Night Life: Crush In The Night
An elegant riot would probably best describe the scene Friday night outside the grand opening of Southampton's newest over-the-top nightclub, Jet East.
While traffic was slowly coming to a complete standstill on North Sea Road, 200 people were clamoring behind the velvet ropes, screaming things like "We're in the record industry!" and "I'll lose my job if I don't get into this party!" to a doorman who remained stone faced and cool amid the chaos.
Meanwhile, inside, the club's dimly lighted, Balinese-styled lounge looked like something out of "The Arabian Nights" - save for the patrol of models strolling through the crowd and the pounding of techno dance music on the sound system. The owners, Greg and Nicole Brier and Andrew Sasson, were serious when they said they spent more than $130,000 on furniture. The whole club is decked out with antique pieces brought back from India and Asia.
"If I could only transplant this to New York!" said an ecstatic Mr. Brier, taking in the scene.
At M-80
Meanwhile, just up North Sea Road, M-80 was pulsing with its normal crowd of jet-setters. The club's off-season struggle with neighbors and the Southampton Town Zoning Board of Appeals seems to have detracted not a whit from M-80's high-class appeal, nor its numbers at the door.
The club's weekly employee night, hosted by Danceteria, endured a sleeper of an opening night last Thursday, but, with Danceteria's reputation, that should all change as the season unfolds.
The club hosts a new "M-80 living room" party every Friday, sponsored by Smoke magazine and various top-notch cigar makers. Saturdays still swell with fashion industry and magazine parties every week.
Tavern
Not to be left behind by the "lounge" craze, the Tavern on Tuckahoe Road in Southampton has turned a large part of its cavernous space into a cozy couch-and-table section looking onto the dance floor. Manning one of those tables Friday night was the rising young actor Leonardo DiCaprio sitting with several others, including Harvey Keitel.
With ample parking, plenty of room inside, and only slightly imperious doormen, the Tavern hosts the most hassle-free dance parties around, on Fridays, Saturdays, and a Wednesday employee night that should prove a huge draw.
Flying Point
Danceteria be darned! Southampton's Flying Point nightclub on Montauk Highway will still host its Thursday night employee night - without the Danceteria trademark it had hoped to flaunt - along with its well-promoted dance parties on Saturday and Sunday nights.
Flying Point is next to Pier One Imports on Montauk Highway.
Hansom House
With "lounge" being the buzzword of the year in clubland, Southampton's Hansom House on Elm Street stands as a proud veteran in that department. The quirky club's comfy couches and various nooks are filled every weekend with a very down-to-earth club crowd. Reggae normally provides the soundtrack for Friday nights. The funky Shock Shine plays tomorrow. Blues is the norm on Saturdays, with Bo Diddley Jr. handling this Saturday and Sunday. Music starts after 10:30 p.m.
Stephen Talkhouse
Talk about major setbacks. Those geared up for The Band's concert on Friday at the Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett found out last week not only that the show had been canceled, but that The Band's jocular bassist, Rick Danko, was being held by Japanese authorities on heroin charges - allegedly something involving a package at a post office while Mr. Danko was in Japan playing solo.
The remaining band members had discussed playing without their frontman but, at $95 a ticket, the Talkhouse decided against it. Hot Tuna's Jorma Kaukonen luckily agreed to play another night after his gig last Thursday, picking up the slack.
Barring any other law enforcement problems, the Talkhouse's music schedule looks pretty solid this week. The Commitments, still riding high after the eponymous film, play their tight rhythm-and-blues and soul tonight 8 and 10 p.m. The likable Richie Havens returns with his poignant folk music tomorrow at 8, followed by Steve Marshall and the Deputies at 10:30. Patty Larkin kicks off Saturday evening with her acoustic music at 8, leaving late-night for the rock-and-roll of Cadillac Moon at 10:30.
Deadheads out there will be pleased to know Max Creek will play two shows Sunday night at 8 and 10. As always, Mondays are reserved for the Talkhouse's acoustic night at 10, featuring a lineup of young, local songwriters. A funk-and-blues-fueled open jam, hosted by the band Paragon, takes place at the same time Tuesday. Wednesday brings the Talkhouse's employee night, with a roster of local bands, starting at 10. The party zydeco of Terrance Simien and the Mallet Playboys is in line for next Thursday at 8.
Harbor House
In Sag Harbor, the new Harbor House on Bridge Street has quickly established itself as the Harbor's hub for live music, which it hosts at least three nights a week. Tomorrow's stage goes to the local rockabilly favorites The Lone Sharks, and The Karlus Trapp Band will dole out classic rock and blues Saturday night. Both acts begin around 10:30. Vince Collins of Led Fingers stops by on Tuesdays to host an open jam at 10.
The bar is considering devoting Thursdays to live funk - that is, if it can find the right band(s).
Chili Peppers
Word has it The Hotheads will be stationed at Sag Harbor's Chili Peppers on West Water Street on weekend afternoons; they were this past weekend. The New York party crowd knows this rap-reggae-funk unit well, and so do the locals; The Hotheads drew hundreds to the Amazon Deck last summer. With the Amazon out of the picture this season, Chili Peppers' patio overlooking Baron's Cove could be a good substitute.
La Superica
If the feisty young reggae band Shock Shine has any home base out here, it's probably La Superica on Main Street, Sag Harbor. The band has played its dance hall reggae in La Superica's redesigned back room throughout the year. They'll be back again Wednesday at 11 p.m.
Corner Bar
Sag Harbor's Corner Bar usually teams up with its neighbor La Superica to host music on Wednesdays - pay one cover and you can skip back and forth between the two places - but they haven't booked any groups just yet. This Saturday, though, the Corner will set up The Parlor Dogs, an offshoot of Zorki. The band will play rock-and-roll after 11.
Wild Rose
The Lone Sharks should own a piece of Bridgehampton's Wild Rose by now. The rockabilly foursome has owned the cozy club's stage every Thursday night for more than two years now, and continue to do so.
The stage goes to the upbeat blues of Oxford Blue this weekend. Music at the Rose starts at 9:30 and often pushes past 2. The club is on the Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike.
Dunes and Tide
You don't get much closer to the beach than Montauk's Dunes and Tide club. The club, on South Edison Street, meets the sand at a popular beach entrance. To milk the theme, the club has set up the "shipwreck bar" outside on its front patio, complete with two ends of a 42-foot boat for effect.
Inside, live music is the fare for tomorrow and Saturday nights, with the bands to be announced. The reggae band Ink went over so well last weekend they'll be back for more on Sunday at 11 p.m.
Dunes and Tide also hosts a ladies night on Tuesdays, a Latino night on Wednesdays, and an employee night on Thursdays.
Navy Road
It's been the Port Royal. It's been the Kahuna Cafe. And now it's Navy Road. A lot has changed in the restaurant at the end of Navy Road, in Montauk, but one thing remains the same: Reggaelution plays reggae on the restaurant's deck on Fort Pond Bay every Sunday at 8 p.m.
Navy Road has also booked the versatile guitarist Bruce Aronson on Fridays and Saturdays at 10.
Dave's Grill
Every Friday, Dave's Grill on West Lake Drive, Montauk, hosts "late night at Dave's," an after-dinner evening of music, desserts, and, sometimes, comedy. Tomorrow night, Waterfence will play its world-rhythm percussion from 9 p.m. on.
Gurney's Inn
The karaoke machine comes out every Thursday night at Gurney's Inn in Montauk starting at 8:30 p.m. The inn's favorites, Tradewinds and Tangerine, round out this weekend with their popular hits; Tangerine plays tomorrow at 8 and Tradewinds plays Saturday, also at 8 p.m.
Gurney's has also introduced ballroom dancing on Thursday nights from 7 p.m. on. Reservations have been suggested, unless you just want to watch.
Kipling's
Back in Bridgehampton, mellow jazz is part of the fare every weekend at Kipling's on Main Street. The restaurant's owner, Jim Demitrack, joins up on guitar with Ray Williams on bass every Friday night at 8 p.m. Musicians regularly sit in and the Kipling's Jazz Trio plays the occasional Saturday night.
75 Main
Chris Barret still handles the piano at Southampton's 75 Main every Friday from 9 to 11 p.m. For those who prefer something with a little more umph!, the restaurant hosts live rock, blues, and reggae every Saturday at 11. Emmanuel Springer and XS Flavor are on deck this week.
Southampton Publick House
Jazz will flow along with the Water Mill Wheat and Southampton Gold tomorrow at the Southampton Publick House. The brewpub and restaurant at Bowden Square and Main Street, Southampton, has the Arthur Dent Trio lined up at 10.
Saturday night goes to the ubiquitous DJ Tom, who spins the turntables at the same time.