After a little f*ck up on the Metro system on my way to Club Expo for this opening night, I finally made it there a little before midnight. (and yes, I am not all that familiar with the DC Metro after having been gone for over 10 years, and yes I got on the wrong fucking train to Vienna ... Virginia, that is, and zoned out ... and yes even though I could have driven, I preferred the public transportation to see how accessible things are, and of course I wanted to have a beer or two or three...) So, with head steaming, and little butt aching from all that sitting, I walked on in and submerged myself into a whirlwind of industrial-fueled sonic assault.
Self-described as DC's haven for public gatherings of industrial music enthusiasts; Submerge have demonstrated just that on this opening night. There must have been 40 to 50 attendees there (including the smokers and hanger outs in front of the club). I must admit that I did not recognize most of the tracks played during the two hours that I was there. I must be getting really f@#kng old. I was hoping to hear Skinny Puppy, Das Ich (the 1st album), Throbbing Gristle and such (old school and to some boring, I know) but I guess I missed them or maybe such type of experimental-industrial music isn't dancefloor-friendly enough as the ones played at Submerge tonight during the 2 hours that I was there. This new wave of industrial music is lost to me but I have always preferred Einsturzende Neubauten than Front 242 and the like any way... In any event, there were quite a many energetic dancers on the floor, twisting and banging the cool night away to this darkcore techno (sorry those who care, I am really bad at labels and such...) that somehow zombified me into a wonderful state of blissful sonic saturation while the visual input was transfixed at the cathode screen (or is it plasma???), showing some kind of blood and machines splatter punk movie. In short, the soundsystem is great and the music are good dancefloor stompers. In all, for me it's the atmosphere that cuts it!
'nuff said. It's worth a stop, stay and spend if you haven't already. The bartender (or maybe he's the owner too) is friendly too, for you who prefer to kick back. For directions and links, check out the DC links in the sidebar under the category "FREE ELECTRONS COLLECTIVE".
