The Rev, Lush and Therapy know how to rock

BEHIND THE BAR Series: Club Review

Publication title: Edmonton Journal
Pages: C4
Section: Entertainment
Publication date: May 29, 1998
ProQuest document ID: 252511759
Copyright: Copyright Southam Publications Inc. May 29, 1998
Author: Shawn Ohler, Journal Music Writer


Besides their refreshing music-first attitude and collective counterculture rep, the abundant charm of The Rev, Lush and Therapy can be attributed thusly: heritage buildings rock.

Step inside any of the three separate clubs and you're immediately sheltered from the chilly and sterile, late-'60s Eastern Bloc vibe that otherwise dominates our downtown core.

Bugging at the proliferation of FOR LEASE signs that line Jasper Avenue? Concrete bunkers and middling highrises got you down? A cold one deep in the darkest, draped-and-couched corners of Lush while a vintage James Brown track spins is a sure restorative for the soul.

Lush, which sits in the back and bottom of the old Citadel Theatre building, has been a blessing to the local scene since it opened two years ago on Valentine's Day.

Don't be put off by the creepy alley leading off the sidewalk into the club -- it's safe as restaurant food and worth the walk. Simply put, Lush is a great space, with two dance floors, three levels and numerous degrees of atmosphere, from total chill to near- rave.

Punk, retro, Beasties-style hip-hop and Brit-pop (a throwback to the space's Anglophile roots as The Bronx) dominate the top level. Pool tables and beer-fuelled conversation grace the middle part while funk, soul and electronica rule the downstairs room.

Sound hip? It is.

If live music's more your deal, The Rev next door is a bit of a barn, but in a good way: open spaces and numerous steps ensure great sound and sightlines for gigs.

An enormous poster of Bruce Lee here, a skater-ish neon sign there, exposed brick all 'round, and you've got, for my money, one of the top five college-rock rooms in the land.

The Rev doesn't book as many live gigs as it used to, though its June lineup may suggest a return to form. Hayden, Swervedriver, The Rascalz and The Inbreds are all slotted to play next month.

Next door to it lies Therapy, the recently opened afterhours club designed to give the post-Lush/Rev crowd somewhere to dance while they await sun-up.

Some work needs to be done with Therapy -- not necessarily with the room but with the word.

Much more comfortable and less dingy than your average afterhours spot (remember the black walls and matching attitude at The Dance Factory?), Therapy has loads of potential.

Booming sound system, street-smart DJs, solid security, yet another pleasing space: the tools are all in place.

Unfortunately, recent sparse crowds might indicate that people don't really know Therapy's there.

Consider yourselves told.

BEHIND THE BAR

The Rev/Lush/Therapy

10030 102nd St.
424-2745
* In two words or less: Edmonton's hippest
* On the turntable: upstairs at Lush -- Blur's Song 2; downstairs -- old-school funk
* Suitable pick-up line: "No, I didn't ask you to dance. I said you look phat in those pants."
* Bathrooms: Alternately serviceable and revolting, depending on the stall.
* Bathroom graffiti: "Q: Who the hell is Chixdiggit? A: Just a little old Bryan Adams band from Calgary."
* The crowd: Young. Attractive. Dye-jobs. The odd piercing. Friendlier than you've heard.
* Cover; booze: Varies on the band at The Rev, $4 at Lush, $5 at Therapy; domestic beer is $3.25

Illustration
Rick MacWilliam, The Journal/ Music fans enjoy themselves on the dance floor at Lush/ 980527.MAC ;