On my way to Factory I decided to drop in on a mate for a couple of unwinding end of week lagers. After these couple turned into a few she asked me what time my train was, I tolled her probably not for another hour or two at about 11:40pm. At this stage she pointed out to me that it was just after 11:30pm, so as quick as a flash my beer was finished, my running shoes were on, and my night would soon be pulling up to Windsor station. Of course I made it otherwise to rest of this review would have been about the charming folk that hang around train stations after the last train.

Two trains’ and a lucking right turn later, I found myself outside Colonial Hotel waiting for my other friends that had just informed me that they were driving past Windsor and could have picked me up. Eventually they arrived and we headed inside.

After a small hiccup at the door, we made our way up the dark stairway towards the main room, which I was hoping would be the techno room. At the top of the stairs is the side room, with a quick listen, I gathered the other room would be filled we techno (and hopefully tech-heads). After loosing my hat and direction to the décor hanging from the roof I’d found what I was looking for, and it was Robert Anthony and Dave Rankine that was giving it to me.

Anthony was belting out some tough tracks while cutting it up with keen precision. Rankin heard the call and let loose with a flurry of double beats and scratches whilst not letting the mixing suffer at all. They both continued to bounce of each keeping it fast, fresh and tough. I don’t think they would cared if the room was empty, they were both head downed and engrossed, with the occasional glance up with a big grin. It was great to see techno DJ’s scratch more than just a simple one-two over the top of some banging tunes, without letting the mixes slip.

If there was ever a set to get the crowds legs warmed up it was Anthony and Rankin’s. By the time the big man himself walked passed me everyone was smiling bopping and hanging for Melbourne’s second dose of Thomas Schumacher within a month. After Anthony’s last track came to an end, an MC introduced the man of the hour to a room of excited faces with eager ears. The energy was still there for Schumacher to pick it up and run with it, but instead he opted to slow it down and take it a little deeper. If we wanted some patented Schumacher groove, he was going to make us beg for it.

He kept it slowly rolling along for a while which looked like it retired some of the dancers to the bar or to a seat, but still most of the people were tapping along. This was only the start of the set though and I was sure that it would he would move along in his own time. Sure enough I started to notice each track get a little more driving then the previous. So by the time When I Rock came along I wasn’t the only one jumping for joy. The set had really kicked into gear now with Schumacher sporting a huge smile on his face as he bounced around really getting into it. The crowd fed of his energy (not NRG) and grew; the room was now close to full.

He continued to drop carefully placed classics throughout the set which got the boppers dancing and the dancers rocking. The track that appealed to me the most was (hands, feet and head down) Schall mixed with Tainted Love, I’m not sure if anyone else enjoyed this as much as I did because I was oblivious to everything that wasn’t named Thomas Schumacher. It looked like Schumacher was having just as much fun as me though, which really built a great atmosphere and made for a great set.

As his set drew to a close so did my (always exciting) stoner mate’s eyes, which was my only means of transport home. I could tell he was about to drop the ‘Tom, can we please go? I’m tired,’ bomb and sure enough just as Dave Pham stepped up to the decks for a lesson in nose bleeding (a lesson which a dearly love and sorely needed), he dragged me kicking and screaming off into the night.

I don’t have to tell you how good Factory was, because Schumacher applied his Midas touch to an already solid night put on by some very dedicated boys. I was aware that there was a trance room, but nothing was tearing me away from my techno (unless it was driving me home). The highlight of the night was Schumacher playing Schall mixed with Tainted Love and seeing the smile on his face as he caught the eyes of the beaming punters. The lowlight was being cutoff early from the irresistible buffet of flavors that is Factory.