I was looking forward to this, a Hardcore Heaven in London, and at the Fridge - a venue which I've personally never been to. From talking to people, there seems to be a mixed response to this venue. Kinda like Marmite. So I was intrigued to see what it was like first hand. After a warmup in the pub, with the conversation getting weirdly round to religion and astrology far too quickly, we decided to set off to the venue at around 9.30. With some confusion about the actual start time (was it 9 or 10pm), the doors actually opened at 10pm - apprantly due to technical difficulties. The bouncers, who seemed quite firm on id-ing underage looking people, slowly but surely let the crowd in, and we were in and listening to the sounds of the mentalist, Mark EG. The Fridge consists of a large main room with the second tiny room (5 people wide!) set aside for the up and comings. Above the main room is a large balcony area and bar, but the view down onto the main dancefloor is somewhat ruined by the amount of lighting scaffoldng and sound/lighting desks. After a bit of a bop and a few pics of Mark EG, I went to check out the second room where Lukozade was bashing out some top choons. Some people might say the second room was small - but I'd like to think of is at intimate. Unlike the main room with it's large stage - you can really get up close to the DJ's in the second room and show your appreciation direct to them. Also, finding the "Narnia-like" doorway behind the DJ into the main arena was a god send for running back and forth taking pictures :) Back in the main room (according to the set times posted around the venue) it was supposed to be Kevin Energy who for some reason didn't arrive till later, so it was down to HB and Ponder to fill the gap with a good hardcore set with some breakbeat choons for good measure. This meant that Luzozade had to hold the fort in room 2 for another hour and he did a fine job. Darren Styles in the main room seemed to fit in quite nicely with the trancey crowd. 1 til 2 saw the lasers turned on and banging Lab 4 'hardcore' PA set. I hung round for quite a bit of this. One of the words I would use to describe them would be 'relentless'. I thought that maybe there could have been a few more dropdowns to give the crowd a breather at times. Back to room 2 and after an initial emptying of the room (obviously to check out Lab 4) the room was full up again as Cris-e did the business. I managed to catch some of Sy playing some top tunes, and a bit of Uplift dropping some strange stuff, before I had to leave early to get some shuteye before Sunday Skool the next day. The night for me got a very well deserved thumbs up. A very rare thing that you get an event where you can't pick out any significant negative things. A top notch clear sound system (it makes sooooooooo much difference to a night!). An excellent up for it atmosphere. A lot of people were concerned about how well hardcore would go down with the crowd at the Fridge, but they loved it. The Fridge is an excellent venue and I looking forward to the next HH there - and after a quick chat with Michael on the way out - it's looking highly likely! Hurrah! Shouts out to everyone I saw - apologies to everyone who's names I always forget - I'm rubbish with names :)
