by Florine Bertucci on SKIP THE BULLSHIT AND WATCH THE VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com... or read on! Yeah, it's a fucking cockfest...yeah it can get as packed Liberace's asshole (think rave status)...yeah, there are a significant amount of guidos...and yeah, it can be kind of dirty...but when it all boils down to it--Avalon Hollywood is the new PREMIERE spot for EDM artists to showcase their sounds in Los Angeles. Many rateclubsers have discounted this place because they aren't fans of edm. Your review doesn't mean jack to me if you discount this place because you don't like this type of music. Only dumbasses come here not knowing what genre they're going to be playing! Voted #40 in DJMags top 100 edm clubs of 2009, Avalon recently blew up when promotion company, Giant, moved their Saturday house party from Vanguard to Avalon's Avaland (21+) for 2010. Avalon also maintains their Friday night event, CONTROL (18+), which is less crowded and usually more electro than its Saturday baby brother. Like any good house party, these events go until 4am, with an afterparty lasting til at least 7am. If you're feeling going on a raging marathon of hedonism, look no further! The most recent acts I've seen here are Etienne de Crecy, Steve Angello & the Swedish House Mafia, and M.A.N.D.Y. to name a few. I've already bought tickets for Gui Boratto in April, and Sasha spun at Avaland last weekend. Get here early for big name DJs if you don't wanna wait in line. Big names usually don't come on untila t least midnight, but get there after 1am and you're probably not getting in. GL also closes at 11. I'd recommend buying tickets online if you don't have a hookup--you can get em on http://www.wanttickets.... If you buy in advance, you can get tix for certain artists as low at $10, but at the door it can be as much as $50. Parking across the street says $20, but you can bargain with them. If you mosey on down a little further you'll find parking lots for the Pantages theater that go for around $10. The venue itself is alright. There are three music rooms, two smoking areas, and an upstairs balcony as well, which offers tables on Saturdays at Avaland, but is first come first serve, comfortable seating for the etards at Friday's Control. Drinks are average priced--$10 with water running $5 for bottled. The best thing about the venue is their legendary sound system--the venue's rectangular shape is precise for fistpumpn' acoustics too--very level, very spacious giving it that big room, dancehall sound. The dancefloor is big, but gets packed. If you wanna get backstage, get to know the promoters--they have access to the vip section in the back, and its not uncommon for them to hook up backstage wristbands, provided that you're a hot chick ;-) Personally, I still think Vanguard's vibe was a classier, more seasoned crowd, but hey I'll go wherever the artists are! For a list of whose playing this week: http://avalonhollywood... Sign up for their newsletter: http://www.wantickets....
