David Flynn's

Anorak's Corner

January 25th 2002

So were flying along Archway Road...following signs for Holloway...any way, I think we've gone too far so I thought, "F*ck this, I'm turning right"...drives into this road...asks this bloke where Tufnell Park is.... we got told "You're going the wrong way...get back on the main road and turn by the Odeon!" Well, this is were it got really interesting...cuz I literally turned round and started going back the way we had come...BAD MOVE...cars coming at me 3 or 4 abreast all flashing their bastard lights...I'm going the WRONG WAY down a one way Street!!! How we never got hit is beyond me!!!

Anyway we get to the Odeon...sure enough a sign for Tufnell Park...go couple hundred meters up the road and Shawy shouts, "There it is!"....I thought he meant the Dome but he meant the pub underneath it, The Boston summat or other (ARMS!) Anyway, now feeling dead pleased with ourselves..."THE EAGLE HAD LANDED", so to speak!

After upsetting a Doctor a few yards up from the Dome(I pinched his private parking space) I moved my car right outside the Venue...very nice...right, lets get in the Pub.(9.00 pm ish)!!!

Loadsa soulie/mod type looking people in there...was introduced to Janine for the 3rd time...her first time...work that one out if you can?! Bit of a chat with SteveH and his lovely lady...decided to get changed in the pub bogs....right, let’s get in this poncy Southern gaff to see what all the fuss is about!

Nige Shaw is first through the doors, then Daz, then me. Shawys already collared young Matt."It's Nige innit...KTF Nige?"...handshakes...hugs...we've only just met but it's like we been life long buddies! Matt gave me a quick resume on the place. Shawy carries on bending his ear....time to climb the stairs.

Don't know about you, but there's always something magical about climbing stairs to a soul nite, as for me it always adds to the build up and the anticipation. We're now at the top and it looks like Jo Wallace is doing the coats...I don't know her, but it sure looked like her (it was her!).

Into the main room and its Luv at first sight...it's a fuckin' brill room!!! Already spy Sue Parker (Charmaine) on the dance floor...not bad cuz its early doors and it's not yet her favourite Joey Delorenzo track on either! I'm scanning the joint now and getting me bearings. It's a great room with dark lighting, but enough to see. Aha, the Lades toilets...that means the KTF (internet chat group) corner is over there. I see our Carmen & Maria already in deep conversation...bet it started mid afternoon knowing Maria?!

After a while I make my way over...introduced to a load of you...I've only ever conversed via the internet so it was great to put the face to the name!

Right, not gonna bore you with any DJ playlists for the simple reason I didn't actually know 80% of the tunes that were played that night!!! Now that to me was SOOOOOO refreshing as I go all over the country and usually hear the same records all over...NOT TONITE! I felt I was 17/18 again...I had the same feeling as I did all those years ago at the Torch/Early Wigan...all the sounds were fresh...it's a great feeling! The Dome has captured the atmosphere of Northern Soul as if it was JUST BEGINING AGAIN...it's incredible...you have to actually be there to experience/witness it!!!

Another thing, if a record came on that probably wasn't a Dome regular tune, there was hardly any shift from the dance floor...no mass exodus! You know the attitude, "I dunno this so I ain't dancing", crap, well too much of that goes on elsewhere now days...fucking annoys me!!! Also I was amazed as a good proportion of the punters were YOUNG...20's I'd say and really up for it... singing the words as they danced...WONDERFUL!!!

I think to be honest that's the magic ingredient at the Dome...somehow they are encouraging new fresh blood...its what we need...most of us have got 10/15 /20 years left in us and then what? You'll be a sad old git that's what, and the scene will fold. These 20-something year olds are US as we were! They're the next generation and I hope they cherish and love it as much as we do.

Matt, Dave, Carl, Greg, Alan...I've been doing this for 32 years this year and last night you gave me one of the best nights I've had in a long, long time! As I said earlier, I had the same feeling that I did all those years ago...it was incredble.I didnt want it to end. From the moment you walk in the door to the moment they kick you out, the Dome has an invisible buzz and attending the place is the ONLY way you'll experience it to! I have no problem with what the Rocket guys are trying to do, but it will NOT live up to its promise of being "THE GREATEST VENUE SINCE WIGAN"....I DON'T THINK SO!!!!!!...the CAPITOL SOUL CLUB have near on already achieved that...where I hear you ask...at THE DOME of course!!!

Thanks lads, you made me very welcome, very happy and I'll be back!!

Nige Brown

Stafford

Andy Dyson:

Included

HOLLIDAYS - SET ME ON MY FEET - HOLIDAY

TURBINES - WE MUST START OVER - CENCO

MELVIN BROWN - LOVES STORMY WEATHER - PHILLMORE

ROBERT TENNER - SWEET MEMORIES - MEGATONE

ALFREDA BROCKINGHAM - DON'T CRY OVER SPILT MILK - UNISSUED

STIMULATIONS - CAN YOU DIG WHER I'M COMING FROM - STIMULATION

INSPIRATIONS - TREAT MYSELF TO A NEW LOVE - UNISSUED

SAM WILLIAMS - LOVE SLIPPED THRU MY FINGERS - TOWER

BOBBY BENNETT - ALONE WITH NO TEARS - V.TONE

ELLA WOODS - I NEED YOUR LOVE - MERGING

Flynny:

OXFORD NIGHTS - I'M SUCH A LONELY ONE - DELPHI

DAVE CHARLES  - AIN'T GONNA CRY NO MORE - DONNIE

MAYFIELD PLAYERS - DON'T STOP NONE INST. - MAYFIELD UNISSUED

HYPERIONS - WHY YOU WANNA TREAT ME THE WAY YOU DO - CHATTAHOOCHEE

MINZI BERRY - DON'T YOU DARE TO CRY - SCORE

SWANS - NITTY GRITTY CITY - DORE ALT.TAKE

SEPTEMBER JONES - I'M WITH YOU - PIED PIPER UNISSUED

DONNA LOREN - BLOWING OUT THE CANDLES - CAPITOL

PETER HAMILTON GENERATION - HEY GIRL (INST.) - JAMIE

SIDNEY BARNES - SAFETY ZONE - JOBETE ACETATE

THE JOKERS - SOUL SOUND - SKO-FILED

SOUL INC.  - MY PROPOSAL - COCONUT GROOVE

DREAM TEAM - I'M NOT SATISFIED - GREGORY

HARVEY AVERNE DOZEN - THINK IT OVER - ATLANTIC LP

AMBERS - ANOTHER LOVE - SMASH

BOBBY FREEMAN - SWING ME - AUTUMN UNISSUED

PRECIOUS THREE - I NEED A MAN - REFOREE

DETROIT RHYTHM SECTION - I KNOW SOMETHING - UNISSUED

HELEN TROY - BRING THAT MAN MY WAY - C/UP

TAN GEERS - WHATS THE USE OF ME TRYIN' - OKEH

DARRELL BANKS - OUR LOVE (IS IN THE POCKET) - REVILOT

HYTONES - BIGGER AND BETTER - ABET

CYNTHIA & IMAGINATIONS - HEY BOY (I LOVE YOU) - BLUE ROCK

DREAM TEAM - THERE SHE IS - GREGORY

VERNON GREENE & MEDALLIONS - LOOK AT ME, LOOK AT ME - MINIT