I think I'm going through a disco ball phase. I can't account for it; I'm just so into them right now. With this passing quirk in mind, imagine my intense satisfaction and disproportionate appreciation when faced with the sparkling avenue of oversized disco balls that ran above the length of the BOOOM dance floor, casting a dappled moonshine on top of everyone's heads and in my mouth, since I was staring up at them with a goofy slack jaw. One gold star for Glitterbox, of many to come.
When I arrived, the pint-sized Late Night Tuff Guy was in a final acceleration to the end of his set, packing in the classics including his own hit Do I Believe In God (Muscle mix) – a perfect opportunity for some deep and slow shoulder shrugging and heavy neck popping which limbered me right up for a solid night of dancing. It wasn't packed, but in my opinion had the perfect amount of people for that kind of party (second gold star). The dance floor should be busy, but if you haven't got room to swing your hips and elbows wildly, well it just ‘aint disco dancin'.
If the disco synths and funky bass lines didn't have you moving (what are you, a broken toaster?) then the live percussion would have done the trick. To the right of the floor a small collection of drums stood sentinel, manned by a zealous drummer who was truly going to town, adding all sorts of tribal and samba flavours to the funky tracks. I loved the idea, but one had to choose one's position on the dancefloor carefully to avoid a fallout zone around the drums where the sound was just too loud compared to the music. Small details, but important to perfect.
Joey Negro was now in charge, working the tempo a little harder and adding in some 80s style sonic swirls and upbeat vocals, as in his own mix of Masters at Work Backfired. A remix of Stevie Wonder's Superstition got a huge response from the amiable and energetic crowd, whilst dancing girls with bejewelled crotches and twinkling lady lumps shimmied their way around the podiums. Special shout-out must go to the couple who were partner dancing vigorously just like the good old days of our grandparents. Except with much more grinding, hair flicking, tongue combat and groping. Yeah I guess what I'm really saying is they were kind of gross.
We went out for a quick breather from all the glitter and the grinding on the homely BOOOM outdoor terrace area and when we returned Joey Negro was weaving more house into his set, with Oliver $'s summer hit (and BOOOM staple) Pushing On sparking any dance floor freeloaders into action. The licentious couple were now nowhere to be found; what possible reason they could have had for leaving the club early was impossible to fathom…
So the dance floor rolled on and as drinks poured, elbows and hips flared even more wildly than before. Whilst it might not be the intense experience offered at some of the great techno nights on the island, come to Glitterbox and know the meaning of a real dance floor. The more casual atmosphere and of course cheerful music really encourages even the least confident of clubbers to have a wiggle under BOOOM's famous laser cage (an effect much enhanced by the introduction of disco balls… but I would say that wouldn't I). One more star.
Soulful vocalist Barbara Tucker arrived on stage with the smooth banter (or some New York style equivalent) of a pro. Her vocal tones were equally expert, the notes shooting through the heavy club air, as clear and powerful as the laser beams combing above her head. I love that BOOOM parties often have a live element – in this case two – and her strong and vibrant performance was a great way to round off the Saturday disco session. But only fifteen minutes of Tucker? You're killing us! One less star. Which leaves us with a total of however many stars you want to stick on your face before you go out to the next Glitterbox – ‘cause it's all about the sparkles and the smiles!
WORDS | Jordan Smith PHOTOGRAPHY | James Chapman
