THE NIGHT STUFF
DJs bring down the house on Speakeasy nights

By Michael Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Gwen Isherwood, right, dances with Jered Branco at a recent Speakeasy night at the Living Room, a high-decibel house-music nightclub at Fisherman's Wharf. Photos by Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser

Tiffany Chang and Song Choi chat on a Saturday night at the club last month. The Living Room has been open only a few months.

Speakeasy Where: The Living Room (1009 Ala Moana) When: 10 p.m.-4 a.m. Saturdays Cover: $9 Minimum Age: 21 Age of crowd: 20s-30s What to wear: Casual at least, "groovy" preferred Queue: No Best seats: Sofas against the wall, midway between the bar and the dance floor for optimal sound and viewing. DJs: Archangel, Miklos, Dawn, Akio, Reid, Eugene, Haboh, Ms. Angel, Paul Shih, Fez, Keoni and others. Bathroom attendant holding paper towels hostage: No

Since it opened seven months ago, the Living Room has evolved into a reliable, few-frills venue for late-night lounging, well-poured drinks and, every Saturday, great house and downtempo music served up by a strong rotation of local and international DJs.

"Our goal is to present the best, most solid house music in Hawai'i," said Vince DiPietro, who teamed with fellow club vet Derek Cheung to open the Living Room in July. "There's no one else in Hawai'i that's doing this."

Impressive, right?

"Whatever!" screams 23-year-old Lisa Popper from the edge of the packed dance floor. "That's cool."

Popper admits she wouldn't know good house music from a good house red, but the Living Room is definitely scoring points with her as she hunts for beefcake in a wobbly market of 3 a.m. leftovers.

"They have the cutest guys here!" she said, rolling up a lavender lace sleeve. "I'm going to call this guy!"

Popper points to an upside-down phone number scrawled on the inside of her forearm in what looks to be particularly indelible Sharpie. (Wait by your phone, "Travis O.")

Still, while the owners' aim of building the best house for house may be lost on some of their patrons, a loyal core of regulars does seem to appreciate the talent that moves through the DJ station.

"The DJs they bring in, everyone is pretty dangerous," says Ray Uchida, who caught Behrouz here a few months ago and has been coming every Saturday since. "Not everyone is well known, but they all have skills."

Ramit Islam handles the promotions for Speakeasy. Most weeks feature local talent, but at least once a month, Islam brings in a big-name DJ like DJ Cascade from San Francisco or Mo Shic of Israel.

"We want to put Hawai'i on the global map," Islam says.

Set on the second floor of Fisherman's Wharf on Ala Moana Boulevard, the Living Room is predictably short on design flourishes, but the bar is well stocked and the room itself is comfortable enough for those who prefer to sit and watch. A row of sofas lines the far wall, with large picture windows affording ample and thankfully odorless views of the surrounding ocean.

The club advises patrons to "dress groovy," but on this night only a few take heed. The balance look much like 24-year-old Todd Barone, whose jeans and unironed short-sleeve suggest off-the-rack American Eagle Outfitters.

"I don't know what groovy is over here," says Barone, recently arrived from Sioux City, Iowa, by way of San Diego. "But this is pretty groovy for Iowa."

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2461.

NIGHTSPOTTING ...

Love is in the air, and Pro Bowl players are in the clubs this weekend. A few places you might want to consider ...

PLAYERS' CLUBS

Terrell Owens hosts his own Philadelphia Eagles Pro Bowl pre- and after-parties at Maharaja Ultra-lounge tonight and Sunday from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Cheerleaders and players promised. At Waikiki Beach Marriott, second floor. Cincinnati Bengals' Willie Anderson and Chad Johnson, and Washington Redskins' Marcus Washington, meanwhile, will host their own Pro Bowl Pro Jam Party at Zanzabar tonight, also from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. At Waikiki Trade Center. Owens and other Pro Bowlers will be at Saturday night's Pipeline Cafe party featuring Camile Velasco. 10:30 p.m.

OF LOVE AND BONDAGE

Bust out the masks for thirtyninehotel's Valentine's Day Masquerade Ball. Couples get in at half the $7 cover; prizes will be given to the best dressed and masked. Gelareh and Mark spin the "left-field disco." From 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday. ... Masks might also be in order at The Dungeon's Pre-Valentines Party, tonight from 10 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. At Galaxy Nightclub, 1739 Kalakaua Ave. ... Dress as a famous romantic couple for Soullenz Gallery's A Valentine's Carnival. There'll be live latin jazz, salsa and samba from Adela Chu & Espiritu Libre, and a costume contest. Saturday, from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m., 186 N. King St.