As a club reviewer firmly rooted in Los Angeles, venturing into Orange County to attend an Electronica event is my corporeal equivalent of a root canal. But as the popularity of Dance music grows with each passing week, the alien-like invasion upon the area is undeniable. The Social, utilizing only the North Star and a glow stick for navigation, is attempting to lead this movement into uncharted waters. Don't let the Huntington Beach locale fool you. Nestled snugly in the rustic Old World Village, the Matriarch Supper Club hosts a weekly event which simply oozes with style. The underground residents are surprisingly talented, and almost defiantly rival many LA lineups. While attending the premiere on Friday, July 12th, I witnessed not only a successful grand opening, but serious testament to the growing fan base in OC.
As a nice touch, dining patrons seeking to enjoy some European fare from Matriarch's extensive menu receive free admission to the club. Upon entering, you are greeted by an outdoor patio elegantly decorated with sail lighting and plenty of seating for social birds as well as chain smokers. An adjacent room serves as an art gallery for those budding Rembrandt's and Warhol's seeking fame and fortune, tonight displaying some eye-catching photographs of exotic locales. And from German ale to caramel martinis, the full service bar seems to have a taste for every palette.
In the main room and dance floor, a fireplace and several couches are available for lounging, and soft candlelight and incense provide a rather charming and intimate ambiance to the festivities. A small stage serving as the DJ booth reveals resident Zuri Green already firing up the turntables, starting off the evening with a distinctive Down Tempo and Acid Jazz set with some funky broken beats. His modish and often eclectic selections border on genius as track after track somehow blend smoothly into the night. Grinning from ear to ear and grooving to his own tunes, Green joyously reflects the wonderful vibe that is the very essence of this event.
The talented team of Neosoul is one part Tim Andren, one part Scott Allen. This dynamic duo is already well recognized in the club community, but will flaunt their solo talents as Social residents. From his magic bag of vinyl, Andren pulls some spaced out Breaks, dubby House, and rootsy Reggae/Dub. Patrons are drawn helplessly to the dance floor, mesmerized by the crowd-moving beats. Partner-in-crime Allen follows with some skills of his own, blending funky House with smooth Breaks and randomly mixing in some atmospheric Drum and Bass. If the dance floor had any notions of taking a break, Allen obviously had something else in mind. The abilities of these two amazing DJ's and their technical prowess on the mixer are a sight to behold. It can only be a matter of time before Neosoul becomes a household name.
Rotating resident Thomas White finishes the evening with a funky House set boasting deep and heavy basslines that quake the dance floor. White dances energetically behind the decks, guiding the partygoers until closing time. Scott Coats, the absent rotating resident, will show his talents the following week with Breaks and beats of all tempos and smooth Latin/Tribal House.
The Social is threatening to lead the emerging OC club scene exploding into the mainstream. The masses are starting to take notice, as a slow pilgrimage of Electronica fans are magically appearing Southbound on the 405 Freeway. To add more validation, Social's future events include such notable talents as Simply Jeff. So discover what this cynical and rather apologetic writer has learned: a classy venue and fantastic lineup awaits you every Friday at The Social. Don't miss out.