Even if you've seen DJ Vibe & Stephane Grondin before, you missed out on something epic if you were not there Saturday. We started the night off at Stereobar and although the style of beats isn't really my bag, Domenic Pandolpho did a good job of playing to the crowd.

We made our way into the main room around 3am, and the place was already starting to bump. Grondin came out of the gates hard...so hard, in fact, I was wondering if I would have anything left in the tank for Vibe, or if Vibe would be able to keep the tempo as high. Boy did he ever.

Both these men absolutely grabbed the crowd with pulsing rhythms that turned everyone in sight into insane dancefloor derelicts. The dancers were tearing ass, and the heat didn't matter -- the floor was packed, but you did anything to find place...an utter audio destruction of sick Iberian sounds on a system suited to perfection for it. This was my friend's 6th Vibe night, and he pronounced it the best, musically. Nothing like tribal when offerred by a true master who brings the dark and leaves the diva at home.

Destroying the place is an understatement. I think the only better tribal set I've ever heard was from Steve Lawler @ Aria in 2003...and this was pretty damn close to it if not just as good. Grondin & Vibe's CD is on Mile End records. If only the rest of the world knew about Grondin...then again, being Montreal's little secret means they get to keep him all to themselves. ;) These two men together are just brilliant and would be even better back to back.

[originally posted by ANF on tranceaddict.]

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STEREO AFTERHOURS:

No Cameras allowed, no pretentious bullshit,no dress code, come as you are, black, white, straights, gays all under one roof no problems. The problems stay outside and all i'm saying is until you see it you won't believe it.

Look at iclone, she goes to london and pretty much everywhere else in the world on a weekly basis. She had one weekend here and fucked off on London to come here. I think thats saying something.

quite frankly, i didn't think that kind of place existed. in my 220,000+ clubbing airmiles :Þ i've never crossed a venue where such a varied demographic -- week after week -- shelve their differences for the greater good. stereo rivals the world's best regular-hours clubs and easily champions every north american club i've entered. as ANF mentioned : afterhours clubs rarely survive, but stereo's had people tearing ass on the dancefloor for ~7 years!

And I believe she told me Sasha at Vanguard wasnt as good ;)
sasha's and vibe's sets both were flawless, so i shall not compare.

vanguard's got a gorgeous funktion 1, lots of pretty toys/people/couches, expensive drinks, constant getting hit-on -- all good for the LA lifestyle, but it's not comparable to stereo. different clubs for different reasons.

stereo delivered in all respects and far-exceeded my expectations. shock-absorbing floors, dark simplicity graced by the world's most-ominous disco ball and minimal visuals [cheers to tribal night's insane layered vine/insect lighting effects ], and a far superior sound system where music flows through your veins at max volume but still allows you to clearly converse with others. the place is designed to keep people comfortable and dancing until they drop.

extreme afterhours requires a different breed of person entirely [albeit slightly masochistic ;)] and is therefore different in its own right...and i'm not just pumping sunshine up your asses, kids. all things considered, i'd wager on my fucking off my monthly london trip in favor of montreal. cheers, guys.

i will, however, bitch about montreal's inability to book lawler/sander/sasha on fri/sat nights. :wtf: SRSLY.

[originally posted by me on tranceaddict.]