As the Senior Trance Correspondent of RMR, I figured it was time to launch a bi-weekly segment called Local Talk Fridays. There are numerous movers and shakers in the Seattle dance music scene. Oddly enough, it seems as if they don’t have an outlet to speak about our community. I have interviewed locals before, and I want to expand on that experience.
The average patron of clubs and festivals in this city doesn’t get an opportunity to speak with kingpins directly. That is why my primary objective is to be a liaison between the people and the powers that be.
February was an incredible month of shows. Celebrating two years of Seattle Trance Alliance, The Underground hosted four incredible, unforgettable acts. To me, it was only fitting that we catch up with the two figures that make experiences at this club possible.
Local Talk Fridays Pilot: David Cole and Marc Pospisil of The Underground.
*This Local Talk Fridays interview was edited for clarity*
David: So, first off, I want to say thank you again for all the media coverage you’ve had a hand in. It’s nice to see our club’s name blowing up and you’ve had a definite hand in that, so thank you.
RMR: Seattle Trance Alliance just celebrated their first two years with four unforgettable performances. Could you have pictured this much success in such a short period of time?
Marc: It has turned out about as well as we could’ve hoped. I am just grateful people are enjoying the shows and we have been able to make trance thrive here.
RMR: You’re already pulling names that were previously restricted to Seattle festivals. Do you have to do much pushing to get these bookings, or does the reputation of The Underground do the work for you?
Marc: They are coming to me now. I am turning down more DJs, and we can be a little more picky about who we book.
RMR: A lot of people think of The Underground as a trance club. What other shows go down here that the people really need to check out?
David: The easy answer is anything at Safe Escape Events. We are closely partnered with them on multiple shows including a monthly hard-house night, House Basement, the first installment of which is coming up Saturday, March 10th.
Marc and I are also excited about our weekly progressive show Elements, which drops every Thursday starting March 1st.
Finally, on April 28th we are getting back into the heavy bass for my birthday show which will feature great local bass heads including myself, Kill Hero, and many others.
RMR: How does it feel giving new event companies and local DJs a chance to thrive?
David: Honestly, it’s an honor to be able to help up and coming promotion companies grow and prosper in a real nightclub environment with mitigated risk at a reasonable rate. No one makes it alone, NO ONE. And to be able to pay forward all the help, guidance, and opportunities Marc Pospisil has given to me over the last 5 years is truly fulfilling on a scale I didn’t think was possible.
Have we been burned by former promotion teams after giving them their very first club nights to run? Sure, but that’s the nightlife industry. What’s more important are the partnerships that have flourished and the appreciation we receive from those partners.
In fact, Safe Escape Events had the very first show they ever threw right here at The Underground a little over a year ago. Now, we consider them our closest allies and friends next to STA and STF.
Again, it’s truly humbling to be able to help the Seattle music scene grow and prosper. It was the same way I was helped time and time again over my music career.
FOR MORE COVERAGE OF THE UNDERGROUND AND THE SEATLE TRANCE SCENE, AND LOCAL TALK FRIDAYS, FOLLOW RESPECT MY REGION ON FACEBOOK & TWITTER.
HAVE A STORY WE SHOULD COVER? EMAIL US.
