coincidence. Nevertheless, The Box was well & truly pumping, the lovely duo of Mauricio & Lunarde flying the new Matinee flag, with long time resident Paul Heron spinning the discs and our trip to the event real was set fair with the gift of the latest Matinee t-shirt version. And it was this that found its way onto our back, as we headed to Brixton, a little later than planned after a disco nap (well we are getting on a bit!), to be greeted at the busy entrance to the fridge Logan’s partner Michael, looking very healthy & relaxed after his Caribbean cruise.

With our ticket in hand we were keen to get amongst the action and nearly missed the gorgeous & glamorous Naomi Cuiz on the door, hosting alongside Michael, remarking it had been literally hours since we had seen each other at A.M.’s birthday bash. But, the Matinee party was calling & after the usual search we were in, interrupted by a phone call from clubbing pal Joel as well as being spotted by Rupert Street’s G.M. Cathy, before heading to a frustratingly long queue for the coatcheck, discussing the issue with scene face & new found friend Dorin, who was just as disappointed at this start as we were, memories of SuperMartXe’s launch flashing through our minds. Having said that, we had a superb bird’s eye view of proceedings below, Paul Heron presiding over an absolutely packed main room from his stage elevated D.J. booth which was encapsulated by a huge & magnificent neon displayed frontage & backdrop, flashing Matinee images and making a broad statement to the whole club. High above was a gigantic banner exclaiming “Logan Presents Matinee” and with a myriad of laser lighting illuminating the theatre like space, it was clear that this was going to be one very super sized event.

With the coatcheck frustration over, we headed down into the main room and ignoring the four deep crowd at the bar, aimed straight into the thick of the action, struggling to weave around the packed out dancefloor in search of friends Stephen & Stefan who had arrived not long before us. And we connected soon after, just shy of one of the two massive podiums in the middle of the dancefloor, both topped by muscle hunks in revealing construction gear, strutting their stuff to the euro style sounds of J Louis, who had taken over centre stage from Paul Heron. And with two other podiums each side of the D.J. booth, it became clear to us that Logan’s Matinee was going to be much more about the music, yes with some eye candy, but what we can best describe as a “stripped down and raw look”, much more akin to the style of parties seen in Spain and definitely taking Matinee London back to its roots in 2006, the music speaking the volumes & setting the tones.

With a whole collection of people around and with just one massive room of fun to frolic in, we spent the next two hours connecting with J Louis’ music, connecting with a whole host of familiar faces, including photographer Chris Jepson, off duty D.J.’s Antoine 909 & Jamie Hammond, finished duty D.J. Paul Heron, who remarked on seeing us, “hear she is!” (SHE?!), Lovechild’s Jerry Boston, a host of Rupert Street & Barcode boys and even our hairdresser Louis, amongst others, all who seemed to be having a fantastic time savouring electric atmosphere that was building. The first of many crescendo’s were reached as the P.A. for the evening, Vanessa Klien took to the stage in amongst a massive plume of ticker tape explosions & firing rockets high into The Fridge’s expanse, Vanessa bursting into song, belting out a sequence of hard hitting dance tracks, including her massive hit “Addicted”, which is still topping the charts across Europe. Her energy was inspiring & served to fuel an already lively crowd, the dancers on the podium moving to the music in superb style and creating, along with the pyrotechnics & lighting, more than enough of a display to compliment rather than detract from proceedings.

With pal Stephen having retired early, obviously shattered from his day at the sea, our expectations turned to the arrival of Italian stallion Pagano, as many around us also seemed to and whilst we really enjoyed J Louis’ performance, it was to completely pail into insignificance compared to the perfect precision that became the set from Pagano, taking us on a musical journey like no other we had savoured of his at Matinee, except since the days of Colloseum. His enthusiasm for his music choices rubbed off on his audience amazingly and we lost count of the scores of people craving for his attention, truly finding our stride on the dancefloor, with all thoughts of moving onto pastures new shunned from our mind, rather concentrating on the mesmeric music being served up by Mr Francesco, the master at work making for us this “Under Construction” party his own.

But, with 6 a.m. fast approaching, we knew time would be called on our escapades soon and we reluctantly said our goodbyes to a whole host of people, including Logan himself, who looked delighted with the result of this magnificent Matinee party. With Pagano still pumping out the music, we headed into what was yet another lengthy queue at the coatcheck, but even we couldn’t have anticipated the wait, as it was gone 7 1.5 a.m. before we eventually reached the light of day out into The Fridges foyer, only to be beckoned by the welcoming arms of Tom Fuller & Steve Sharp convincing us that a decision to keep the party going was the best course of action, resulting in our next outing of the weekend, where else but Beyond.

So, what was our verdict on the new look Matinee? did we enjoy the experience? and what, if anything, could be improved? Well, we had thought the party would be busy, but could never have imagined to kind of numbers we saw in the Fridge, without doubt one of the busiest Matinee’s in its London history. It is clear that the Logan promotions machine must being doing something right, even taking into consideration that the curiosity card must have played a part. Without question the big theatre style feel seemed to suit the event and yet the temptation of a laying of a swashbuckling show was sensibly avoided, as in our view Matinee should always be about the music & there was no doubt this party very much was. Yes, the dancers were delectable & the P.A. was prolific, but the performances of Paul Heron, J Louis & Pagano truly made this a night to remember.

So, it goes without saying that we enjoyed our experience very much, even overlooking the somewhat tired feel The Fridge has. But that didn’t seem to affect the party in anyway & there is no mistaking that the sound quality and the laser lighting & effects were top notch. So what can be improved? Well without doubt, if it is to host future Matinee parties, The Fridge has to address the appalling coatcheck issues as well as the lack of staff & stock behind the bar (no Red Bull for the first few hours?! – a full 80 minutes to get our bag out at the end?! – ridiculous!!!) but it is these very things that affect a club night’s reputation and we would be doing an injustice not to mention them, no one more frustrated than Logan himself, whom we spoke to after the event, the man vowing to get the issues sorted. As for some other ingredients, well we did miss the option of a second room, but in reality this party didn’t really need it, although we will be one of many people pleased to see this addition next time. The rest of the absent elements can only be down to Logan and his team, but without doubt the “construction” continues and we were made truly welcome by each & every one of them, just like Matinee parties of old. So for that alone we are extremely grateful and we look forward to the next Matinee event with interest. (DISCO MATT)

A.M. 9th Birthday - Club Review

A.M. 9TH BIRTHDAY – SATURDAY 6TH FEBRUARY
REVIEW FOR SEENQUEEN


Now, there is something about afterhours clubbing that really appeals to us and we are privileged to have witnessed some brilliant parties stretching well into Sunday mornings (sometimes afternoon) regularly, as well as the occasional Bank Holiday specials that stretch well into Monday morning, the main protagonists having been Trade, Orange and of course Beyond. But, there is another club which does the afterhours experience just as well, but in recent times has been completely overlooked by us, despite having been in the thick of it when it all started back at the turn of the millennium. But, when we heard of a special birthday celebration party, we simply couldn’t resist returning, as we are real suckers for a birthday bash.

So, whose birthday was it? Well A.M. of course and what better a way to start our weekend of fun than taking a trip down to Fire and changing our Saturday morning landscape normality for just one weekend. With the promise of some great music across two rooms of fun & with plenty of the trademark Fire production, lighting et all, we were in for a bit of a treat and were not to be disappointed, arriving at the clubs doors slightly later than planned at 5 a.m. but just in time to catch the start of D’Johnny’s set, who had taken over the D.J. reigns from A.M. stalwart David Jiminez, a talent we came to love & adore back in the heady days of “Crash” and “Beyond” at Colloseum. So, having been treated like royalty by the fabulous & gorge Naomi Cuiz, resplendent in a white fur number, leading us past the lengthy queue and straight into the club, we grabbed refreshments & headed for our now favourite dancing spot, just left (looking at it) of the D.J. booth.

Having been absent from A.M. for quite a few years & many a party, we didn’t quite know what to expect and looking at the crowd, which was an eclectic collection of klub kids, off duty scene workers, Vauxhall waifs & strays & everything in-between, you could be forgiven for thinking that this was a collective collision from hell. But far from it, as it was clear everyone was into the music & wanted to party away, D’Johnny providing a perfect musical back drop to fulfil our desires. Knowing this talent as we do, but not having seen him perform at A.M. before, we absolutely marvelled in his stupendous set that had us dancing merrily on our spot on the main floor, trading moves with plenty around us who were also clearly into the Johnny vibes. And with our body fuelled for the action, we hardly moved from our favoured place, excepting when the brilliant hostess Naomi sought us out and led us into the “lounge” room all ready to pose for a photograph from one of those weekly rags! (will we be in it?...who knows).

Having found ourselves in this a aptly named “vinyl lounge” space, the duo that was Paul Martin & The Oli were combining to weave a magical mystifying mix of heavenly house tunes, as the room billing appropriately highlighted, it’s about the funk! and the music was definitely that, a truly uplifting collection of tunes offering light relief from the heavy undertones of the main room. But it was the number one space that drew us back, savouring the rest of D’Johnny’s set and marvelling at his sheer enthusiasm behind the decks, before he handed over to Mr god of a D.J., Gonzalo Rivas, so much the talent responsible for many a Sunday morning at Trade leading us down the path of wickedness in the search of great music, which we always found. And, true to form, he delivered an impeccable set, taking the A.M. party to new heights, his precision work just the ticket to keep us merrily dancing away well into Saturday morning. And others around us were doing the same, pal Clington Forbes moving & grooving in a series of acrobatic displays & even an off-duty Jamie Head getting into the party mood.

But, let’s not forget the entertainment, the collection of delectable dancers, two muscle hunks, followed by more feminine versions, all strutting their stuff on the podiums in front of us. Mind you, with one cross dressing guy wearing heels, we, together with Johnny, looked on hilariously as the poor girl in the middle was dwarfed by the guy next to her, although she also saw the funny side of it all, looking over with a massive laughing grin on her face. With the whole club adorned with appropriate production, the main room “A.M.....azing” and the “Vinyl Lounge” decked in dozens of disc’s hanging from the ceiling & a glorious gold encrusted “Funk” sign at the end, you simply couldn’t mistake what party you were at. Add to that, the superb backdrop of lighting behind the main room podiums, a huge neon “A.M.” sign & a flashing number 9, it was clear the team had spared no expense to celebrate the birthday bash in style, which, together with regular CO2 bursts & pyrotechnic ticker tape explosions, made for an altogether fever pitch atmosphere, Gonzalo’s scintillating track selections providing the perfect antidote to our increasing fatigue.

Further respites into the “vinyl lounge” served to fuel our excitement and appetite for the harder sounding main room and we simply couldn’t resist succumbing to the full on music fest that was being handed out by Mr Rivas, we knowing in an instant why this man is pure genius behind the decks & a real asset to the Fire team. With D’Johnny re-appearing to catch a brief word, we were grateful for the lovely birthday gift he handed us, an A.M. privilege card & card holder, a lovely touch indeed, although we were firmly in dance mood, as Gonzalo was really touching our musical sweet spot. For us, his set could have continued into Saturday afternoon, but as the morning moved on, it was time for him to hand over the reins to dancefloor filler favourite Alan K, who spotted us and made his hello’s warmly before heading behind the booth to prepare for his set. And it turned out to be fantastic, a smooth transition from the tough tech intermixed with some real old skool tracks (well it was the 9th birthday after all!) that Gonzalo was dishing up, to full on uplifting funky yet hard hitting house, Alan, increasing the pace a further couple of notches, picking some really energetic tunes to keep the atmosphere at mesmeric levels. We absolutely love Alan’s passion for entertaining his audience & thriving on their energy levels, reflecting in the records he plays, his final slot in any party being just right to round off a brilliant dance experience.

With the now inclusion of a percussionist as well as the dancers still lauding it on the podiums, the morning was set to turn into an afternoon, and we did our best to savour Alan’s full set, although we had our minds set on partying the following night, Matinee being part of the beck & call, which would no doubt be followed by some Beyond bawdiness. So resisting the temptation to party on to the 11 a.m. finish, we eventually decided to hang up our boots around an hour before, waving goodbye to all concerned, the enigmatic Naomi, the bubbly Jay Sharp Vokins, and of course Mr K, before collecting our belongings and heading off into a dank grey Saturday morning. Feeling far removed from the glitterati that was A.M.’s 9th birthday bash in an instant, we sought attempt rekindle our thoughts of the fabulous music we had savoured at this audacious afterhours A.M. birthday bash, by playing our tip top tune, Soul Avengerz’s “Drop The Bomb”, as we headed in the short distance journey home.

So, what was our take on our first A.M. visit for many a year? And did the birthday live up to our expectations? Well, there is no doubt that the club continues to draw in the sort of crowd that don’t want their Friday night to end and from our memories of a few years ago, A.M. has retained that unique vibe that makes any visit feel hedonistic & decadent, very much the ethos of an afterhours party in our books. What we did notice that was different however, was the quality of the music, which was absolutely amazing, simply scintillating & truly terrific. Each & every D.J. across both rooms played their part, individually & collectively taking us on a progressive journey through a whole host of house music genres that never left us feeling wanting. The entertainment from the dancers was pitched perfectly and the usual Fire high quality production truly complimented the event & it definitely had a real birthday feel to it. Special mentions have to go to Naomi, for looking after us so much and to Jay Sharp Vokins for making us so welcome,

But, with that said, A.M.’s 9th birthday (and we suspect every A.M. party) was all about the music, so each and every D.J. on duty needs to be congratulated for delivering exactly what it say’s on the “A.M. box”, “it’s all about the music baby – we rock & we won’t stop”. And that really sums it all up as the 9th birthday bash was very much about the music, it definitely rocked & we didn’t stop dancing for virtually the whole time we were there, so the outing without doubt fulfilled all our expectations. What more can we say, apart from happy birthday A.M. and it will definitely be a long time before your next one that we will head back to Fire on a Saturday morning. (DISCO MATT)

Pampered At Profile - Bar Review

PAMPERED AT PROFILE – SAT 30TH JAN & FRI 5TH FEB
REVIEW FOR SEENQUEEN


It is no secret that we love a good old jaunt around Soho, in fact having spent most of our working career in London, touching on this most cosmopolitan district of the capital, we have hardly failed to end our week anywhere else or indeed get drawn into its activity across a weekend of clubbing warm up or otherwise. Having seen the area change over the years, new bars spring up and existing ones fight off the ravages of changing times, we are spoilt for choice & variety, although many rarely get a look in on the pick of our favourite haunts, Rupert Street, Barcode & The Box, all three playing their part in making our weekend trips to Soho superbly special and for us very much gAylist venues in every respect.

But in recent times, one pretender to our tip top choices in the capital’s most recognised gay village, has muscled in on the action, drawing us in and treating us to some special evenings, whether it be a Friday, a Saturday, or indeed during the week, being conveniently located on Wardour Street right above its bigger sister club, having moved from its original location four blocks away. Following a spectacular launch back in July, Profile bar has become more & more a feature of our Soho socialising, also a favoured haunt of our clubbing pal Joel, who has tempted us out on midweek jaunts, sampling cocktails & the like, as well as adding the bar to our regular crawl, following a tough week on London’s roads. Having been one of those venues that hardly got a look in when it was based on Frith Street, there is something about the new place that really attracts, so what is it? And how come it has become so popular? Well, sit back as we take you on our journey spread across a week in which we sampled some magnificent music, superb service and really charismatic crowds that definitely set our Profile experience aside from some of its peers.

It all started very innocently (as all things do!) following a far too long bout of illness that left us depraved of social intercourse and not least our hair as long as “goldilocks”, so our first proper Saturday out in the real world since the turn of the year was destined to be a quiet affair, just a simple haircut & quick whizz around Soho. But just before we left for town, our favourite online gay rag & our compulsive social networking site was giving lots of hints of activity on Wardour Street and with the Seenqueen 2009 poll awards results not long released, there was clearly cause for celebration at a certain bar, so we thought it a little rude to miss out. With the haircut task achieved (we love our latest look!) and re-connecting with the team in Rupert Street ticked off, there was only one other destination in mind, a hop skip & jump finding us in the grip of Profile bar, which at our 8 p.m. ish arrival was already buzzing with a smart, sophisticated & sexy selection of gAylisters, filling out the American style diner booths fuelling up on the extensive food offering, as well as hanging out at the bar, sipping cocktails and in continual conversation, uninterrupted by overpowering music which can plague some other places we could mention.

Our attention was grabbed by the gorgeous Philippe behind the bar, who was mixing drinks but was keen to serve us and was just the start to a perfect evening having also been greeted by the wonderful floor host who was managing the food service with absolute precision. Then, as we turned toward our favourite corner, who was there, but none other than Brent Nicholls, behind the D.J. decks & dishing up his own delightful recipe of music to fully compliment the feel of the evening. Complimenting us on our fresh look (it was probably the haircut) we caught up on news of the last few weeks, including our premature return to the clubbing scene a week before, the freshly released 2009 awards & lots more besides, Brent very much in holiday mood but not before entertaining us here and then heading off to Hard On!

Looking around, the crowd was very much the gAylisters we have come to expect at Profile and there was definitely a celebration of some sort going on, as more & more familiar faces appeared to join Luke Hope & his boyfriend, some known to Brent, some to us and we were thrilled to see fellow fierce partner in crime Lexi, who was clearly in party mood and in the thick of the action, but took time to pop over to say hello. By now, we could see our evening of restraint slipping away before our eyes, with the enigmatic charm of Philippe continually drawing us back to the bar and Mr Nicholls selecting some superb sounds, we simply couldn’t resist spending the rest our time in Soho in the hands of this sumptuous & happening hang out, not least made more special by fabulous General Manager Rozella who was delighted to see us.

And so the evening wore onto the night, as Brent continued to entertain with impeccable music, enchanting conversation & all in the superb surroundings of a Profile bar that was well & truly swinging, there being something quite magical by the place, which continued to fill with gorgeous looking guys and their party girlfriends, the food still flowing to the in demand tables and more & more familiar scene faces arriving, including the lovely Jamie Head & Andre Che Neill, both remarking on our new look in gushing tones (twice in one night fab!), rounding off a superb evening & a brilliant welcome back to our Soho socialising. So, it was inevitable that a return the following Friday was going to be on the cards, having planned to hook up with Phil Marriot ever since sampling his scintillating set at Onyx’s NYD afterparty, although that inconvenient illness has precluded us from doing so until now.

So, having finished with an arduous day on the roads, mapping out in our minds what our plans for Friday evening would be, as usual, they were laid to waste, as once again Profile was hitting the spot more than any other of our favourite haunts, it every bit as busy as the previous Saturday and clearly on the up & up from visits back in the summer. Yet again we were warmly greeted on the door, not really dressed for the occasion (cycling gear! oops) but even the red carpet treatment we receive at Rupert Street was surpassed, as Philippe, once again spotting us & beaming from behind the bar, prepared our favourite tipple, before we headed back to that corner we love, this time with the figure of Mr Phil engrossed in mixing music. As he raised his head, we made over introductory move and with the welcome coming warmly back, the conversation then flowed as though we had been long lost pals.

In an instant we went into socialising mode, being spotted by D.J. Phil Hewson across the other side of the bar, so bounding up, we embraced in a huge hug and immediately talked all things Lovechild, with Phil part of the amazing line up at the 1st birthday party coming up, as well as touching on some new music of his. Then with Rozella approaching, greeting us first and then delivering Mr Hewson some fantastic news, our night looked like becoming one of those again, as we headed back to our corner, our glass having been charged by a very generous G.M. and talk of Gaydar Radio, Onyx, D.J’s, facebook updates, music & much more was the epitome of the evening with Mr Marriot, Profile proving yet again the perfect place to spend Friday night (any night in fact). We could have stayed right till closing but were it for the need to get our two wheels & ourselves home in one piece for then onward partying plans in Vauxhall, with the offer of Onyx & then A.M.’s birthday on our radar, so waved goodbye to Profile, for sure to return very soon.

So, in answering the question, what is so attractive about Profile Bar?, well, there is a certain charm, a certain style & definitely a certain sophistication about this superb Wardour Street spot that makes every visit special. It would be fair to say that having been enchanted by the new Profile bar right since its re-opening, the place has grown on us like no other and the teething problems with slow service at the bar have been completely overcome, the food service having gone from strength to strength, clearly being a dining option of choice for many and the clue to its increasing popularity. Then there is the music, delivered to top notch scene D.J.’s four nights a week, we having enjoyed prolific performances from Jamie Head, Paul Heron & D’Johnny, as well as both Brent & Phil, the sounds never overpowering enough to disturb good conversation, but pitched perfectly to pamper. And yes, each & every time we visit Profile bar, we feel absolutely pampered, by the D.J.’s, by the team, by Philippe, by Rozella and by Profile and we couldn’t be more pleased for its fantastic showing in the Seenqueen poll coming a close & yet respectable second in the best bar vote, an accolade well deserved. So, if you want to feel pampered too, get down to Profile Bar very soon and find out what all the magic is about. (DISCO MATT)