Discos, disco-pubs and clubs

First of all, I have to advise you about one particular characteristic of the gothic nighta in Rome: they are absolutely irregular, and often change venues (or die) more often than I can modify the site; so, I think it is important that you ask about them or look for fliers in a record shop before going there; the best place for information is Coemeterivm, but you can find fliers in Disfunzioni Musicali too.

Krypta Gothic Night - He couldn't be but the first: Diego Dionisio, probably the main Responsible for the rebirth (or should I say the survival?) of the gothic scene in Rome, has organized gothic nights, at first in the wonderful dungeons of an ancient palace in Trastevere; those chambers have not been available for a long time, and so Diego started to move around many different clubs, without a fixed abode. He actually has a regular night at The Jungle. He chooses among different kinds of music, from the first post punk to the hardest sounds of EBM, and actually shares his nights with several other DJ's. The price is 15000 Italian Lire, and the drink is included. Since last year, nearly every saturday there is a concert before disco. For any information: 333-7208694 or visit Diego's site.

Jungle Club - (Via Monte Testaccio, 95) This is the club where Diego is going to organize his Krypta Night this winter. It is quite a fine club, go and see it by yourself!

Kaos disco-pub - (Vicolo del Leopardo 31-33, in Trastevere) In this venue, that many years ago hosted Krypta, Lucien and Luna from Coemeterivm organize Aplha omega gothic night on saturday. The venue is little but interesting, and has a great air conditioning, so that is a great place for the hottest summer nights.

Full Moon - (Via Luigi Santini 13, in Trastevere) I have not been in this club yet, even if I would like to have a look at it as soon as possible. Anyway, each wednesday here i a gothic night called Embrace the dark. On thursday you can listen to Progressive rock, and on sunday to some metal.

Konfession - (Galleria d'arte de' serpenti, Via dei Serpenti 32) Another new night, each Thursday starting from 22:00 pm; the music, by DJ DK, is EBM, darkwave and electro-industrial, and should be accompained by horror sensual projections.

Melvin's pub - (Via del Politeama 8-8a, a Trastevere) Melvin's, which is a venue where many little roman groups have played live for years, has now a new gothic night, every wednesday, cured by DJ's Ade and Persefone.

Sonica (Ex Moon Club) - (Via Vacuna, 98 vicino alla Stazione Tiburtina) A nice venue, with the pub room and the disco downstairs. The Runes and Men association, dedicated to apocalyptic folk, industrial and esoteric music, on sundays sometimes organizes concerts here.

Il Vecchio Mattatoio / Blue Cheese- (Via Monte Testaccio, 26 / Via del Campo Boario, 60) This was basically an open air club, between ancient roman walls and the walls of the old slaughter-house. Recently they opened a new covered venue.

Velvet Club - This has been for a long time the most active club in the gothic scene; unfortunately, it has closed a couple of years ago...

Coetus Club - (Via dei Volsci 126, in S. Lorenzo, not far from Verano Cemetery) It has been working since two or three years ago, and it organizes concerts almost all nights, of different genres, mainly metal but sometimes gothic and new wave too. Anyway, the admissio is, in general, free or 5000 lire, and there is an initial subscription of 5000 lire too.

Black Out - (Via Saturnia, 18, not far from S. Giovanni) Historic rock and new wave disco in Rome, it sometimes welcomes interesting concerts (In The Nursery, Ozric Tentacles and many others have played here). Fridays are dedicated to rock, wave (mainly), gothic and industrial.

Circolo degli Artisti - (Via Casilina Antica,  not very far from S. Giovanni) I write something about this club for historic reasons: many years have passed since the last gothic night organized here, but in the first ‘90s Wednesdays were the only regular gothic nights in Rome. Many interesting gigs were played here in that period (Atatarxia, Lucie Cries, Trom, Legendary Pink Dots, Test Dept, Godflesh, Cop Shoot Cop…). Now they mainly organize revival and alternative disco.

Alpheus - (Via del Commercio 36, quite under the gazometro): This club has three different halls, usually used as disco; in one of these, Velvet organized gigs which were supposed to be too big for the Velvet Club. Recently, here I have seen gigs of Death In June, Clan Of Xymox, Shadow Project, Sepulchrum Mentis and Madre.

Skorie Industriali - (Via Premuda, 3a) In the beginning, Skorie Industriali (that means something like "Industrial slags") had to be the title of an industrial and cyberpunk fanzine, but it never started. But the name was to be used, so someone told: a pub! And a pub was made! It has been hard but worth doing it: the first (and only) cyberpunk pub in Rome was born in June 11th, 1999; recycled materials, Giger's and Bad Trip's works on the walls and some room for exhibitions related with cyber and industrial culture. They have good beers on drought at low prices, nice cocktails and shots (try Tetsuo!) and something to eat. visit them if you come to Rome, you will remember this pub!

Medioevo - (Vicolo della Scala, 11) In Trastevere, you can find this very little pub, whose entrance has an iron gate; illumination is only due to many candles, dozens of candles… The brick walls, the furniture (fragments of armors, skulls, iron cages, etc…) and the wonderful music you can hear (music of the middle ages or inspired by that period, such as Sopor Aeternus, Arcana and so on…) really give you the sensation to be in an ancient inn, lost in a timeless land. If you go to Trastevere (and you should do it, if you come to Rome!) and you love Middle Ages, don't forget to have a look at it. On 31st of october, the tables are full of pumpkins, and you will probably be served by witches and vampires. It has recently changed owner, and I don't know what kind of pub he wants it to be...

Avalon - (Via Terni, 25) Not far from San Giovanni in Laterano, another pub in the Middle Ages style; much less “spontaneous” than the former, it is fine anyway. The waiters wear dresses worthy of king Arthur's court. The music is not always in style, and the scent of fried food is a little bit too strong, but it is big enough and it is not hard to find some seats. They have some interesting curiosities, such as the beer served in a big horn, the “tube” with 2.5 litres of beer or strange beverages form Middle Ages traditions.

Hallo' Ween Pub - (Piazzale Tiburtino, 31) No far from Termini Rail Station, it has become a place where metal (mainly) and gothic addicted sometimes meet. The music is not bad, if you like metal, and the pub is pretty fine.

Dome Rock Café - (Via Domenico Fontana, 18) “Forthcoming Middle Ages” could be the real name of this pub: between Excalibur and Blade Runner, it is very fine (the elevated floor and the choir are great). The music is mainly wave and britpop, and in the week ends it is incredibly crowdy (just like the underground in the peak hours…)

Rock Castle - (Via Beatrice Cenci, 8) This pub, that someone I know, not understanding that this is its best characteristic, called “a mouldy cellar”, is inside the dungeons of a 16th century palace, in the centre of Rome: it is divided in narrow corridors and smoky rooms, that branch out from a central chamber where you can find the bar, and where someone dances, sometimes. Minimal furniture, plenty of halberds, rock and new wave music.

Bunny's Pub - (Via Ostiense 189, near S. Paolo) It is a little pub where you can listen to rock music, and, on tuesday, gothic and industrial music (dj's Lucien and Luna, the owners of Coemeterivm). They also make a game: two or three times during the night, they choose a song and the first who guesses the name of the group that is playing wins a pint of beer. It is closed during summer.

Transilvania - (Via Cardinale Merry Del Val, 13) Roman affiliate of a chain that was born in Rimini, this club has a strong vampiric style, with coffins instead of tables and obscure music. Around 11 o'clock there is a show whose main actor is a white python which, against his will (I think), can be handled by anyone who does not run away frightened. Sometimes there are little concerts followed by selection of music by Linea Gotica dj's. The call-boys are a little bit too often rude.

Kickack! - Each sunday on Radio Città Futura (97.7 MHz FM), 8 to 9:30 pm; mainly elettrogothic music, by DJ's Coresect and Stigmata.