Serendipity

Inna?State
Friday, November 3
The Boxing Club
Chatham Street, Reading

By Nick Leverton

Photos by Ian Manson

Article copyright © 2000 O-Reading

INNA?STATE is one of those wonderful nights where there's usually someone on the dance-floor right from the beginning, expressing the music and enjoying themselves. In fact, it's usually me.

 The whole crowd, both the many regulars and those who visit on the strength of its name and musical reputation, are always brightly dressed, happy, smiling and welcoming. I've always liked it because you feel involved there from the moment you walk in, and it's clear that although everyone knows each other, they also want to know you and to make you part of the Inna?State family, both young and young-at-heart.

 With all the weather and transport problems, plus the fact that the Boxing Club has just lost its 6am licence and the promoters have had to put the end-time back to 2am, tonight could have been a bit of a flop. The event has had to be drastically cut back, losing two of the visiting DJs (Mick Chaos from Chaos Unlimited records, and JP from Horaizon).

To reduce costs, the chillout marquee has also had to go, with the chillout being moved into the back of the main hall, as it used to be for Float a couple of years ago. But Out of Our Depth (O.O.O.D) are still visiting for a live set and the 100 or so dedicated party-goers who have come along are determined to 'ave it large come what may,

 Reading's only regular psychedelic trance night has been running for over two years now, and back in August the team successfully moved venues from the After Dark Club to the Boxing Club for their first venture into an all-night trance party. It seems a pity they have been curtailed so soon.

 DJ Amanita Muscaria, one-time stalwart of Lost The Plot and now a regular at Inna?State, opens with a selection of eclection to entertain and tickle the auditory taste buds. I mean, how often do you hear George Formby played out these days ? But he manages to drop a snippet in, behind and in the middle of some large, swirling psychedelic number so that you wonder what you are really hearing.

  Next fluoro warrior DJ Dark Angel, prime mover of the Inna?State crew, gives us a trawl through his ever changing record box, a set that works at one and the same time for the psychedelic voyagers, the tune spotters and the energetic dancers. Being a bit of all three, I appreciated it anyway.

 But you don't have to be deeply into esoteric psy-trance to appreciate Barclay's sets. They are as musical and danceable as you will ever find anywhere in any genre. Finally O.O.O.D., visiting from their Oxford base, dance and jig as they play a stunning live set of innovative trance tunes, involving the audience and dancers and bringing the night to a close with style and energy.

 But Inna?State isn't only about the music. Dooza Lighting from High Wycombe provide one of the best light shows I've ever seen at the Boxing Club (get yerself over to Wycombe to Dooza's monthly night "Magic" if you want to experience it yourself.) Fluoro hangings and decor turn the Boxing Club into a red, yellow, green and blue ultraviolet wonderland.

 Where will Inna?State go next, now that Reading has no licensed venue for an all night event? I don't know, but I'm going to keep my ear to the ground, because I want to be there whenever and wherever it goes. In the meantime, if you see a copy of the petition which was launched last Friday, or if you can write to the council to express the need for 6am dance licensing in Reading, please do your bit - all the regular local nights need as much support as you can give on this one.

Blimey it's dark in here

Inna?State
Friday, August 18
The Boxing Club, Chatham Street, Reading

By Keith Corcoran

Article copyright © 2000 O-Reading

It's been a while since I've been Inna?State, in fact well over a year now, but the thought of them moving to the Boxing Club is an interesting proposal. I don't think it was ever really suitable for the After Dark - yeah an enjoyable time for all, but the back bar just doesn't work as a chill-out area.

 So, with "likkle" email reminders from Inna?State master Dark Angel including promises of UVs, massage area and a tea room (YES!), I headed off through the hell that is Reading on a Friday night - pissed up anti-social lager louts - to see if they could achieve it all.

 Last week's Frontier Spirit set a new standard for all nights in Reading, but even yours truly is surprised that Inna?State have managed to pull off something pretty damn good. The chill out area (the usual Ooops! tent) has been decored to the hilt, full of vibrant colours and giant insects, brought to life under the UV tubes - they even put down carpet!

 The tent is nearly rammed by the time I turn up. The numbers there don't bode well for inside of the Boxing Club itself, but, no, there's an adequate smattering of bodies dancing their proverbial nuts off to live sounds and (computer generated) projections of Lunatik Fringe and the gloriously monickered Aminita Muscaria who got the revellers revelling by playing the Carpenters classic 'Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft'. As the night progressed, the beats got harder and faster (moving into an almost Techno direction rather than Trance) and as the floor began to fill up, my foot started twitching, but since I have two left feet I couldn't do a thing about it!

  Wandering around, there were enough happy, blissed up faces - no beer boys or worse still cattle market fever, that seem to ruin certain nights in town - all intent on getting down to the beats, rather than attempting dodgy chat up lines etc.

Unfortunately, due to my, somewhat, hectic schedule over the next week or so, I bow out early (yeah, I know - lightweight!), but I know that the next Inna?State is going to be high on my list of club priorities, maybe next time even I might shake a leg. Damn! I even forgot to get a cup of tea - next time.