A MYRIAD OF SENSATIONS! (Rock City)

Member Name: indigojade

Product:	Rock City
Date:	12/07/01 (95 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: great sounds, great atmosphere

Disadvantages: grotty looking place

Set in the dark and dingy recesses of a backstreet in Nottingham is one of the most unassuming and uninspiring venues I have ever been welcomed into! That place is Rock City, a focal point for many of my teenage years and even now in my ever-growing senility.

The name Rock City may sound rather grand, but nothing could be further from the truth. There is nothing grand about the exterior of the building, indeed it looks not dissimilar to a run down inner city cinema, with its gaping entrance, waiting like an open mouth to swallow you whole. Which it does indeed…

The interior of Rock City is nothing to be passionate about, when the lights go up, and you surely don’t want to be around when they do – the true colours of Rock City (or lack of them) are revealed in their utmost repulsiveness. This is not a place to go for the décor neither is it the place to visit in your best bib and tucker. The floor is quite possibly the worst aspect of Rock City, if you venture there for a gig during the week, you will find yourself literally rooted to the spot – not least from the sights and sounds you will encounter, but because the floor hasn’t been cleaned since the previous Friday – sticky in the extreme.

There are three large bars situated in Rock City, one upstairs in the gallery, a very small and cramped area which features seats and tables for the few lucky or unlucky enough to be there early! It is a perilous journey up to the gallery – especially if you have had one over the eight, and it is a busy night (always), as you will find many people in various stages of inebriation and exhaustion taking 5 on the steps.

The other two bars are situated in the main arena of Rock City, the bars are always well stocked – and prices are in line with other inner city watering holes. There are discount nights – as Nottingham is a University City, there is the requisite student night. The bar staf
f are pretty friendly, although rarely have time to stop and chat – it is fast and furious work at all times. I have always found the prices to be consistent, I have heard many a tale, and experienced the same where each time you visit the bar, the total is different for the same drinks – always higher!

The toilet areas are quite frankly best to be avoided at all costs, ladies if you do require a bathroom stop – use the men’s! Although you have to be pretty quick as the bouncers have cottoned on to this fact, and take exception to it!

Entering Rock City has always filled me with a sense of dreaded excitement for here I have seen some spectacular sights, nothing on the scale of the seven wonders of the world – but a myriad of sound, light, vision and smell. Nothing unpleasant - you understand me, but your senses are assaulted from every angle.

So far I have pointed out only disadvantages, what you may be asking is just what is the attraction, to this apparent hellhole? Well I will tell you…

The atmosphere – sadly I don’t have the literary skills to explain such an elusive sensation. Rock City is a very small venue in the club/gig venue stakes – holding a mere 2000 people. When those 2000 people are so enclosed it makes for some interesting collisions and experiences. The best nights to attend Rock City are gig nights; they have some excellent well known, as well as local and unsigned bands. The ticket prices are usually around the £10 mark – a bargain for some of the top bands I have seen. Gigs in recent time I have attended include
 Big Country
 The Saw Doctors
 The levellers
 The Alarm 2000
 Catatonia
 Stiff little Fingers
 The Mission
Gig nights are usually weeknights, with rock/alternative/indie nights at the weekends. Typical admission prices are between £3 – £5,
although there are generally reductions for members (membership is free) or with the numerous flyers found around the local pubs. The management does hold the right to refuse admission, this only happens when Rock City is full. I have never seen anyone turned away due to his or her state of dress, indeed the dress code – if it exists is very casual.

The type of people you will find in Rock city vary so much depending on the type of night you go for, I have seen people as old as 82 and as young as 14 in Rock City. You will find people from all walks of life here, from the well heeled businessman – complete with laptop and mobile phone (a pointless accessory in Rock City) and plucked, primped and pampered ‘secretary’, to the down at heel students on their never ending quest for cheap alcohol. Whatever your status in life, you are sure to fit in, I have made many friends and acquaintances over the years, not hard to do when you are one in 2000 people, squashed into an apparent seething mass all singing the same song.

Summary: