Describe your club in five words or less.
As my mate Tyson would say: “Turbo-rad.”
What makes Madhouse different from the other metal clubs out there?
Our dedication to a truer brand of metal, and our support of the local live music scene. Many metal/alternative nightclubs go for the safe choices and the same old bands. We play a broader variety of heavy metal styles, and are the only metal club that regularly plays music by local talent. Also, we often cross-promote with local gigs to ensure punters can see and support local bands and then get cheaper entry to Madhouse later in the night.
What do you hate about the music industry?
The closemindedness that keeps metal from airwaves and the public eye. Classic example, in the ’90s I could turn on Triple M at any time of the day and hear Metallica, AC/DC, Megadeth. Now they relegate metal to a one-hour timeslot on Saturday nights. Australia needs another dedicated hard rock and heavy metal radio station. And if they need a DJ, I know somebody.
What can a punter expect from your DJ sets?
Madhouse caters for varied tastes, with traditional metal, power/progressive, doom, thrash, death, black metal, and more. We all mix it up, but everyone has their leanings… with DJ Julz you will hear more doom and black metal, with DJ Evil Maiden you’ll hear more symphonic and power metal. I tend to play a lot of death and thrash metal. Always good to get a mosh going!
What about giveaways and incentives?
Aside from the usual drink cards, thanks to our affiliation with top promoters and record labels, we give away double passes to concerts and festivals, new release and promo CDs, rare vinyl, metal books and tour posters. This week we’ll be giving away double passes to the Nightwish/Sabaton gig in January as well as Nightwish and Black Majesty CDs, it’s all about timing – and headbanging.
When are you doing your thing next?
This Friday August 24 from 10pm ’til midnight for our Black Majesty Stargazer release party, and next Friday August 3t from midnight ’til late for our thrash metal special, A Good Thrashing. Anybody with a love of thrash and crossover should get to Decca Bar for that! Then I’ll be back in the booth a few weeks later for some very special afterparties.
