Out of the Past, a Comfort Zone : In Hollywood, Vynyl dips into the ‘70s and comes up with a warm and fuzzy place for rocking out.
Had a quasi-interesting experience recently when I had to ask people about their feelings on the coming millennium. The universal sentiment was that we’re heading in a comfortable, organic direction. From food to fashion to music, the belief was that we’re moving away from the cold, “Matrix”-like idea that long has been the dominant image of the future.
If the trendsetters who developed such warm-and-fuzzy night spots as Three Clubs, Burgundy Room and North are still at the top of their game, then their newest venture, Vynyl, should be right on the money.
The new Hollywood nightclub, at the former site of Moguls, is as non-futuristic as possible. It’s a throwback to the ‘70s in form and structure. The name is drawn from the days of record players, shag rugs, and Paul McCartney and Wings 45s. The vibe is your uncle’s house in Tarzana. There are awnings on the inside, gold couches covered in clear plastic, ornate wallpaper and carpeting (!). The only things missing are your twin bed and a set of headphones.
Best of all, the club’s stage and sound are big and beefy, and its sight lines are great. Unless some tall bloke’s standing in front of you, there’s nothing to block your view of the stage.
Style aside, what do people in L.A. really want? They wanna rooooooooooock! Vynyl works because it has style, but it also knows that music is just as important.
Angelenos wanna hear good music, and they’ll put up with a lot of bull to do it. They’ll pay $20 to park at the Viper to see Hole; they’ll cut off the oxygen flow to their brains to see Jane’s Addiction at the Roxy; they’ll wait 45 minutes for valet parking to return their cars after seeing Mike Ness at the House of Blues.
What don’t people in L.A. want? I must, once again, draw on the case of the defunct Billboard Live. Before its owners even got the Sunset Strip club in order, they were branching out to other cities and plotting a cyber-network connecting each dinner table, so guests could communicate with those in other venues. The fantasy was that Joe Industry in L.A. can schmooze with Joey Industry in New York over a cyber-cocktail. No one bought it. Now, as the Key Club, the focus is on booking the music and patrons line up down the street.
Clubs are a simple equation, really, and Vynyl is embracing the future people crave, not creating the future people dread. Ultimately, comfort, warmth and good music always win the day.
In its four-week history, the spacious club’s offered a showcase for Paula Cole, a stage for Stone Temple Pilots, and appearances by Tori Amos and Alanis Morissette. Upcoming shows include Royal Trux and the Newlydeads, who are recording live there on Halloween night. And Vynyl is a full-time home for deejay and co-owner Chris Monaco, who spins at Spun, the club’s off-the-hook Saturday dance party.
We’ve always said this, but it’s good to be reminded periodically: Less is almost always more. Even in Hollywood. Vynyl not only found the right groove, it’s pretty darn groovy.
BE THERE
Vynyl, 1650 Schrader Blvd., Hollywood, (323) 465-7449. 21 and older. Cover varies.
