Friday, December 16, 10:45 p.m. "John the Revelator/ Put him in an elevator/ Take him up to the highest high/ Take him up to the top/ Where the mountains stop/ Let him tell his book of lies ..." I sing along with Depeche Mode's intense album Playing The Angel to get in the mood before venturing out for the night. Not typical nightclub fare, but then I'm not going to a typical nightclub.
I gaze into my tiny compact mirror, thoughtfully draw on thick black eyeliner and apply crimson lipstick. Once again I check my corseted reflection for its effect. While probably not as extreme as what Sanctuary's regulars will be wearing, I anticipate I'll blend in. As an added precaution, I am armed with a die-hard Depeche Mode fan—a self-professed '80s junkie. Wingman Heathen arrives in—what else?—a Depeche Mode T-shirt and long, black coat.
"Where can I find Barnaby Felton?" No, these are not the magic words that open a hidden door to a secret party. But they do help me locate my friend and former colleague, also known as DJ Rust Ryu ("Ryu" being Japanese for "dragon"). Felton stands well above 6 feet tall and his long, thin shadow eclipses mine. His normally high, blue mohawk is a flat, slick stripe down the center of his shorn head. "I ran out of time," he explains matter of factly. He's pretty hard to miss, his white, studded and spiked leather jacket the single non-black garment in the room. And I was worried about blending in!
Various piercings dangle from here and there, but they do little to detract from his bright eyes and cheerful smile. He is soft-spoken and sincere while welcoming me to "the non-club. It's for everyone who doesn't have a place in the mainstream clubs," says Felton. "Where we're tying to get to is the level of Bar Sinister in LA."
But don't call them goth! "We're trying to move away from that term," he warns.
Tonight, Felton will host, leaving the DJing to his two compatriots: the Rev. DJ Razorslave spinning industrial and power-noise, and DJ Morningstar spinning industrial, synth-pop and dark wave—a darker, more melodic '80s sound than new wave. Normally, Rust Ryu would be spinning industrial and synth-pop too, as well as EBM. "Electronic body music," he replies to my blank stare. And that sounds like ... what? "If the Petshop Boys had had better technology and were more driven."
In only four Fridays, and employing only fliers, Myspace.com and word-of-mouth, this weekly event has increased in attendance from nine to over 140. That may still seem small but Sanctuary's lively characters fill the cozy, candlelit Krave Lounge with unique personalities. Entry is free until 12:30 a.m., but if you can come dressed in the spirit of things, the $10 cover comes with a free drink.
"In the spirit of things" can include mohawks, velvet, vinyl, lace, leather, corsets, chains, chain mail, armor, fishnets, grommets, pleats, kilts, pirate garb, religious wear, and generally anything inspired by the movies A Clockwork Orange, Interview with the Vampire or The Crow. To my right, one fellow has his girlfriend on a leash; she's wearing red spectacles and seems content. To my left, a small group forms to compare tattoos. And then dang it if a priest doesn't just saunter past the bar into the men's room. As if on cue, the DJ drops the Cult's "She Sells Sanctuary."
DJ Morningstar moves only slightly in the booth. His heavy mop of hair bounces just a little while the rest of his body remains rigid. It's the house-y '80s remixes and dark '90s songs that bring folks to the dance floor. The Cure's "Burn" is followed by New Order's "Blue Monday" and then some Nine Inch Nails. A tall, willowy gent with product-stiffened bed-head wears a floor-length, suede coat covered in silver disks, looking like an evil, mechanical reptile. On the dance floor, under an undulating light display, he reaches out with black-painted fingernails and swats at something no one else can see. Oh wait, he's just dancing. He crouches to the ground, gathering air with his hands, and then whirls like a Dervish with his coat forming a ring around him.
"I'll dance in this much time," I say, indicating 10 minutes worth of drinking on my glass. I look the perfect morose, detached, misanthropic poet, sitting at the bar writing. And then. .. "John the Revelator/ Put him in an elevator/ Take him up to the highest high." Uh oh. Where's Heathen? Halfway into the men's room, he spins on his heels and runs, slides, bounces onto the dance floor. This is followed by even more Depeche Mode—"Personal Jesus"—and then Real Life's "Send Me an Angel."
But wait; one dark angel is in crisis. Her sparkly black fishnets have become entangled with her purse's zipper. Three metrosexual men fall to her feet, each with the definitive plan for how to separate a purse from stockings. And with that, the dark spell is broken and we laughingly return to Real Life.
Xania Woodman thinks globally and parties locally. And frequently. E-mail her at
[email protected].
Xania's Hot Spots for December 29 – January 1
Friday, December 30
Krave: Sanctuary with DJs Rust Ryu, Morningstar and the Rev. DJ Razorslave
Tao: Black Eyed Peas concert after-party
Saturday, December 31
For a complete listing of New Year's Eve nightclub events,
click here.
Sunday, January 1
Ice: Day One party with DJs Steve Lawler and Faarsheed
Light: Post-Apocalyptic Showdown industry re-creation of the countdown
For more Hot Spots and weekly parties visit
www.TheCircuitLV.com and sign up for Xania's free weekly newsletter.