For (I think) pretty obvious reasons, most of the best venues tend to be overun with a clientelle that makes them less desirable to go to. But, if we're just talking about the space itself, these are 4 of my favorites (3 big, one small):
The Limelight in NYC: I love the maze-like effect as you wander through the back, and the main dancefloor is magnificent. It's just a beautiful space. Sound there can be iffy at times, but generally I enjoy it. Nation (former home of Buzz) in DC: The venue is so sick. The clientelle and the music was often lacking. The front room, where they normally play drum 'n bass, has bars on either end with a circular DJ booth in the middle, which works so well for drum 'n bass. I often took refuge here when the main room was a dissapointment. The outdoor deck would usually feature house, or something less mainstream (in DC anyway) than progtrance/dnb. I loved to spend time out there in the Summer, especially when I first arrived in DC, with the view of the capitol building, a good dancefloor vibe and amazing weather. You have to love listening to house outdoors at night. The main room is really impressive. I always thought the sound with a bit too ecstacy-tweaked-crisp for me, and there were very few DJs I wanted to see in there, and those I did want to see often dissapointed. Also, when the floor is packed with drooling kids every weekend, you tend to find a different space. But, it's impressive for the good design, and with a slightly different EQing it would sound great in there. The End in London: This sound system is so sick. I know some people who don't like it but I think it depends who you see spinning on it, b/c they have separate PA settings for all the regular performers. I like the setup of the entire club. Clearly there are sometimes issues with the crowds there, but the space itself rocks, purely because of the focus on the DJ and the sound quality. The Blue Room in DC: Pure class. It's small, lots of wood every where. Free entry. Great selection of beer and some good food. Nice outdoor deck. Both floors are smooshed full of people whenever they're open and eveyone is always having a great time. The sound downstairs sucks. The sound upstairs is too loud for the space. None of it matters because the people, the beauty of the space, the beverages and the music always make it a great experience. I would go there on my own a lot this Summer and wound up meeting tons of people every time I went because I knew whoever I met at the Blue Room would be cool. It's the right spot in the right part of DC, with the right music to attract the best people. You wouldn't think it to look at the first three, but I much prefer small clubs. Tristan ===== Text/Mixes: http://phonopsia.tripod.com Music: http://www.mp313.com Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] New Mix in mp3, 'Live in Iowa City' available for a short time from http://phonopsia.isoprax.com
