Lina Lecaro
Y2K may have brought tech-steria to pop culture but it also ushered in an exciting wave of indie rock sounds and stylish nightlife to go with it. Forecasting the era to come, revered club promoters Joseph Brooks, Shalyce Benfell, Jason Lavitt and Piper Ferguson kicked off the millennium with a bang… Club Bang! The 18 and over Hollywood hotspot provided a haven for discerning hip kids who wanted to dance, with awesome aughts sounds (Britpop, American indie pop-rock, nu-rave, emo and electropop) on the turntables. This was the party that intro’d bands like The Strokes, Franz Ferdinand, Bloc Party and The Killers to the dance floor and kick-started the rockstar guest DJ trend in L.A. (members of the Smiths, Interpol, Joy Division, Ladytron and more all made appearances behind the decks). Bang! introduced countless music artists to legions of clubsters with cool haircuts for over a decade, closing when its multiroomed venue, The Ruby Hollywood, shuttered in 2011. There’ve been one-offs here and there but the Bang! 20 Year Anniversary Bash is its first major and proper reunion. DJs for the evening include Brooks, Bipjeffington, Mantastique (Marc and Art) and Liz O. in the main room spinning indie, Britpop, English ’80s and electroclash; and DJs Jason Lavitt and Clifton spin ’60s, funk and soul outside on the mod-themed patio. Expect groovy go-gos and visuals, a Bang! poster gallery, roaming photos and special guests all bangin’ night.
Boardner’s, 1652 N. Cherokee Ave., Hollywood; Fri., Jan. 17, 9:30 p.m.-2 a.m.; $15 (21+). eventbrite.com/e/club-bang-
Photo gallery here includes shots by rock photographer Piper Ferguson and via the club’s old website ClubBang.net from throughout its decade-long history.
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