Print

Mail

wiki links

The Vinyl Word

M Club is where men meet music. PHOTO COURTESY OF M CLUB

Honors for the nastiest bar in town must go to Club Wax, a basement dive that squats near the intersection of Roosevelt and Hoping roads. Infamous now for its foreigners nights on Wednesdays and ladies nights on Thursday, it has taken the mantle of top Taipei meat market from Spin 45, Vibe and Carnegies'.

At a promotion last week it was NT$100 for foreigners to drink all they could until 4am. Needless to say this was all the encouragement that was needed and an interesting evening was had by all. Somebody said it was gay night, but even through the alcohol fumes there didn't seem to be much evidence of it.

Wax is a well-run operation that packs them in and is definitely on the seedy side of the street. It's dark and sweaty, filled with wannabe gigolos and the type of woman your mom warned you about. If you're running from commitment, this is the place to run to. The flavor of Wax is summed up best by a sign that implores customers to throw up outside and then informs them it will cost NT$300 if they fail and hurl inside. Classy.

Club Wax is open seven nights a week, and is at B1, 67, Roosevelt Rd, Sec 2, Taipei (台北市羅斯福路二段67號B1).

Tomorrow, celebrate Liquid Lifestyle's fourth annual Traffic Light Valentine's at Cheers nini, on Anhe Road, across the alley from the Far Eastern Hotel. And the big prize on the night is two pairs of tickets for the upcoming 50 Cent and Fort Minor concert. To qualify, arrive dressed appropriately: Red, if you're in a relationship; yellow if you're ambivalent; and green if you're single and raring to go. It's NT$350 (including one drink) before 11:30pm and NT$500 thereafter.

Tomorrow at Rouge lounge bar on Dunhua South Road, Lucid and Beautifunk are throwing a Spread Love party with Hooker, Marcus Aurelius, JR and Megan, J-Ro and That Guy in the mix. Down south in Tainan, MC Hot Dog will rip it up at Fusion tonight.

As one vinyl door opens another slams shut. Dancehall Under, formerly Purple, had a closing down party last Saturday which was attended mainly by men in black. The air was thick with a peculiar, acrid smoke and the atmosphere was dark and dirty. Loved up it wasn't. The club organizers were sketchy on the details of why the place was closing down.

On a brighter, sunnier, "gayer" note M club opened it's doors for business at the end of last month. Arrma (阿瑪), a partner in the club, explained the joint's moniker could be interpreted in many different ways -- but first, he said, "M" stood for "men" and secondly "music."

The place is decked out with LED light panels on the walls and on the floor. Anyone who has been to a party at Corr may shudder at the thought of fragile dance floor tiles, but on first appearance these looked sturdy enough to take a good pounding. Along with vinyl mayhem provided by local DJs, parties at M include some fun and games. For tomorrow night's bash the place will hold "marriage ceremonies" for same-sex couples and have a wedding reception afterward.

M club opens every day at 7pm and can be found at B1, 90, Jianguo N Rd, Sec 2 (台北市建國北路二段90號B1). For more information check out www.mclub-taipei.com.tw or call (02) 2501 1069.

Barcode (條碼) presents lounge music in a stylish environment, with British-type cocktails made with fresh fruit at B1, No. 18, Songshou Rd, Taipei (台北市松壽路18號B1). Call (02)2725 3520 or (02)2725 3201. The Grand opening party tomorrow has vocalist Peyton and DJ Jack McCord for a Hed Kandi party.

This story has been viewed 3140 times.