Thursday, March 29, 2007

Home Under Renovation




On the 26th of March, Home will close its doors to the public to go under a new phase in the club’s ongoing evolution. The renovation will take place until the 12th of April, after which there will be a soft launch held at Beat! on Friday the 13th. I urge readers to envisage a new space focusing on practicality combined with integrity, true to the Home of old but perhaps best described as, closer to form.

Never to be complacent with what Home has already achieved, we look forward to expanding into further achieving the club’s intentions and incorporating design features that will set the club another step further apart from the rest of Singapore’s nightclubs and venues. Supporting the local community in the arts is a firm design brief that will be the backbone behind the intentions of utilizing the space to the best of it’s ability. Once design is complete Home endeavors to incorporate an even wider range of events, from galleries, exhibitions to providing theatre space to hold performances.

Those now working on the project have termed Home’s independent style as ‘rojak’; a vernacular coining that outlines Home’s current designs and interiors, which permeate into its multidisciplinary range of events. Rather than come up with a new look that clash with a system which already works, the concept is simply an extension of the old, making the space more flexible and conducive to what Home’s intentions are as a club for it’s own and the greater community. Taking inspiration from local everyday aesthetics, architects have used ideas from an assortment of Singapore’s own structural design. Ranging from bar concepts taken from the features of the islands own Mama shops, column treatments in the lower levels of HDB flats and screen concepts from common washing line designs, these are only a few of a variety of influences, both vague and specific, absorbed from our local vistas.

There is one detail pertaining specifically to the interiors that appealed to me as an observer. This is the use of hybrid furniture. This will be simply as the term suggests, reusing old furniture, repainting and then combining parts or the entire piece into something new. Not only is it incredibly practical but it also cements the notion of the venue as a communal space made for those who come to feel more at Home, to be part of something that is physically theirs. For someone not part of the design process this became an insight into how exactly this concept was being put into practice.

Much time, thought and deliberation have gone into preconceiving the new space with a final desire to increase its visual personality and add functionality to the design. The prospected changes for Home will rejuvenate its unique spirit. The intention is to not only retain the Home that we have all come to love but to empower the individual as a part of its identity.

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Bug Infested Home!


Deep thanks go out to both Kinemat and Motored who, without their help, this incredible event would not have been possible. Mad props to reliable organizers and those who made it feasible for this event to have both cause and meaning. We couldn't have done it without you.



A gathering of truly beautiful people came together at Home with an assortment of decorations that give an insight to the little bits of effort and affection that we continue to strive for as a venue. The club emanated a red warmth. Home was adorned with a number of different ornaments all with their own tag line and purpose.

In the words as they were for those who weren't present:

"SOA(RED)

The RED campaign is a worldwide movement, and it’ll need everyone’s help to keep flying high.
Write down your blessings for the RED campaign, and let your RED planes fly!


SCO(RED)
Help Red reach out to more people. Aim to put Red into the hearts and minds of the world.
Use these projectiles and see if you can hit the heart-boards in the club.

SCA(RED)
…Of the Sock? Don’t be. AIDS prevention is everyone’s responsibility. Use protection.
Take a Sock and hang it up in the club.

(RED)UCE
AIDS and HIV awareness helps to prevent the increase of HIV infections. Help RED remind and warn people about AIDS, so we will one day be able to hang it up forever.
Take these HIV balls, and hang them up in the club.


ADO(RED)

AIDS affects children worldwide. Of the 2.9 million people who died of AIDS during 2006, over one in ten were children. Every hour, forty children die as a result of AIDS. Help RED educate about HIV and save the future.

Take a Baby T-Shirt and Hang it up in the club."

loopinmotion started off the night with some deep, funky house getting people in the mood and on the floor. Next up were some proper old schoolers, both Nic Tan and Don played back to back a selection of all things jazzy and percussive. Soul seeped in as a techno attitude to beat matching and juggling, kept steppers stepping until the bugz made their arrival.




The Bugz started at quarter to one with some latin-esque flavoured tunes that increased population of the floor to a sweating hum-drum of dancing pulsating forms. From latin house, to broken beat, to garage and all things with uplifting funk and ridiculous bass, their sound draws on others but keeps character that is unique and absolutely dancalicious. All of the Bugz stayed in their attic going on rotation with the sweet chocolate females voices singing along live, adding that wondrous touch of soul and depth. Two of the guys emcee'd a distinctly London garage sound, always keeping everyone involved drawing the crowd in with their moves and smiles. This was positive vibes.


What an end to an era, a truly warm and beautiful last party of the Home you once knew. Things are to change but please do not fret, the spirit will always stay the same, Home will be returning to yours truly on the 12th, we invite you to celebrate with us on that day itself as we take another step into our continuing evolution.

Monday, March 26, 2007

Beat Live 23/3/2007 Reviewed


Beat Live last week saw two of my favourite acts that have previously performed here at Home Club. Bare with me on this one if it seems long winded but both Jamie Michael and Muon are two extremely talented acts whom I can't help but go on about.

Playing once again a selection of both covers and originals, Jamie Michael provided a heart warming opening set to an evening of diversity and great live music. His covers become instantly his, despite being smash hits for the likes of Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson. He owns these songs sealing them with a flavour that is simply his. Both sweet and playful like mid albums of Elliot Smith, XO is the album that probably springs most to mind in comparison. Juxtaposing this with a raspy vocal at times and razor sharp wit he is a solo gem in a not so big handful of individual singer/songwriters who are utterly original yet completely accessible. If you didn't catch him you missed out, he enjoyed his gin and tonics and I certainly enjoyed his music.

And now for the headliners, MUON. Capitals it has to be this duo now turned trio never cease to astound who manages to catch them live. Forward thinking in terms of leaps and bounds as opposed to steps, this is a band I am confidant in saying should be globally recognized. Perhaps somewhat too obscure in ways for Singapore's small audience, they would strive in a scene with more tendencies to broken boundaries and the avant-garde.


Starting off with a classic entitled 'Against the Grain', I cement my belief that this group are prepared to take chances. They are organic yet meticulous, tight and powerful. Moody atmospheric soundscapes and deep melodies bordering on haunting and the sublime are only amplified by hypnotic electronic beats and static noises. The drummer's tightness only adds yet another level of 'oomph' to an already booming harmony of sound.


It wasn't up until 'Do Androids Dream of Electronic Sheep' that the new third member of the group made his debut. A brilliant addition of soft synth keys that both stabbed and hung in the atmosphere of sound. He added yet another element to the once colourful now rainbow audio palette created by this band. Full-on, progressive and uncompromising your perspective on Singapore's far reaching musical scene will only be broadened by an experience of Muon live.



Once again, Home provided a precursor to Beat, curated by both Home and Joe Ng, that continues to leave you lapping for more of our Singaporean talent. Uncut and without any saccharin influence, this was an experience in unadulterated live musical pleasure and ingenuity.

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Make Home Your Own!





As you should already know we are now going under renovation at the end of this month. There are a number of different ways in which your input could help improve HomeClub.


We are currently conceptualizing an exclusive Home Cocktail! If anyone has any secret concoctions you would like to share with us please email us at info@homeclub.com.sg. I'm sure there are those of you amateur bar tenders, or professionals for that matter that have hidden potent gems under your sleeves, so please come and share them with us and be part of something unique at Home. Who knows? Your drink could now be the new taste of our club. Let your imaginative taste buds wild, we're up for the zaniest mixtures of whatever you might think appeals to both your lips and liver!


Not only that but we are also in need of new interiors. For this reason we would like to ask our readers and our regulars: does anyone have some old furniture that they now want to get rid of? Anything will do the idea is to use an eclectic mix of pieces to create a personalized space. If you do please send an email with a photo of your piece of furniture, with a price, unless of course your kind enough to give it in gratuity.

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Bugz in the Attic come Home!!!



on the 24th of March, MOTORED and HOME PARTIES present to you the infamous Bugz In The Attic. It's an an afterhours party so keep your calendars crossed for this one, right now it's an only RSVP event but we're seeing what we can do so that yours truly can get on the list. If you haven't heard of these guys you have been out of the dance music loop for way too long. Check out details their bios and pictures on our website at www.homeclub.com.sg.

For tickets please register on www.livewired.com.sg see you sat.

Monday, March 12, 2007

C.U.T.


C.U.T. THAT RUBBISH N’ BULLSHIZZAZ!
(R’n’B for the uninitiated)

Date: 17th March 2007, Saturday

2007 marks the dawn of a new era. Kiddies, put on your dancing shoes and get ready for a wave of the new as a new team of DJs are set to get you dancing from the get-go.

Rewind two years back and you might recall a team of DJs under the moniker ‘Poptart’ that had you skanking and even crowd-surfing to riotous tunes. While starting last year, legendary veterans took to the console to bring you, BEAT, a Madchesteresque vibe every Friday while looking good doing it. This year, my darlings, is time for a fresh bunch of twee advocates to bring you something not entirely fresh, but not exactly run-of-the-mill either.

The Commercial Underground Trio is far from preachy music elitists. Rather, they are start-stop DJs with good tastes, intent on wearing your dancing shoes thin. Spinning anything from Jurassic 5 to The Libertines, Beck to Deerhoof, Paul Twohill(of Singapore Idol fame), Holly G(a.k.a. Megahollytron a.k.a. Janice-Dickenson-never-will-be-wannabe) and Elias MojoBandit(40 year-old 18 year-old) are the new stylish kids in the riot to get down and dirty with.

CUT is a dream to turn Home Club into a major catalyst for distinctive musical ethos in Singapore and the pioneering all ages dance event to CUT that RUBBISH N’ BULLSHIZZAZ! out.

Featuring:

Opening Bands:

Trella
Caracal

CUT DJs:

Paul Twohill
Holly G
Elias Mojobandit

For bands and DJ bios, please click on: www.cut.com.sg and www.myspace.com/comm_undies


Entry: Strictly RSVP at cutdjs@gmail.com or before 5pm at the door.

HOME is built on 20 Upper Circular Rd #B1-01/06 The Riverwalk S(058416)
For more info, please click on www.homeclub.com.sg

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Special Promotions for Select Individuals!

1-for-1 all night drink promotion for staff from the following companies:

>> The Necessary Stage
>> British American Tobacco Singapore
>> Pioneer Electronics
>> Formul8
>> The Traveller DMC
>> Cosmopolitan Cosmetics
>> Singtel
>> Microsoft Operations
>> Starhub Ltd
>> The Esplanade Co
>> Sun Business Network
>> Warner Music
>> MTV Asia


- Privilege is valid only upon presentation of working pass or namecard.
- Offer is not applicable to promotional items.
- The management reserves the right to withdraw privileges and alter terms and conditions without prior notice.

Monday, March 05, 2007

HomeClub goes under Renovation


Well, I'm not gonna reveal too much information but yes, HomeClub is going under renovation. We'll be closed from the 26th of this month until our official launch. Be prepared, we're intent on making you feel more at Home than ever. Utilizing the space in the best way possible we bring you the feel of HomeClub with both aesthetic and practical growth. It may look different, in fact, it will BE different but the heart of our space will always be the same.

I invite you to give your input. What changes would you make to our space? What recommendations would you give to the architects and interior designers? Contribute and keep watching this space for updates and more details.