Seven years ago when I last lived in Melbourne, I always used to go a Thursday night gay rock party. Called ”Q+A” (Queer and Alternative), it was held at the now glamorous and yuppified ( but then bohemian) Builders Arms Hotel. This last Thursday night, I went to check out a party that is trying a similar concept, just around the corner. “Grouse” is the new “Queer rock party” held at bar Neverwhere on Smith Street, Melbourne’s edgy/gay/anti-scene scene street. And Neverwhere is a cool venue, with plush old school sofas, 1950s lamps and free popcorn. The party attracted a goodlooking crowd of hipsters, lipstick lesbians (about 60%), and gay dudes with currently fashionable furry beards. And the music was pretty good as I walked in with my friend Dave. So, a promising start.
But when the first, funky disco track ended, the problem with the place quickly became apparent. The DJs suck! They are three girls, one of whom is apparently a “rapper” who supported Lily Allen on her Australian tour, called Ann Ominous. The fact that she is a recording artist, rather than the enthusiastic girlfriend of the owner, frankly shocked me. Because not only can the DJs not mix at all, but they had no sense of music whatsoever. They played lots of great songs – mixed up in such a way that there was no vibe at all. You could be dancing to Blondie, and then they would put on “When the Teddy Bears Have their Picnic” (talk about clearing the floor) followed by like, Detroit techno or No Doubt . Clearly they thought they were being eclectic and tongue in cheek. But they weren’t. Thats the thing; you can’t just throw on anything and call it “eclectic”. There has to be some method in the madness. And they clearly had no clue, let alone plan.
So that was a shame. I’ll go back, but not like, every week. And I hope they get new DJs.
