Michelangelo S.
Yelp
GETTING "IN VOGUE" WITH FRIENDLY "NEIGHBOURS!"
THE SIT REP (Situation Report)
On Saturday Night, "Neighbours" plays host to the wonderful DJ-Dance event VOGUE. Though NEIGHBORS is "traditionally" a gay bar during the week, on Saturday Night it is decidedly an "everyone is welcome" GOTHIC-INDUSTRIAL-EBM Dance Fest.
THE SET-UP
"VOGUE" @ NEIGHBOURS is a SUBTERRANEAN experience. I always have had GREAT VIBES at clubs where you "descend" into the ABYSS of darkness only to walk into the subdued light of the venue, as the aural pleasures of ethereal waifs, or the pounding symmetry of metal smashing against metal meets your ears.
In this way, VOGUE reminds me a LOT of the very popular SF event "DEATH GUILD", but even more so "back in the day" when DJ Decay spun the tables and when it used to inhabit the MANHATTAN LOUNGE at 3rd & Market Streets in Downtown San Francisco.
It also reminds me currently of the RETRO ROOM @ DAS BUNKER in Los Angeles where DJ AMANDA JONES reigns supreme, where there is a "descent" into the darker lair of the club venue from the Ballroom area above.
"Back in the day" in Sacramento, we used to enjoy the Gothic-Industrial events "BIOMECH @ THE CATTLE CLUB, a local Gay & Lesbian club. There was also "SEVEN" put on by DJ Arnold @ FACES, the local Gay Dance Club. Today, we enjoy the Gothic-Industrial-EBM-Darkwave 80s event "REVERENCE" @ CLUB 21, the local Lesbian Dance Club. As an amateur Sociologist, I always find it interesting how such beneficial relationships have sprung up all over the West Coast between the Gay & Lesbian community-run establishments, and the Movers & Shakers in a somewhat more "mainstream" (if I can actually get away with using that term in this discussion) HETEROSEXUAL Gothic-Industrial-Steampunk--EBM-Darkwave 80s music communities.
[Now there's an interesting doctorate subject awaiting someone out there to write a thesis paper on....]
THE MASTER OF CEREMONIES
DJ EVAN at VOGUE did an INCREDIBLE job of mixing several genres of songs together for a wonderful night of dancing. Wolfsheim, Dead Can Dance, Frontline Assembly, Siouxsie, The Cure, Sisters of Mercy, Ayria, VNV Nation, Covenant, etc. etc., all had us dancing nonstop. And speaking of mixing, his actual mixing between songs was SEAMLESS. Often our party of dancers were left in awe as we suddenly realized we were already into the NEXT song when we didn't even realize the PREVIOUS song had ended. Now THAT is fun as a dancing-music fan!
Also - it's always a GREAT SIGN when there are far more people dancing on the dance floor than people sitting along the perimeter thereof! Kudos to the DJ.
FASHIONISTA
VOGUE really has no "set" dress-code that is enforced. Most of us were dressed in Black anyways since that is the standard uniform for these music formats. You have your traditional industrial guys and swirly-goth gals.
Then....there's ALWAYS that random guy in the tee-shirt and Bermuda shorts.....leaving you to scratch your head...ESPECIALLY on a freezing rain night like tonight in Seattle.
Of special note, several people (usually couples) were really exquisitely dressed in Fetish wear. Then several young ladies truly exemplified the unique beauty of Cyber-Goths.
THE LOWDOWN
When in Seattle, for a great alternative experience for Saturday Night dancing, look to the event "VOGUE" @ NEIGHBOURS-DISCO.