My buddy UFO from the #AlkatraZ crew and I got there around 12AM. Little did we know that Big Bop is smack in the middle of the gothic clubbing district. Then it kind of sunk in... that's why they called it "DARK-RAVE". After letting out a few classic Homer 'Doh!'s we decided to go in and check it out since we were already there. I prepared myself for a disappointing night as I paid the $12 cover and entered the club. The place was very old and there was a musty smell hanging in the air. The 1st floor was quite desolate. The DJ was doing his best but the 20 or so people just watched some guy who was high as a kite pull some weird dance moves.

After walking around on the 1st floor for 10 minutes we decide to check out the rooms upstairs. The instant I set foot on the 2nd floor all my preconceptions of a disappointing night were shattered. What lay before me was the 1st scene from the movie Blade (part 1). Dark techno was playing, people were going insane on the dance floor, room was packed, bass was turned all the way up, it was fuckin awesome!! There were just 2 things missing: New Order - Confusion wasn't playing and there was no blood showering down from the ceiling but that's OK My friend and I just look at each other with a surprised expression on our faces. It was now time to get down to business. We go to the bar and to my great delight they had Revs which were ice-cold, even better!! Wasn't surprised by the $7.25 price tag and beer was $4.50 I think.

There was a good mix of people but most of them were gothic. I don't know any gothic people so I didn't know what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised by how friendly they were. They smiled back, always excused themselves if they bumped into me and were very approachable. Many of them were dressed in their all black, leather costumes and I must say some of those gothic chics look sexy as hell. My heart stopped when I saw these two asian girls dressed up as goths All I can say is I will retain that memory for a long long time. There was a guy who looked exactly like Trent Reznor from NIN, I thought that was kinda freaky.

Anywayz, lets get to the music:
I'm assuming that this is the correct lineup for the main room which I stayed in pretty much the whole night.
12-1 - phink
1-2 - Clockwork
2-330 - Rob Xian
330-430 - Lazarus
430-5 - Phink

DJs phink and clockwork spun goa and techno. Very good track selection kept the crowd moving. Next came Rob Xian. He started out with some jungle tracks which comprised of some reggae mixes. It was funny watching the goths grooving to reggae but they seemed to enjoy it so it's all good. Rob Xian progressed into some goa but I just wasn't feeling the energy from his track selection. Next came DJs Lazarus and Phink respectively. They spun some goa, techno and trance taking this party to the next level. I was just going insane. Once again good track selection, these guys knew how to keep the vibe going. I'm not sure if it was DJ Lazarous or Phink that spun the trance set but it was wikid!

I ventured into one of the smaller rooms where Glenn Love was on his synths producing some ambient music but it was just too mellow for my liking. I do give him 10/10 for effort because I could tell he was putting his heart into his music.

The party came to close at around 5:30AM and we go outside. On our way to the parking lot we passed a couple of goths and couldn't help overhearing their conversation. Basically one guy says to the other "so, you wanna go to the orgy or go home?" dude replies "I'm too tired, not in the mood today..." Now I was about to dismiss this as a joke but this hot gothic chic standing next to the guy who's "too tired" says "but you said the same thing last time and you went anyway." All I'm thinking at this point is how do I become a goth? Somebody sign me up !!!

Conclusion: this was no night at viva or guv but still I had an awesome time. I wish more TAs could have been there.

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SHUT UP AND DANCE !!