Part 2

As I made my way through the crowd where I could help but notice that one really attractive girl was being surrounded by about 4 men. I think she liked the attention because this didn't stop here dancing the way she was....It appeared that she was loving all the close attention. ....And boy was it close.

Making my way up the stairs, I could hear the thudding sounds of "Hard House" were getting closer and closer to me. What greeted me when reaching the opening of this area was the men full of sweat. Well most of them anyway. And some of them without any shirts on..

The girls that were present were either jumping up or down on the couches that were supposed to be used for sitting on, or taking a well earned rest slouched over a man or over stools that were provided here. The bar area was busy. And I mean busy. Dancing does mean that you have to replenish those fluids that you have lost during a hard dancing session doesn't it?.

I stayed on for while soaking in all the emotions, vibes and atmosphere of this part of the club. But try as I might I couldn't get into it. It was too fast and furious for me.

It was very hard to get into any type of conversation in this type of environment I found as well. People were whizzing past, or in a world of their own. I did get asked once or twice if I had any "E's"...But I just shook my head leaving them disappointed and moving on to the next "look alike drug dealer" .....After about 20/30 minutes of this. I made my way back down to the Garage room, which is home to me.

I noticed that DJ Roo, was on the list to play this evening. He was down on the flyers as a guest DJ to play. It still took me be surprise as I re-entered the Garage room to see him there perched over his ears a headphone and his hands gently touch the vinyl in front of him on the turntables.

I immediately went over to him, waited to he had finished his mix, and then shook hands with him. I have known "Roo" since the "Trinity Days",in (Vauxhall, South London, England )and have kept in touch via e-mail contact for 3 years or more.

Roo, was down to play USA and Filtered Disco type House music tonight. He could have easily have played a 2-Step Garage set, but he was on the bill to play USA styled Garage, and was sticking to what was agreed.

One or two numbers I recognized, but as I edged myself closer to the dance floor. My was interested in this was lost for a while as I managed to get in a conversation with a few people whilst dancing ( or trying to!!). Whom I found had traveled from Surrey or South London to be here tonight.

One was a extremely attractive, good-looking girl, dressed in figure hugging red dress. It never came to anything..( Really!!!) as she was down with her friends, and one of them was her boyfriend.. But she wasn't stand offish or anything. But nothing was going on here...Shame that..

As I looked around I got the feeling that there was missing something. It was nicely packed Though it didn't seem right Maybe the crowd were expecting a different sound, or what..... but I could put my finger on it...???

Roo, I noticed dropped "Together" by Grant Nelson, which is always great favourite in London, but it didn't bring about the excitement that I know this tune always does in other places. Maybe, it was me but....

Natasha, dressed in what could best be described as a "Purple Catsuit" was still in a joyous mood. Bouncing around, in and between the punters that were on the dance floor. We even witnessed her doing some dirty dancing with one punter. But it all ended in smiles and wasn't ( though it did look suspicious) to be taken seriously as it proved in the end.

After about 45 minutes of groovy, smooth American House and Garage sounds. Roo vacated the DJ stands, where I lost him in the crowds. I wanted to have a little chat with him about the old times and what he was up to now. Maybe I'd catch up with later I thought.....

Up on the decks now I noticed that it was now the turn of David Charles from the "Make it Hot" night club fame. Yes another person that I knew...David used to the run the night in Waldoft street, London, England about 1 Year ago with Natasha. He looked different though. .Ah yes.. its the hair... He had gone for the bald look...!!!

Again she dragged me across to meet up with him....

"You remember Carl. You know, he came down to the club last year and ..."

The penny had dropped, and we shook hands like long lost brothers.

"Just a minute mate. Let me do this and then I'll get back to you..."

He was in the middle of a mix that broaden out to be "She love you" by Cee Cee Penniston and Steve "Silk" Hurley.

This track brought the club to life. Typical Steve "Silk" Hurley sound, and working with his old vocalist "Cee Cee" It seemed as if they had never been away from each other. A number of girls that had taken a "rest" on the side lines via the coaches or seats that were provided got up and started to boogie.

It's a class track and one that I feel got away...I thought to myself, as I let the smooth vocals of Cee, Cee glide over me..He continued to drop bombs throughout his set such "Chocolate Sensation" by Lenny Fontana, and "Stop Playing with my mind" by Barbara Tucker...Wow!!!

It seemed to have done the trick ,but not quite. I'm not saying that the crowd from where I staying didn't enjoy the stuff that was pumping out of the speakers. But I felt it need a new injection of pace.

It came when a local DJ's named "DJ's Shaun T and Trimmer" took to the stand together and played back to back.

He immediately dropped a couple of UK Garage/2-Step Garage stormers just to get the crowd going...

"Moving too Fast" by the Artful Dodger was one that brought about a new injection of "vibes" into the Garage room.

He dropped this with other gems such as ..."Right before my eyes" by N and G feat Kallaghan, and "Street Life" ( or it seemed like it was it??) by Daryl B and Mark Yardley.

Then came the "dub plate pressure" period. Obscure and unknown 2-Step Garage artists and tunes but without an ounce of it being watered down. It was a pleasure to be in this room at this moment in time. As for about 30 minutes I was continually running back and forth between the crowds on the dance floor to the DJ stand to find out what that particular track was at the moment in time.

After the 4th time. The DJ's there just smiled and held up the cover before I said any thing and carried on with his mix!!!

There was one track that even had me searching for a piece of paper and scribbling down furiuosly

The track was called "Boom Selector". Ragga-2-Step Garage at it best. Wow what a track. Not out I was told....

A lot of black clubbers had grouped on the dance floor now and were "jamming". This is the sound of "Black" London, and boy did it showed. Moves were being dropped left right and center. It wasn't a case of who looked the "sweetest", but about dropping your gear.....

It also eventually brought in the "punters" from the Hard House room to the Garage room. From one instant it was a theatre of Black Londoners doing "their" thing....to the next it involved all colours and creeds ...

Its was proof that everyone seems to love 2-Step Garage here.....

The DJ's ( DJ's Shaun T and Trimmer ) threw in "Together" by Grant Nelson, which funny enough did raise a huge cheer this time... Funny that I thought...

And then it was over. It seemed like an anti-climax. But it had to end sooner or later.

I thanked Natasha for inviting me down and everything, and asked me to put me on the next guest list for the next rave...

"Now's where me coat ticket .....It freezing outside....."

"Oh no I can't find it...!!!

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