New Trip to New Haven (originally posted 12.12.05)

I have driven by, around and through New Haven, CT for years on my way to New York City. But it wasn’t until 3 years ago that I actually pulled offer Rt 91 and ventured downtown. A friend I had made through my extensive networking at conventions and online, DJ Bill Weaver invited me to come down to Toads Place and play with him on a Saturday Night. That night I met Rob LaFrance, a young jock from New Haven that was also working at Toads.

Since that time, Rob and I have remained friends, attended several DJ Times Expos in Atlantic City, hung out at RISE and Avalon in Boston and down at WMC in Miami and generally become good friends. I was pleased when Rob asked me to come down to his club in New Haven and play a guest set, and was looking forward to exploring the city yet again.

We drove down and checked into the stately, New Haven Hotel. The oldest hotel in the city, it was well maintained and had a lot of character. The room was big, the lobby had an interesting lounge and restaurant and it was very centrally located.

We got picked up by Rob and headed to Bar for some famous New Haven pizza. While not as known (or as good) as some of the other legendary spots, the pizza at Bar was solid and the atmosphere was relaxed and easy going. I met Nate, one of the other residents at Alchemy and we enjoyed a quick bite.

After that, Rob and Nate went to the club to set up and get things started, and my boy Cooch and I headed to an Irish Pub (which shall remain unnamed) down the street. We sat at the bar, ordered a couple of pints and began what would prove to be a very strange 30 minutes. There was ZERO atmosphere and with the flat screen TVs showing figure skating and a made for TV movie, the distractions were few and far between as well. We watched as the bartender spilled a glass into the rubber mat on the bar. We then watched him proceed to take the mat, pour it back in the glass, put the liquid on ice and then serve it to someone at the end of the bar.

Needless to say, that was our cue to pay our tab and exit. NEVER have I seen anything more disgusting…our night wasn’t starting on a good foot.

We left and made out way to the Nikita Martini Bar, which was 180 degrees in the other direction. Very hip, with cool décor and music, great drinks and a very friendly (and great looking) staff. Every waitress and bartender was HOT and they made the vibe upbeat and fun. We will definitely be back next time we are in town.

Alchemy is a big, old, somewhat beat up space that takes up the better part of a city block. They have reggae in one room, hip hop in another and then the lowly house lounge, upstairs. It was cold out, two weeks before Christmas and very slow.

Rob was on first, warming things up and we met the bartenders there…that took very good care of us…all of our drinks were on the house.I got on around 11:30 and started slow, with some tech house and minimal groovers. As I slowly built things up, people started getting more and more into it.

The harder I got (within reason), the more they danced. But since there were never more than 15 people on the floor, it was very easy to burn them out. I ended up playing a lot of my more accessible techno tracks, some remixes and a bit of classic house. It wasn’t a massively successful gig from a turnout standpoint, but the people that were there had fun and I have a couple of people that really ripped it up and gave back all the energy I gave out (thanks Gwen.)
We went back to Nate’s place for a laid back after-party and ended up back at the hotel by 5 or so.

I had a great time in New Haven. The people at Alchemy were really great. They put me up in a really nice room, got all my drinks and when it came time to square up at the end of the night, they were very easy to deal with and appreciative of my efforts. Unlike many promoters and club owners, they did what they said they would and were professional all the way.

I also want to say thanks again to Rob and Nate for your hospitality and hope to be back playing again in CT in the near future.