Prague is fantastic nightclub dripping with Gothic decor. As soon as you step into it (from out of douche-bag central) you take a quick left turn down foreboding stairs. It looks like a vampire hang out, but beware, any other night than a Sky Event and it's a hip hop club... Prague is basically 1 medium sized room, with a round bar in the middle of it, and a small stage on 1 end. It feels new, is well air conditioned and has a grand sound and lighting system (thanks in part to live sound reinforcement by Hipnautica specifically brought in for their events).
UNTERVELT is a monthly event lead by the artistic director Sky from Hipnautica with the massive support of a ton of talented volunteers, the event has been revolving around his band Hipnautica but is intended to include other local underground bands in the future, with various alternative performances throughout the evening ranging from things like performance art, to poetic readings, or cleansing rituals. Expect the unexpected. To understand UNTERVELT is to embrace diverse underground culture.
Hipnautica is a fusion of Gothic, electronic, tribal, dub, and erotic music. As the artistic director, Sky is the ring leader of this erotic and exotic circus, with an ever changing cast of performers and musicians, and Prague is the Big Top. It's not enough to just attend this event, but just by being there one has the sense of becoming part of the performance. There was a sizable crowd at this event, it was not the usual band of scene ilk that attend some of the other gothic type shows. It seems that Sky has tapped into a whole new scene of underground folk while embracing his 20 year history in Austin.
The DJ'd music was a mixture of Virus Industrial, Synthpop and other cool tribal electronic bands. As the evening progressed, one could feel the excitement from the crowd, anxious to see Hipnautica. They hit the stage with an opening speech from Sky, and the sound was brilliant. Each song seemed to top the last, Lead by Sky on vocals and machines, Pixie as the operatic female voice, Al on 6th string Bass, Andrew on live viola from Death is Not a Joyride, a live cello player Solomon who just recently joined the group featuring Erik from Lust Murder Box on heavy Electric Guitar. The electronic backing beats were thumping despite having suddenly lost their drummer that day to an unexpected back injury. The atmosphere became more sexually charged with each song, and it felt like at any moment there could be a Vampire feeding frenzy. However the crowd was a peaceful one, probably another side effect of the Hipnautica's grooves.
Apparently there is a chance this was the last UNTERVELT, in case they were unable to bring in enough people this time (per the venue), but if it wasn't, be sure NOT to miss the next one.
Check out this photo of:
HIPNAUTICA @ UNTERVELT July 17th, 2010
2 butoh inspired performers Tatiana and Megan Hathaway
inspired by the art work of David de Lara
makeup by Kim Chi
event photo by David de Lara
(Click the pic to embiggen it!)
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