Review: Check out Popscene for a wicked night out
By Dominick Delgadillo STAFF WRITER
Popscene is located at 330 Ritch Street, just a few blocks from AT&T Park. It’s an all-ages club with good music, occasional live shows and shockingly decent acoustics.
Having just come back from Las Vegas, I took comfort in the smoke-free room with “Respect” by Aretha Franklin blasting from the speakers. It was like the city giving me a big welcome-home hug. While I was half expecting “It’s Raining Men” by the Weather Girls to follow, I was quite surprised and pleased to hear a Franz Ferdinand song next.
On Sept. 11 I had the pleasure of seeing War Tapes perform at the venue. This group from Los Angeles certainly kept the audience enthralled. Everyone on the dance floor was so busy trying to crowd the stage and enjoying the music, they forgot to dance. Not like a joke that was so funny you forgot to laugh, but more like when a magician has left you pondering how on earth he pulled off an amazing illusion, and you forget to clap.
The club definitely caters to college kids who just want to get out for the evening. The music and age limit is set to accommodate the often neglected underage crowd who can’t go to the 21 and over clubs, simply because the clubs are too terrified about legal action if one or two underage drinkers are caught at the venue.
Popscene does, however, charge a slightly higher cover for these new legals. It’s forgivable when you take into account the money they won’t be spending on the moderately priced drinks. Popscene also sells various snacks, ranging from french fries to cupcakes.
The three typical reasons for going to a club all apply here: You can drink, dance, or just hang out and listen to a beautiful blend of popular music. If you get tired and just need a strange form of visual entertainment, check out the projection in the next room.
I had a good deal of fun throughout the night and would recommend this club to anyone who is sick of those large yet still overcrowded clubs of downtown and who just wants to enjoy a weekend night out.
