SUB CLUB
KEITH MCIVOR DAVE CLARKE
JONNIE WILKES PAUL CRAWFORD
ptimo and Subculture sprang up in the
Sub Club‘s hallowed basement space
and Slam first made their mark there with their legendary Atlantis night. It can't be coincidence that three of the most important clubs in the country all evolved in one space. Now three of the most popular DJ duos in Scotland. these residents are in demand across the globe. Slam are primarily seen at their Pressure night at the Arches these days but they still host Return to Mono at the Sub. However. it was their Atlantis night. which ran from l99()—l994, that helped bring house and techno to the country’s collective consciousness. Atlantis was a trail blazing club that brought the emerging sounds of dance culture to Scotland. Harri was also a resident at Atlantis, and now hosts Subculture alongside Domenic Capello, still the best place for deep house north of the border. And of course there’s the runaway success of Optimo. An innovative, anything goes attitude sees dub,
garage, funk, electro. techno and all manner of
oddities co-exist in a seamless mash-up of the best music has to offer. All these nights have hosted guests from Basement Jaxx to Franz Ferdinand to Kevin Saunderson. but it’s the residents that have cemented the Sub Club’s place in history.
The List assembled the key players from the Sub Club to talk about its unique position in Glasgow culture: co-directors Mike Grieve and Paul Crawford, Keith Mclvor (aka Twitch resident at Optimo). Jonnie Wilkes (Optimo). Harri (Subculture) and Dave Clarke (Slam Events).
12 THE LIST 29 Mar—12 Apr 2007
Not many clubs make it to their 20th birthday, let alone spend 20 years at the cutting edge of dance culture. Henry Northmore talks to the people behind Glasgow institution the Sub Club to find out how they have succeeded in doing just that
Why is the Sub Club special?
Dave Clarke It‘s the perfect set-up with the DJs as close to the dancetloor as possible: it’s like a huge living room. How many clubs survive for 20 years?
Mike Grieve The Hacienda only lasted about 15 years and it wasn't profitable for many of those years. The crowd sets the Sub Club apart. But the crowd wouldn’t be there if the space wasn’t great and the DJs weren‘t great.
Jonnie Wilkes These kinds of venues are becoming few and far between. It‘s very hard to find city centre. independently run, underground music venues.
Keith Mclvor It‘s a pleasure to DJ at the Sub Club. It‘s rare that you get a place that’s just a joy to play. If we’d been in a different venue there‘d be no way Optimo would still be alive after ten years. We're very fortunate they gave us time to breathe; in most clubs we’d have been out after a year. It kind of spoils you.
Paul Crawford People in Glasgow just love a patty. it’s that working class thing.
Harri They’re all alcoholics and hedonists HaughsL
How does the Sub Club compare to other venues you play as DJs?
JW lt’s raised our expectations.
H You can be braver at the Sub Club. You know people will get it, stuff you would think twice about playing at other places, because you think ‘this will bomb here‘.
KM Because you have a residency you can take risks because the crowd knows you. They can think ‘what is he playing that for‘." but they know
. the next record will be good.
JW It‘s a trust thing. KM We play ‘Optimo-lite‘ when we play anywhere else. You have to water it down.
Any personal highlights from the Sub Club?
PC One for me was when Ron Davis just started singing. He’d never sung before and he just sang over the records and it was amazing. absolutely incredible. a hairs on the back of your neck moment.
MG 1 think everyone looks back and thinks it was great in ‘89 or ‘90 but there's been many great nights recently. like when you guys [Optimol put on A Certain Ratio the other year. KM We’ve been very lucky. We’ve managed to put some of our absolute heroes on. people we want to see. and thankfully enough people come