The UK press has heralded the death throes of super clubs and Taipei's own MoS went out with a whimper earlier this year, but Japan's club complex AgeHa (pronounced ah-ge-ha) is going strong and it's coming to Taipei.
Located in Shin Kiba, Tokyo, the venue has a capacity of 3,000 and hosts decadent parties that attract top-draw international DJs and chic crowds with it's unique 36-speaker set up, air beds in the chill out zone and large outdoor swimming pool that boasts an impressive view of Tokyo's skyline.
The super club is packing its bags and coming to Taiwan for a party at Nankang 101 (南港101) at 71 Hsinan St, Nankang Dist, Taipei (台北市南港區興南街71號) tomorrow. AgeHa DJs Maar, who has played some of Tokyo's spots including Gold, Maniac Love, Womb and Module, Kosuke and Mondo will man the decks. Media artist VJ Tsuyoshi Takashiro will put on what promises to be an awesome visual display. The party will also include pole dancers, go-go boys, and a roller skate girl. Advance tickets cost NT$1,000 and can be purchased by calling (02) 2341-9898 or visiting www.ticket.com.tw; door damage is NT$1,200.
PHOTOS: AGEHA
Alternatively, a table for five including entrance, a bottle of tequila, a six-pack of beer and a six-pack of coke costs NT$12,000, and can be reserved in advance with a deposit of NT$5,000, or secured at the door. Advance bookings will be held until 12pm, and the deposit is non-refundable. To make a reservation either call 0917-291-665 or send an e-mail to roger0109@hotmail.com.
If you think that's expensive, AgeHa has been offering tour packages from Japan including flight, accommodation and entrance to the party for between NT$32,200 and NT$42,600 per person.
The Vinyl Word is spreading the love this week. The first 20 people to cut out this column and present it at the gate to Luxy's Summer Jam 2006 party tomororw at the Howard Hotel Resort, Green Bay (翡翠灣), will receive a free ticket that entitles the holder to entry, a plate of bbq food and two coronas.
The bash begins at 3pm and ends at 9pm and will be held in the hotel pool area. The lineup includes Machi, MC Davi, Blake, Ash and Taiwan DMC champion E-Turn. Liquid Lifestyle has organized some fun and games with prizes including beer and NT$15,000 in Luxy dollars which can be spent at the club. Send an e-mail to contest@liquidlifestyle.com if you are up for competing. The hotel is located at 1-1 Feitsui Road, Wanli Township, Taipei County (台北縣萬里鄉翡翠路1-1號). Visit greenbay.howard-hotels.com for information on transportation.
If you want to carry on the party, CUBE is throwing an Everybody Electro bash down the road from Summer Jam at Summer Land, Green Bay (太平洋翡翠灣,夏日樂園) that begins at 7pm and finishes at 3am. Pre-sale tickets are NT$300 (call Jetty on 0926-199-000) and at the door, tickets are NT$350. Andrew Ford, Marcy, Mango, Travis, Mango and Blue will be in the mix.
The weekend has a smorgasbord of quality vinyl mayhem to keep even the most discerning of revelers amused, particularly those partial to extravagance or who have a fetish or two.
Tonight at Luxy, the stars of the show are Hipp-E, the club's current Sabbatical “scholar,” who will play in the Onyx room, and DMC-Technics Hall of famer Cash Money in the Galleria. The hip-hop Flava night will feature a fountain running with 2kg of chocolate and free Biermeister microbrew beer from 10pm until 11pm.
Hipp-E will be spinning at Luxy for another two weeks, and Cash Money will be playing until the end of the month. The last week in August will see Sneak stepping up to the decks at Taipei's premier club.
A recent post on a popular online forum lamented the dullness of the local club scene, however, this weekend's lineup seems anything but. Quality hip hop, beach party, West Coast tunes and clubbing Japan-style, and to top that medley off, next up is erotic fetish DJ extraordinaire Portia Surreal who on her Web site invites you to, “Enter a wet dream and visual seduction, led by the world renowned mistress of ‘Provactive Electronia.’” Oooh er.
Portia has headlined with Armand van Helden, Goldie and Miss Kitten, and will bring her raunchy show to Cube in Kaohsiung tomorrow night. The club is located at 31 Haibien Rd, Kaohsiung City (高雄市海邊路31號). Call (07) 269-1720 for more information.
To get a taste of the vixen's usual repertoire and stage attire that leaves little to the imagination, log on to www.portiasurreal.com — it's well worth a visit even if you're not going to the party, and makes Taiwan's nightlife look positively tame.
And finally, on a slightly less titillating note, Missill, 25, is hitting the decks at 18 Lover tomorrow night (not tonight as advertised in other media) with a melange of ragga, hip hop, breakbeats and electro.
The France-born DJ has been positioned within the same spectrum of sounds as the likes of 2 Many DJs. To sample her delights visit www.missill.com. Tonight 18 Lover presents a Hed Kandi Party featuring Rob Wilder and live artist Katherine Ellis.
Vinyl word: You've never had it so good.
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