Club Class
Exciting weeks as people seek to escape from the dreaded fifth week blues in more imaginative ways...(check out our review of Fifth Ave to see just why fives can make you so blue). My only source of solace is the knowledge that if I can make it through to the end of term I'll be able to check out the awesome lineup including Seb Fontaine which the promoters of the post-Varsity Rugby/Football Ball have got lined up at no less a venue than the Ministry of Sound in London. Excellent choice...but if Oxford lose, would you really want to make the effort?
Thursday, Zodiac
Cheesy Listening becomes more of an institution by the week. Cheesy choons... expensive beer. Close your eyes and you could be in DTM's. Except you're not; instead you're in Cowley, the centre of cool, the thrumming heart of all that is good about Living Out. You, my friend are in the Zodiac. Upstairs they belt out cheese by the truckle - both songs and instrumentals (as well the the Queen Mother's Conga for those early birds). Downstairs is as naff as the second dance floor is in any club. But at least you have space to breath and enjoy the night air. Or whatever they have in there.
The Matrix, Reading
Spending time commuting between Oxford and the capital doesn't really leave enough time to appreciate what clubbing experiences are to be had in nearby towns. Reading (and its merry band of students) have recently been blessed by the appearance of The Matrix which is likely to become to the home of Huntley and Palmers' biscuits what Cream is to the home of the Beatles or the Ministry is to the home of government. Its opening night last week was packed to the rafters with slightly awed locals plus a good contingent of students who danced the night away to uplifting trance tunes of the wish-I-was-still-in-Ibiza school plus some good variation from a DJ (name sadly unknown) who placed a fantastic techno
Thursday, Fifth Avenue
'Filthy' is the only way to describe Fifth Ave on a Thursday night. Bus loads of intoxicated rugby and hockey players pack out the joint only to strut their stuff to the cheesy rhythms that we can all slur along to."It's a raining men;" always a favourite, even if its lyrics lack truth. Can't remember what else graced the decks of DJ Filth but had me movin' and groovin'! Dance floor doesn't leave much room to manoeuvre, but certainly more shapely than DTM's 'corridor'. Drinks are cheap and cheerful and little need for queuing...much. A good night all in all....but should probably be rationed to once a term.
Comin up: The Big J
Zodiac, Cowley Rd
Clubclass has heard this week from a young scally who claims to be setting up "the biggest Monday night Oxford has ever seen." Since currently most people I know spend their Monday evenings esconced in the idylls of academe, it looks like there is a bit of a gap to be filled. What sets this particular venture above the usual crowd of Oxford Palumbo-wannabes is its munificent aims - that's right kids, every penny goes to charity. The worthy causes probably couldn't get any worthier, in fact: half goes to the Jubilee 2000 campaign (which doesn't like third-world debt) and half to the Big Issue (which doesn't like first-world homelessness). Artists will include people from the 100% Dynamite Sound System (Soul Jazz Records) who are the biggest sellers of soul, funk and dub in London plus Kevin Kelly (breakbeat plus drum'n'bass).
4th Nov 1999