Re: First-time clubbing in Tokyo+London...
i haven't been to europe, but i can speak a little for tokyo. ah the memories...
[b]club yellow[/b] is the club that's been rockin there for years, and has some quality house nights. ko kimura has a monthly residency there called 'kool' from memory, and he's a quality dj and real nice guy (met him when he played sublime on pitt st way back when). hernan also plays there when he's in town and played a monster 10hr set once which i hear was one for the ages. can be hard to find, but it is well worth it and still has that undergroud feel to it.
i saw local dj 'emma house' play a 10 hour set there once and it was something else! electro, tech, house and a bit of prog thrown in. a bit chaotic, but he's a local fave.
check their online schedule: [url]http://www.club-yellow.com/contents_f.html[/url]
just checked myself and ko's night is still called [b]'kool'[/b], and his guest in may appears to be one satoshi tomiie. (may 27)
[b]womb [/b]is my tokyo fave as it has an awesome laser set-up, and most importantly a mind-blowing sound system which is the best i have experienced. more on the super-club tip, their local prog night called 'sessions' with wada, yoshi and ohnishi was driving out the quality tribal progressive when i was last there in 04. osamu and satohi play here, and it is the destination of choice for the big names. i saw chris fortier play there last year and the sound and the vibe was superb.
check their online schedule: [url]http://www.womb.co.jp/[/url]
other decnt clubs are [b]'air'[/b] and [b]'maniac love'[/b]. maniac is tiny, again hard to find, but is the goods. osamu m used to play there. the biggest club is[b] 'ageha'[/b], but it is a bit far. they focus on ny-style house, detroit techno and live music. very cool super-club.
for general info on what's goin down, here's the site i used to use (in english, which is helpful!):
[url]http://www.cyberjapan.tv/contents/tokyoclubinfo/index.html[/url]
to be honest, there are so many little clubs in tokyo that you just wander across in maruyamachou, nishi-azabu and roppongi. stay away from gas panic and any clubs frequented by lot's of foreigners, and you should be able to find a decent time. even if the music is a bit out there the experinece is always eye-opening.
there was this crazy after-hours trance club i went to near roppongi, but i can't remember the name or the place. sorry! it was just one of those places that they don't advertise, but everyone knows to go to. empty at 7am, but full and absolutley rockin by 10am when all the hostesses, djs and hospitality peoples get off work. i even heard heaven scent being dropped there one night it was amazing.:D that's the kind of place you wanna be... 8)
all this is bringing back such mad memories, some i know are there but can't quite remember! i can't wait to get back there in july! well have fun mate! :wink: