Nightclubs

I was a pretty serious club-goer in NYC and initially looked for to continuing to do so here. It's been a major disappointment. Whereas clubs are still for adults in NYC, here they tend either to be for 20 year olds or for ridiculous get drunk events. The community spirit of a club is totally absent. Partially this was because of the whole corporatization of the clubs, which Ministry of Sound represented. I feel your pain, zufan. I really do miss the house scene, DJ Johnny Dynell, and Jackie 60. Ah, humanity!

Thanks for the heads up Britwife...will check out those two venues you mentioned when i get back from San Fran next month...

Lightbulb...finally..somone that understands exactly what i mean..i hear you about the club scene..it used to be fanstastic in San Francisco too..but the polotics of dancing and the Bush anti-party laws all but wiped out the scene.

I dont think there is a scene to speak of in the States right now...i really miss the vibe of going out and seeing real clubbers with vibes and smiles..it seems that era has come and gone...people are also using hard drugs and that has a lot to do with why folks like there music harder here in London. You cant even find a venue that plays melodic trance or progressive house anymore..when its house...the stuff they play at places like " the Cross " is pretty cheesy and too laid back to even dance to.

This scene in this city is one extreme or the other...its either hard core musci like hard trance or hard house or " late me take you way way back to the 80's " stuff.

I miss the old Oakenfold..when he used to play sweet melodic uplifting trance & house..or old Sasha's progressive house anthems.

Those were the magical days...gone for ever..not even ibiza can duplicate.
Until later
Zufan

I dont think there is a scene to speak of in the States right now...i really miss the vibe of going out and seeing real clubbers with vibes and smiles..it seems that era has come and gone...people are also using hard drugs and that has a lot to do with why folks like there music harder here in London.

Do you mean because crystal meth has replaced ectasy as the chemical du jour? I also think that the UK house scene, in retrospect, was never going to be as good as NYC. House was the fusion of Black and gay scenes, and the Black British community hasn't had the uplifting experience of civil rights and the gay community here never had the strong activist ACT UP experience either. So the two social groups that came together to make a music of uplift and dignity just didn't gel here. I can't imagine a scene, let's say something like Larry Levan at Paradise Garage or early Junior Vasquez at Sound Factory, ever happening here in the UK. And certainly not now. Maybe if the drinking hours laws get changed.

the stuff they play at places like " the Cross " is pretty cheesy and too laid back to even dance to.
I miss the old Oakenfold..when he used to play sweet melodic uplifting trance & house..or old Sasha's progressive house anthems.

hate the Cross. If you like that old sound, and if you still buy CDs, check this guy's work. Unfortuantely, he seems to have left the city and gone to become a real estate agent in Ft. Lauderdale, but the mixes are great. Mostly on Centaur but "Circuit Party Spins" on Rhino is also good.

http://www.julianmarsh.com/MusicHome.html

Thanks Lightbulb for that illuminating piece...

Yes your spot on...the gay scene in SF had a lot to do with the vibe...places like " the end-up " used to attract folks from as far away as Japan and Australia...all looking for what you can only have in " mixed " (gay/straight) clubs and gay circuit parties back in the day.

Even the gay people back then had flair and were always dressed for the occasion.

Did you know that in the gay capital of the world (SF) they have banned loud music and any sort of free street parties during the biggest event of the year....gay pride day.

I was recently in prague and had a good time there...but havnt found a place in Europe that i can really say is happning.

Do you go out ?

Z

I've also found the club scene here to be a bit, well, up its own ars* actually. I suppose that's because I'm not out to get f-ed up and I can't afford the dress to impress clothes. I actually got turned down at the door of Opium one night -- a night my friend was throwing -- and I was on the super free guest list and the door girl STILL wouldn't let us in because I was "dressed sense" (Doc Martens and jeans -- it was cold and wet!). Perhaps I am too old, but I go to clubs for the music and to dance my ars* off, not to impress anyone. I too wish I were here in the days when Digweed was a resident DJ!

I miss LA's club scene. There are a few nights (Friday: Freethinking at Boarders house/dnb, free entry, Sunday: Deep at 1650, Marques Wyatt and special guests -- every  two months expect a sold out Lil Louie Vega) which rock and it didn't matter what I was wearing -- and I managed to remain fairly sober and still have a good time. Though to be fair, it is a lot easier to dress to impress in a city that barely breaks 50F at night.

Hey Delara-

Yea your right...we're getting older...but the reality is that a lot of us would still go out if there was still scene ...and clubland is just getting ridiculous...Another big thing here is that a lot of folks who do go out are under-age...so they have very limited social skills...so getting seriously f--ked up with their circle of mates is the only thing they know...to be honest with you, i was even shocked to see that most londoners dont even know how to dance to trance/techno.

Dont get me wrong...to each his own...but i tell you, there is almost NOTHING to look at when you go out....lik you, i do go out for the music too but if it was only about dancing i would just stay home in my four walls and just turn up the ghetto blaster.


Must be all that lager they're consuming during the week...but the first night me and hubby went out to Fridge...we were shocked at the backwardness of the whole club scene...with 1 girl to every 150 bloke...no wonder the girls had attitude te-hehe.

And here i thought.......LONDON!!.......Epi-center of hip....still recovering from that let down...let me tell you.

Peas
Z

My mate who throws clubs (one of them being at the Cross too) told me that house and techno are pretty much dead. The kids who pay the money want R&B, Hip Hop and Dance music.

I suppose he who pays the bills gets the club night, eh?

Funny, I had no problem going out and drinking myself silly when the venues stopped serving alcohol at 2am -- at least I knew my tolerance. Here, 5am rolls around and I am done!

Yea i hear you about the drinks...what does your mate spin ?
I cant stand hip hop/rap etc. just not into that vibe at all.
Especially if you just come from the States....thats the last thing i want to hear...you cant escape that music in the states, not even if you tried.

Funny thing is everytime i play trance in my car in the states...almost everyday people ask me if i know a club to go to that " plays that type of music " or where they could buy this type music..( curtuesy of Judge Jules on Saturday evening ) ofcourse im talking about mainstream folks...

They tell you trance is dead but when you go to venues like turnmills and hear Judge Jules
spin (if you catch him on a good day ) you couldnt even find a spot to move your feet because that place is packed like sardines and everybody is moving with their arms high in the air.

Although i agree nowadays, there are more hip-hop heads/ D&B heads than those into trance progressive/tech house

Maybe we can stay in touch and keep each other informed on upcoming gigs. I will be back from the states in 1.25 weeks.

There is a secretive party ( very underground ) called "Finger" party...they throw parties once or twice a month...ive heard very good things about them...will look into it more when i get back.

I know the club next to Cross (Canvas) plays breaks once or twice a months..once we went their at spur of the moment and the crowd looked very cluby...it was an email-list-only party so we couldnt even pay to get in as we really wanted to check it out.

Speak soon
Z

my mate doesn't spin, he promotes (puts together the whole night etc...) so if you know a list, I am pretty sure we can get in via him. I just never have the cash anymore to go out, though, being female it is way easy to get away with not spending  .

i'm constantly investigating good clubs that do not completely revolve around the tragically mashed.

when you get back we should have a meeting of the minds.

Landed safley in SF....dont plan on stepping out here but i will be saving myself for the new years action back in London.

Yea sounds good...def. should get together.

Yea i hear you about the mashed mass....seriously tragic.

What do you do In London ?

Until later
Karina