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Kendorama's New Review of Afterhours - includes old Reviews
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Kendo's Guide to Montreal Afterhours and Raves - October 19th - 2004
- Please Note My Old Reviews are pasted below this as one thread
My Information
I posted my first review of the downtown afterhour clubs in February and I later updated it in April. After bumping into many people who've read my review and expressed their appreciation towards it I've decided to post an updated guide based on my experiences over the past five years.
I'm originally from Vancouver, studied Management Information Systems at Mcgill and Concordia and now work in the IT department of a large company. I've attended afterhours steadily over the past five years, on average once a week or over two-hundred and fifty times. I've probably head over sixty to seventy of the top 100 DJs spin live. I've attended every large commercial rave since "Connected 2000", except for every Black and Blue until this past year. I'm not affiliated with any organization or specific club and I paid for my entry for 80% of all the times I've attended clubs; I believe firmly in supporting the club you love as long as you have the means to do it. I'm easily noticeable at clubs since I wear "raver garb" such as my huge elephant pants and usually wear white gloves when I'm really into the dancing. I'm a tall skinny asian and usually will be dancing on my own but sometimes going back to my home base of friends all of whom usually have headgear with a playboy bunny somewhere on it. I usually stay until the end of the night (unless my ride leaves at 9am or so) and I dance my heart out for 80% of the whole night. Although I'm not very talkative inside the club, I do appreciate it when people come up to me and introduce themselves; I've made some cool friendships through those means. Everyone that's met me knows that I go to dance and not for the women.
I actually think writing all that about me is pretty lame but I figured I'd let people know who I am so they can better understand who the perspective of this guide is coming from. I might be wrong about some of the statements I make and I'll change them if someone corrects me. Please remember this is my opinion based on my experiences, I just feel I have a decent grasp on the scene since I've been going out almost every Friday and Saturday for this past year.
Promoters
The general rule of thumb is if you are bringing five friends a promoter will give you a VIP pass. Unfortunately many people ask promoters for VIP or guestlist and sometimes even lie to them by saying they are bringing a whole group of friends and they really don't. I have friends that are promoters and it's always tough for them when they have a limited amount of VIP passes and they end up giving them to someone who supposedly deserves it but really is just lying to them. It's my firm belief that you should be honest with the promoters you deal with since it makes their life easier. For those of you that don't know, promoters are normally paid a small premium for each reduced pass that is used under their name.
Large Venues -- Raves
Back in the Sona days, 514 Productions ran all the major commercial raves at Bell Center or other locations. The supposedly gay venues Black and Blue and Bal en Blanc were run by BBCM. This year we've seen a change in the organizational methods of large venues with Aria, Stereo, and Circus all joining into support various venues. Bal en Blanc 2004 was in my experience the best large venue I'd attended in Montreal (I did attend Bal en Blanc 2000 through 2003) and it was the first large venue Aria participated in. My favorite event is definately Bal en Blanc simply because it's theme based and women in white are my personal fetish :). The Bell Center raves were much better at the start of 2000 but I'm hopeful that they will improve with the involvement of Aria, Circus and Stereo.
The Clubs
Aria - Techno/Trance/Headliners
Information - Corner of St.Dennis and St.Catherine - Usual Prices: Friday - $25 - Saturday $30 - Opens @ 1:30am
The owner of Aria, JFL, brings in the top talent from around the world that only Aria can afford so often. I'd also have to say that Aria definately has the best Techno residents in Yaz and Preach, along with overall solid residents. Aria's Friday nights are usually excellent nights out for any Tech-heads. I personally experienced my best Techno night of the year the night Liebing came to town this month. Another regular every night is Aria's promoter Louis, he is by far the most honest and reliable promoter I've ever dealt with. Every night you can see him pumping his fist in the air and exciting the crowd from the DJ booth. Malek the resident video/photographer is also another very friendly face (although I havent seen him at Aria for the last 2 months) that can be seen shooting photos and video (unless Louis is) on big nights. I have an Aria T-shirt with signatures on it that Malek gave to me which I framed and put on my wall next to an Infected Mushroom poster, also from Aria.
Atmosphere/Vibe 8/10
On regular nights you can see the most interesting cracked out people having a good time. On headliner nights you get the more pushy crowd that stand around and get in the way of the people that want to dance. In general the Aria crowd is one that goes to enjoy themselves on the dancefloor. Once again all of these facts vary dependant on who is spinning, there are many people that only come out for specific DJs. Heat used to be a problem at Aria but after recent expenditures on air conditioning upgrades it's definately no longer an issue - thank god. I prefer nights where someone like Liebing is spinning and there's still a comfortable amount of room to dance with everyone going crazy over nights where the crowd can turn kind of retarded such as Infected Mushroom; Infected Mushroom are my favorite DJs but I've been disappointed in the crowds the last two times they spun - far too pushy with not enough room to dance. Glowsticks are allowed every night at Aria.
People 9/10
The crowd is generally straight and the man to woman ratio is decent - hot women are there but not in abundance. Unfortunately there are always the "hawk" type males that come to pick up girls and that can be a downer for many people. The crowd is somewhat younger (please note younger means 16-21 to me - mature means 25+) and very friendly, truly dancing their hearts out and enjoying the night. My female friends that glowstick always manage to make tons of friends whenever they go to Aria and I personally find that Aria's crowds are some of the friendliest around. My friends and I have noticed some sketchy regulars that are usually around too.
Sound - 9.5/10
The sound system has undergone several changes and upgrades and I must say that I'm very impressed. I once asked the question on a forum whether Stereo or Aria had the best sound system and I got a response from many people including soundmanshorty the man credited to Stereo's recent upgrades. I came to the conclusion that Aria's sound system is top notch for its needs. Previously a sworn "Stereo's Sound is the Best" individual I've decided that when Liebing or Infected Mushroom or blasting their hard fast beats, the sound is definately up to par.
Circus - Variety
Information - Corner of St.Timothee and St.Catherine - Usual Prices: Friday $25 - Saturday $35 - Opens @ 1:30am
The hype has died down and amist the legal battles Circus is still here and from what I've been told, is not going anywhere. For the first few months of its conception and through the summer Circus was the hotspot. I've seen it change quite a bit as far as design and clientele over the past few months and I'm beginning to like it a lot. The musical tastes and crowd change from Friday to Saturday. A general ban exists on glowsticks for Saturday but is not in place on Friday. The lineup has changed from the old semi-circle style of Sona to two straight lines - one for guestlist and one for regular people. I think the whole setup with two rooms on Saturday is ingenius. It offers a larger variety of music for people to taste and more room for people to dance. I think this addition to Circus is part of what makes it so appealing to me now. My friends and I are diehard Loco Fern fans and have not missed him spinning at any afterhour club yet. The one thing I find Circus lacks are promoters; during the summer they had no promoters for Saturdays because it was always packed but over the past few months I've seen relatively weak Saturdays the only truly packed one being two weeks ago when MightKat was spinning in the Chill Room. I have yet to find or meet a reliable promoter for Circus. I'm truly thankful for any hookups I receive which I normally credit to Fernando or Ousmane.
Atmosphere/Vibe 7/10
I find on really packed nights the floor of Circus becomes really dirty. It becomes wet and soggy tissues or paper towels are left on the floor among the normal litter of bottles. Although the ventilation was very poor during the summer I don't find it that much of a problem anymore but that might be due to it being colder outside. There are the most people that simply stand around at Circus or the so called "St. Laurent Fashion" crowd that it was explained to me as being. I'd say if you're with a group of friends you will still have a great time because of the variety and quality of music that Circus can offer but it might not be so fun a venue going to alone.
People 9/10
The crowd is very varied. During the summer it was simply pushy people that would stand around trying to look good. I've found over time there are more people that are there to dance and have a good time; I've bumped into many Stereo regulars over the past few months at Circus (on a side note - random people actually approach me at Aria and Circus and ask me why I'm not at Stereo and they always see me there). The women are simply splendid at Circus, they are in abundance and generally they aren't all stand-around "I look good" type women. I'd say my high rating in this category is solely due to the fact you can usually spend the night with at least good eye candy. Plus the girl that does the massages is really cute and she's always in white.
Sound 9/10
The quality of the sound has been improved along with the other changes that management has made. Usually there are no problems with the equipment and everything runs smoothly (last week Vinet being an exception). I'm not a sound expert or a DJ but I'm generally satisifed with the quality of the sound entering my ear as long as the quality of the music is good whenever I'm at Circus. They've made a noticeable effort to develop and cater to the needs of their customers.
Stereo - House
Information - Corner of St.Hubert and St.Catherine - Usual Prices: Friday $25 - Saturday $35 - Opens @ 3:00am
My home for 2003 and start of 2004. Known to ignorant people as the "Gay" club it is hands down the best house club in Montreal. I've met most the forum goers from Mtlnights and Afterchat through Stereo and have also met many Stereo regulars. Although it was my destination of choice for over a year I've been to Stereo on average once a month since the start of the summer. Stereo has recently added their Reset Fridays which showcases a different genre of night compared to their Saturdays. The big issue I have with Stereo is the fact the last five or six times I've been there they don't open at 3:00am. This problem becomes exasperating since you have to wait from everyone in StereoBar to enter before the lines move (I totally agree with those clients going in first but it just means opening @ 3:00am means you really get in @ 3:45am or later). Since I've only been to Stereo ten to fifteen times since my last review and nothing changed in my opinions, I won't add much.
Atmosphere/Vibe 9.5/10
The club itself is probably the darkest dingy square box in Montreal but it's one rocking box.
People 10/10
The club is usually half gay and half bi-sexual/heterosexual - the division clearly being seen from the right and left side of the room. The people are simply amazing. Everyone is friendly and there to have a good time dancing. The people aren't usually very pushy and the best regulars and dancers on the afterhours scene can be found at Stereo. The entire staff are absolutely fantastic too, except the time I thought Malcolm was going to kill me for having an Aria bracelet on (it happens when you go to Morales after Aria).
Sound 10/10
The sound is custom tweeked by a soundmanshorty and is definately amazing for the type of house music it produces. The sound keeps getting better and better with all the continued upgrades that he does to the system. I often see him sticking his head in the speakers near the end of the night to check and make sure everything is up to par. It's truly a work of art.
Redlite - ....
I haven't attended Redlite since "Is it Sex or Is it Love" and nothing has changed in my opinions of it. I'm considering going to Redlite for Eric Morillo on October 30th or Mat Ste Marie @ Circus... obviously I'm still waiting to see what Aria has to release but I'm positive I'm ending my night @ Stereo for David Morales.
Gravity - Comfort
I haven't attended Gravity since my last reviews and from what I understand Fridays is now a Hip Hop night. It's unfortunate it wasn't successful properly in most part due to poor promotion.
Sona V.2 - Dead
It died. RIP. The real Sona will always be my home.
Conclusion
I ranked the clubs in my previous reviews but I won't bother ranking them this time. I'd have to say over the summer my club of choice was hands down Aria due to the amount of great headliner DJs they brought into town. I've also found myself going to Circus almost every week partially due to my friends but also because I enjoy the club now (remember I usually go twice a week which means Aria one night and Circus the other). Stereo has been neglected over the past few months partially due to the fact I'm never going out alone anymore and my friends prefer the other venues. Whenever I am alone I usually wander off to Stereo, I do miss it and am looking forward to being there for Morales (I haven't missed a Morales for over a year and a half).
My suggestion to people is to check out each club at least once, preferably on a good night (ask me if you want suggestions). Aria is hands down the best club for Techno and Trance whereas Stereo has the House market secure. Circus has a good variety and is so big it's always nice to check out; don't forget the women factor too.
A big thanks to FunkenLouis, Malek, Loco Fern and Uzi for all the things they've provided for me with nothing in return.
Review from June 22nd 2004
Due to Turbo’s request for an update, I’m going to post my thoughts and reviews of the current afterhour clubs. My name is Ken and I’ve been attending the afterhour clubs and raves in Montreal for the past five years. I’d say on average (since I took long breaks at certain points) I attend afterhour clubs about once every week. I’ve attended most of the large commercial venues such as Bal en Blanc and the various 514 events. I began my “raving” experience with Sona and I will always remember it as my home. Over the past two years I’ve probably gone to afterhour clubs and raves about six times a month. I’m originally a trance lover, followed by techno and now house. I never liked house until I started going to Stereo over and over.
My original review was posted around February which was soon after the official openings of Circus and Gravity. I’ve attended Circus about five times since and Gravity four times. I’ve attended Aria over one hundred times, Stereo over one hundred fifty and Redlite twice (these numbers are just approximations). I know many of the forum posters and regulars at Aria and Stereo. I myself am not that talkative of an individual since I’m usually very involved with my dancing. I live to dance and love to live. I usually come at the start of the night and leave at the last track, whether it an afterhour club or a large rave. Although I mention women several times in my reviews, I don’t attend afterhours for the women, I go to dance. I’m just providing this information for those that might be interested in it. Now that I’m done giving a little introduction about me, here’s my updated review:
Aria – Home of Variety (Techno/Trance/House) and Big Names
It’s a pretty well known fact that Aria has the big $$$$$ to bring in huge DJs on a consistent basis. I give my sincerest gratitude to JFL for being able to bring such talent so that I can flavor the various headliner DJs in the comfort of Montreal. Aria is known to orient their nights on Friday towards the Techno crowd and Saturday towards the House crowd. It’s truly the place you want to go if you like Techno, Preach is an excellent Techno DJ and rising star. I find that Aria residents are probably the best for any afterhour club in Montreal. I must add that the residents at Stereo are close behind. If you like techno Aria is the place to be on Fridays. Also, whenever a big DJ is booked, Aria is also the place to be.
Club/Vibe 8.5/10
It really depends on the night you go and the DJ that’s spinning. I find that it’s quite plausible that the opening of Circus has stolen some of the clientele away from Aria. On regular nights with residents the club is usually not packed and some might feel it’s a bit too empty. Personally I go for the music and to dance, I can have a great time even if the club isn’t super full. I know others that have issues with a club that’s not 80% capacity. For nights with big headliners Aria definitely offers a fun-filled night with enough true partiers to create a vibe. The club itself is quite large with excellent lighting (no lasers) and a lighting fixture from the roof that moves up and down. The new renovations have added nice couches in small intervals along either side of the room. I’ve never spent much time in any of the afterhour VIP rooms due to the fact I’m always dancing so I don’t really have an opinion on the new VIP room. Although there’s a tinge of a warehouse feel to Aria it still feels somewhat commercial and well down in the sense that a fair amount of money was put into it. Among all the clubs I find at this point Aria has the best heat control. I know a year ago it was a big issue but they spent a lot of money on huge air conditioning system(s).
People 8/10
As I mentioned before, Friday’s are more of a tech-head crowd whereas Saturday’s are catered more to house-lovers. They do allow glowsticks inside which in turn draws a younger crowd and lots of lights. Aria definitely has the ability to attract hot women and even the skanky type from the hip hop area. Problems that I find with all clubs that have Hip Hop are the ghetto crowd that pops in every so often. This also leads to the “hawker” type males that go around looking for females to prey upon and annoy. Unfortunately these types of individuals really don’t bring any added value to the afterhour scene and can often ruin or put a damper on the fun of others. It’s annoying for my female friends to get the most retarded pick-up lines and be harassed for a good portion of the night, as well as annoying for me to have to look out for them. Another problem could be the fact that on the nights big DJs come, it draws in the “Clubber” and “Commercial” crowd that just stand around and have no real manners (pushy, etc.). In general the majority of people that come to Aria are there to have fun and they do just that. Aria’s staff and promoters are probably some of the friendliest in town. Chantal is one of my favorite female afterhour partygoers with her funky style and dance, she sometimes works the main-room bar now that Marlene quit (which is very sad). Louis is by far my favorite promoter of any club, always reliable, honest and trustworthy and a real trooper that is there every night until the end. Then of course there’s Malek, who works on contract for Aria and insists he’s not actually staff, I see him all the time there and he hangs out in the DJ booth so I consider him staff. Malek is the nicest person I’ve met thus far in the afterhour scene. I can always have a great time as long as they are at Aria.
Sound 9.5/10
After a little research on the forums and debate with some of my friends I’ve come to the conclusion that the Meyer sound system and the upgrades Aria has done have put it on a competitive level with Stereo. Although both systems are very different, Stereo being a fine-tuned customized system by Soundmanshorty and Aria being an off-the-shelf system with additional customized upgrades; both can meet the requirements of the DJs at their helm. There’s a lot of argument concerning whether Aria’s sound system can produce better quality techno, trance, house, etc… I’m not going to go into that. In my opinion the quality of sound is excellent and whether it is for House, Techno or Trance, I’m satisfied with what my ears get.
Stereo – Home of House
After I got reintroduced to Stereo after a two year hiatus from the club, I definitely began to acquire a taste for house. It’s known to many as the “Gay” club and although it does have its share of gay clientele, there’s also a fair amount of straight people that adore this club. Personally I remember a response jinpachi gave about people that are shallow, narrow-minded or homophobic being weary of coming to Stereo; he said something like Stereo doesn’t want those types of people to come anyways. Well said indeed. Stereo is a place where people go to let loose and party, as a family. It’s a rare occasion that people will go to Stereo to pick-up others, most “hawker” type guys would look elsewhere due to the larger quantity of women at other clubs. I think this is a good thing. The people that come to dance can dance in peace. If you are an open-minded house lover looking for a good time, Stereo is the place for you. There is nothing like it in Montreal.
Club/Vibe 9.5/10
The club reminds me somewhat of the old Sona in the sense it seems really dark, sketchy and dirty. It’s fairly simple, small symmetrical rectangle for the main room. There aren’t too many lights and no glowsticks; although on special events they tend to add more lights. The thing about Stereo that gets me every time is the fact that when the club opens the people that come in start dancing immediately. Nobody cares about dancing in a little circle or the fact they are the first ones on the dance floor, nobody cares about how they look; they just get on the dance floor and let go. This club has vibe coursing through its veins, through the walls, through the floor; it is the definition of vibe.
People 10/10
Honestly, if you want to pick up women go somewhere else. I’d have to honestly say even on the “straightest” nights such as Morales and Sanchez the population of straight people is probably only 50%; this in turn means only 25% of the whole club are women. Stereo definitely gets its share of hot women though, and great dancers. It’s been said by many and I’d have to agree that Stereo does bring out the best dancers in all the afterhour clubs, reason being is probably due to the fact everyone that comes to Stereo is coming to dance. Most people have a mutual respect for each other and everyone dances together as one, as a family. If you’re homophobic, Stereo is definitely not the place for you. I’ve had several people I’ve sent to Stereo leave early and complain to me about the amount of gay clientele. Personally I think gay people know how to really let go and have a good time with no inhibitions, that’s part of why Stereo is what it is. Another thing about Stereo is it’s probably the only club that brings in the same regulars every week, week after week, month after month. It’s almost like a family of people that know and see each other every week, respect each other and have fun together. I call the people at Stereo my family and Stereo my home.
Sound 10/10
Stereo was rumored to be the best sound system in Montreal years ago. After the upgrades shorty’s done, it’s unbelievable. The power and quality it can pump out is amazing and sometimes deafening. The fact he’s doing more upgrades is even crazier, I often see shorty sticking his head near a speaker during any given night to check the quality and probably think up ways to improve the already impeccable sound system. The sound system alone is enough reason for someone to at least check this place out.
Gravity – The Lost One
I think a lot of people expected Gravity to be something big right from the start. If you read my review I gave it great scores and have a blast; that was the opening night. Since then it has gone somewhat downhill. A few minor issues such as water refilling and finding their own niche have become major problems with the club. The departure of Angel Moraes and Alain Vinet also say something about the way the club is being run. I’ve gone on its opening, Derrick Carter and a couple “normal” nights. I must say on the nights that are promoted well and have a lot of people, Gravity is an amazing venue. On the normal nights, it’s definitely sub-par. The place definitely has a lot of potential, whether that potential is to be met is yet to be seen. I’ll base most my scores on the “GOOD” nights at Gravity that are well promoted and are packed with people. Normally it’s pretty dull with people just sitting around in the center circle area and no one really dancing. I’d say for normal nights at Gravity I’d rate it a 5/10 for Club/Vibe and People.
Club/Vibe 9/10
This club is the most comfortable and well thought-out club (exempt the water problem) for an afterhour club. The beanbag couches are fantastic for resting your tired body during dance breaks, the slush puppies are so refreshing and the dance floor bounces with the bass. It’s a beautiful club with beanbag couches spread throughout carpeted areas and a well-thought out design. Usually the club adds special events to the night such as women roller-skating (Derrick Carter) around while dancing or waving flags (opening night). There’s definitely a vibe similar to that of Stereo during big house DJ nights that are well promoted.
People 8.5/10
I find on the normal nights I went the club was very dull and boring. Most of the people just sat in the chairs in the middle circular area for the first hour and a half until finally some courageous souls would venture to the dance floor and dance in little circles like high school. It was pretty disappointing. On major nights I’d say the crowd is similar to that of Stereo but have more “Clubber” type individuals spread out sporadically amongst the crowd. The people on the dance floor definitely know how to party though. The staff is fairly nice and the security is pretty cool, they actually dance with the crowd.
Sound 8.5/10
The sound setup at Gravity is excellent. If Angel Moraes had anything to do with setting it up, that’s obviously the reason why it’s good. The fact you can feel the bass through the ground is pretty cool. Although it’s good, it’s nothing that blew me out of the water.
Circus – The Home of Hype
Well, it lived up to the hype. Largely in part due to its marketing and promotion abilities Circus is the new hot spot in afterhour clubs for Montreal. The Saturdays are so packed that a couple weeks ago it got shut down early for being over capacity. This is a club with a rumored capacity of over three thousand. I know for a fact the Saturdays are so packed that people are literally begging for reduced passes outside the club. They implement the old Sona-style semi-circle line and it can take hours to get into the club unless you know the bouncers or are with hot ladies. The Friday nights are more tilted towards the young techno crowd that uses glowsticks whereas the Saturday nights have disallowed glowsticks (although I’ve still seen them inside sometimes on Saturday) and have more of a St. Laurent fashion industry type crowd to it. I’ve never been on Thursday or Sunday but since www.blended.ca is promoting Sundays as a place after Parking, I assume the crowd is more gay and Stereo-like for that night.
Club/Vibe 7.5/10
The club itself is an absolute gem, large, well crafted with extravagant visuals and as many have said before – it seems like you’re partying in a mansion or loft. The washrooms are very clean, marble floors and sinks, beautiful. The ventilation is somewhat poor and the air quality is probably the worst among the afterhour clubs. The vibe varies on the night and DJ. Most of the people don’t come for the DJ and really just come to party or get high. It seems like Circus is missing vibe, even though the majority of people are there to have a good time and they do… it still seems like it’s missing something.
People 8/10
Lots of hot women on Saturdays… I mean lots; the funky type, the skanky type, whatever. Unfortunately lots of people just standing around looking cool and lots of really messed up people, reminded me a lot of the old Sona crowd. Actually the more I think of it, the more I realize that the Friday and Saturday crowd are similar to the way it was back in Sona days. Once again, the problem with “hawker” type individuals that goes about seeking out women. It’s inevitable if you put hot women on drugs in abundance that men seeking out hot women on drugs will follow. DUH.
Sound 7/10
Although the quality of the sound is acceptable, it’s really not on the same level as the other four afterhour clubs. I personally don’t think the clientele are really specific about the quality of type of music that’s played. Hence there’s really no need for Circus to put that much emphasis on the sound for now, it’s making good money as is.
Redlite – The Home of Laval
I’ve only gone to Redlite twice, the only thing that was different about each experience is the first time I was amazed by the amount of gorgeous women and the second time I was disappointed by the lack there of. Due to the fact Laval it quite far from downtown and I don’t have a car, I don’t think I’ll be returning there anytime soon. My previous experience on a Saturday the week before my last visit to Redlite revealed to me the “Hot women” Turbo and Bela spoke about. There’s really no need to go all the way to Laval in search of women, if you want hot women, Circus is for you.
Club/Vibe 8/10
As far as lighting is concerned, Redlite definitely has the best lighting if you want to get messed up on lights. There’s glowsticks galore and I do believe it’s the only afterhour club that has lasers. The lasers are actually pretty cool and quite impressive. The club itself was never too hot either time I went.
People 6.5/10
The most cracked out people I ever see at afterhour clubs are definitely in Laval at Redlite. People running around, people letting their glowstick fly out of their hand and into my head, etc. etc. I guess maybe only the truly hardcore people come out to party on Sunday. I’ve heard lots of hot women come out to Redlite, especially on Sundays, I can’t confirm it. The first time I went, there was an amazing ratio of women to men; at least 1:1 ratio which is better than any afterhour club I’ve attended. Lots of hot women too, not just skanky type but funky types. The last time I went I was severely disappointed, lack of women and lack of good looking ones. There was also this one scary girl that I saw both times, part of why I never want to go back, I’m pretty sure she’s a regular.
Sound 7/10
I’m not that great of a judge of sound. It was good enough. I enjoyed the music of Steve Warren more so the second time I went. Although the tracks Steve Warren and Scott Free choose were good, I felt there was never over ten minutes of continuously well mixed “make me move” type of music. Each time I went I danced in bursts for a track or two and sat down disappointed as the climax was cut or the mix wasn’t to my liking. I might add all the friends I went with on both occasions absolutely loved the music.
My order of preference in club:
1) Stereo 2) Aria (depends on night, can be #1) 3) Circus 4) Gravity 5) Redlite
My order of cost of entry to club:
1) Stereo 2) Aria 3) Circus 4) Gravity 5) Redlite
Review from February 27th 2004
After attending Gravity, I felt the need to finally post my thoughts about the after-hours scene through my eyes. Ever since I've entered the after-hours scene of electronic music, I've completely turned away from the hip-hop club scene and therefore I won't post my opinion on any hip-hop room for the clubs. I'm going to give a rating system out of 10, something huggs did for me on MSN when I asked him about Gravity before its official opening. This review only includes after-hour clubs I’ve attended in the downtown area. This is completely subject and most people probably either won't care or will flame me .
Aria - Home of Variety and Big Names
Overview
I've been attending Aria probably on average three times every two months since its opening. This was back when the "Old" Sona was still in existence. I'd have to say the bulk of the attendance was back when I was working full-time. The greatest thing about Aria is the fact they bring in great DJs that aren't just of the House genre. Whenever there's a DJ I want to hear, I'll be there. I'm just mad I never got my Aria T-shirt.
Atmosphere/Vibe 8/10
As one of the only downtown clubs that allow glow sticks, I find that perhaps in general Aria might have a younger crowd. Personally, I don't use glow sticks anymore but I have nothing against them. The club itself is large and the setup of the DJ booth is interesting, allowing partygoers to watch the DJs from behind through glass panels. I must say Aria brings in the big Techno + Trance DJs, and I'm a Trance fan at heart. On nights such as Infected Mushroom, Aria is off the hook and definitely a great place to party all night long.
People 8.5/10
Back when I used to go to Sona everyday it was open, I'd have issues with the general "Clubber" feel of the people on Saturdays. It was very pushy and very unfriendly; definitely similar to the feel of Guvernment in Toronto. I feel the people at Aria come to have fun and do just that. The hip-hop crowd doesn't really bother me, usually they fit right in. Over the past year, the centerpiece of Aria for me has been their bartenders: Anik before, Marlene now. I feel satisfied knowing that when I go to Aria I will always see a beautiful smile and a face I am familiar with.
Sound 8/10
Over the years, Aria's sound system has changed (I think) and improved. I think Aria's sound system is good and capable to pound out the beats on every night and satisfy the needs of all DJs. I'm no soundmanshorty so I don't know the technical details and specifics of all the clubs, so obviously whatever I say is completely subjective (which I stated before).
Stereo - Home of House
Overview
The first time I attended Stereo was over three years ago. I’d just started getting involved in the after-hours scene and wanted to check it out. I had a great time my first time there, even with the gay atmosphere. After the second time I went to Stereo I vowed never to come back. It’s not that I was particularly homophobic, more so having so many guys frenching and touching each other was too much for me. During another year or so my girlfriend at the time always wanted to go to Stereo to check out certain DJs but I never wanted to go back, always just stay home at Sona. It’s been a few years since then and one of my friends convinced me to return to Stereo last February. It’s been nothing but good times since then.
Atmosphere/Vibe 10/10
The one word that explains the atmosphere to me at Stereo is “Family”. Gay people know how to party. I personally enjoy Saturday nights more then Friday J. Almost every night I’ve been to Stereo it’s been off the hook. I think people that don’t go to stereo would be surprised by the intense party and sometimes sexual atmosphere it contains.
People 9.5/10
Everyone is friendly and there is only a feeling of love in the air. The people at stereo make it such an enjoyable place to be. For me the people that make Stereo unique would definitely be first and foremost Annie (who I don’t know very well at all but I know some of you MTLNIGHT regulars do – cough Turbo cough PartyRobot -), the girl that dances like wild the whole night, every night. Over the course of the past year I’ve seen her on EVERY night I’ve gone to Stereo. Another person would definitely be Amy, a girl I recently had the guts to talk to that is another excellent dancer of a more DnB style. My eyes always wander to people that dance like there’s no tomorrow.
Sound 9/10
Amaaaazing. I know there have been upgrades over the past year, which just adds to an already good foundation of great sound. The architecture of the room, along with the powerful equipment makes Stereo one of the well-known clubs for sound. Many of my non after-hour friends know about Stereo as “THE” place in Montreal for the best sound quality even though they’ve never been.
Sona - Home of the Past
Overview
I used to be a hardcore hip-hop clubber. I hated everything about techno, including the music and the association of drugs such as ecstasy with it. When it started becoming incredibly popular in Vancouver, 4-5 years ago, some of my friends in Montreal that were originally from Vancouver finally pressured me into going to Sona. It soon became my new home. Ever since it’s closing I’ve been looking for a new place to call home. For awhile Aria was my home, then Stereo, but still nothing compared to Sona. So, when Sona finally reopened I had high hopes that my home would be back. Although 90% of the people I knew that went gave me bad reviews, I needed to eventually see for myself. Unfortunately, all I got was disappointment.
I’d like to add my review is based on attending the new Sona once. Although, most people I know concur with my analysis.
Atmosphere/Vibe 6/10
The night I went it was completely dry. It lacked any vibe at all due to the lack of people. I believe it was some night in January after it’s re-opening. For me, even if there are no people I can dance the night away but the overall atmosphere, along with my lack of appreciation for Joubin’s warm-up style of music (all night) really ruined it for me. P.S. I know on this night littleannie posted a review praising Joubin so I guess it’s really really objective. The club itself is pretty cool. The freight elevator is interesting and the waterfall near the DJs is neat too. Unfortunately it gave off a heavy smell of chlorine. I’d normally give it a rating of 5, but the club itself has a lot of potential so I gave a rating of 6.
People 4/10
There were no people. The people I came with left after one hour. I even saw Annie from Stereo come in with some friends, dance for thirty minutes and leave, I’m assuming off to Stereo. There were some people I knew that didn’t come with me, and still left within an hour of arriving. I know it’s a new club and maybe it was particular to the night but no one I knew enjoyed it.
Sound 5/10
I was told the sound was worse before the re-opening. I’m glad I didn’t go before then. I waited the entire night for something big to happen, for Joubin to suddenly blow my mind with crazy bass. Nope. Weak is all I have to say.
Gravity - Home of Tommorow
Overview
So much hype surrounding this new club, I finally had to go check it out on its official opening last Saturday. I was not disappointed at all. Renowned as the new club created by the mastermind behind Stereo, Angel Moraes. I must agree with many of the reviews I read stating that this club is made to be what an after-hours club should be. With the new Sona being a major disappointment, some of my friends and I were hoping Gravity might be that new home we were looking for. After attending its grand opening, I have only higher hopes that it will continue to be as good as it was that night. For me, through in a few trance and/or techno DJs on Fridays and voila, home sweet home.
Atmosphere/Vibe 9.5/10
Purrrrfect Club. It’s clean, it’s architecturally pleasing to the eye and DAMN it’s comfortable. The carpeted room with bean bags all over the place is HEAVEN. Whether you want to chill there the whole night or simple rest your back and legs for five minutes before heading back to the dance floor, this area is a clubber’s dream. I peeked into the theater room at the beginning of the night and it looked really nice, bean bags spread everywhere again. I didn’t go back there for the rest of the night because I wonder what could go on in that type of room, keke. The bathroom setup was very nice and clean. I personally don’t like the fact I have to get a cup from the bar and fill my water into a cup and then pour it back into a bottle. On the official opening night, the place was off the hook. No complaints here.
People 9.5/10
The place was packed. I saw many Stereo regulars including two of my favorite dancers in Annie and Amy. It felt similar to a night at Stereo as far as people were concerned, perhaps with more of a straight crowd. I think I’m being too generous with my rating since it was only one night, but if it continues to be like opening night it definitely deserves this rating.
Sound 9/10
A club designed by Angel Moraes should definitely pack power behind its punch. It did. I expected a lot from the sound quality since huggs gave it a high rating compared to the other features of the club, I was not disappointed.
Circus - Home of Hype
Overview
Ok, EVERYONE has been telling me about how great this club is and how much I will love it. This club has been the talk of the town, promoted quite well and apparently providing clients with a product which they want to come back to. I finally got my chance to check it out last night, Friday Feb 20th. My expectations were quite high and in the end they were actually surpassed. This club is gorgeous, you cannot truly appreciate how this club is built perfectly (including hip hop room) unless you go check it our yourself. The ambience and lights are perfect and like everyone says, the washrooms are elegant and quite unique. I suggest you check this place out at least once for your own personal experience and satisfaction, you will NOT regret it. GOGOGO CHECK IT OUT!
Atmosphere/Vibe 8.5/10
Although I expected a somewhat unfriendly atmosphere, it totally wasn't. It had this old Sona (RIP) vibe to it. The beauty of the architecture and design really make it a pleasant place to party in. Since, it's brand new I can't really say it has developed the individual touch that a place like Stereo has... this place definately has potential to be the home that the old Sona used to be for so many.
People 8/10
Rumors had it that Circus would be filled with hoochie-like women that would stand around and be bitchy. I didn't really encounter that. Instead, I found more the crowd to be a majority of afterhour goers and not clubbers. I mean so people made comments about my "raver garb" and how it's nice I wasn't dressedl like a clubber so I guess this "clubber" problem still exists. Once again I will use the comparison of the old Sona, the people feel the same. You have those that go to party, and those that still go to party but are more clubber oriented .
Sound 8/10
Pink Feria really impressed me the night I went. The sound was also surprisingly good for a brand new club. I'm guessing over time they might tweek like Stereo and Aria and really blow us away.
Redlite - Home of Laval
Overview
Ok, EVERYONE has been telling me about how great this club is and how much I will love it. This club has been the talk of the town, promoted quite well and apparently providing clients with a product which they want to come back to. I finally got my chance to check it out last night, Friday Feb 20th. My expectations were quite high and in the end they were actually surpassed. This club is gorgeous, you cannot truly appreciate how this club is built perfectly (including hip hop room) unless you go check it our yourself. The ambience and lights are perfect and like everyone says, the washrooms are elegant and quite unique. I suggest you check this place out at least once for your own personal experience and satisfaction, you will NOT regret it. GOGOGO CHECK IT OUT!
Atmosphere/Vibe 9/10
A lot of people dancing, having a blast in their own world. I noticed a lot more people that were completely messed up, maybe it's because only the hardcore people would go out on Sunday. Once again, the women add to the atmosphere in this judgement due to the sheer amount; they also danced like crazy and were dressed super sexy and/or funky. The club itself is quite nice, the lasers and lighting are amazing.
People 8.5/10
Lots of glowsticks, lots of messed up people throwing the glowsticks at me by accident and lots of HOT women. The ratio of women to men might have been over one to one which I find quite high for an afterhours. Normally I don't really take notice to this aspect of partying (I don't really care when there's few women @ Stereo since I still have a blast), but damnnn, so many FINE women at Redlite. The crowd was relatively friendly, almost too friendly which leads to people becoming annoying.
Sound 8/10
The sound system was pretty good. It wasn't really as fine tuned as Stereo or powerful as Aria though. I really didn't enjoy the mixing of the music and that might taint my judgement. |
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| neuro |
Thx Kendo, great review once again...its good to have the updates. Really appreciate it!
NEURO |
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| FunKenLouis |
and Kendo is a generous clubber too
i love to be in the booth and see him on the dancefloor
he always sees me saying hi
:)
thansk for the props on promoters
appreciated
by the way... everyone will understand that im not always on the dancefloor dancin all night... i gotta take care of lots of things sometimes... and i miss a little bit the time when i was a floorwhore... all over the place
its good to have so many people saying hi all the time
brings me back to life :D
the first time ill play a gig at ARIA... i hope youll all be there to party with me
im not saying its gonna happen soon... but its now one of my main goals
music is now a passion for me... hope to share this with all of you the best i can... :D |
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| Kendo |
HBehe no prob Louis.
Funny thing about this forum is I've probably seen half the people at Aria but I'm too shy to say hello.
I've seen Monica, Preach, Mekroom, Sim Peurf, Jfl/biggy, for sure.. hehe |
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| neuro |
Next time, if I see you, Ill say hello!
NEURO |
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| infinity |
| Please come to Calgary and do a review up here -- I would really appreciate that. Unfortunately we have only one afterhours club. |
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| 1megawatt |
| this is a kick ass review ...so much energy went into it ...you are truly a true raver ... |
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| Kendo |
| Thanks. I plan on revamping it at the end of the summer. Some people complained that I have two different reviews based on different times and I should just amalgamate it into one. I definitely have much more to write about Redlite and Circus. |
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| antz66 |
| hey kendo i really do enjoying reading ur reviews and i cant wait for the new one to be posted, when can we expect it? |
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| Kendo |
Honestly I wanted to have it done this month but I've been procrastinating. I'm telling you though, the new one is 5x better than this one and for simplicity sake I even have a ranking system for things like: Quality of Women, Quantity of Women, Good Looking Bartenders, etc. and I rank each club, ie.
Quantity of Women
1) Circus
2) Redlight
3) Aria
4) Stereo
Hehe.. my new review is written completely from scratch and summarizes the last year of partying. I'm still debating whether I should add Cream, Black and Blue, Celeb, and Swirl (I missed BeB 2005 because I was in Asia at the time). I probably won't since it's an afterhour review, anyways I digress. I'll -hope- to have it out in October, been busy. |
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