Those members of the INSEKT swarm who have been feeling a bit lost recently now know where to go for a quality night out. Requiem is surely the best night in the south for cutting-edge proper hardhouse. No cheese or over-played ‘classics’ here but simply the best of the genre from the people running the best labels and the fresh up-and-coming stars of the scene. For me it is just so refreshing to go to a night where every set and every track is just what you want to hear; most nights you’re waiting around for one or two top sets in a night which is very mixed in quality and style; but not here.

The ‘warm up’ from Toolbox’s Tim Stokes was not ‘put-your-coat-in-and stand-around-jawing’ music, but music to dance to. The BPM was already high enough that you couldn’t help but move your body and stomp your feet. (Tim is also a musical encyclopaedia, and an excellent clubbing buddy for an anorak like me!)

The dancefloor was busy by the time Butcher Boy took over at midnight, showcasing a number of tracks from the critically acclaimed Omega 3 album ‘Lost at Sea’ (for he is one of the 3 Omegas, of course). This was the most uplifting set of the night yet still hard, fast and danceable.


Butcher at the controls

The next guest was Ireland’s Pierce Rooney, who banged out many of the tracks we wanted to hear: ‘Puma’ by Equinox (Pocock bootie), ‘Rampage’ the classic he wrote with Captain Tinrib, and his own groovy sexy moody ‘Can’t wait’.


Pierce singing along

Mr FlashPoint/Tripoli/INSEKT/Requiem Marc Johnson’s sets are always about as hi-energy and danceable as it gets, as well as including two of my top tunes of the moment: his own ‘Hyperscum’ (with Defective Audio) – a fist-punching monster of a track, and ‘Sharona’ (Karim and Frank Farrell) – tune!

His Requiem partner Dave Curtis among many top tunes played another of my current favs, the Adam M remix of ‘Are you all ready’. What a storming track! Awesome!


A smiling Dave Curtis

Finally, Twist favourite Steve Maynard topped the night with a very hard fast groove-based set, which was probably the best I have heard from him. Most times I’ve seen him he’s doing the warm up set, but he can bang it out at the end of the night as good as anyone. His remix of Karim’s ‘Pandora’ was one of many highlights.

I went home with so many of the top tunes playing in my head – ‘Reactivate’, ‘Something Ugly’, ‘Restless’, ‘Rock da spot’, ‘Function 1’, Vacuum packed’, ‘Huggy Bear’, ‘No way’, ‘’Gimme love’, ‘Music power’, ‘Heavy Bass’, 'Tango'….. This was the music I wanted to hear out and dance to and one of the reasons I will be back again on 26 July.

Among the other reasons I will be back is the fact that the 414 is one of the coolest, friendliest clubs I have been to, with lovely staff, fantastic décor and lights, and a food bar which is just a dream. And the crowd were great, with lots of up for it people who danced all night, and plenty of familiar friendly faces – hi to Ryan Steely Dan ;o) and Laura, Brighton Phil, Flappyvappy, Anna and Dave, Kate and Tom, Lorraine and everyone else whose names I’ve forgotten…


The Requiem massive

And very well done to the Requiem crew; hardhouse doesn’t get any better than this…

:o)

Georgie - get your big head out of the way!!!!

Excellent night....

always fun at the 414....

x

loved it !!!!

good to meet you too matey!!!

Wish we could have stayed longer. A proper clubbing vibe, nice and relaxed and everyone loving the hard house. ♥

whoop! roll on 26th July!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

was a savage night .. good to meet ye nutter .. nice 1

saaaaaaaaaavage. you get home ok then?

ye man ... just about ... hahahaha lol .. thanks a mill for everything DAVE .. YOUR A LEGEND MATE !!!!

:oD

i try.

no problem at all mate, great set and great to see you again! can't wait for adrenalin!

Likewise mate ,, when u drop cafe del munted the place went wild :)

yeah that was a bit immense

uknowsit :)

Great Review John

Agree with all of the above, quality night from a quality outfit... More like this please!

Gutted I missed it!!! Sounds like I missed out agin :( Looking forward to all the next ones though!

What a night! Well worth the long trip down on the megabus - the best music in the perfect club for the night, top DJ's and an even better crowd than first time round...is it time for number 3 yet?!? (Good read too John! Nice to have a bit more of a decent chat with ya!)

what will you do with toby next time?!

Hopefully we'll think he's well enough behaved (not going to the toilet everywhere!) to leave for the night (not that he's too bad at the moment - still having the odd accident though). Otherwise we'll find someone to drop in on him - Paul and Pete are just up the road and Pauls not out on HH nights too often these days so we'll see...

ah ok. fair enough! although we need pete down as well!