[ NITE LIFE ]
Heading
for the ’80sElectroclash revives
sounds of 20 years ago
Backstage, in the dim, cavernous recesses of the Galaxy nightclub, DJ Foxy Hooker, outfitted in leopard skin trousers and a black Lip Service top with a horizontal zipper that seems to serve no real purpose, scratches at his mohawk. "Should I have a beer or a real drink?" he asks aloud, weighing his options. Shoveling a lump of ice into his plastic cup, he pours himself a generous serving of Hana Bay rum and chugs it down with no time to spare. "It could be a big night tonight," he says.
For the last month and a half, Hooker and his fellow Galaxy deejays have waited for "Ultra," their super-fab electroclash shindig, to take off. After all, over the past year or more, weighty rags like Newsweek, Spin, Billboard, Rolling Stone and Entertainment Weekly have covered the New York-derived sound as if it were the next big thing. In truth, electroclash has proved to be less a new movement than a revival of the new-wave and electro sounds of two decades ago, but for a nightclub scene desperate for relief from radio rap and faceless trance and house deejays, it appears the closest thing to a musical revolution.
Ultra
Presented by Ottomattic Nu-RomanticsWhere: Galaxy, 1739 Kalakaua Ave.
When: 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturdays
Admission: $5, 21 and over; $8, 18-20
From the arty pretensions of the fabulously minimalist Fischerspooner and Adult, to the schizophrenic Chicks on Speed and the trashy, exaggerated sexuality of Peaches, the cheaper and cheesier the act, the better, it seems. With little more than a Casio keyboard and a vocoder, anyone can be a star these days. The idea is to seize the opportunity before it's over.
Hooker admits to being a bit tardy to the electroclash bandwagon, though he is certainly no newcomer to the Honolulu club scene. In fact, local night-lifers would know him from any one of his former alter egos (Foxy Hooker is the only name he will answer to these days, however). Through his years as a teenage nightcrawler at legendary new-wave nightspot 3D, through deejay stints at the Pink Cadillac, Odyssey and the Dungeon, Hooker's seen it all, but thinks he's finally found the perfect sound in electroclash.
"It's such a good vibe," he enthuses. "It's not about trying to be cool. How can you be cool dancing to these dumb-ass songs? You can't help but have fun."
Devotees agree. Despite their difference in age, "Ultra" regulars Terri Chan, 32, and her cousin, Eileen Chan, 19, share an affinity for '80s-flavored dance floor tracks. "I actually feel sorry for kids now because they didn't grow up knowing what really good dance music is," expresses Terri, adjusting an arm full of rubber bracelets. "I like the new stuff because it reminds me of the old stuff, and you can actually sing to it."
"I can't tell what's old or new sometimes," says Eileen with a shrug, "but if it's good, I'll just dance."
AT THE MOMENT, "Ultra" is more of an '80s rerun than an electroclash forum, and you're more likely to catch a classic Depeche Mode ditty there than the latest Ladytron jam, but Hooker says the crowds are being introduced to more new material each week. Judging by the number of world-class deejays who have turned on to electroclash recently, Hooker believes it's only a matter of time before it catches on.
"People like Superstar DJ Keoki, Sandra Collins, Christopher Lawrence, Eddie Amador and all these older deejays have their roots in the goth, industrial or '80s scene," attests Hooker, running down a list of electronica's biggest headliners. "Felix Da Housecat made his name playing house, but he's now promoting electroclash. That's why I think it's got the potential for longevity."
Some may disagree with Hooker, and in fact, many have already announced electroclash's demise, but if the local "C*ntroversy" events, which ran for close to a year before folding in June, are any indication, the scene still has some shelf life here. "The 'C*ntroversy' people are the ones who inspired me to do this," he says, crediting the visionary promoters behind the surprisingly popular downtown party. Before "C*ntroversy," Hooker says it had been years since he and his fellow Galaxy deejays had experienced such a carefree, fun-loving crowd, dressed up and gyrating to mindless, sing-along dance tracks. "When I was there, I had such a great time. The chicks there looked like the ones we tried to hook up with in the '80s, you know, with the funky, crimped hair and weird eye makeup. We were like, 'Holy (expletive)! This is crazy!' It was like being in a time warp."
It wasn't long before "Ultra" looked to take up where "C*ntroversy" left off with the combined resources of several local promoters. All involved believe it will expand on its core crowd of 100 or so, though if it doesn't quite pan out as they hope, Hooker says it's already been a wild, fun ride. "It's been great having 18-year-old kids dancing to 20-year-old songs we used to dance to and dressing like freaks," he raves before quoting an early-'80s dance classic by Ministry: "Every day is like Halloween."
Click for online
calendars and events.
