Club reviews for Velvet Underground (510 Queen Street West ).

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Velvet Underground Reviews

We've divided these reviews up into sections as some reviews generate lots of comments.

General reviews (this page)
DJ Lazarus exits?

Velvet PLAYGROUND
I recently went to the Velevet Underground and I must say I was extremely disappointed with the crowd, crew and sounds. I went there to hear some good rock and instead I heard house beats and was harrased by little girls. I say little girls because you can tell by their behavour that they could not have been more than 18 years old. When trying to aviod their immaturity I was confronted by one of the bouncers (tall bald guy in grey leather jacket) who automatically assumed I had started shit with them. correct me if Im wrong but since when does this shit happen in the rock scene. The ownners of this establishment should really take into consideration that their employees (tall bald guy with grey leather jacket) are too concerned about getting laid by minors than they are about the well being of thier "legal age" customers. This review is a warning for all those who enjoy rock. Please, please, please do not subject yourself to this environment . Avoid going to the Velvet Undr...no wait...Velvet PLAYGROUND!!!!!!!

- review by honeydue (November 16 2003)

Content
I generally go to Velvet every weekend. I have been on a Friday, Saturday and a Sunday. I enjoy all three nights. I have yet to try a Thursday (which I'm planning on doing in the very near future).

Generally I'm flexible with my music. I like how the people are super friendly (fine with the occasional creepy guy - but that's a given in a club atmosphere). I wouldn't however, go into Velvet expecting some sort of Underground experience or anything too dark. If you're interested in a variety of music mostly rock oriented checkout a Friday or Saturday. If you want to try something slightly different (this is for those of you who don't frequent the Toronto Goth clubs) then checkout a Sunday! DJ Lazarus plays some pretty good tunes.

Subsequently, I'd give Velvet a 4.5 out of 5 only because I find the staff friendly, the music good, drinks decently priced and delivered in a timely manner and lastly the crowd isn't pretentious.

- review by fran (October 27 2003)

Lazarus shines at Velvet
I just checked out Velvet again last night, first night in a while and I must say that Sundays at Velvet are damn good. Lazarus was spinning all sorts of goodies, mixing it up with classic stuff from Gary Numan all the way through to recent Covenant. The place was packed and the dance floor was exploding.
Keep it up.

- review by dreamdoctor (August 4 2003)

reply to review below (sat 12 apr 03)
Try a Wednesday, Thursday or Sunday night. I don't recommend the other ones. See http://www.toronto-goth.com/clubs for more info.

- reply by dem (April 20 2003)

sat 12 apr 03
Okay, I normally tend to keep my opinions to myself, but I was shocked at Velvet last Saturday. Firstly, I was shocked at the crowd there. I mean for chrissaskes I thought I was at Joker, and one girl in particular agreed with me. The music was also pretty appalling[sp?], there was so much rap, and hip-hop, and eminem, I almost lost it. And when I asked them to play the cure cover of purple haze, they said no!! I don't think I'll ever go back....

- review by ryan (April 15 2003)

happy to be here....
I just recently moved to Toronto from the west coast. I frequently go to the Velvet Underground, and it has become my favorite club in this city. I was reading reviews on the VU and I need to speak my mind. In Vancouver there is only one "goth night" a week that isn't all ages (Sanctuary). If you think that the VU is snobby, then I do not recommend ever going to Vancouver. The atmosphere was so tense you could cut it with a knife. I found it quite easy to meet people here. For the most part everyone is friendly, and if they aren't friendly, they're definately not snobby. I am used to much worse. As for the music, I think that the VU tries to cater to everyone. I like Thursdays for the goth/ebm, as well as Saturday for the heavy music. Variety is the spice of life and the VU pulls it off. I have experienced delays with the bartending, but nothing serious, and nothing a little patience didn't cure. I guess my point is that the VU is a well rounded club that is way beyo! nd anything I have been to in Vancouver. Congratulations Toronto!

- review by stellarlunatic (November 2 2002)

Fabulous
I was just at the Velvet Underground a couple of Thursdays ago, and it was by far one of the best bar experiences I have ever had. I have been in many bars, and clubs, and usually the atmosphere and the people just don't appeal to me. However I found the atmosphere in the VU absolutely fabulous, and all the people were great. Prices were reasonable, and bartending service was excellent. The only problem I came across was that I liked it so much I returned on Sat., only to find out that it is a totally different club, so now I stick to going on goth nights only, and it rules :)

- review by Syd (September 18 2002)

bartenders
Well, here's a review allright,, about bartenders.
Went into teh velvet one night, just looking to have some fun and relax. Well not sure if we weren't dressed freaky enough or what the deal was,, but had a hell of a time geting a drink. Bartender was serving everyone with tits, thats for sure, and when we tried to ge a drink he totally ignored us. Well, since we were visitors in this shithole of a city, we at least expected to be treated like people who were spending our money here. Finally in desparation, my friend was forced to get the bartenders attention by using an old trick. Grabbed the fuckhead descreetly by the scruff of his neck and whisperd in his ear,,,"if you don't stop ignoring us,, and get us a fucking drink now, I'm going to please your 'goth' crowd, by tearing off your fucking head, and tossing it onto the dance floor"
Suddenly mr. bartender remembered how to mix a drink. and kept his mouth shut because certainly he knew we were serious. Fucking guy,, if bartending is the best he can do, then suggest he at least do it right.

- review by Donny (August 2002)

fun?nah!out-goth?ya!
Oh how weary i have become of Velvet. I use to go often but i'd much rather go to Bovine for a night out. Why? I'll just make a short list;
1) Cliques of a feather stick together. People are so goddamn snobby there thats it not even funny. Its worse than my old high school cafeteria. "Forgive me for not knowing of your existence my liege. I did not know you were of such high stature". Anyway, it just bugs me...i guess my little group of friends just arent snob's which is why we even met in the first place...
2) Service at the bar. HMm, i was there last thursday (which was not an unusual night for me to go) and i i had to wait 15minutes to get ONE drink. Perhaps it is because i dont have breasts, or perhaps it was because i was not screaming at the bartender or perhaps it was simply because i did not grow up with the bartender....Now, dont get me wrong, 15 minutes doesnt sound long, and truthfully, i wasnt getting pissed off...a little annoyed since other people who werent there as long as i were kept on getting served first. For bar service, thats crap.
Okay, i guess there are no other complaints other than those two big ones. Overall, its not great but its not terrible. Music is good if your really into EBM and some retro. If your into anything else this is not the place for you.

- review by Assembly (July 25 2002)

Frequent Visitor
Every couple months I break from the everyday chaos of N.Y and travel to T.O to see friends and family. I make certain to stay long enough to head out to the Velvet on Sunday night. This is where I kick up my feet, have a drink and relax. After 30 min, I'm ready to join those on the dance floor and become lost to the sounds of DJ Lazarus.
Usually, I'm not bothered by strangers coming up to acquaint themselves...its nice to get to know people on a proper level. However, as with any club, there always seems to be the one "crackpot" [or two] in the crowd that tends to become a bit aggressive and overbearing. When that happens, I curtly dismiss myself as they clearly have no clue about etiquette.
Other than that, I find the Velvet a nice change of pace and break from the norm. Also, kudos to the bartenders for their attentiveness! I've been to a few other bars/clubs in the area and found most bartenders to be completely unprofessional. I waited almost 10 min. for a drink in another club, finally walking away as the bartender "remembered" my drink, but the damage was done and I'll never go back. I hope that bartender never makes their way to NY for a job because they'd find their a$$ out on the street within 2 min. So again, kudos to those employed at the Velvet for making the experience an enjoyable one.

- review by Nefertari (July 19 2002)

How to ruin a good night
For the last year or so, I've been attending Thursday nights at Velvet Underground.
When I started going, DJ Vox was DJing, and it was great. Fun music, NEW music, a great atmosphere, and did I mention good music? Of course, it being a considerably 'mainstream' club, he had to play retro and more popular music, but regardless, you could always hear something interesting, or even a little different.
One week, he wasn't DJing there anymore.
'Well, I guess they found someone even better?' I thought to myself. I was wrong.
The promoter auditioned a few decent DJs, from what I'm gathering, and went with whomever was most willing to playing the same three APB/VNV/Covenant tracks, and the most obvious and typical retro and 'alternative'.
This new DJ even played a dance-mix of that annoying song by Dido. He also seems to neglect EVERY request that isn't 'Dead Stars', 'Kathy's Song', 'Epicentre'(wow, a NEW SONG!), or something retro. I think the coolest thing he's played was Suicide Commando, which surprised the hell out of me, since it doesn't suck.
Also, I believe there's two DJs who rotate, or something like that. Either way, they do the LEAST excusable of things in the set: Playing the same song TWICE! I don't need to hear 'Another World' twice, thank you very much. Great song, but ONCE IS ENOUGH.
Since the change, I've found that Velvet has managed to attract a broader range of idiots, pigs, and morons to it's Thursday nights.
I'm a sucker, because I go for the reasons most people go: friends. I love seeing friends, and good people in general. The other issue is that my girlfriend enjoys Velvet(yes, even now), so I wind up there, since no one ever seems interested in going to Savage. So, I spend my nights sitting, or standing around.
I love dancing. However, I'd rather tweeze out individual strands of my calf muscles than dance to some of the crap going through Velvet's Radio Shack system.
That's another thing. The sound system gives out at least twice a night. It only reoccurs on Thursdays, from my experience. Someone brainstormed the novel idea to cover the men's washroom in foil-type wallpaper, but rewiring the speakers wasn't in the budget? Hell, I'll do it for a drink, or even free!
Anyhow, as I was planning on saying somewhere along the way, Thursday nights have gone very much downhill at VU. Now, with summer here, the horny alpha-males are out and about, and Velvet seems to be a magnet just for them.
So, with any luck, I'll haul some friends out to Cream, and hopefully show my girlfriend that VU isn't worth returning to. There's no point in planning a revolt, when we all can't be bothered to take the first step.

- review by Peter (July 10 2002)

dancing space
It was my birthday, and i thought where better to go, if your birthday happens to fall on a thursday than velvet? I was right--for the most part. I had a great time, met up with friends, danced, drank, sang along to my favourites. But then i had some man hitting on me, which was fine until we danced... he was totally in my space, touching me (hips and arms..) and even rubbing his chest against mine. I'm sorry but if i wanted to "get giggy wit' someone" on a dance floor, i would have gone to Berlin or the orange room at gov't. not Velvet. so to all the boys out there, if you are lucky enough to dance with a girl at velvet, give a girl some space! there should be no touching involved! other than that, the music was great! people were great, I won't let this one incident change my good opinion of Thurs. at velvet, but it brings up a point, that i wanted to express, i'm sure others will agree... slán go foill, Cáit

- review by Cáit (June 20th 2002)

ack
Goth seems to be synonymous with "we like bad clubs called Velvet Underground". I cant take all the retro....it makes me ill...

- review by Deutsch_Maschine (June 14th 2002)

Is Goth more synonymous with love or hate? Joy or anger? I suppose there are two factions in this genre, and depending on the mood or in some cases the lifestyle, one might be more attracted to the angry industrial side, while another may find the melancholic beauty of hte more melodic, quiet goth music. But at the very least, most goth bands incorporate both moods to varying degrees in their full length albums. The great thing about the Velvet Underground is that it caters to both mentalities, depending on which night you go. Unlike Savage Garden or the Vatikan, it is not all industrial mayhem and chaos. there area ctually well selected cuts from the ethereal groups, interspersed with the angrier stuff, and this creates a harmony that either side can enjoy.

The other great thing about the Velvet Underground is that every time I go there, I meet a good-looking chick who is open-minded and fun-loving. The mix of people makes even the more conservative dressed goth fan, like myself, feel comfortable and at ease meeting people. The more die-hard venues cater really only to the heardcore goth fan, apparel and all - whips and chains, which not every fan enjoys. Hooray for Velvet in being the best goth/alternative club in T.O and for changing with the times without compromising taste or goth values. Stranger still, it is the only goth club that has been able to draw a non-goth crowd along with the faithful gothers, and perhaps it is the only club that WANTED to do that. But for the clubs that don't want to bring new faces, and limit themselves to a select elite, how will you ever be able to procreate the genre? Without introducing goth to the world that doesn't know it, would it not die with you?

So if you like goth, or if you don't know it but would be into hearing some of it mixed in with new EDGE 102 type music, check out the Velvet on weekends. I believe the weekdays are still for the goth elite.

- review by jeckyl/hyde (April 30th 2002)

The Velvet is apparently quite good on Sundays. Although I have yet to go myself, I did however drop by on Tuesday's for Velvet's new night called Event Horizon. The club is cozy and the music is loud enough to dance to but still be able to talk over, which is nice - for a change. If the music is still too loud for you (your either a wimp or have overly sensitive hearing) there is a lounge with tacky couches downstairs. The music is different, more goth than industrial. On Tuesday's at least, Velvet is a club to melt into. It's extremely relaxing, a good place to go after blazing. However the alcohol is quite expensive, $4 for a beer! The overall appearance of the club is great, except for the lounge, maybe by adding a few more decorative objects and redesigning the lounge Velevt could be the ultimate goth club.

Overall I give The Velvet Underground a 4 out of 5.

- review by eric (May 2001)

A new spinnin` is coming down, Hello DJ TRAUMA , new , refreshing, danceable. Unlike some of the DJ`S Paul does offer a new nite to enjoy something different & dancable. I hav always thought a DJ should dance, as we know Paul is an original, unique in his dance & none can compare. Paul likes his music. His 1st Wednesday (March 21st 2001) was a good turnout w/ a quik headcount of 90 plus. A bar quantifies success by the $`s generated thru drinks. Management has asked Paul to come back for the 3 Wednesdays that are open , the 2nd Wed., reserved for Salon de Kink. Management is happy they have invited him back & w/ summer coming & school out I`m sure Wednesdays will be a success. Th 2nd Wed (March 28th 2001) for Paul though not as large a turnout, more like a Monday nite w/ Ivan. Some of us dancers like to have some wing span. Unlike Vevet Thursdays. I like Ivan he always plays my "Like a Hurricane" Neil Youngs` tune by Mission or Bowie. (Thanks Ivan). I was surprised over the weekend talking to many people that were not aware of Velvets` Wed., openings w/ Paul.

I heard the last Darkrave was one of the best turnouts; no wonder I had never seen so much pole and wall postering for the event everywhere in the downtown west (hint , hint) , including all those fancy 'cool' clothing/shoe shops along the City TV route of QueenW. Though a lot of us dancers prefer to drink more water, it is kind of the Velvet crew to keep th jugs cool w/ ice for us , thanks guys. If u haven`t been out on a Wed., I know people have to work in the morning but a few dances is good for sleeping. Pass on to others that there is a Wednesday at Velvet, and Paul keep it up, you're doing something different & yes you can always throw a few Brian Ferry songs in when I`m there, thanks Paul & Velvet for giving you the chance to spin, GREAT !! Well done Paul I`m sure we all wish u best .

- review by Ronald (April 1 2001)

The Velvet is probably the most aesthetically pleasing club in Toronto. It also has one of the best dance floors for a goth/industrial club. Located on the north side of Queen in between Portland and Bathurst, it's in the midst of everything. With an elongated bar along the eastern wall, with more tables and couches on a raised floor near the back, there's plenty of room to sit either close to the DJ, or farther away from the crowd. With 4 pool tables spread around the bar, and a few couches downstairs if you want to get away from the crowd, it's by far my favourite venue in the city.

Machine Mondays: Don't have much to say about this one. Heck, I'm not sure if the night is still running. Last time I went, no more than 20 people were in the bar at one time (and that includes staff). DJ took requests, but the mixing skills were pretty horrid, and the atmosphere just isn't the same when the place is empty.

Event Horizons Wednesdays: Have yet to see, but it should be an excellent night. DJ Trauma (Paul), plays a lot of your requests, and I was very sad when the Friday nights he was playing at the Volcano Room were closed down. Hopefully he can lock down Wednesday nights, as there are no other alternatives except the Bovine.
Note: Event Horizon is on Tuesdays as of May 8th 2001

Catch-22 Thursdays: One of the Velvet's busier nights, DJ Jurgen knows how to bring the crowd in. By 12:00, the place is jammed, and it can get a little difficult to navigate around. However, the music is always good, and the atmosphere is smoking! Always plenty of good people around. My only complaint is with the time involved to get a drink at the bar. There's only 2 bartenders working on Thursday, and getting their attention can be difficult at times. One extra person there could make a world of difference.

Lazarus's Sundays: A great way to end a weekend, Lloyd plays some good retro tunes, with a little techno sounds thrown in every once in a while. The crowd rarely changes, but once again the atmosphere is fantastic. Once you walk through those doors, you know you made the right decision to come out.

- review by affliction (march 2001)

The opinions expressed in this review do not necessarily reflect those of Toronto-Goth.

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