[anothernewkid]

Hello

I'm new to the area and I'm seeking advice on music orientated night-clubs to go to in Hartford. Specifically good honest House Music (I have a violent allergy to vocoder heavy R'n'B (a la daytime radio) so best not send me in that direction .) I'd be happy to listen to Techno or Electro or Breaks or Drum'n'Bass (if you have that here?), lots in fact as long as the DJ is sincere and making an attempt to mix the tunes and not playing a CD compilation or talking over the tracks. Many thanks,

your friendly, patriotic, foreign visitor,

Dave

[goldenband]

Good question. I get the sense that most clubs in Hartford tend to focus on styles favored by the black (R&B/hip-hop/crunk), Latino (reggaeton), and/or gay (house) communities. You might be able to catch some straight-up house in the gay clubs around town, and maybe they're still spinning electroclash stuff like Peaches, etc. Dunno, it's not really my scene.

If anyone's playing drum 'n' bass, lowercase/minimal techno, and other nerdier styles, I haven't heard about it directly, but it wouldn't surprise me if it's around. There's not really much of a hipster scene in Hartford yet, but if individual shows are happening, some of the indie organizations in the area (see CT Indie for a few) are the likeliest sources, though their brand of techno is likely to be more, well, indie.

(Then again, I may well have no idea what I'm talking about!)

[anothernewkid]

Excellent. Thanks. I didn't realise house=gay. Perhaps I'm learning something about myself . .

[goldenband]

LOL, I wouldn't make too much of it -- I like the occasional house track, and it has yet to have any effect on my sexual preference. From what I understand, the house "sound" originated in gay clubs, and it's still a mainstay of the music selection in many such establishments. I hear a lot of house music as a descendant of disco, and some strains of disco certainly code gay as well ("It's fun to stay at the...").

And: you're welcome! Moving from Britain (I assume?) to Hartford, and chasing after techno sounds, is a little bit like moving from Arkansas to Greenland and looking for a good barbecue joint. But I'm sure you'll find something worthwhile, and perhaps you'll even help to build a good scene. Hartford can certainly use every bit of scene-building help it can get, it's desperately in need of a hipster influx!

[JViello]

Originally Posted by anothernewkid

Hello

I'm new to the area and I'm seeking advice on music orientated night-clubs to go to in Hartford. Specifically good honest House Music (I have a violent allergy to vocoder heavy R'n'B (a la daytime radio) so best not send me in that direction .) I'd be happy to listen to Techno or Electro or Breaks or Drum'n'Bass (if you have that here?), lots in fact as long as the DJ is sincere and making an attempt to mix the tunes and not playing a CD compilation or talking over the tracks. Many thanks,

your friendly, patriotic, foreign visitor,

Dave

I'm so far removed from it now, it's hard to say WHERE, but I know there is a loyal D&B following around. There was an underground warehouse club in North Hartford that had a really heavy underground vibe...lots of white label D&B type stuff and and hard saw tooth German stuff. I would find a BB for the local college scenes and ask around too. I know of a couple college age guys who are huge D&B fan.

Originally Posted by goldenband

From what I understand, the house "sound" originated in gay clubs, and it's still a mainstay of the music selection in many such establishments.

Whoa! Absolutely NOT! More like "hijacked".

House started in the early 80's by guys like Steve "Silk" Hurley, Franky Knuckles, Afrika Bambaataa and The Soul Sonic Force and some of the really funky NYC underground clubs. Yea, there's even a rift between Chicago and NYC regarding where "it" started first. Believe it or not, there was a very large Japanese influence in the scene as well.

Granted there are also some examples from the disco era of the late 70's that had a "house vibe" but IMO they were more accidental then on purpose.

Trust me...this was a very large part of my youth and I spun in clubs around the country till the age of about 23-24. I still have my original technics 1200's (My ones and twos ) in the attic...I pulled them down for a retro party about 3 years ago and am still sharp as ever.

[Lowerdeck]

My best guess would be Room 960 (960 Main St.) - that's the only one I can think of. I know they also throw big parties in Constitution Plaza a couple times of year. Was at the one featuring Tiesto in 2007.

[goldenband]

Originally Posted by JViello

Whoa! Absolutely NOT! More like "hijacked."

It depends on whether you buy the story that the house "sound" comes from the Warehouse in Chicago (where Frankie Knuckles spun), which was a gay club. I'll accept that it's a matter of debate, though, and you surely know the scene better than I.

Our discussions/debates have taken many twists and turns, but I'd never have guessed we'd end up on white-labels and turntables!

[JViello]

Originally Posted by goldenband

It depends on whether you buy the story that the house "sound" comes from the Warehouse in Chicago (where Frankie Knuckles spun), which was a gay club. I'll accept that it's a matter of debate, though, and you surely know the scene better than I.

Yea I think it is a matter of debate. There were SOME "gay" clubs that played it, but plenty that didn't as well when it was breaking out. To me, that says it didn't come from "gay clubs", but took hold there as well as other places.

I used to work a "gay club" in Orlando called the Firestone Club. It was an old Firestone service center converted. Very very cool place. I also put "gay club" in quotes because many places were coined "gay clubs" but they had a strong hetero following as well.

Originally Posted by goldenband

Our discussions/debates have taken many twists and turns, but I'd never have guessed we'd end up on white-labels and turntables!

Some day we are going to have to meet up for some good ethnic food and chat.

[uconn99]

Black Eyes Sally's in downtown Hartford has great blues/rock but you won't find house there.

If you don't mind mixing it up, it has a great atmosphere and great food along with nice people from 20's on up.

[GrotonMan]

Originally Posted by JViello

Trust me...this was a very large part of my youth and I spun in clubs around the country till the age of about 23-24. I still have my original technics 1200's (My ones and twos ) in the attic...I pulled them down for a retro party about 3 years ago and am still sharp as ever.

Wow J, is there anything that you honestly haven't done?