Summer Club Tour…Week 1: M2

Well what started out as a random idea has fruitionized : A tour of the Seoul Korean club scene for 2 months. Who knows, maybe I’ll even keep it up after that.

Let’s give some history to start out. For the past two months I have been going to VERA club in Hongdae.

I like that club a lot. I feel very comfortable there. I have friends there. It’s like a weekend home.

So, when my friend Dowon suggested that we go to other clubs, I was a little apprehensive. Change is…. well change. It’s a risk.

When you’re plopping down $20+ for an entrance fee, you never know what you’re going to get.

But when she suggested that I blog about it, I suddenly got more interested and thought it might be the re-kickstart I need to write again.

So, here it is, my unfiltered opinion about a few clubs in Seoul.

Let’s start off with the ground rules.

1. I’m no expert. I didn’t really like clubs until about 4 months ago. But now I really like them.
   
2. I like electronic style dance. Hip-hop and top 40 are okay to listen to, but unless it’s heavily mixed with electronic beat, it’s kinda boring to dance to.
   
3. I’m biased. I like VERA. I will probably compare each club to VERA in ways that are good or bad.
   

So, without further ado, let get started.

About the Club:

M2 is nestled behind the main streets of Hongdae slightly away from the hustle and bustle of the packed main drag.

Don’t let this fool you. Even though it is the only real business on the little side street it is on, people will be lining up to get in.

On a Saturday night around midnight the line stretches around the corner.

(For maps and directions here is their website http://www.ohoo.net/)

The fee is a little steep. For guys it 25,000 for girls its 20,000 and it includes a free 5,000 drink coupon.

Don’t be a fool. If you’re too drunk. Or angry. Or…really anything, they will say no go and you can get in for the night. Don’t try to talk your way out of it, once their mind is set, they won’t change it.

The Night:

The night started around 10.

Actually that’s a lie…and that was the problem. My Korean class decided to drunk together with the teachers after class.

So, my night had started at 4pm. I wasn’t drunk at all, but I already felt a little tired when I showed up to Hongdae.

After quickly failing the “I wonder if my friends will know that I’ve been drinking” test in 2 seconds flat, I did what any logical person would do…pump my body full of caffeine and bull testicle extract!

We felt it was a little early to go to the club, so we went to Hongdae playground for a little while.

I haven’t been there is such a long time. It’s amazing how my feeling change over time. I remember it being one of the most amazing places in the world in my mind. It’s still pretty amazing, but a bit of the luster is gone.

It’s amazing how things can change in a few months’ time.

But, Joon was there from last summer. Now, for a little plug here for his business. He runs a delivery bar in the park. You want a drink? He will mix it there and deliver it to you wherever you are in the park.

Vodka drinks 3000. Jager bombs 5000. All good taste and good service.

After reminiscing a bit about last summer, and having a moment of sadness that Andrew went back to the US, we took a picture.

I’ll have to stop back by there before any Hongdae clubs next time and support his business.

On to M2.

The Club Experience

We showed up at M2 and got through the gate with no problem. When we got to the main area there were already a lot of people there. Not completely packed, but very comfortable.

The music was amazing.

Club VERA usually has good music, and then the music gets amazing around the 2:00am DJ change.

But this music was amazing throughout. The DJ was into it. The crowd was into it. Everyone was having a good time.

The thing that really set M2 apart for me was the lights. Lights and images really make a club atmosphere, almost as much as the music does, and M2 had that down.

It was super fun for a while then the experience started to go downhill.

The only culprit…way too many people and an inefficient dance floor design.

When you are dancing, when you are in the moment, when you are feeling the music, sometimes the littlest thing can take you out or your groove.

I want a dance club. Not a mosh pit. Not a subway car.

Around 1-2 am the place simply got too crowded.

Now, VERA is a rectangle. When it get crowed rectangles are good, there’s a logical place for people to be moving (the edges) and there is a logical place for people to be dancing (the middle).

But, M2 is more like a circle…with some tables awkwardly placed in what should probably be the dance floor; entrances to the VIP area scattered about the edges, and a few other small things that just makes moving difficult.

I found that people were always passing and trying to push by from all different directions and there was no way to avoid it such as “move to the center.”

For another hour or so we danced and enjoyed the scene and the amazing music and lights.

Eventually, the crowdedness got so we could hardly even move out feet and our hands had no place to go.

In my book, bobbing around like armless buoys in a sea of sweat is not my style. I would much prefer moving all my body parts in a sea of sweat.

When the person to my right dropped his beer bottle on the floor and it shattered, I took that as our cue to leave.

Overall summary.

I think this weekend was more crowded than normal. It’s rainy season here and this was the only night Saturday in weeks.

M2 is a great club. I little expensive, and the people aren’t as friendly in my opinion as at VERA, but the pure club atmosphere is awesome.

Great music.

Great lights.

Next week it’s another club and more dancing!

-HuskEric

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