The sky is blood red and rubbing shoulders with the crowd waiting to get into Metro is like walking through a horror movie. Leather clad nurses cross paths with plastic draped ninjas and everything strangely seems to fit. Tonight is the twentieth anniversary of Nocturna; Wrigely's regular all hallows eve conceived by Scary Lady Sarah. Hushed excitement in the air is typical of a Gothic gathering as everyone tries to stay in their calm, detached character, I brush past a two hundred pound girl virtually poured into a velvet corsage as we file in, she's in deep conversation with a tiny pixie like girl in barely two straps of leather for clothing. They only come out at night.

The purple tinted amphitheater is still, draped in cobwebs in that oh so ironic yet charming style we've come to excel at. Ethereal music fills the smoky air as i find a solitary corner to drink my overpriced and grudgingly purchased American beer. The place begins to fill, the turnout is looking great. All colours, ages and styles are soon milling about the metro's two floors, Soon the place is packed, the music starts to roll, and the atmosphere is perfect. I swear I even see some glowsticks. I knock back my beer and head to the dancefloor to soak up the Siouxsie Sioux and I see a towering scarecrow of a man in neon white spiked cyber garb, goggles and platform boots, destroying the dancefloor with rhythmic techno inspired writhing. This is Vedran Prodanovic; a popular regular, I drag him over to the staircase for a quick chat. He's been coming here for some time, a fan of the music, the bands, and Scary Lady Sarah's inimitable presence. "She's an inspiration to everyone here," He says of the dark Queen, "Giving something for the under 21's to do in this town, evolving the scene, she creates her own subculture here. If she was still doing it in another twenty years I'd be here for sure." In moments he's back on the dancefloor to resume his flowing grace.

The music tonight is a wide range of industrial ethereal waves, and the dance floor populated by all manner of leather and lace, plastic and vinyl, dreadlocks and dye jobs. A flowing mass of twisted shapes and styles, the freedom is incredible, and everyone looks great. The crowd begins to stir, I find myself thrust to the front as the lights dim. Sean Brennan, gleaming in skintight pants, guitar slung from his shoulders, appears center stage. The crowd is wild in an instant. Wailing guitar riffs thrash through the air as London After Midnight take control of the night. They are late, but who gives a shit, the band are at their bloody best tonight, drums hit the very heart, bass lines echo through the brain; in the crowd would be guitarists wield phantom axes in time to the beat. Imagery on the screen behind the bandmates echo the politically reinforced theme of Brennan's lyrics, demonic images of George Dubya, wartime horrors and suffering flashing before our eyes add a powerful layer to the music. The message is clear and undiluted, no bullshit here as Brennan belts out 'America is a Fucking Disease'. In an instant they are no longer mortal, whilst on that stage they are the near deific rock stars, and the crowd worship in a dreadlocked, lipsticked sway at their feet. The sound system can barely do them justice, but they perform a fantastic set. Their first gig in Chicago and it seems like they were built to rule it with rolling metal waves. London After Midnight throw down with a shattering encore, they will be welcomed back with open arms in the future.

After the band depart; the place settles into a mellow throng of dancers and drinkers as Scary Lady Sarah at center stage resumes her Disk Jockey mastery. The corseted monarch behind the whole Nocturna world, the crowd love her. I slide up on stage for a word with our lady of perpetual darkness, she still looks as stunning now as she must have twenty years ago when she started the thing, but immune to flattery; she laughs and insists it's all smoke and mirrors. "It's crazy," She says over the noise, "It doesn't feel like twenty years, it's come by so fast!". It's made a dent on the people here though, some have been coming for a few months, some for a decade, and they all agree Nocturna is one of a kind. As the dancing and music grinds to a close by morning, I'm sitting on the stage as Lady Sarah packs up her equipment.
"Now, in the time I've been doing this, I don't think the scene has really changed," She says, her thick purple hair bobbing as various security mill about deconstructing the decorations, "But the perception of the Goth scene from outside has changed drastically. The younger people who are really part of the world are the most fun and have the most enthusiasm of all, but it's not an easy thing to be a part of. Our type need to enjoy a little irony to keep at it, I think." I ask whats next for the Lady after 20 successful years here, she smiles. "For years I've tried to open my own club out here, really my own. But in America; you need the right connections or deep pockets to get anywhere. My home in Germany is perfect though, the people are so open and accepting, the goth culture is widespread, so I'm going to open my club in Berlin, pour my life and soul into it. I can't wait." Well neither can we, and the beer is damn well better out there too.
So the band rocked, the turnout was great, and the mood is as dark as it gets, which is good to us sinners. Lady Sarah is excited and positive about her plans in Germany. Tonight proved there is vivid, exciting and inspiring life in the gothic world, as long as you know which rocks to turn over. In Hell; Everything is fine.