All-nighter review: 20th March 2004

The 100 club: Still Something Special, by John Pugh
[Saturday, 20th March 2004 All-nighter]

Have you ever wondered what it is that makes a venue or a night special ? I know it's a very overused word, and in reality it's a very big word with a big meaning, so I'll say it again - SPECIAL, and that's what the 100 club is. I know I'm probably preaching to the converted here, but there's something I need to say and here it is

When my illness started to get worse I promised myself that if nothing else I would always make the effort to get to the 100 at least once a year. I know some folk like to complain about any anniversary night at any club not being a true reflection on what the club is normally like, and even if that is the case, SO WHAT.

Whilst I wouldn't wish it on anyone, sometimes I'd like folk to experience the scene through my eyes, or at least my eyes of the last few years, because maybe when you are getting your soul fix on a regular basis you cannot see how absolutely wonderful it is, a kind of wood for the trees type thing.

The benefit of me being either bed bound or largely limited to local venues for a large part of the last year means that when you encounter a night like this you can't help but wonder how anyone who thinks of themselves as a soul fan cannot see how simply beautiful it is.

DJ's dropping soulful gems from times gone by alongside some of the best of recently favoured stuff while the dancers simultaneously create an almost visible wall of heat, a thought suddenly struck me - I don't know what the other stuff I hear and see at some other venues is, but I know what this is, it's pure Northern Soul.

That's not neccesarily a critiscism of every other event I've attended recently, for instance I thoroughly enjoyed going up to Prestwich the week before, but this, the 100 Club, is different.

Whether it's the people you encounter (any time I see Johnny Wilko I automatically assume it's going to be a great night) or it's the faces staring down at you from those old photographs (wouldn't you just love a copy of that one of Jackie Wilson live on stage ...but there's something, and there's no other way to say it, different.)

It's gotta be said that the DJ's play a huge part, and maybe the way that they do the multiple sets is a factor, but we're talking about a PERFECT blend of experience and enthusiasm. Somebody pointed out a flyer on a table for some forthcoming venue that used a line something like " the top dj's in the country " and I wondered how you could top this line up here tonight, because it's not just about individual DJ's, it's how they work with each other. It's no secret that Butch is my favourite DJ, but I can't help thinking that when he plays alongside certain other DJ's or at certain venues he moves up a gear (I know this is true for me, and I'm sure many DJ's reading this will say 'yeah I'm like that too') I once asked him if he'd noticed that when he was on the same line up as Guy he seemed to perform better, and with a smile he agreed it was certainly possible. I think you can safely say that when he's alongside Mick Smith the same thing happens (which augers well for the Keele Niter) I suppose it's like when you work your 9 to 5 job somewhere with a bunch of folk you like, the days always seem to go quicker, happier and more productive than when you're working with some miserable sods.

People often assume it's easier to DJ to a big crowd that are "up for it" than it is to DJ at venues with poor numbers and a faulty heating system, and let me tell you that's not neccesarily true. If you watch a master craftsman at work, like Mick Smith, you see that they know how to adapt and get the best out of the situation, and Mick certainly did that on Saturday night. Roger and Russ were great in totally different ways, acting like balance weights on an old fashioned scale, ensuring different versions of this music we love were well and truly covered. And of course Ady was Ady, Thank goodness.

As for the music itself ? Well for me it was the "unexpected" tunes that stand out. Of course you know you're gonna hear some great super rarities, unreleased acetates and new to you ears etc,. and they are the thread that binds us all together, but that balance thing is what does it. As it was playing I remember saying to someone "oh oh, looks like I'll be singing this in my head all next week", the tune - Birth Of A Playboy. I hadn't heard it played out for a good while and it sounded so good, and so flippin' catchy. I could equally have said "Heart Your Made Of Stone" because that also sounded utterly fantastic. Of course we got to hear some tracks that have ended up on previous anniversary singles, and of course that always prompts a discussion on which is the best/most popular single from the past (nominations on the night included Whats With This Loneliness, Lock & Key, Magic Touch, Carla Thomas, San Fran TKO's and it's flip Peggy Gaines, and John Edwards. I suppose a lot depends on your personal tastes, but Dave Rimmer pointed out it also depends on where abouts you live and the venue you frequent).

One that made my ears do a Mr Spock sounded like a scratch mix version of "Baby Dont You Weep" (the Wilson Picket song not the Ed Hamilton) I was around the corner at the time so am unsure of who played it but I think they credited it to Luther Ingram ? I was equally taken with one RV played, I think he credited it to The Isonics (it wasn't the one we know on Kammy).

With my collector head on I was a bit disapointed to hear a couple of great underplayed tunes from my 'secret wants list', purely on the grounds that it will be even more difficult for me to get a copy of them now I'm sure, 'cause they sounded brilliant (hopefully it was just me that thought that and nobody else noticed 'em, doubt it somehow.

Others that stood out enough to register in the fading memory banks of my tired grey matter, a bit like a line from the old Patti Young classic (and by that I'm alluding to them being "Head And Shoulders Above The Rest, were "I'm Yours", Ady's old Gerri Grainger c/u, Rose Brooks "I'm Moaning" - perhaps I was having a bit of a girlie moment - oh and Jessie James "Are You Gonna Leave Me", he's a bloke of course, made me think that perhaps I'd like to have a copy of the Arcades again, so if anyone has one they no longer need...

Talking of vinyl buying there were some interesting things in the boxes I looked through. Despite raiding my kids wardrobe fund I came away with only one 45 and a couple of albums, not like me at all (I usually take an empty 25 count box with me to get them home safe).

Saw a copy of Ron &The Embracers, think it was in Butch's box. Despite the fact that I've got one I nearly bought it because every time you play it somebody always asks if you have a spare, but sooner or later I'm gonna have to buy those wardrobes so I left it. Was asked about a Big Maybelle record on Brunswick that I didn't know, any clues ? Very nearly bought a Coral demo copy of Romance Watson, if it had been an issue I'm pretty certain I would have had it :-)) Think somebody mentioned on list they were looking for a copy of Midnight "Keep On Walking By", well there was a nice picture cover copy in Mick's box at the right price so if it was you give him a shout. Must confess I didn't neccesarily expect them to be black, just goes to show you doesn't it.

There were the usual high price horror stories doing the rounds so it was nice to hear a few bargain tales (Terry Callier WDJ of "Look At Me Now" bought for one pound fifty pee) personally I didn't see anything at less than I'd have expected it to be, suppose that's why I came home with so little.

All too soon the end was indeed nigh, and when Ady said " As long as you keep coming we'll keep doing it" backed by the opening bars of " I Need You " I confess I got a bit of a lump in the throat area.

Hopefully I'm getting a bit better again and it won't be another year before I'm back there, because this is it, the real deal, this is what the phrase 'Northern Soul ' means to me.

Long may it continue. Cheers.

John the Tourist
(A.K.A. John Pugh)