02/03/13: Last Saturday on the East scene it seemed we were harking back to the days of 70s San Fran’ with one of the few, fearlessly (and thankfully) enforced, men-only nights – The Top.
Now, we all enjoy the delightful company of the fairer sex by day; but at night… it’s just an undeniable, unashamed fact we preference the firm, fulsome edge of our men. So, like the long lost days of yore, entrance to the Hysteria – a stripped back, sanded and superstitiously lit bar – on the much frequented and feverishly eclectic Kingsland Road strip was purely for guys looking for a good time.
Making headway along the lengthy, dark and narrow upstairs space – bassline from the sound-system thudding underfoot – the electric, sexy atmosphere was set by the fearless eye-contact from men lining the bar and walls leading to the first, small dance floor enclave.
Downstairs, central to the raw brick basement setting, labouring up a mean sweat, the men gathered threw themselves into the hard, hot house beats. From 10pm to 6am the men were seen to by some of the top-most DJs currently at hand; with Kris Di Angelis, The Lovely Jonjo, Dmitry Strigun and Cristopher Camplin stepping up in rapid succession to take those present even harder than the last man. Hysteria certainly seemed apt as a venue name.
Hysteria, 578 Kingsland Road, E8 4AH
Words by Yafeu Khamisi Rodway-Brown
Photos by Mark Storey
