London Kicks a hangover - LONDON KICKS - Fashion, Music, Art, Film, London and Going Out

Feb 5, 2008 at 15:44

Photo: Partygoers @ Chockoblock. Photography by Robin Bharaj.

I'm fully aware that in this day and age digressing into painful
renditions of perhaps what's often the nation's most common dominator
(Come Sunday morning anyhow) is highly unnecessary.

Nevertheless, look beyond the thumping jackhammer-of-a-headache, the
inability to converse with one's family, friends or peers and the
expressionless disaster staring back at us in the mirror and well,
maybe, just maybe we can extract some good from the dreaded morning
after the night before.

In my eyes, the raging hangovers to which I've recently become rather
too accustomed, carry with them a token, a certificate of approval and
a hallmark of well, a bloody good night out.

So, this week it wasn't Sunday (or not just a Sunday I should say) but
saturday morning that left me reeling with a mixture of delight and
regret. After the traditional drink-up in Shoreditch we headed to
King's Cross' notorious late-night party spot, The Egg, where weekly
promoter, Always Fridays was playing host to successful northern
export, underground baseline, grime, and dub step and electro night,
Chockablock.

The long walk up York Way from the station only seemed to enhance the
anticipation (much to the horror of certain friends I had not until
now, partied at The Egg). The walk through countless industrial
developments in what's best described as your stereotypical concrete
jungle of warehouses, bridges and all, left me with the same youthful
feeling you get when you're about to step into an illegal rave.

The Egg's a diamond in a the rough, a throwback
to old skool clubbing that still encompasses modern amenities; an
outrageous system and possibly the best outdoors smoking area London
has to offer, all draped in tacky, festival-style fabrics and a red
carpet that runs throughout. I always think it's funny how, cheap and
false as they are, additions like these make us feel like we're
getting the 'special' treatment.

Chockablock lived up to its hype. The place was packed which left me
thinking that us other promoters have a lot to learn from a brand new
urban night that gets people traipsing fifteen minutes through
industrial nothing, all in the name of a party.

Highlights included Tomb Crew's jungle set. I'm not going to pretend
I'm old enough to remember jungle in its heyday however, I couldn't
help but think it wasn't too dissimilar to that [older readers scream
shaatap now].

The rest of our night was filled with the new northern phenomenon, baseline
(sometimes known asniche), a 4x4 meets old skool garage meets...you know what I mean.

A surprise set from dub step don, N-Type was the icing on the cake.

Hangover wise, I'll give The Egg top trumps. For one, I find myself unable to recall
the names of any of the early-hours DJs dropping minimal tech and electro upstairs,
the spot I found myself in at six, together with the rest of raving 'hardcore'
unwilling to call it a night. Damn that last beer.

As for the day after, all I'm divulging is this week's hangover cure: as much
innocent Super foods smoothes as you can stomach and the daily recommended allowance
of paracetomol for an adult over 12.

Until next week, James 'Urban Nerds' Benenson.