Element

225 E Houston Street
New York, NY 10002

This party has established itself as the signature East Village club experience and confirms the strong revival of the gay nightlife East of Broadway. Under the musical direction of electroclash godfather Larry Tee and hosted by the glamorous Sophia Lamar and her posse, The Bank is a raucous romp with an unmistakable East Village twist, bringing together the freaks and the fabulous, the classy and the tasteless. The venue is a former bank turned into a very swanky nightclub, with a mezzanine overlooking the main room, and a sinuous basement with small rooms and lounging spaces, ideal for chilling out and socializing.

On a recent Saturday night, you could hear Sophia Lamar on the mic vilifying some strayed Chelsea boy in his usual shirtless attire, yelling at him: "Put your shirt back on, this is not the Roxy". In short, The Bank is the antithesis of the Chelsea nightclub on 18th street, and stands firmly in promoting an alternative clubbing experience for the queer masses. Behind the wheels of steels, DJ Larry Tee shuns from the usual run of the mill tribal dance music in favor of an eclectic mix of classy house sounds, trendy electro, and a little bit of grunge and rock and roll thrown in for good measure. This will surely delight the urban contemporary club kids, while the true house heads might find this a tad unpalatable for their likings. The promoter Josh Wood draws a very mixed crowd of boys, girls, trannies and gender-bending characters that contribute to the distinct "bohemian" vibe of the party. Many creatures and queer performers grace the dance floor and mingle with the crowd, punctuating the night with their burlesque and highly conceptual act.

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