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THE DROME

Not being a caner of any sort, when offered a chance to go for a “night out” with Nessi and some of her friend’s, my immediate reaction was “Why not??”

So, after a session in the ever popular Pitcher & Piano, we made our way across to London Bridge, and the search for the Drome was on. After about 20 mins, we found the place – in fact, it would be fairer to say that we felt it first; the dull bass thud was emanating from all around us as we came to a series of railway arches down St Thomas’ Street from London Bridge tube. There was virtually no queue (it was gone 1.00am) and after paying £12, we entered.

The style of the whole place was urban industrial; practical, functional and there to do a job. The job was simple – to provide a location for some seriously non-commercial hard house, gabba, trance and other forms of dance music that Radio 1 wouldn’t even admit existed!

First impressions – ear-bleeding loud music, LOTS of people, dark and not a little intimidating to the totally uninitiated in this form of entertainment. However, very quickly other thoughts and impressions were formed; the fact that people were having a great time cos of the love of life and dance, not because of the love of lager; the subsequent lack of any threatening atmosphere. (The next day it dawned on me that if there were any bouncers there, they were VERY discrete!) People were genuinely only interested in the music, and, by entering the club, you were a fully accepted member of the whole experience – there were no clique’s comparing dress sense or dancing competence that is prevalent in “trendy” night clubs – and no sense of entering a cattle market either!

I ended up very quickly on my own – and after a nano-seconds hesitation knew what I had to do; yep – get stuck in!!! Of the 4 dance areas, I tended to stay in the area that played more trance style music, although venturing into the others from time to time did allow for a more active expression of appreciation for the music. Bloody hell, I thought, Gabba’s a bit fast!!!

I also managed to wander around and take interest in other aspects of the club; I was VERY tempted to try the massage table, whilst the Falafal stall was great! The various stalls selling everything from light sticks (used to great effect by a large number of the dancers) to New Age type bangles etc lent a Glastonburyesque (top word!!!) air to the peripheral areas.

Talking of Age, another thought struck me during my dancing/wanderings – if I had had any pre-conceptions before entering the club, it would have been that at 37 I was likely to be toward the upper age range of clubbers; how wrong I was!!!!! There were at least half a dozen clubbers giving it large who were clearly in their 60’s and 70’s (and I don’t been fashion styles!)

The total friendliness of the place enveloped me; I’m a miserable sod at the best of times, taciturn and not prone to making conversation with strangers. However, after a stimulating conversation about alternative food sources, I realized that the studied indifference to others (which appears to be actively promoted in our Society) simply DOES NOT EXIST in the Drome. By now, I felt totally relaxed and at ease with myself and my environment, and when I finally met up with my friends, it was with joy that I could carry on the experience with them rather than the fact that I was no longer on my own.

Cos the truth is, I was never alone – I was with several hundred new, like-minded friends, and boy, am I looking forward to going back!!!!!!!!!

6.00am came a lot quicker than I could have imagined, and the entertaining way all the clubbers were asked to leave (no macho posturing by the highly professional and totally laid back security guys; another pleasant change!) ended the night on as high a note as could be envisaged. The queue for the coats was of the “my life will end before I get to the front” variety, but that and the tunnel of people thrusting flyers for other clubs into your hand was no real hassle.

So that was it; I’m still smiling at the memories of the night, and as I said, I will REALLY be looking forward to going back in the not too distant future!

Steve