A cornucopia of the fringe, a factory of freak, L.A’s long-established Goth subculture features an astonishing variety of alternative fashions, subversive styles, weird fetishes and glowing, black-lit nightclubs. We’ve rounded up the best Goth parties; but before you venture into the night, make sure you’re dressed to kill, maim or at least upset Daddy.
Wear: ripped fishnets, corsets, black leather, latex, rubber, zippers, buckled straps, long flowing coats, short plaid skirts, handcuffs. To complete the ensemble, add lots of jewelry, freaky hair, angry pointy footwear and black eyeliner.
Do not wear: jeans, baseball caps and anything you bought at T.J. Maxx. Flip-flops are out, unless your goal is to end the evening stapled to the floor by a spiked heel.
Oh my goth
The Goth club scene is alive and well—and it wants you to come out and party
By Noah Gorin, Special to Metromix
July 1, 2007
Perversion
- The Ruby - 7070 Hollywood Blvd. - Hollywood
Perversion services the needs of the deathly-pale and dance-inclined with admirable consistency every Thursday night at the Ruby. Goth out in the old-school area or lead the crowd in an interpretive dance on the main stage while sexy people watch you out of the corners of their kohl-lined eyes. The smoking patio resembles nothing so much as that alley in high school where everybody went to suck down coffin nails and complain about their curfew, except now there’s a cover charge.
Das Bunker
- Jewel's Catch One - 4067 W. Pico Blvd. - Los Angeles
The line outside Jewel’s Catch One for this Friday-night party may look like last call at the Mos Eisley Cantina, but don’t sweat it: Das Bunker das not refuse entry for fashion faux-pas, not even the guy wearing a Darth Vader helmet and jeans. Three dance floors ensure that hardcore noize junkies, electro dance bunnies and Goth-damned old-skoolers can all keep the faith.
Malediction Society
- Club Monte Cristo - 3102 Wilshire Blvd. - Koreatown
Purest of the pure, darkest of the dark, the distilled essence of Goth gathers each Sunday night at Malediction to bemoan another fruitless weekend of soulmate-searching amongst an encroaching tide of Hot Topic fashion victims. DJs Xian and Amanda Jones keep the classic darkwave/EBM/industrial sounds thumping all the way to last call. Steampunk and cyber-goth styling is encouraged.
Ground Control
- Jewel's Catch One - 4067 W. Pico Blvd. - Los Angeles
Every Monday night Ground Control hosts an alternative/Goth-themed karaoke jam, as weekly regulars and random passerby join hands for songs as diverse as "Coin-Operated Boy," by The Dresden Dolls, and "Paris Hilton Blues" (with apologies to Johnny Cash).
Wumpskate
- World on Wheels Roller Rink - 4645 Venice Blvd. - Los Angeles
Mondays suck. All the coffee in the world can’t erase a shattering hangover and the tragic emptiness of mainstream cultural oppression. What’s a twee baby-Goth to do? Rollerskate! Irresistibly silly, this once-a-month Gothic roller-disco is for anyone brave enough to strap on some skates, take the night off from nihilism, and revolve around a large wooden sheep corral in concentric circles until they stumble, or crash, into their future Beloved.
Club Hell
- The Ivar - 6356 Hollywood Blvd. - Hollywood
One Wednesday a month, Club Hell takes over Façade, filling it with darkwave-themed art, glow-in-the-dark go-go dancers, BDSM players, some really impressive Goth-fetish fashion, and lots of red neon. The whole place is spectacular; hit it.
