[Gothic BC] In Praise of Haunted at the Narrow Lounge

Last Tuesday I finally had a chance to check out Haunted at the Narrow Lounge at 3rd and Main - and I'm sorry I waited so long!

Haunted with Michael Venus of Club 560 fame is billed as "Goth for grown-ups" and this grown-up goth felt right at home. My wife, the inimitable "Valerian" of Art of Adornment (pictured, right) had a friend visiting from New Zealand and we saw it as the perfect opportunity to check out the Narrow Lounge.

First you have to find the place. It is tucked away on East 3rd Avenue, just off Main Street, on the east side of the street, across 3rd from Craftman Collision. All there is on the outside to betray that the place is there at all is a rusty metal sign with the barely noticeable word "Narrow" painted on it, partially obscured by graffiti and a small tree. Beside this is what looks like a fire escape door at the end of short recessed hall, illuminated by a single red light bulb. Outside by the rusty sign which also sport a Banksy-like stencil a small cloud of black-clad smokers stood by, which provided us with the most readily noticeable sign that we were indeed in the right place.

Behind the metal door under the red light at the end of the hall was a real treat. The Narrow Lounge is aptly named. Inside there is a long counter and half a dozen small tables up against the walls. With maybe thirty or forty people in the room, the place was packed and getting a place to sit took a little patience. Before even making it inside I had already run into a couple of people I knew from the club, but it was pleasantly surprising to see a lot of new faces as well. Being in the same neighbourhood as several artists' live-work buildings there were a lot of artsy types and hipsters present.

The d?cor was exactly as their website described, "Dark & Moody but still with a sense of fun." The service was friendly and no empty glass languished for long. There was a great buzz of energy in the room and the volume was such that I could carry on a conversation despite my 20 years of nightclub ear-damage with only the occasional "What?" The music was absolutely outstanding: Siouxsie, Cure, OMD, Nick Cave, Bauhaus, Echo and the Bunnymen, and pretty much a constant stream of Old-School GOTH to melt the crustiest old Bat-Caver's clot of coal for a heart.

Without a doubt, I'll be back.

[ Reposted from my blog on Gothic BC #GothicBC ]