Dub Club’s Final Night at the Echoplex

It’s been a staple at the Echoplex for over two decades, but after this Wednesday, a popular reggae dance party will be gone from its beloved location. Host and DJ Tom Chasteen tells LA Weekly that this Wednesday will be Dub Club’s final night at the Echoplex for “a bunch of reasons.” He says a perfect storm of struggles, including the overall COVID-19 situation has made things difficult. This includes the vaccine mandates implemented inside many L.A. nightlife venues including the ‘Plex. “Also there have been issues…” he shared with us via email. “We have had a lot of artists cancel due to different COVID issues.”

Plans are up in the air right now in terms of what the party will do next, but Chasteen says they are not ending Dub Club entirely. “We will re-emerge in some form and keep going,” he says. “Could be a new weekly or monthly or popups in different spots…we’ll see.”

For D.C.’s farewell bash at the Echoplex this Wednesday reggae legend Yellowman will perform backed by The Sagittarius Band, plus Chasteen and Boss Harmony on the decks as always. Stones Throw Records’ Peanut Butter Wolf will also offer a guest set.

“We put our heart and soul into Dub Club and got that back from the audience,” Chasteen adds. “We went from record collectors spinning dusty 45s to promoters working with legendary artists like U Roy, Sugar Minott, and Sister Nancy. Dub Club became a center for Reggae music on the West Coast, and was known and respected worldwide.”