Down to the Nightclub
May 9th, 2008 by Rodney LeeIt's Saturday night and I'm just hangin' out,
Lookin' for a place to party,
I jumps into my ride and I hits the road,
'Cause there's only one place to go:
Down to the nightclub
Ahh, the nightclub scene.
When I turned 18 in the mid-70's, I couldn't wait to see what all the fuss was about. I had heard so much about places like Tiki's, Duke's, Hawaiian Hut, Foxy Lady II, etc.
My nightclub experience started at Hula Hut where Natural High played. Quite a different set up there - tables and seats for everyone, no walking around or standing with drinks, more of a showroom type atmosphere rather than a disco. It was okay, but nothing to get excited about. We visited Duke's, CSB (C'est Si Bon), and a few other clubs, but it really wasn't my thing - at the time.
Fast forward to the early 80's. A long relationship had ended and I was back on the scene. But this time it was different. This time I had peeps. A lot of them. We practically owned the back bar at The Point After.
The night usually started at about 10:30 at La Mancha awaiting the 11:00 "punk rock hour". Dancing to Devo, B-52's, The Cars and getting primed. Then at midnight, it was off to The Point After. Getting there late sometimes meant waiting in line to get in.
NOT!
We'd be at The Point until the 4:00 closing. And we'd be spent - both in strength and money wise, crawling home at around the same time that the Honolulu Advertiser Sunday edition was being delivered. The whole next week was used to rest up (and save up) just so we could do it all over again the following Saturday.
It's too bad that The Point After is no longer there - after all, that is where I met my wife.
What nightclubs do you remember?
Spats
Infinity
Bobby McGees
Magic Mushroom
Ala Wai Boathouse?
p.s. Since nobody could figure out the 4 songs in yesterday's clip - although Goodbeer got 2 of them - I made another sound bite with longer clips of the same songs. Try it again: Fast Dances 2
Tags: Midlife Crisis, nightclubs, punk rock, The Point After
May 9th, 2008 at 6:09 am
I know the other two songs....just can't remember the names of them.....wait....
#3 BTO - Vehicle ?
May 9th, 2008 at 6:13 am
Rodney those are hard I've failed miserably! Well the first time I went to a club was probably in 1982, but I used to give Melissa C my state ID so she could sneak in!
Confessing after 25 years sure feels good for my soul!
We hung out at the Point a lot that year, but I think we were hanging out at Steelwings for the following two years and after that we moved over to Rumour's. In between there were a couple of places like Masquerade's, Atlantis (although that was kinda scary) and one place in the Hyatt that I can't remember the name of.
It was fun back then, going now is like sad case when you're not so fresh, ha ha.
Plus the music was better. Wow you met your wife at the Point? I met a guy there too but he was still hung up on his girlfriend that he broke up with, so that was the end of that story.
Be glad that you're not one of those that has to go to the clubs still, it's just not the same feel. It's a reality check when you see a 70 something year old guy dancing on the table at Ocean's, which has since closed. I'm like, oh oh, is that gonna be me in a few years? Nah, I'm going to play mah jong like my mom and grow orchids. Fun.
May 9th, 2008 at 8:11 am
Yesterday, Rodney confirmed:
1. Summer Sun - Jamestown Massacre
2.
3. One Fine Morning - Lighthouse
4.
#2, I know it but can't place it and #4 I can't recall at all. C'mon folks, we gotta beat this. You got two answers here, fill in the blanks and maybe Rodney will take us to Yardhouse for some "goodbeer". (nah, only joke, Rod)
Oh, and Snow, thanks for the kind words yesterday. Stress, yah? I get dents in my wall that match my forehead.
May 9th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Ah, Bobbys. Those were the days. Did you know there is still one in Brea, California? I saw it the other year when we went to a mall in Brea.
I remember Atlantis. It had the lighted dance floor just like Saturday Night Fever.
The best was the 4 tower dorm dances at UH. What was it? $10 for all you can drink beer or wine. Planny booze and planny chicks.
May 9th, 2008 at 9:09 am
Okay the name of that nightclub was Spat's. Good grief can't believe I couldn't think of it. I remember Bobby's too but hardly went there.
And of course there was Studebaker's which was much later but heard that was pretty happening, I was living overseas at the time.
I miss the Point though. Used to go and play Frogger in the back corner when I was bored or when there wasn't anything going on there.
May 9th, 2008 at 9:09 am
Hint: The last song in the mix - 85% of the song sounds nothing like that. It's the last 15% of the song that the clip was taken from - although the name of the song is repeated over and over again in that portion.
May 9th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Never did the night club scene, didn't drink, didn't dance, don't like crowds and was to stoned to do anything anyway.
May 9th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Eh CW.....Pali Room, CJ's and Apple Annies in Hilo.
When I moved to Honolulu we used to hang out at Masquerades, Phase, The Wave, Pink Cadillac and Bobbys. Oooh the fun and wildness. *sigh*
Didn't care too much for Point, Rumours, Spats or Cilly's. Was kinda "icy" in those places.
May 9th, 2008 at 10:11 am
Ho Opso. Poly Room and CJ's. That was the BOMB. For Hilo. I think I already moved ova hea when Apple Annies was popular. I did go once and heard Speed Limit play. Some of the old guys for the group Pacific. Remember dem?
May 9th, 2008 at 10:12 am
What was the one at Top of the Ilikai?
Wasn't there on at the top of the Ala Moana hotel too?
May 9th, 2008 at 10:21 am
Didn't Lighthouse sing a song called "Pretty Lady"?
I think that was them...I forget.
Oh one of my fave songs from that era, "Cherish" by David Cassidy. I prefer that version to the Association's. Sorry my teeny bopper side is slipping.
Did you guys dance to the Association? Maybe that was before your time.
May 9th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Top of I was Annabelle's. Top of Ala Mo was Nicholas Nickolas. Used to enjoy Aura playing late nights there. The only thing was had to tip the guy in the bathroom everytime you go pee!
May 9th, 2008 at 10:47 am
@ Melissa K
Pretty Lady
Had to hunt for a clip, but once I heard it, I remember it now. Didn't know it was Lighthouse who sang it - sounds so different than One Fine Morning.
May 9th, 2008 at 11:01 am
Doh! I spell Poly Room...Pali Room. ai-goo
See......so long ago I forget already.
Speed Limit. Ya, that's the band that had the Japanese guy lead singer who wore the tight leotard pants with the Rod Stewart hairdo.....right?
May 9th, 2008 at 11:05 am
Natural High used to have a Rod Stewart looking guitarist. Not only the hairdo, but he looked like Rod Stewart too. Well, a Japanese version, anyway. And the guy could play Europa!
May 9th, 2008 at 11:24 am
I know that guy. Dirk Yoshina. I asked him once about the KISS song where he blew the flames. He said he used lighter fluid. Tasted awful.
May 9th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Hoo yah Rodney! La Manchas then on to Point. Remember Rock Lobster at Manchas when we all went down, down...caught cramps once. I really miss Aura at The Point. Nothing like a really good live band.
May 9th, 2008 at 11:26 am
opso, CW - also recall the Poly Room and CJ's as THE Hilo nightspots, though wasn't much into those scenes. some of the buddies were, but the rest of us just hung and had a few of 'this and that.'
attending UHM and moving to the big city of Honolulu, the Point, Rumours, etc. became part of the weekend cruise.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Oasis corner of Waialae and Kapahulu
May 9th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Remember Power Station/Hell in the Ilikai?
Had one rock band (i forget name) that used to perform there and the lead singer really sounded like Rod Stewart.
Wasn't there another nightclub downstairs in the Ilikai too?
May 9th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Melissa K. -
You mean to the Association's Cherish, Along Comes Mary, Never My Love, and Windy?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9B73gPftJBw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYJhhKSXOBo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npFe4MyccYE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU8vOQNvd3c
May 9th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Them days were fun... (yikes, did I say that? sounds like an old foogie!) La Mancha (yes, punk rock!), The Point, Rumours, Bobby McGee's, Masquerade, Phase, Power Station (hey, opso, I musta seen you before!), the Wave, Pink Cadillac... we stayed until closing (I wasn't too thrilled when the lights came on... yikes, cannot see... and wondering if I look like cr*p after dancing all night!?). Next stop... Zippy's! As some points, we used to go Friday and Saturday nights (and I used to go to work at Liberty House at - often - 9 am on Saturday and Sunday! Aiya!) if we could. Lots of fun... but, I'd never be able to do that again! Cannot handle... phew!
May 9th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
My friends and I got into a drink called a "Fog Cutter" at Rumours. The bartender named Ala made it best. Well, fast forward to at least 10 years later, I'm at a sit-down dinner at the Sheraton Moana Surfrider. The bartender rolls his cart by and it's Ala! It just took a split second--he was like, "Eh, Fog Cuttah, yah?!" Shaaaaame.
May 9th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Went to The Point After a couple times and Bobby McGee's and Annabelle's back then. I know a bunch of people who met their wives/husbands at The Point After. I liked going to Anna Bananna's on Beretania and listening to a band called "The Pagan Babies." I can't remember what year that was -- probably 1983 or 1984 but it's kind of a blur.
May 9th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Goodbeer - I tried listening again, but cannot think of those songs for the life of me (not without any words, anyway!?)! I know I've heard them and if I hear the title or some lyrics, I'll probably wack myself in the head for not being able to remember them earlier! Better my own head than the wall, eh?!
Looks like you're the only one who can get 'em so far!
May 10th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
hi rodney! i'm joining your world now!
send any tips my way. i'll superpoke you later! 
May 11th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Yeah snow.....I was one of them guys sporting the latest Don Johnson's Miami Vice fashions.
And you must've been one of the "glam rock" chicks with the big hair, acid wash jeans and stiletto boots. woo hoo! Or you was "new wave"?
We used to always hang out at Kengo's (when was on Kapiolani) then hit the clubs after that.
May 12th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Snow, here's a couple of sites where you can hear the entire songs:
http://www.jamestownmassacre.com/files/Summer_Sun.mp3
http://www.last.fm/music/LightHouse/_/One+Fine+Morning?autostart
and Melissa K can access Pretty Lady from the second one as well.