When I think about the lunacy that is the Labor Day weekend, one word immediately comes to mind: Rubber. No, I don't mean the Trojan variety—I'm talking John Huntington's and Damian Sanders' world-famous Club Rubber parties.
Of all the events I cover, Rubber parties generate the most excitement in the club-kid community. They're always the highlight of big holiday weekends, with thousands traveling from all over to partake in the insanity. This Saturday night brings to town the crown jewel of the Rubber empire, the one and only Pimp 'N Ho Costume Ball at the Orleans. It is the cornerstone of the Labor Day weekend, and one of the most anticipated parties of the year. This year's festivities includes DJ performances from Christopher Lawrence, Donald Glaude, Dave Aude, Beej, Danny Love, Eric Cubiche and 4real. And let's not forget the one and only Rubber Dolls—the hottest go-go gals ever. (Hopefully, Santa got my letter and will get me one this year!) But the greatest aspect of the whole experience is that it's the biggest and baddest costume party you'll ever see, with some of the most creative, insanely sexy, and 100-percent mandatory costumes around.
As if all this wasn't enough, how about a second Club Rubber party? Sunday night at the Palms Rain Nightclub and Skin is Club Rubber. The lineup includes DJs Dan, Baby Anne, Swedish Egil, Beej, the 3 Amigos, Eric Cubiche, Danny Love and 4Real. All that groovy fun, plus an appearance by Dave Aude performing an '80s flashback set poolside.
But Club Rubber and Pimp 'n Ho aren't just big giant parties. They've also become one of the most successful and recognizable brands in the nightclub industry. Rubber has spawned an empire for Huntington, including a merchandising arm that offers Club Rubber CDs, DVDs and T-shirts. Huntington has taken the success further with his traveling club, One Night Stand (seen locally at ghostbar and Curve), a tattoo parlor at the Palms, and TV appearances (Rubber is a favorite of the E!s Wild On series). Now, he's set his sights on Costa Rica, opening a sushi restaurant called Tsunami and a nightclub called Nacho Daddy.
Plus, naturally, taking in the local flavor.
"Costa Rica is ridiculous," says Huntington, on the phone from Central America. "I'm sitting on the beach looking at perfect waves, an 85-degree ocean, monkeys in the trees—are you kidding me? I've been all around the world, from Thailand to Mexico to Australia, and this is easily one of the most beautiful places that I've ever been to."
Hearing Huntington gush about Costa Rica, I can't help but think, "You lucky bastard!" Looking at his accomplishments, I also can't help but think I've gotten into the wrong business. Homeboy's chillin' on the beach in Costa Rica and I'm dealing with a Vegas monsoon, leaky ceiling, flooded apartment and a distinct lack of Rubber Dolls dancing in my living room. But Huntington's success didn't happen by accident, nor did it have anything to do with luck.
John Huntington is an imposing figure. Tall, muscular and covered in tattoos, at first glance he doesn't seem very approachable. But nothing is further from the truth. Warm, funny and intelligent, it's easy to understand how he became such a successful promoter. And, in a business where promoters always seem to be wound tighter than a virgin on prom night, Huntington is surprisingly laid back and cool. It's a rare trait, and can be attributed to his beachfront upbringing.
"Till I was 18, I lived in La Habra and then I moved to Huntington Beach—which was named for my family in 1893," he says.
His foray into the club business started soon after his move to Huntington Beach. "I got into it because I didn't like college. I got into it as a bar-back and bartender and worked my way through. Now I've been doing it forever."
Forever is a relative term. Not yet 40, Huntington's two decades of working in clubs makes him one of the industry's most seasoned veterans. By the tender age of 23, when most people are still being carded, he was running nightclubs.
"I was in Amsterdam running a bar. Rotterdam, the Netherlands. And the house scene was real big there, and I did that. And the disco revival was big, too. And I went to Damian with an idea for a club, and he was down with it—it went from there. It started in Orange County at the Galaxy Theatre in Costa Mesa."
That was 1995. Within a few years, Club Rubber was the ultimate sensation in Orange County. By 2000, its size and popularity warranted a foray into the undiscovered country of Las Vegas. That decision cemented Club Rubber and Pimp 'n Ho as a leader in the Vegas nightclub renaissance, ultimately becoming an institution, with parties at Utopia and C2K and the ultimate Pimp 'n Ho Halloween party at Mandalay Bay.
"We had actually been doing all the parties for SIA and MAGIC conventions. We did a convention party at Utopia and it blew up! We gradually built a following in Vegas. And, since 70 percent of people come from Southern California anyways, those who go out [in Vegas] are already familiar with us. We kept rolling and rolling. Now we're selling out arenas."
I've been to a seemingly endless number of Club Rubber events, and each time I marvel at the sheer spectacle. No other events better suit the naughty, debaucehrous and adult-flavored fun that Vegas promises.