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Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Clubbing Neo-VUDU
By Kara Mae Muga Nevada
For the night-owl regular in Cebu since the past decade, hotspots have come of age, gone primitive and so to speak, lost in history. The owners of the reinvented (now called) Club Vudu are not about to unlearn history’s lessons.
John Paul Chongbian, co-owner, masters this piece of timeline by heart. The late '90s pushed alternative bands behind the curtains, and ushered in a wave of cover-song-playing “show” performers (showband, if you will) who eventually bowed down to the presently dominant hip-hop, house and R n' B-flavored party mixes. Hence, five-year-old Vudu survives after a series of wise identity switches— having become a restobar, chill-out lounge at some point.
Given this harsh bubble-and-burst reality going on for nightlife destinations, keeping youngsters dressed up, dancing, huddled, safely out partying way past bedtime on gimmick nights (or what's it called these days?) actually translates to dynamic shifts to urbane lifestyle.
“Back then, when Cebuanos went out, they would just slip on a pair of shorts. We’re trying to change that. Here in Club Vudu, we pay attention to these details, so you can’t come in with baseball caps, slippers,” illustrates John Paul.
The dress code may be one indicator of a level-up to metro living, but the renovated interiors of the club itself scream of bold change. The cave(wo)man-like mural done by Jon Unson is now the backdrop of a DJ pulpit manned by local deejays Marlon and Maxi. The stone age meets the space age, at least in design as luminescent acrylic bar counters are filled with silver stones.
Dressing up may earn your way to the main entrance but up on the second floor rests the VIP Lounge where loyalty is credited for a limited entrance. Here in low-rise furniture is where the “repeat-customers” through the years schmooze over music exclusive within the lounge, different from the dance floor’s below.
Can we expect club-hopefuls to cue on line outside behind the velvet ropes in red carpet fashion?
“That’s happened. It’s already happening,” confirms John Paul and sister Jaja who may have just started a new age of local clubbing.
Club Vudu is open from Wednesdays to Saturdays, 9 p.m. onwards. For more information and party updates, log on to www.vudu.com.ph.
(December 14, 2005 issue)
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