What youngsters like
Itâs a surreal scene, even for a club as storied as the Roxy. Itâs another Monday night, another night for the club âSpin the Bottle,â and there are scads of teenagers everywhere, clumped in their habitual packs, laughing, dancing, hugging and screaming at each other in recognition. Most of them are girls, dressed in a style that could be called American Apparel meets the many moods of Chloe Sevigny. There is a small circle of tiny boys who canât be more than 13.
Next to the stage is a âyard sale,â an elaborate merch area stocked with an impressive range of Cobrasnake memorabilia, including T-shirts, stickers and a pile of 8x10 glossy photos of Mark âCobrasnakeâ Hunter in a Speedo, lounging like Burt Reynolds in his classic Playgirl centerfold. The clubâs host and MC, Hunter strides through the room dressed in what looks like an early â80s b-boy version of the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Heâs followed by a gaggle of girls who start dancing behind the main merch table.
Onstage, DJ Marshall Barnes is spinning a banging set of brutal techno that at times seems to overwhelm the young crowd, until heâs interrupted by Hunter, who commands the stage with a microphone. He announces a âjerk off,â a dance contest based on the current L.A.-based jerkinâ dance sensation. As Barnes cues up a remix of the New Boyz smash âYouâre a Jerk,â a couple amble onstage to compete for the grand prize of a cellphone provided by one of the nightâs sponsors. While the girlâs moves are nothing new, the guyâs effort is admirable, to the delight of the onlookers.
âOh man, my little brother is up front getting his mind corrupted right now,â laughs Tatiana Nahai, 20, as rapper Dirt Nasty (a.k.a. former MTV personality Simon Rex) takes over the stage to spew some X-rated rhymes. As kids impulsively leap on the stage to dance around him, a bemused bouncer gently nudges them off.
The brainchildren behind âSpin the Bottleâsâ teen mob scene are Ike and Manny Adler, ages 15 and 16, respectively. The children of Hollywood stalwart Lou Adler and the younger brothers of Roxy owner Nic and musician Cisco Adler, these affable youngsters represent the next generation of party promoters to grow up in the shadow of the Sunset Strip.
âWe were setting up for the party, and Ike was like, âIâm nervous about tonight,â â chuckles Nic Adler about his younger brothersâ first foray into the night life game. âI told him welcome to my world. Iâve been nervous for the past 18 years. That just comes with the territory. But itâs really exciting to see them stepping up into this role and carrying on the tradition. Theyâre constantly turning me on to all kinds of new DJs and music. Theyâre not just doing this to be cool. They love the music.â
âNic approached us about helping promote an event for kids our age,â says Ike about the summer-long weekly.
âWe want it to be the best party of the summer,â Manny adds. âEvery week a house party in a nightclub for all ages.â
With guests such as Steve Aoki, Skeet Skeet and DJ Them Jeans already lined up to perform, the brothers are enthralled with the current underground electro scene.
âMy dream guests would be Kid Cudi, Bloody Beetroots and Deadmau5,â says Ike, while Manny lists his brother (along with partner Shwayze), DJ AM and emerging rap sensation Drake as his top picks.
âSee, I donât even know who this Drake guy is, but if Manny says I should check him out, Iâll check him out,â Nic says. âTheyâre so on top of whatâs new itâs scary sometimes.â
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âSpin the Bottleâ
Where: The Roxy, 9009 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood
When: 8 p.m.-close, Mondays
Price: $20 cash, $25 credit
Contact: (310) 278-9457; www.theroxyonsunset.com