My first experience with Club Axis was vicarious. I was out of the state (I think I was in La-La Land) when my friends Carla, Emily and Jess first visited the new Studio 54ish dance place.
When I asked them how it was, Emily rolled her eyes and said, with total disgust, "Ugh. Some guy who was old enough to be my father's contemporary tried to pour beer on me."It wasn't the best experience of her life.
Out of respect for Em, I vowed never ever never to visit Axis, even though the other girls simply raved about the place.
Then, in August, I decided I could hold out no longer, I had to go dancing -- and I wanted to go there (after all, it wasn't my head beneath that pint, and beer is actually really good for your hair . . . it supposedly rinses it well and makes it shiny and smooth).
Unfortunately, that was right about the time the club's roof got blown off by a big wind, and Axis temporarily shut down, so I couldn't go even if I had wanted to. Isn't that just typical? Just goes to show, you should never ever procrastinate!
However, after three months of rebuilding, therapy and closure, the club has reopened its doors to the public, and I finally have experienced the hoopla that is AXIS!!!!
It took me two tries, but I got in.
Saturday, Oct. 30, Utah's official Halloween, I parked myself in front of the door and waited in line, only to be told, "Yeah, the fire marshal is here and, well, we're over our maximum limit, so no one else can come in."
I must say that even the doorway of Axis is pretty impressive on a Saturday night; at least it was last Saturday. I could have written a column featuring just the entrance, with the fire-eaters on stilts, but I thought you all deserved more.
So, I went back on the 31st, and it was simply delightful.
Even though there weren't the fire-eaters on stilts or all the cool costumes, I still managed to dance the night away, and I was able to see Gene Loves Jezebel, Mike Peters and Mission U.K. . . . a really, really, really good show.
Yes, those bands you listened to in high school or junior high are still alive, and that's always a comfort.
Mike Peters did an acoustic performance, which was quite impressive. At one point, he tried to do some techno stuff, but his pre-recorded accompaniment failed him and he had to stick with his guitar. I liked that much better.
But I think the two guys dressed up as construction workers, who wouldn't keep their traps shut the entire first set, are what I remember the most.
Too bad Bill and Ted didn't get the clue that they were in a small room and that sound does carry over an acoustic guitar solo.
I'm surprised Mr. Peters didn't walk down from the stage and test the durability of those little yellow construction hats the guys were wearing.
Axis is everything the press kit said it would be . . . louder, hipper, brighter, cooler and funkier.
It is supposed to be the mother of all dance clubs in Salt Lake, with two dance floors, a state-of-the-art Cyberlight TechnoBeam light show, a videodrome lounge, showcase performance stage (which is where the concert was), a place for minors on the weekdays, theme nights, special shows on Fridays and, most importantly, valet parking. Oooooh. Ahhhhh.
The crowd is more diverse, the vinyl is more abundant and the people are absolutely fabulous.
But I think the reason for the club's success is that it's new.
See, our local night life is like a salad bar. At first we had lettuce, followed by some cucumbers and okra. Then Bricks, a dance club that added a much-needed spark to Salt Lake's scene a few years ago, brought in the sun-dried tomatoes. Now Axis has topped off the salad with hearts of palm.
That's why it is so popular.
Axis is not really that different from some other places, but if you're out on the town and you want something to go with your sun-dried tomatoes, nothing beats hearts of palm.
Maybe someday we'll get some feta.