“It is most likely an excellent factor you are carrying a masks,” Man Godefroy tells me as we stroll by the primary room of the formidable new Capitol Hill nightclub, VICE Seattle, which is saturated with development mud. 4 days earlier than VICE’s July 19 purple carpet grand opening, employees are furiously grinding, sawing, drilling, and hammering. Consequently, we needed to conduct the interview in a distant, concrete-walled stairwell.
As the corporate’s basic supervisor, Godefroy brings greater than 20 years of Seattle-area nightlife expertise as a DJ, booker, and administrator to VICE. We chuckle after recalling that I interviewed him for The Stranger 19 years in the past—proper earlier than the Pioneer Sq. megaclub Trinity opened; Godefroy was GM there, too.
VICE proprietor Noah Garoutte—who additionally works as managing associate at Bellevue’s Discussion board Social Home—selected the 500-capacity venue’s location at 1532 Minor Avenue, within the basement of the Melrose Market, between Nonetheless Liquor and the brand new Voodoo Donuts. As soon as upon a time it was referred to as Melrose Bunker and was the positioning of a killer 2012 Decibel Competition showcase that includes artists from Germany’s Raster-Noton label.
The music that VICE will champion will not sound just like the glitched-out, summary techno of that evening. Somewhat, they plan to cater to a principally twenty-something crowd in search of the form of flash-bang, escapist digital music that additionally animates different Capitol Hill spots, similar to Q Nightclub and Rhino Room.
Towards that finish, VICE, which is able to initially function solely on Fridays and Saturdays, tapped White Rabbit Group to e-book and promote Fridays. Godefroy says, “They have been doing reveals round city for the previous couple of years. The largest [events] they’ve completed currently have been these hangar reveals on the Magnuson Park Hangar. They simply did Bear Grillz, and so they have SIDEPIECE developing.”
White Rabbit Group’s CEO, who goes by Mr. Rabbit, has excessive hopes for VICE. “Thursdays at Trinity are for Bass, SoundWavs on the Hiyu enjoys plenty of home, Hangar30 and our live performance venues have a variety of sounds, however Friday nights at VICE… that is the social gathering within the metropolis, the go-to spot for celebrations of all types, from simply payday to birthdays, and we’re reserving to replicate that,” he stated.
“The genres will vary inside a predominantly EDM choice,” he continued, “But it surely’s all the time going to be upbeat, danceable, and a soundtrack to have a good time to, whereas upholding WRG’s excessive normal for artists. When reserving expertise for the room, we used a rule of thumb: ‘If a confetti and cryo blast would match the set, e-book it for VICE.'”
Although Godefroy has extra salt than pepper in his beard, he vigilantly retains up with musical/nightlife tendencies favored by younger clubbers. One among his many tasks for VICE is curating Saturday nights. His showcase can be referred to as Shake, and it kicks off on July 20 with über-skillful former Seattle DJ 4 Coloration Zack headlining.
Godefroy envisions Shake as “form of a Vegas-style open format, making an attempt to suit into that slot with a few of these stylish, West Coast open-format events like R&B and RIBS or Cuffing Season. The [Shake] resident DJs [Berry, Wavy, Nami, and Yo! Adrian] have been getting plenty of play on Capitol Hill. They’re taking part in at Comet, Q, Rhino Room. They had been taking part in at The Woods earlier than it went away. They’re proficient DJs, and so they’re in contact with present common music that the youngsters like. I have been drilling them on taking part in a real open format, the place they will be taking part in the hits, but in addition home, bass music, and bootlegs and remixes.”
Whereas VICE’s purpose is for the music to enchantment to a youthful crowd, individuals 30 and older are greater than welcome to attend, particularly in the event that they take pleasure in, as Godefroy places it, “vivid lights and loud audio system” in a “crowded, chaotic, enjoyable, and messy” atmosphere.
On the docket thus far are Breathe Carolina (July 26), Imanbek (July 27), LA’s Bella Fiasco headlining Godefroy’s annual seaside social gathering (August 10), and the Daft Punk tribute, One Extra Time (August 16).
An extended-range plan of Garoutte’s contains including Thursday evening comedy reveals, with a tentative launch date in September. “We’ll be working with some proficient native comedians within the scene, but in addition reserving some touring expertise, among the comedy-club tour stuff that hasn’t discovered a house,” Godefroy says.
As for non-musical facilities, attendees can reserve personal seating for particular service. VIPs can safe couches and order drinks from there as an alternative of on the bar. And Godefroy guarantees a spectacular visible present that may sync with the music. “Behind the stage the place the DJ sales space is, there is a full LED wall. Additionally, your entire ceiling has been constructed out as an LED grid that is going to be paired with the wall and synced with the lights. It’ll be a very wild impact. It is just like what they constructed out at Hï nightclub in Ibiza. A fireball will hit the LED display after which explode out throughout the ceiling, from the entrance all the way in which to the again, over the viewers’s heads.”
VICE’s sound system will characteristic the extremely regarded Fulcrum Acoustic tops. “Now that we have put them in on the pc mannequin, the imaging of the room is insane. We unfold the audio system all through the room after which we modeled them with a pink noise generator. So, the sound should not be too loud wherever within the room, however it should not be too quiet, both. And the entire place is designed for no reverb, no crashing waves, no echoes, no sound distortion.”
He continued, “All of the audio system are designed and constructed to work collectively. They’ve their very own customized processing unit. We now have these hand-built subwoofers. That is going to be a fantastic-sounding sound system, irrespective of the place you might be within the room. It most likely will not offer you ear fatigue, due to the steadiness.”
After working at Bellevue’s Fortunate Strike in recent times, Godefroy sees a stark distinction between that suburb’s and Seattle’s nightlife scenes. “The cities have totally different personalities. Bellevue Sq. and Lincoln Sq. are a tremendous operation that Kemper [Freeman] is working very professionally. But it surely’s a bit of sterile in comparison with Seattle. It appears like the humanities are extra alive in Seattle, issues are a bit of extra broad open. Stuff’s older, stuff has extra character.”
Does Godefroy suppose Seattle crowds have extra of an urge for food for extra non-mainstream music? “Sure. I imply, there are positives and negatives about working in a mall. The parking was nice. However each place goes to draw a distinct viewers. I believe the individuals [in Bellevue] wished one thing that was extra mainstream and dependable. Whereas [in Seattle], they’re like, let’s get bizarre.”
Godefroy’s lengthy historical past within the space’s music scene hasn’t jaded him about its present state. He admits that the town has had some superb runs, however individuals are inclined to overly romanticize the previous, particularly the farther again in time you go.
“Lots of people take without any consideration how good issues are proper now. Capitol Hill is vibrant. There’s plenty of foot site visitors and there is a lot to do. Capitol Hill on a Saturday evening is loopy. I counted 9 hotdog carts between Broadway and twelfth [Avenue] on Saturday evening. I believe that’s an all-time document for hotdog carts in any nightlife neighborhood in Seattle historical past.”
That is a severe indicator of nightlife well being, is not it? “Yeah. The hotdog cart meter is underrated.”
