Halloween 2006. Part I

Russia is a country with the most holidays, especially state ones. But, strange as it may seem, among the clubbing crowd the most popular are precisely the ones imported to us from abroad – St. Valentine's Day and Halloween. Although that's probably right – after all, it would sound somewhat comical to phrase it: "The cult holiday of all times and peoples – the Day of Accord and Reconciliation!" or, even worse: "Constitution Day feat. David Guetta!". So Halloween in this respect is the most fitting holiday; whatever you come up with, it all fits the theme.
In the last days of October the year's most reckless parties take place, memories of which last until the next Halloween. Once a year women's questions occupy the minds of the male part of the party crowd: "What to wear?". The other question, so to speak, is international: "Where to go?". 44100Hz correspondent Naoko Ann talked with the promoters of various capital clubs, and here's what she managed to find out:

Propaganda

Why should Halloween be celebrated precisely at your place?
We'll have a performance by a man whom certain Moscow music communities have long awaited – Joakim. On the one hand, he's a jazz musician; on the other, he's widely known to the techno and minimal-techno crowd, recording on the Versatile label (which releases tech-house). And, most importantly, being the owner of the French Tigersushi, he was one of those who raised the wave of electroclash and electro-disco. So, speaking of the music at our Halloween, one can only guess what it will be. Well, and everyone knows that Halloween at Propaganda is a big booze-up. And that, perhaps, is the main reason.
Which musical track would you choose as the anthem of Halloween?
The most fitting composition for Halloween is, without a doubt, AC/DC's "Highway to Hell."
Will you be carving pumpkins?
There will be pumpkins – 9 of them.
The most original Halloween costume you can imagine?
It was a few years ago. Nowadays many people can afford something like that, but back then it amazed me. There was this man – Denis Barkovsky, a famous designer, art director of Wallpaper. So he and his girlfriend came in the costumes of a bride and groom. And since by that point they'd already been dating for a long time, I was absolutely certain they'd actually gotten married that day and had now come to celebrate. But it turned out to be a joke.
Also, last year I liked a man in the uniform of a Russian soldier from World War II: in boots, breeches, a helmet, as if he'd been taken and pulled straight out of a film.
The scariest dream you've ever had?
It's better not even to recall it. Mine can be very scary. As they say, no comment.

Fabrique

Why should Halloween be celebrated precisely at your place?
Because with us it's earlier than in all of Moscow – by a day or two, meaning you can start celebrating at our place. That's first; and second, 90% of our crowd is in costume, and the club is decorated very originally too, this year in a pirate spirit. So it'll be very bright and colourful.
Which musical track would you choose as the anthem of Halloween?
I wouldn't choose anything as the anthem of a modern club Halloween, since these days the same thing plays everywhere. Though, let's think, we'll try to pick out something like that, and maybe we'll even do some kind of fashion show to that music.
Will you be carving pumpkins?
There will formally be pumpkins, just 2–3 of them. We're moving away from the classic Halloween style, so we won't have any ghouls or vampires or any evil spirits, so there won't be many pumpkins either.
The most original Halloween costume you can imagine?
The characters who wrap themselves in foil and walk around Moscow on Halloween look quite original – simple, cheap and cheerful. I also greatly respect the following: grown men, around forty-five years old, wearing huge full-body costumes all night long, for example Shrek, like at our place last year. That costume weighs about 40 kilos, and you still have to dance in it all night! But best of all is when people support our theme. I hope that this year we'll have a bunch of little mermaids, pirates and the like.
The scariest dream you've ever had?
The scariest thing is probably some childhood memories, when – whoop! – you get tossed into some thornbush, and later I dreamed of the exam session. But now that's no longer very relevant.

Mix

Why should Halloween be celebrated precisely at your place?
Because we long ago went beyond this holiday and transformed it into a Carnival, which the brightest, most interesting and most cheerful masks and costumes gather for. Add to this a performance by a German DJ, and we get a round dance of music and merriment.
Which musical track would you choose as the anthem of Halloween?
It has become a tradition for the club Mix to invite foreign musicians to perform on Carnival Night; we always treat the choice of DJ with special care. I think that Oliver Hacke's set will create a festive atmosphere and become the main musical event of the night for all our guests.
Will you be carving pumpkins?
No, we won't carve pumpkins or anything else. I think we'll occupy ourselves with more interesting things.
The most original Halloween costume you can imagine?
I've seen a lot of interesting costumes in previous years; I hope that this year there will be even more of them. As is my tradition, I'll go without a costume, and among our guests we welcome outfits not on the Halloween theme, but on the Carnival theme.
The scariest dream you've ever had?
That dream was so scary that I hurried to forget it.

Gaudi

Why should Halloween be celebrated precisely at your place?
We'll have cool DJs, outstanding freaks of our time: Marc Almond, Adam Sky, Super Star Dj Keoki. And the crowd will match the theme – freaky, and those are very bright people, open, free. So it'll be a special celebration.
Which musical track would you choose as the anthem of Halloween?
On DJ Keoki's website there's a track whose name I don't know. Now that one would fit very well.
Will you be carving pumpkins?
Honestly, we haven't decided yet: we're only just recovering from the season opening, which was very loud. And in general all this gets decided very spontaneously, practically on the spot.
The most original Halloween costume you can imagine?
Last year we had a large-sized man in a ballet tutu, as in "Swan Lake": a tutu, white tights and… sneakers on his feet.
The scariest dream you've ever had?
To wake up and realize that it's the first of September, and you're going into first grade or off to university… Oh, God forbid.

Gorod

Why should Halloween be celebrated precisely at your place?
Because of the music. We'll have a man playing who took Drum'n'Bass out of a small club onto the international arena; it's precisely thanks to him that we now listen to Jungle and Drum'n'Bass – LTJ Bukem.
Which musical track would you choose as the anthem of Halloween?
Somehow I never thought about it.
Will you be carving pumpkins?
We won't have pumpkins, and instead of pumpkins – the patrons.
The most original Halloween costume you can imagine?
I don't remember what the film was called, but in it there was a girl in a Tampax costume. Now that was truly original!
The scariest dream you've ever had?
The scariest dream will be right now, if I don't manage to finish all my tasks before the club opens.

Sorry, babushka

Why should Halloween be celebrated precisely at your place?
Only we can expose that greatest hoax of all times and peoples – Halloween. It never occurred to anyone, but we've finally come to our senses and are ready to share our thoughts with everyone. So from this holiday I expect the victory of good all over the world, so that people of goodwill unite. After all, there are no evil spirits, all people are good, and one just needs to… be good. It's like personal hygiene – start with yourself, and then we'll sort out the world too.
Which musical track would you choose as the anthem of Halloween?
The anthem of our Halloween will be All You Need Is Love.
Will you be carving pumpkins?
Instead of pumpkins we'll have watermelons!
The most original Halloween costume you can imagine?
The most original costume for our Halloween is a smile on your face.
The scariest dream you've ever had?
A trigonometry test. After all, we all come from childhood…