Get the party started: ten hot new clubs
16 March 2006, 01:33p; the ever-increasing number of venues allows for much higher service quality as well. Unfortunately, of course, that’s not always the case – but out of the ten new clubs we’re listing you’re bound to find one or two that fit both your budget and your nightlife demands.
Back to the future
All fans of retro rejoice: During the last six months Kyiv’s dance scene was furnished with three new spots reproducing the atmosphere of ‘60s freak-outs as well as disco’s golden era.
The “cosmic” interior of club 1961 sends you back to the time of Barbarella with its dim lighting, shiny metal ceiling pipes, chrome chairs and tables, and glaring mirrors that send flashes down the bar. And, of course, don’t miss the short-skirted “cosmic” waitresses as well.
Apart from the cocktail parties that take place here every night, the Cubano Boom Party is held each Friday for fans of Latin music. And 1961’s D.I.S.C.O. party offers all the greatest dance hits of the ‘70s and ‘80s every Sunday. When your legs get tired take a break at the cozy sushi bar with its comfortable sofas. Just put on your best disco outfit and get on the dancefloor.
Azhur was also designed to resemble American clubs of the ‘60s and ‘70s with its chic simplicity and flights of retro style. Bartenders and waitresses comply with the interior, dressed as Elvis and Marilyn accordingly.
Once a week you can dance to the sentimental tunes of old Soviet bands. Other nights provide hippie-era hits, and arm wrestling contests are held every week. But be warned, the face control is really strict – visitors older than 25 and dressed either in retro or rock-n-roll styles have the best chance of getting in.
Sexily named Pomada (Lipstick) consists of three different “zones” – a dance floor with glass walls and ceiling, a bar and a tiny stage; the “white” hall – a soundproof lounge zone; and the “red” hall, where you can relax on one of the three comfortable corner sofas and hide from the crowds. The music played at Pomada is “light and melodious,” including Russian and Western pop hits and latin music. In fact Pomada has already become one of the favorite spots of the gay community, though heterosexual couples also number among the club patrons.
1961, Entertainment Center Ultramarine, 1A Uritskoho, 200-1961
Azhur, 3 Leontovycha, 234-7494
Pomada, 6 Zankovetskoyi, 279-5552
Rock-n-roll lives
In the past year the number of live music clubs has grown considerably, please both the fans of live music and the bands themselves, who now have more opportunities to prove themselves worthy of an audience. What’s more, these clubs are usually much more democratic, with hardly any face control at all and generally quite affordable prices for both entry and drinks—definitely another reason to like them.
Ring gets its name from a stage shaped like a boxing ring, situated in the club’s biggest hall that accommodates about 20 tables, a number of isolated booths and a long bar. The second floor hides the balcony and two separate entertainment zones: Jazz Club, with its own mini-stage; and strip bar “69.”
Ring welcomes all sorts of live performers of different calibers, compositions and styles – from intelligent progressive rock and reggae to ethnic music and nu-metal. Every Saturday you can hear three different bands perform in a single night during the Tarakan (cockroach) Party. The name is not incidental, as the entertainment program involves cockroach races that take place inside the transparent bar stand, which has small wooden tracks built into it under the glass. Among notable concerts already held in the club were the heavy music festival Moon Fest, international reggae fest Good Vibes vol. 2 and a solo concert by Esthetic Education.
With its total absence of decor - or even a sign above the entrance - Torba seems to hark back to the times when rock was outlawed in the Soviet Union and any existing bands belonged to the underground scene. The only elements of design at Torba are the posters from the music magazines and portraits of Soviet leaders on the walls as well as heavy wooden tables that look straight out of the 18th century. Not surprisingly, experimental music is most favored here – death-metal, grind-core, death’n’roll, rockabilly – just as long as it’s played well. Inside, an old poster over the door reads “Welcome, members of the Republican conference!” You get the picture?(???)
Just like its Obolon-located older brother Docker Pub, Docker’s ABC resembles your typical bar. With its wooden tables and chairs, the oblong main hall and its long bar have small open pavilions each with a few tables inside. The walls are adorned with ancient advertisements and portraits of rock stars. Another “docker” trademark, the stage is situated behind the bar and the music played is only rock-n-roll. While during day you can hear your favorite classic rock albums, in the evenings there’s live performances from resident club bands as well as guest musicians mostly from Russia, such as punk rockers Nogu Svelo, who played at the club opening.
Ring, 8 Nauki prosp., 524-2209
Torba, 66 Pravdy
Docker`s ABC, 15 Khreshchatyk, 278-1717
God is a DJ
Most clubbing youths still prefers traditional venues with their house and techno— so naturally its these places that are competing most fiercely, trying to drive audiences away from each other by using star DJs, unusual design and particular specialties.
The main color of the interior in Dance and Groove (commonly referred to as D&G) is black with inflections of steel. The two levels of the club and its minimalist design create maximum space for dancing. European DJs and fashionable dance music trends from the West prevail in the musical politics of D&G. The always-glamorous Hed Kandi series of parties already so popular in Europe helped popularize the club as an advanced and high-end dancing venue. But glamour surely has its price--expect serious face control and dress code.
Recently opened Wenzel was at first considered a pre-party spot, but it’s already turned into one of the highlights of the city’s clubbing scene, with five unique zones each designed in a different style, several relaxation halls with sofas and armchairs, a dance floor and a long bar that stretches out across two rooms. During parties the whole brick-walled corridor adorned by scary gargoyles holding flat-screen TVs turns into a dance floor. As for the parties themselves, disco maniacs should appreciate the club’s eclectic and pleasant mixture of deep-house, tech-house, deep-techno, electro-house and other fashionable sounds from guest deejays such as DJ Chloe from Paris who played at the opening.
The newest club on our list, Kaif (Kick), opened just two weeks ago and though first impressions are often wrong, the opening party on March 3 did little to foster a good reputation. Thanks to the efforts of club security, the event - advertised as a party with no entrance fee for everybody holding an Afisha card or invitation - turned into a V.I.P. opening that welcomed only “special guests.” As a result, already before 11 p.m. a large group of people crowded by the entrance to Kaif, being violently pushed back by security, who continued to admit those aforementioned V.I.P. guests.
Those lucky enough to get in found themselves in a broad entrance hall with a coat check and stairs leading up into the spacious lounge zone laid with carpets and supplied with its own bar. Another flight of stairs led down to the main hall with a bar on either side of the room, a stage and a dance floor divided into squares of different colors that lit up from below. Quite empty at first (and that with the crowd outside) the dance floor gradually filled with girls and boys who seemed to care not so much about music and dancing, but showing off their moves before photographers. If the idea was to drive away the gilded youth and big spenders from other hot spots than the aim was certainly achieved. Those who didn’t manage to “get high” at Kaif despite having to fight their way both inside and outside, will hardly want to return. Though with its lavishly hip interior, the place does have potential once the dust settles.
Dance and Groove, 2 Bessarabska ploshcha, 234-3149
Venzel, 66 Velyka Vasylkivska, 287-2520
Kaif, Artema