I had reached Gants Hill tube station, London England at around 10:50pm , and I'm still here?....

"What the matter with this place....???" I kicked out at a tin can that was close by in sheer frustration.

It startled a few people near by me, but they didn't care as they were feeling the same peek of frustration as me. I looked at my wrist watch, and it now read 11:47pm....

"I'm was supposed to be at the club night called "That Thing" in (Hanover Street, London, England) by now..."

My brain was working over time, as I felt that I could have missed Natasha waiting from me at the door entrance and miss my chance of getting in as a guest of the night.

Natasha ( One of the promoters of the night called - "That thing"), who I spoke to the day before, had arranged for me to get in there for free. I was supposed to be doing a club review feature on the night for her. This didn't look good though in any stretch of the imagination.

Eventually 15 minutes later, I heard the rush of air coming out of the tube training opening which meant that a tube was coming any second now.

"At last".. I said out loud

Apparently, over the Loudspeaker system within the station. A passenger had decided to jump onto the tracks in front of train. That train was on this particular line. The Central Line.

To make the time go more quickly, I had been talking to a few other clubbers quite by accident who also came from East Anglia. They were spending the night out in the capital as well. They were going to "Bagleys", so I was told.

I explained to them that I was off to this new night just of Regent Street in London; where there was "Hard House" music up stairs and "Garage Grooves" downstairs.

After we had exchanged clubbing stories of our past whilst we were travelling to our own destinations. I said our goodbuys and I eventually got off at Oxford Street tube station and made my way up, then down, and up again out of the station and onto the streets of Oxford Street.

London, was alive as soon you came out of that station. Every colour and creed seemed to be out that night. Everyone its seemed had party, party, party in there eyes. Not as colourful, as my recent trips. This was because it was very nippy, and cold out tonight. Most people were wrapped up against the elements of the English weather. It wasn't raining, but it was enough for you to make you put a coat on. You know what I mean...??

A few girls that I passed me by did brave the elements. And wore, very tight skirts, and high heeled shoes...Nice legs!!!

After clambering passed a few people begging for change along my way to the club, and taking my life in my own hands with regards to crossing the road over to Hanover Street. I noticed a small queue that had formed, and I took this to being the Hanover Grand nightspot. I thought that it would look grander than this for some reason. But thats me being over optimistic again. It looked quite dirty outside with black plastic rubbish bins nearby the club, or broken planks of woods strewn all over the place as well.

I couldn't help but notice that one particular girl was staring at me. I felt these eyes on me. I don't know why or How, but I just did. I motioned towards her, and as I got closer I noticed that it was Natasha. I'm sure it was. She looked different since her days of when she was promoting "Make it Hot" in Waldoft Street, London. ( With David Charles)

She was at the front of the queue with her other college who had a clipboard with her. I think that was Jessica. Her Co- Promoter and Partner of "That Thing".

After my initial greetings. I was told that they couldn't do me any favours and I would have to wait at the bottom of the queue. I slowly backed away from her, and made my way back to my starting point. But I could see her whispering to what looked like the Head Doorman ( Bouncer-Minder as we say in England!!), and after a quick conversation I could see her waving her fingers at me.

I quicken my step, and on reaching her I was given a complimentary ticket and told to go straight through...I thanked her ( may have even given her a quick peak on the cheek!!), and then I was made my way through to the club.

I passed a few people, who did stopped me along the way. But I just showed them the ticket that was given to me by Natasha, and nothing more was said. I unbuttoned my long coat, and waited in the small, but developing queue. There I witnessed an array of sights and sounds. Girls dressed up in skimpy dresses, and strapless shoes which seemed to be the order of the day. Men, dressed out in the latest "Stone Island" gear to a few that had come dressed in suites.

Adding to the confusion I noticed that many people were coming down the flight of stairs from the Hard House part of the club, to the lowers levels of the club that featured the music that I wanted to hear. And that was Soulful House and Garage...

It was getting congested now I was finding. After putting away my ticket for the coat that I handed over to the cloakroom attendant I motioned over to the smallish door way that led you into the Garage room.

It was small, and it took me by surprise. In one corner of the room, was the DJ area. Not that brightly lit, but one where you could see a DJ bending down over the decks, or getting another record from out of his box. The room being so small gave the appearance that it was packed. It was!!

On the other side of the room was a couple of huge speakers which you thought was more than enough power and sound quality for this sized room. The people looked young I thought. Or was I being paranoid???.

They looked no more than 20 to 22 years of age at the most I thought. However there was a good mixture of people here though. From the occasional beer boy, to the train spotters that were already perched near the DJ stand watching like hawks at what the DJ was to drop next....

The girls were quite attractive I must admit. And well dressed. They certainly came dressed to kill. The music that was pumping was geared around the "USA Garage and House music sound".

The present DJ was playing was a tune called "Stop Playing With My Mind", Barbara Tucker on US Strictly Rhythm Records, USA which was a nice one to feel me into the night....

"Yes, this one I could feel..." I thought It seemed to do the trick, as the dance floor reacted in tow. Natasha bounded across the small dance floor and thanked me for coming. She motioned to me and then pulled across with her to meet "DJ Curtis", who was playing at the moment, and also his other DJ partner called "Def E".

I couldn't really hear their comments to be honest ,but it seemed to be in the vein of "Nice to meet you" type of thing, which I returned in suit.

As I stood there I noticed that more and more people were coming through, and at one stage it was impossible really to dance....I tried to move closer to the small dance area away from the DJ area but I had to dance where you were really....

DJ Curtis dropped a truly lovely tune. I raced back to the DJ area myself just on hearing a opening few bars of the song even among the crowds cheering.

He showed me the cover ,and I managed to hear from him that it was by a UK group called "Mutiny UK" and the Track was called "Secrets" on Sunflower Records UK. He also added that it wasn't even released yet.

"Next week mate. It will be released next week!!

"That's a wicked tune. Its on Sunflower Records right???

He just nodded and smiled at the same time. He and I knew it was a good tune, and the reaction that the crowd was giving it confirmed this as well. Lovely Deep House vocal type track..

I made a mental note of that I must get it for my own collection...

I was so impressed with that single that I tried in vain again to find a spot on the dance floor where I could "Drop foot" to that track before it finished. However, I had to be satisfied in just "jigging on the spot to it". There was no space.

As the night continued, a friend of Curtis, who had been handing out tickets of some sort ventured over to me.

"Hi, I've been told that you have come down to review the night?....

"Yeah, thats right....." I replied

"Well, we are going to be doing a new night down at ....and then he explained that they are to be running a new nightly residency based in Mayfair, London, in a couple of weeks time, and wanted me down there to review it...??

He asked me for my name, phone number and e-mail address, and asked him to e-mail his details etc, and we could work something out. He seemed up for it, as he mentioned that would be e-mailing me shortly.

DJ Curtis dropped some more "Niceness" on the dance floor. Bini & Martini - "Happiness" on Azuli Records, UK and Johnny Corporate "Groove Me" on 4th Floor Records USA are another 2 records that he played that stayed in my mind for the whole evening.

After those tunes. I wanted to explore a bit. See what else the club had to offer!

Want to read more...??

Please click on this link...To read more..

http://www.garage-music.com/thatthing2.htm