Monday night, to the club. Tuesday night, to the club.
Wednesday night, what a headache. But I went to the club.
That song brings back such memories. I used to loooooove clubbing. I started clubbing in Manchester properly when I moved here in 1999. I'd just split from my partner at the time and moved to Manchester for work. I only knew one person here - a guy I shall refer to as M. M and his flatmate were big clubbers and invited me out with them.
We started in Manto, a rather industrial themed gay bar at the Princess Road end of the gay village. The plan was to go on to Paradise but we got separated somehow. It was the first time I'd been clubbing proper in Manchester. Prior to that I'd always gone to some trashy pop night but this was the real deal. This night I became familiar with a certain letter of the alphabet for the first time (sorry Mum!)
So I'd lost M but was feeling like I needed to party like my life depended on it so I just followed the sea of people from Manto to Paradise Factory. What a night! I danced for hours and must have spoken to everyone in the club twice over. At 4am the music went off and the lights came on and I felt bereft as I still had a good few hours of partying left in me. So I followed the sea of people back to Manto for the Breakfast Club.
At around 6am I found myself running out of steam so perched myself on a table. Observing the frenetic dancing taking place, I turned to the guy next to me and said "if we could harness the energy in this room we could light the whole of Manchester." I didn't know it at the time but this off the cuff remark to a stranger was the beginning of a friendship that has lasted over 14 years.
Over the past five years the clubbing opportunities have been few and far between but I'd still go every once in a while. Paradise Factory doesn't exist any more and Manto is now a meeting place for hetero gangsters but there is still the bimonthly option of HomoElectric and bollox. Unfortunately it's no longer an option for me. The combination of my illness and medication mean that I simply wouldn't have the energy to enjoy it and it would be very dangerous to add a bit of Energy into the mix.
I really miss it. I miss the freedom and exhilaration that dancing brings. I miss silly, repetitive conversations and fancy dress at chillouts. I miss the fleeting eye contact with a stranger and the shared gestalt nod that communicates everything that needs to be said in that moment. There's something almost tribal, perhaps even spiritual about it. Giving thanks for life through the medium of dance accompanied by the songs of my people.
I remain hopeful though. I will go again. I will worship at the altar of electronic music once more. :)
That song brings back such memories. I used to loooooove clubbing. I started clubbing in Manchester properly when I moved here in 1999. I'd just split from my partner at the time and moved to Manchester for work. I only knew one person here - a guy I shall refer to as M. M and his flatmate were big clubbers and invited me out with them.
We started in Manto, a rather industrial themed gay bar at the Princess Road end of the gay village. The plan was to go on to Paradise but we got separated somehow. It was the first time I'd been clubbing proper in Manchester. Prior to that I'd always gone to some trashy pop night but this was the real deal. This night I became familiar with a certain letter of the alphabet for the first time (sorry Mum!)
So I'd lost M but was feeling like I needed to party like my life depended on it so I just followed the sea of people from Manto to Paradise Factory. What a night! I danced for hours and must have spoken to everyone in the club twice over. At 4am the music went off and the lights came on and I felt bereft as I still had a good few hours of partying left in me. So I followed the sea of people back to Manto for the Breakfast Club.
At around 6am I found myself running out of steam so perched myself on a table. Observing the frenetic dancing taking place, I turned to the guy next to me and said "if we could harness the energy in this room we could light the whole of Manchester." I didn't know it at the time but this off the cuff remark to a stranger was the beginning of a friendship that has lasted over 14 years.
Over the past five years the clubbing opportunities have been few and far between but I'd still go every once in a while. Paradise Factory doesn't exist any more and Manto is now a meeting place for hetero gangsters but there is still the bimonthly option of HomoElectric and bollox. Unfortunately it's no longer an option for me. The combination of my illness and medication mean that I simply wouldn't have the energy to enjoy it and it would be very dangerous to add a bit of Energy into the mix.
I really miss it. I miss the freedom and exhilaration that dancing brings. I miss silly, repetitive conversations and fancy dress at chillouts. I miss the fleeting eye contact with a stranger and the shared gestalt nod that communicates everything that needs to be said in that moment. There's something almost tribal, perhaps even spiritual about it. Giving thanks for life through the medium of dance accompanied by the songs of my people.
I remain hopeful though. I will go again. I will worship at the altar of electronic music once more. :)