Turned out to be quite enjoyable, actually.
Last time (when Hooky dropped by Popscene), I dragged my wife along, and had to leave early because she wanted to get home and we needed to get an early start for the next day...well, that was the day before Kaiser and my trip to So. Cal to see Coachella. Didn't want to torture my poor NO widow and drag her again. Plus, I'd never hear the end of it...so I snuck out basically.
It's weird going to any dance club alone. This was a social event more than a flesh exchange, so, luckily, nobody hit on me. Did I say luckily? I should think so highly of myself, but seriously, I'm married with kids, so I'm a bit out of my element on the dancefloor, such as it is. But somebody did come up to me...to ask me whether I was Arthur Baker. I nearly doubled over from laughter, and said "nah, he's a bit fatter and older than I am..."
Popscene was packed. For some reason, this event was more sparsely attended, and the location is about 2x the size of Popscene to boot. The special guest (whom I found out only last night) was none other Andy Rourke formerly of the Smiths. He's looking all right these days (a bit Lennon-esque), he was drinking quite a bit during his set, which was basically him and his iBook. I didn't get a chance to go up to him, but a couple of people asked for (and got) autographs and took pictures with him.
One disappointing note. No Freebass "cockrock", as far as I tell. Doubly curious since 2/3's of the group where there.
So, while I'm watching Andy do his thing, none other than the man himself comes walking by...but by the time I react, he's well past me, and there's nothing worse than chasing, both in poker and in life. However, Hooky and his companion did pass by again, and I had a brief chance to talk to him (more accurately would be 'at him'). I only had the werewithal to ask him how long Andy Rourke had been beatmixing...er, DJ'ing. Hooky laughed, shrugged, and referred me to the young man that had accompanying him. At the time, I didn't figure out until afterwards that the young man was his son Jack!
The first part of Hooky's set was the pretty bog-standard sequence (Captain and Tennile's Love Will Keep Us Together mixed with LWTUA followed by Grace Jones' SLC, etc)...a well-put together set, actually, which, by the end turned into an 'Item' listening party, with New Order track after New Order track. This is not a bad thing at all, mind you, as there's nothing more transcendent than having tracks played to you by one of the people responsible for their composition, especially by the person I daresay is now the group's heart and soul (meaning the 24 hr party person) He was clearly enjoying himself, at several points trying to get a cute-looking girl who was probably affiliated with the club to help mix.
By the time Hooky was done, there were only myself and 20 other diehards out of the total of 100-something from before left...we were having a blast, singing along and dancing along like the drunkards most of the group were at that point, I only had a single Pale Ale (like the Newcastle brew but even weaker), I'm dangerous enough to myself as it is without being pissed.
Got to shake the man's hand, twice...it was an honor and a privilege. Carri on.
