By Matt Beat, Jayplaywriter
10:21 p.m.
TEARS FOR FEARS GENTLY INFORM ME that everybody wants to rule the world as I walk through the doors of the Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire. About 75 people are already in the bar a place traditionally
bar, a place traditionally known for catering to indie-rock, funk, metal and punk bands. Some thirtysomethings are shooting pool to my right. Everyone is calm and quiet, relaxing now
I SEE A LOT OF INTIMACY. WE PICK UP A LOT OF CONDOMS, AND THANKFULLY MOST OF THEM ARE NEW. — MATT, DOOR GUY AT THE BOTTLENECK
quiet, relaxing because they know things will get crazy later. The door guys, Alex and Matt, politely greet me as I walk in. I decide to hang out by the front for awhile and chat with them before it gets too busy. Both have been working Neon since last December when it moved to the Bottleneck after La Tasca, now the Jackpot Saloon, closed its doors. Matt says he sees all types come to the '80s dance party known as Neon — hipsters, preppies, skaters, punks, sorority girls, goths — all mostly college students. Alex says he sees a lot of the same faces, but every week a different crowd will show up. He says more minors have been coming since new school year began. "A lot of the female minors will dress up in full '80s costume," Alex says.
"Excuse me, $3 please!" Alex suddenly yells at a younger guy trying to sneak in. I ask them what their most memorable moment working at Neon has been. Alex says when a girl flashed him her breasts in order to get in for free. Matt ponders the question for about five minutes, then quietly says "I see a lot of intimacy. We pick up a lot of condoms, and thankfully most of them are new"
10:45 p.m.
10:45 p.m.
I enter a completely different Bottleneck than what I'm used to. It's almost as if the venue starred in the TV show Extreme Makeover. Fluorescent lights dimly light up the dance floor, where a few people are already dancing to Edie Brickell's "What I
Am." Surrounded by his buddies, one guy waves a joystick in the air as he celebrates beating a level on Pac-Man, the classic video game shown on a movie screen sitting on what used to be a stage.
Stringed gold lights and black lights barely light up the tables where about 30 people are chatting over cheap alcoholic beverages."Watch out for the Miller High Life draws," Nick St. Peter, Andover senior, says."They may be cheap but if you drink too many of them you'll be tasting them tomorrow."
them tomorrow.
While about half the people in the bar, including myself, is wearing the normal night-life attire, as I walk around I see a girl wearing a skeleton T-shirt, one guy with 3-D glasses and another sporting a Goonies tee. Almost every female is wearing a skirt or dress and knee-high socks.
11:04 p.m.
I meet up with Edwin Morales, who is known as Konsept when he DJs here. He takes me up to meet Cruz, the other regular DJ at Neon, who is now playing George Michael. I then meet Alison Olewnick, who, along with Morales, started Neon, as well as Project Groove, a hip-hop oriented dance party at the Bottleneck on Fridays. Earlier that day Morales tells me that Neon is not your typical retro night. In addition to plenty of classic and underground '80s tunes, Konsept and Cruz will play anything from new hip hop to dance rock from
bands like the Rapture. Morales loves the Neon crowd. "We're like a big family," he says. Morales says one night a drunk girl got mad when he didn't have a Britney Spears song and poured her drink on his records. The crowd immediately stood up for Morales, taunting the girl and eventually forcing her to leave.
11:32 p.m.
Sweaty dancers now pack the dance floor like teenage girls at a Good Charlotte
concert. I meet up with friends and sit down. Karl Geiger, Washington, D.C. senior, tells me he has only one complaint about Neon; every time he requests "Come On Eileen" they say they don't have it. Konsept plays "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" by the Police, and a casually-dressed man with rimmed-glasses raises his fist and shouts "This song rocks! I'm an old man!" Nicholas Cage is now on stage. On the movie screen, of course, in the 1983 film Valley Girl.
12:40 a.m.
After sitting around for
More than 200 people danced through the night last Thursday at Neon.
After sitting around an hour, I decide to walk around and mingle. Jessica Turner, Lawrence resident, has been coming to Neon since its creation. She tells me one of her most enjoyable moments was crowd surfing. Patrick Casteel, Prairie Village graduate student, tells me Neon is the best party to dance at in Lawrence, and the only place where you can go crazy. Nikki Perry, St. Louis senior, regularly comes to Neon for the great
atmosphere. "Everyone actually dances here- they don't just grind," Perry says. Soon the dance floor calls my name. I attempt to do some dancing on my own, and because I'm sober this isn't an easy feat. I meet up with Geiger, who jumps up and down when "Come on Eileen" bounces out the speakers. I tell him he has nothing to complain about now.
.
1:07 a.m.
I look up and people are now dancing
people are now dancing everywhere in the Bottle-neck- even back by the pool tables. "Eight-six-seven-five-three-Onieinel!" everyone sings in unison. A little later Morales interrupts New Order to make an announcement. "I'd like to wish my girlfriend, Alison, a happy 25th birthday!" Olewnick hides from view as the entire congregation cheers.
1:33 a.m.
I'm in the bathroom when everything goes dark. Making my way out into the confused crowd, I watch as Morales attempts to quiet everyone. He says some people
were causing trouble and security had to kick them out, but after they left they somehow disconnected the power. Morales thanks the crowd for coming but asks them to leave. The audience moans and groans, but heads toward the exits in an orderly and respectful manner. I'm one of the last out the door, and as I exit, I notice everyone is still hanging out outside. They seem ready for next Thursday,
10.7.04 Jayplay