Strictly Hardcore Saturday the 23rd of September 2000 By Jonathan Bitton (zap) Most of you might know me from the happy list or discussion board, as the person who chats utter crap and is one of the biggest bedroom ravers. As in my life I have been too six raves two in Israel which were very techno and very poo but when in Rome. I have also been to two future dances and a united dance as well as this first ever strictly Hardcore. Usually I have to leave at about 2-3 am because of work but not this weekend so it was my first all nighter. Well where to start the day kicked off for me and Jody (miss go mental) at about 11am when we met up to celebrate her birthday (happy birthday to you). We then wasted time till 8ish when we met up with Kev and all the other ush lerkers in Victoria station we got around twenty people together and got on the tube to Oval. We had a nice and fat walk from the station to the imperial gardens by the time we got there it was about 10:20pm so we had missed the first 20 minuets of Crissy’s set (d’oh). We then had a long wait to get in cause security were on a piss-take, but once inside I was surprised to discover how small the place is especially for a garage club which are usually quite big. So down to business straight to the most dodgyist cloakroom ever no change of a tenner finally get £1.50 together I went back into the Hardcore room and gave Crissy a wave had a quick red-bull and pluck up the courage to start stomping. Pretty descent set from Crissy playing some nice cheese in places just the way we like it (well I do so fuck you) so after having a cheese trip from Crissy I descided to go to the bog. After asking the friendly security guard he pointed me in the way of the first arena in the place where I heard even more cheese from DJ Storm and Herman. So after emptying me bladder I spent about twenty minuets in their stomping my heart out before heading back to arena 1 to catch the rest of Crissys set. Then up steps the Lukozade and his oh my god they killed Kenny scratch sample. So I continued my stomping for most of Luko’s set and then found myself wondering back to arena 3 as they called it listening to Herman and Storm playing a pretty descent set (I take back what I said about the c.d. at United). Soon then the room started to empty and I again found myself wondering back to the main arena. When I had actually realised I had no glow sticks, so I quickly grabbed Twigg and Jody when Twigg went and asked and they said there were none, completely depressed I started stomping again when I saw a site a person with glow sticks I begged him to tell me where they were and he directed me to the dodgyist stall I have ever seen (I have worked in markets since I was 6). I was then ripped off for £3.00 for a single glow stick. Back to the action I then caught vinyl justices set which started well but starting to tire I went back to the old school room and caught Criss E Manic set of old school while jumping around with Kev and the ush crew. Starting to feeling tired I descided to have a bit of a sit down I then realised the time was for DJ Vibes and Live lee’s show so running back into the main arena surprised to see phantom d on the decks I started getting a bit irate and went back to the old school room when who should appear but Jody who grabbed me and dragged me up to meet the DJ’s and M.c’s who were crashed out upstairs above the old school room with most of the u.s.h’ers when Jody introduced me to storm, ice, herbs and I made myself known to Lukozade who I have had a few conversations with before then Crissy and uplift got the vocal treatment from me when happybounce then got on the decks going back to back with ponder it appeared though I am a novice. Soon we all started stomping up there nearly making the floor cave in while completely soaking the fools downstairs foolish enough to sell water pistols then I decided to go and see if vibes had turned up from the m.c box to hear herbs shout give it up for DJ vibes or so it sounded what he actually said was DJ rise (d’oh) but rise was more than up too the occasion producing a mammoth two hour set to cover for the absent vibes I then heard a shout to Crissy e manic and all the hackney crew realising where she might be from I asked her if she was and the quickest way back which was thankfully a lift in the back off uplifts car (yay) so I continued stomping to the end when rise played my favourite song say you will be mine by q.f.x leaving me with a giant grin but not as big as getting two sausage and egg Mcmuffins from Mickey D’s on the way home. Strictly Hardcore though not a sell out and never packed did prove that you don’t need to be a big promoter or book the biggest DJ’s, M.c’s to produce a quality night or atmosphere it produced it because someone put their heart and soul into something they loved and that’s what raving should be about. This event once again proved that Hardcore is not dead just sleeping though the giant is begging to wake up and is really pissed off with what’s been going on while his been asleep watch out garage were back. Highlights of the night Vibes not turning up- if he hadn’t I probably wouldn’t have realised the true meaning to raves. Getting a lift home from Criss E and uplift-brilliant waffling session on the way home (bring back the addiction waffling sessions to eruption please). Finding out more about addiction from Criss E and Uplift- learned why they stopped how it started. Getting back stage and meeting the DJ’s- wouldn’t it be yours Meeting more ush’ers –they cool init. Low’s of the night Going home – well init. Roped into writing this review by Kev- I want sleep. Ripped off for glow sticks- £3.00 even united dance is cheaper. Place being on the slightly empty side – you better turn up too the next one or else!!! Having to waste 8 hours waiting for it- you can only count tiles so many times. Shouts: Firstly Criss E and Uplift (cause I would probably still be trying to get home now if it weren’t for them), Kev, Jody (happy b’day), happybounce (happy b’day too you too) Twigg, fangs, peaches, Jessica, Zahra, Andrea, Rebecca, Anastasia, Julia, Anna, Alta, ponder, Lukozade, Ice, Flick (I think) Storm, Herman, Rise & Shady (organising it init.), Ali G, Herbs and anybody else I missed out (sorry writers block) Including DJ’s and M.c’s as well as the u.s.h mush that’s in danger of becoming a bedroom raver and should come out more
