Nightclub Nostalgia: LA

Long ago, clubbing was my hobby. There were no pricey VIP tables, no sparklers, no champagne bottles poppin’, or anything of the like. It was just the dance floor and me, sometimes with friends, sometimes with lovers, always among strangers who shared the same love for the music and the artist. 

This music wasn’t just “EDM.” It was progressive house, melodic techno, psytrance, and a wide range of subgenres that deserved recognition rather than being reduced to a generic label. This way of seeing music opened my mind and heart to a clubbing culture made for the ones who sang their hearts out to the songs that gave them goosebumps, who chased new sounds that hit so hard they couldn’t help but make a stank face, and who found euphoria in dancing like nothing else mattered. It wasn’t just an escape, it was an experience.

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In the city of Los Angeles, there were four main nightclubs I spent my memories on: Sound Nightclub, Avalon Hollywood, Academy LA, and Exchange LA. Many could argue that a nightclub is just a nightclub and they’re all the same. But in my eyes, each one had its own vibe based on its line-up of artists, décor, layout, visual production, sound quality, and the kind of crowd it drew in. Here’s how I ranked each one: 

Sound Nightclub

Ranked at the top of my list is Sound because of an unforgettable “home” vibe with its small layout that offered the most intimate, cozy vibes for seeing a show. It was the first club I went to with my older brother to see U.K. house artist Hot Since 82 on New Years in 2016. Other notable artists I’ve seen here include German techno artist Chris Liebing, Swiss house-techno duo Adriatique, and Italian techno duo Mathame, to name a few.

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I remember the shark-shaped disco ball hanging from the ceiling like a shimmering mascot welcoming in. The crowd was mostly “grown folks,” there to enjoy the music and nothing more. I loved the sunken dance floor, which made the space feel bigger. During packed shows, I could still enjoy the performance from the elevated sides.

The décor was thoughtfully done, like a wood cabin with a classy LA twist. It had wood paneling from Frank Sinatra’s previous home and color-changing lanterns on the ceiling that swayed with the music. Best of all, the sound system was rich and inviting without ever being too loud. Sound Nightclub was low-key, and I liked that because it matched my vibe when it came to a night out with music. 

Avalon Hollywood

Ranked second on my list is Avalon because of its “fancy” vibe with its Deco-theater layout and status as an iconic entertainment venue that’s been around since the 1920s! The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Jackson 5, and The Ramones have performed here. This is where I saw German and U.K. trance artists like Markus Schulz and Ben Nicky (respectively), along with electro house-trance duo Pig & Dan. 

As the largest club of the bunch, its dance floor was spacious! Entering it sorta felt like walking into an old Hollywood theater, waiting for the swing band to start playing, until the LED panels lit up with lasers and pulled me back to the present. It was a cool mix of both worlds. The crowd included nightclub veterans and newcomers who could surprisingly last for almost ten hours on the dance floor during those open-to-close sets.

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A nice addition to this club was the second level lounge (that had an even heavier “old Hollywood” setup) and the balcony that overlooked the dance floor. It was the perfect spot to take a breather, chill, and enjoy the show from a distance. Avalon Hollywood is a historic monument in the LA music scene and I’m grateful I spent many nights listening to great music here.

Academy LA

Ranked third on my list is Academy (formerly Create) because I referred to it as the  “kids” club that seemed to draw the youngest crowd. However, I saw a mixture of great artists here, like U.K. progressive house artist John Digweed, U.S. techno artist Layton Giordani, and U.K. psytrance artist Simon Patterson. 

The special thing about this club was the LED panels wrapped around the stage and dance floor from the sides and overhead that gave the most immersive visual production. The back patio was my favorite because it was spacious and felt like someone’s backyard with rows and rows of string lights twinkling above, multiple seating areas to chat and chill, restrooms, and its own bar in the middle of it all.

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The last time I went, the back patio was closed, but they opened up a second level I didn’t even know existed. It had another lounge with its own dance floor, plus a cozy spot with velvet couches overlooking the main dance floor below. Academy LA had a tendency to get overcrowded with a younger crowd, but the artist line-up, layout, and immersive visual production made up for it.

Exchange LA

Ranked last on my list is Exchange because although I’ve probably been to more shows here than the other clubs, the general vibe was okay. I saw a mixture of genres here, but mostly techno including Berlin duo Pan-Pot, Belgium techno artist Charlotte de Witte, and German house-techno artist Loco Dice.

This club always gave “Grand Central Station,” which makes sense since it used to be called the Los Angeles Stock Exchange—a clear nod to New York. I loved the marble staircase that added to the NY atmosphere, but I felt a disconnect with the layout of the club. And with a crowd similar to Academy LA’s, the dance floor was unforgiving when it got rowdy and impacted. 

Photo by Sole D'Alessandro G. on Unsplash

The main stage was located on the second floor, with a smaller second stage occasionally open on the first floor in a separate room. This second room gave dark, basement vibes that felt detached from the rest of the club. This may not necessarily be a big deal, but I liked clubs with a seamless layout that still connected multiple rooms together in one space (like Academy) or one with different rooms that maintained a cohesive décor and vibes (like Avalon). Exchange LA had a wonky layout, but it seems only the artist line-up made up for it.