astraboy

Most of the raves I go to are for a very good reason. Most of the time is becuase Hardcore is playing, but sometimes I go to see specific DJ's play out or sometimes its the memory of previous raves the venue has hosted or every now and again its nothing more than the name of the event that attracts me.

None of the above applies to where I went last saturday night, it was just a case of wanting to go out and Old Skool Euphoria fitted the bill nicely. Never been to a "Euhporia" night before? Check. Been more than 6 months since I'd been to a specialist Old Skool night? Check. Been far too long since I'd raved at the Fridge? Definite check there. Looks like I'd found my destination for the night.

Having said that, I soon perked up when I saw the lineup, Old Skool legends abounded on this occasion with Ratpack and Slipmatt taking centre stage. Billy "Daniel" Bunter and Vibes were also on the flyer and finishing off the night was Devious Dave.

If it sounds like the night was a bit sparse, DJ wise, then you'd be right. Extended sets 90 minute sets had been given to all DJs to really create a musical jouney with their set, rather than pound an endless succession of Old Skool anthems you hear every weekend.

The main problem that I had with the night was getting there! The District and Circle line on the tube were train free zones and that was the main reason for us showing up shockingly late, just after midnight.

All that was forgotten after we entered the venue though, with security as safe as I remember them and only offering a minimal search for weapons on our way in. Once we were inside the venue we said hello to a few old friends who were relaxing in the bar area before retiring to the bogs to change into our rave clothes.

This led to the curious experience of listening to Billy "Daniel" Bunter close off his set from the toilet! I know it is not the best place to appreciate the music, especially from an accoustic point of view, but at least Bunter can be one of the dew DJs that can claim to have made me want to rave whilst i am half dressed and standing in a toilet!

Notable highlights of the "Gary Glitter" set included "Sweet Harmony", "Raving, I'm Raving", "Far out" and finishing with a personal favourite of mine "Dominator". I'd like to tell you what the crowd reaction was but I was still sorting my stuff out when he finished so your guess is as good as mine! I Still enjoyed it though

When I finally got out there, I took a few minutes to take in my surroundings. A sizeable crowd were in the place and all of them were enjoying the tunes and partying like old skool ravers are famed for. Not going especially bonkers, but having a good time none the less.

What really grabbed my attention though, was the decor and production in the venue. Lots and lots of inflatable stuff had been erected throughout the place with smiley faces jostling with Space invader sprites. Two long spikey efforts joined up above the DJ and together with a plethora of lasers and even a few bubble machines for good measure, all of it nicely complimented the venue's in house (but none the less impressive) lighting rig.

Not only that, what I think always works at old skool raves was also present, namely videos of the massive outdoor parties being played on video screens around the arena, throughout the night. I love it when they do that.

Next up for the peaktime set of the night was non other than the Ratpack. I would be interested to see what they could come up with having 90 minutes to play, but other than that, I was under no illusions, their sets are hardly noted for innovation these days.

Having said that, I can honestly say I really enjoyed their set, mostly because I like the majority of the tunes that they do play, even if they exclude all others, but also because of the addtions their 90 minute set allowed them to make.

Nestling amongst their best known tunes such as "Searchin 4 my Rizla", "Rockin Down the House", "Feel the Heat", "your love" and "out of space" were several Nu Skool breakbeat tunes. I have heard their efforts in this genre before and have gone away unimpressed. Not this time though, quite the opposite infact.

These were not the two step garage influenced tunes I had heard before, but VERY old skool with simple but sublime riffs dominating the music and flipping my switch in no uncertain terms. Much better than their previous efforts, these tunes broke up their more familiar selection nicely and were dancable to say the least.

Probably the biggest compliment I can give is the way their set went by in a flash, before I knew it, it was all over and they had one tune left to play. Keeping certain people in the crowd happy by finishing on "capatain of your ship" and keeping me dancing till their last selection faded.

Next up was another old skool legend. Rightly introduced my Everson Allen as "The Godfather of Hardcore" Slipmatt took his place behind the decks and went to work after Ratpack had handed over to them.

Another Old Skool DJ to fine tune his selection to produce something unique, Slippers, together with the welcome return of Charlie B on the mic went to work as a pair and were doing the business from the word go.

As with the previous DJ, his successor intitially kept it firmly in the mainstream with his selection including "2 bad mice", "Raving I'm Raving" "Closer to all your dreams" and "Can you feel it" before moving into the clubbier side of old skool. This was a real treat for me as I half expected him to do it anyways because I had seen him do it before and really enjoyed it.

Tunes like "Got to feel good", "Here's another chance" and "Higher state of conciousness" before moving back to the old skool once again with classics like "On a Ragga Tip", "Sweet Harmony", "Cant beat the system" and best of all dropping some cracking Prodigy tunes like "Charly" and my personal favourite, the stompathon that is "Everybody in the place".

Charlie B also deserves a mention at this point for being on peak form during the night. Not only did he not mention "Wheres all the noise" once, he also freestyled in a most impressive manner, hyped the crowd throughout the set and also indulged in headbutting competitions with the DJ during breaks in the mixing

For the final set of the night, Happy Hardcore legend Vibes replaced Slipmatt and set about finishing off the night. Playing 4.30 - 6.00 would usually mean seeing your crowd fade a little and to be fair some of the lightweights did slope off, but there was no way I was moving from the dancefloor. The music was just too good.

Vibes played a set which was the polar opposite to the rest of the night. Shying away from the popular tunes of the era (and indeed the night), he took us deep into the underground of what rave culture was like back then. I'm not going to name many tunes during this set, mostly because they were totally unknown to me.

What was not in doubt was Vibes was playing the set of the night. The fact I was at the tail end of 2 raves in as many days yet I couldn't stop dancing says all you need to know about how good his set was.

From the outset, he kept it in the old skool, but as his 90 minutes wore on, he diversed into Belgian techno, Happy Hardcore, Old Skool Jungle and back into the old skool underground to bring the evening to a close.

Tunes of not include "No retreat no surrender", "Take me away", "Good Vibrations" and "let your body be free", but the few I can remember do it no justice at all.

Not only that, but Vibes made up for a lack of an MC by filling in himself. You could tell he was enjoying himself because he was constantly asking where the after party was and whether he could play till 10am as that was the crowd wanted.

Unfortunatly he could only go on till 6am, so he carried on playing tunes till power was cut to the system. His last tune to send the remaining ravers on their way was the awesome "You dream of heaven" Wicked

Things I liked:

Sound: I didnt remember the Fridge's system being as good as that, but blimey it was very good on this occasion, like cant get within 10 feet of it good!

Security: Safe as always with all of them being totally invisible throughout the night. The crowd responded with a similar attitude free vibe.

Music: A specialist Old skool night is bound to have some limitations on what is played (they cant play new stuff after all), however, each of the DJs used their own special tricks to keep the crowd entertained.

Extended sets: I really liked this. The night was better for less DJs and longer sets as they had an opportunity to expand on their usual hours and play some really diverse stuff.

Things I liked less:

Repetition: "Feel the Heat", "Sweet Harmony", "Raving I'm raving". All three are tunes, but that doesnt excuse the multiple play outs throughout the night.

Second room: Would have made a nice break from the main room but it remained closed all night.

Stage area: A few times, this was invaded by the party people, only for security to shepherd them back onto the main dancefloor. Pity really, I like dancing up there.

Performance of the rave: Vibes, without a doubt. Playing everything from Belgian techno to happy hardcore within his set and stopping off at old skool jungle on the way. Positive proof that the best things come to those who stay till the last set.

Once again, I have had my 6 monthly fill of a specialist old skool night satisfied. Of all the "Euphoria" events I could go to, i knew the old skool one is probably the one I'd appreciate the most. Judging on how much I enjoyed this one, I should have gone to one sooner.

I had a cracking time at this one. Even though the crowd were a bit subdued compared to a hardcore night, the combination of my favourite as well as obscure tunes, Monstrous sound system to listen to and a good bunch of friends who never left the dancefloor throughout the night made it all very special indeed.

If you're looking for an Old Skool event with an attitude free atmosphere and run by a team that knows how to put together a discerning night, you could do a lot worse than go to the next one of these when it comes round again. There are few promoters in this land who really know the meaning of "less is more" and put it into practice at their events.

astraboy.
Shouts to: Kaylene (x!), Mark E, Barticle, Monkey boy, Hattrixx, Richard, Bunter, Vibes, Lisa (thank you!) and anyone else I may have forgotten.

Chris5-0

Uuuummmmm!! (strokes beard!) I used to pull this sort of stunt when i was promoting raves back in the early nineties but mine were phone calls to radio stations saying how good the nights were!!

Can i interest you in a slightly used paste brush for your fly posting!!!!!

(Runs off giggling!!!!)

astraboy

Almost mate, but I'm not a promoter, I'm a reviewer.
Here, have a look
http://www.ush.net/ravin/reviews.php
astraboy.

thecirsch

mj

I see on the Ush site you are after other reviewers, can I write you one?

I went to the Eclipse in Coventry about 13 yrs ago. It was the first ever Rave club I had been to, and I only went along because my mates dragged me.

WOW, what can I say, apart from it was the wankiest night out I have ever experienced, made only slightly bearable by the use of drugs ( which were vetinary I think, my mate scored them of a bloke in the car park doing donuts in a cossie )

Most of the night was spent trying to sit on the stairs to cool down, 14 Mr Freeze Ice pops, 4 litres of water, and 1/2 a pound of Vicks vapour rub saw me worse for wear. It was actually a cherry tune ( cough sweet ) that sent me over the edge, the look on the DJ's face as I projectile vomited over 4 other ravers was one to remember. Everything went purple and nauseous after that.


Shouts to:

the bloke in the toilets that pulled 3 tablets from his bumcrack, and then necked them in all one.

The bloke in the Cossie, the donughts were quite incredible, if not totaly reckless in a busy car park. - he also put me off disco buscuits for life


Things I liked:

leaving the place


Things I liked less:

everything before leaving the place.







, funny, never bothered since.

TopBanana

chav central

MrShades

LOL @ TopBanana - couldn't agree more - though (fortunately) I've never actually experienced a 'rave' to be able to comment in all truth.

astraboy

lol, good review mate, although I think you might have had a better night if you had not done any drugs, got up off the stairs everyonce in a while and had a bit of a dance.
Called "Dance music" for a reason y'know.
As for the chav central comment, maybe in RnB Nation, but not at a Hardcore night.
astraboy.

Patt@firstime

ROTFLMAO

tiggers

astraboy,

Even though I'm no raver (too old I think ) I still like reading your reviews mate, keep 'em coming

tiggers.

astraboy

Dont have to worry about that mate, its kinda like a job now, you know what I mean?
This was underlined when I couldnt make it to a rave one weekend and throughout the night I got multiple calls and texts ranging from random ravers to the promotor and the venue owner asking where I was
By that yardstick I dont think I could stop if I tried! Not that i'm complaining that is
astraboy.