REPUBLIK 259 Richmond West 416-598-1632 Rating: NNNNN
VIBE This brand new big club in the heart of the entertainment district features Friday CFNY broadcasts of alternative rock. Saturdays have more of a post-rave vibe, with trance, progressive and tribal DJs in the main room and urban in the side room. The crowds are typical for the big-club scene – lots of skin and makeup on the girls, hair gel and dress shirts on the guys.
SOUND AND LIGHTS This is a showcase for a sound and lighting company, which guarantees that sensory overload feeling. Most surfaces change colour and glow, the main lighting system descends from the ceiling, and multi-coloured lasers shoot everywhere. The sound is loud and bassy, but not as tight and punchy as it could be.
DECOR Remember Tron? That appears to be the inspiration for most of the decor choices here. Not much seating except in the upstairs lounges.
LINEUP Come early if you don’t want to wait. This is the new hot club of the moment, so there will be long queues for at least the next six months. Even the VIP guest list line is chaotic, but if you’re actually on the list you should be able to squeeze by the crowd of people pretending to be.