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Alternative agenda
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A night-by-night guide to catching the new old wave
by LORRAINE CARPENTER
Other stories:
The cost of clubbing
Lobby for your right to party
The business of barely breaking even
Exit stage wrong
Winning moves
Meet the (drunken) press
In the past year the city has seen the birth of no less than five new alternative nights, where new wave, punk, glam and Britpop enthusiasts share music, share clothes and generally indulge in some serious nightclubbing. Many fans of innovative, guitar-driven music are turning to the past to escape techno supremacy and Big Shiny Tunes mediocrity, and are becoming a visible force in underground nightlife. Here's a guide to some of the better nights:
Sunday and Tuesday: "Les nuits des amazones" (Tuesday), "Gin Tonic" (Sunday), both with DJ X Cafe#201;#233;ine at Cafe#201;#233; Chaos.
The music: Guitar-laden '70s punk and '80s alternative, with some high voltage Britpop and '50s rock 'n' roll. Key bands include the Buzzcocks, the Sex Pistols and the Jesus and Mary Chain.
The people: "It's a student crowd of SHARPs, punks, rockabillies--you're almost encouraged to wear spikes," says avid club-goer and suave man-about-town Jean Robert Oliver. Both the bar upstairs and the cavern-like ground floor are populated by Bettie Page-revering Gothabillies, as well as ska-sters and the occasional squeegee. "It's kind of rough, a bit of a meat market, but it's good fun," Oliver adds.
Wednesday: "Resurrection" with DJ Sly, Bar Passeport ($2 cover).
The music: Sly specializes in '80s new wave with touches of Goth/industrial and Britpop, key bands being the Cure, Sisters of Mercy, Joy Division and Placebo.
The people: "We get older people who lived the scene and younger girls in latex corsets and guys in eyeliner," says DJ Sly. "They look scary sometimes but they're very friendly." With a shared love of classic alternative tunes which almost borders on purism (no Cyndi Lauper here), the predominantly French, midweek clientele regularly packs the chic, intimate club, which doubles as a clothing boutique by day.
Thursday: "Lovecats" with DJ Bobzilla, Club Unity ($4 cover).
The music: Equal parts '80s new wave, contemporary alternative and Britpop with the occasional kitsch curveball. Key bands include Siouxsie and the Banshees, Pulp and Air.
The people: "Lovecats" draws a largely gay crowd, although subtle straights seem to be welcome. Apart from the first floor's house devotees who sometimes take breathers in the lovely Bamboo Bar, the clientele ranges from suave and clean-cut to spiked-up, made-up and outrageous. To attract more ladies, Bobzilla and his cohort Lynn are hosting "Clito Alterno" every last Thursday of the month, a more female-oriented alterna-fest.
Friday: "PVC" with DJs Radiowhore and Amyl Nitrate, Cybertek Club.
The music: Predominantly Britpop and '80s new wave, with subgenres glam, punk, "electronica" and mod. Key bands include Depeche Mode, the Smiths, Suede and Pulp.
The people: "PVC" brings together anglos and francos, mods and rockers, casual indie types and the "black planet" set (black clothes, Coupe Bizarre haircuts). Despite the club's visibly low-rent, DIY aura, the clientele is very loyal, particularly the Britpop crowd who can't hear a lot of their music anywhere else. "PVC" administrator/bartender Amy German describes the night as "a blast... the people are great and the music kicks ass--it's the main attraction."
Saturday: (monthly) "Lipstick" with DJ Rico Cocono, Jailhouse Rock Cafe#201;#233; ($3 advance/$5 door).
The music: '70s glam rock (David Bowie) and punk (the Clash), '80s metal (Moetley Cruee) and '90s sleazerock (the Pixies).
The people: "A mixed bag of Goths, drag queens, people in Poison cover bands," says co-hostess Lee Lee *'Amour. "I guess rock 'n' roll and glitter got everyone together." The first "Lipstick" night on April 8 had Jailhouse busting at the seams, the sheer amount of people (and hairspray) bringing the words "fire hazard" to mind. *'Amour promises that the next event, tentatively scheduled for June 10, will be better organized, but the trashy music will remain the same. *
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