Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Rock rolls back into town
CAPE Town will soon have a new home for classic rock ’n’ roll. Underworld will open its doors on Friday, providing a playlist that covers almost-forgotten rock music.
The club is owned by Shayne Leith, who operates Decodance, a hen party favourite in Sea Point.
From the black and white chequered dancefloor to the retro seats, lighting, decor and vinyl, Underworld spells out alternative retro.
The Good Weekend visited the club, which was still under construction this week, and met Leith, manager Jay “Detroit” Thomas and DJ Jon Monsoon.
Finishing touches were being put to the underground space, which is accessible via a flight of stairs at 34 Riebeek Street. The cavern is built on the site of a previous alternative music venue, Artie’s Playground.
The walls and beams are believed to be over 250 years old. Leith says the beams could be from a shipwreck.
“This place is about the music you forgot to remember,” he says.
“It’s about good dance-floor hits and emotion and has been 14 months in the making. I was not looking for a club, but this place went up for rent.”
Leith has been in the clubbing business for 44 years, covering the scene across South Beach in Durban, Joburg and the original Deco- dance at the Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock. Leith says Underworld replicates the Woodstock club, which was in an old grain silo.
Over the next few months, Leith will gradually fill the space with mementoes from his garage, collected over 44 years in the clubbing business. At the Sea Point Decodance, you will see framed photographs and mounted guitars.
Leith says Underworld’s look will be retro but alternative. For example, the team has been toying with how to install German World War II-era phones.
Manager Jay Thomas has managed clubs across mainland US, from Detroit to Las Vegas and Miami to Washington, DC.
He used to work at the Sea Point Decodance and has been roped in to manage Underworld.
“I have always been a rock boy. In the US, I played at cookie-cutters, Top 20 music clubs, but I am putting my blood, sweat and tears into this,” he says.
The club is particular about its admissions policy and who it is trying to attract. It will be open on Friday and Saturday nights, from 8pm until 2am, and no under-22s will be allowed.
Leith says: “I stay away from student clubs. There are no ‘two drinks for one’ specials here, the liquor is for socialising.
“We are a nightclub, not a pub. This is an environment for people to let their hair down. It is always about the music.”
Vinyl is a big part of Underworld. It will be using a custommade JBL sound system that will be able to play music at 10 000 watts, but at a volume of 90 decibels.
Monsoon says he has been deejaying since 1990 in Joburg and has been collecting vinyl for many years.
“In Joburg 25 years ago, there were punk rockers and skinheads. The police started closing clubs and confiscating records. We had to go overseas to get records, because many were not available here before 1994. I continued to collect vinyl,” says Monsoon.
● Underworld will be open on Friday and next Saturday. There will be free entry for a limited guest list until 10pm. SMS your name and guests to 076 581 74779. Thereafter, a door fee of R60 for men and R30 for women applies. Follow @decounder world on Twitter for for more info. wendyl.martin@inl.co.za Twitter: @WendylMartin