And now, as tears subside…
As we attempt to get back into the swing of things this Monday afternoon (it appears that we were a little too successful at turning ourselves nocturnal in preparation for our big Saturday night!), the finality of it all suddenly begins to hit home. The thing about going out with a party as great as last Saturday at The End is that the amazing feelgood atmosphere of the evening obscures the underlying sense of loss, and it is only in the freezing cold light of a snowy Sunday morning that reality sadly sinks in. (Thank goodness for Ringo Pizza‘s handy dial-a-munch hot food, milk and fags service is all I can say!).
A million thanks to everyone who came down on the evening, and full marks for bravery and dedication for waiting in the sub-zero temparatures to get in – we really felt for you! I do hope that the entertainment once inside made up for it: Avus revelled in the chance to play an unfettered anything-goes warm-up before longtime musical co-conspirator James, who also seized the early doors opportunity to play one of his best End sets yet. Nathan Fake had everyone reaching for the earplugs as he once again managed to somehow push The End’s legendary soundsystem seemingly louder than anyone else ever has done before, with the guest we always wanted Ellen Allien then doing us proud by proving that she is every bit woman enough to follow Fake’s tough act.
Kieran Hebden‘s lounge room meanwhile was quite literally jumping all night – even Binary Finary got a great reception this time round! – and the eight hour marathon seemed to fly by. So when he finally shut-up shop and popped over to the main room for some closing session frolics with fellow regulars James and Avus, Kieran still had plenty more to give, trooper that he is. Sinatra’s ‘My Way’ was the rank outsider that crept up to snatch James Holden’s last tune title, an emotional moment which was captured for posterity in this video that Kieran found on Youtube this morning:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNcN9zoFaSs]
So all that remains now is a long list of thankyous: thanks to Ajay, Gideon, Liam, Roz, Ryan, Alice, Helios and everyone else involved with The End, whose untiring professionality provided the perfect foundations for a series of great nights. And thanks of course to our eclectic and sometimes eccentric crowd, the fanatics who travel hundreds of miles and everyone who has ever come along to one of our parties alike: your collective lovely natures ensured that our nights had an atmosphere like no other, and for that we salute you. And if withdrawal symptoms are already beginning to kick in, fear not, for we are currently hatching plans for plenty more London-based Border Community action next year: see you on the other side!
Finally, without wishing to prolong the agony, or to be accused of milking it, I will no doubt be returning to this subject later in the week, this time with pictures: the photos taken by The End‘s own camera-lady should hit their site sometime soon, whilst our own intrepid human tripod Dan Tombs (aka Luke Abbott‘s oftentimes visual partner-in-crime) also brought along his collection of ex-Soviet Lomo photo-machines to create his own alternative impressionistic laser-heavy photo reportage, which should be with us just as soon as he gets the films developed. How delightfully old school.
