Essentials
Address: 906 S Barclay |
Review
The Scene:
Focused and on a mission. Probably the most well thought out pure dance club
in the city. Lounge and VIP areas are cushly inviting, and the lighting is
subdued but lush, lending a warm glow to the overriding energy of the space.
The tunes are loud and thumping in true club style, and the multitude of friendly,
hiply dressed patrons take advantage of it all on the well positioned dance
floor.
The Drinks:
OP anyone? No? That's ok, since they don't have it. What they do have is everything
else, which we suppose is a decent compromise. You wont find a multitude of
exotic mixers or martinis on the lineup at Rain, but what you will find is
all of your favorite liquors and beers served up quickly and for a reasonable
hit to the pocket book. Speed is definately a noted and welcome feature of
the bar, as are the strong mixers and above average rail quality. The metros
are the best we've had in Milwaukee, and the premium liquors (Grey Goose,
etc) are a bit pricey but generously poured. If you're a Tequila fan, you'll
find a better selection than the standard Cuervo. Buy a few rounds and you'll
probably find yourself doing a shot with a member of the outgoing bar staff,
on the house.
The Music:
Rain has, get this, SIX regular DJs in it's standard lineup. Most, like DJ
Whizzkid, with impressive pedigrees spanning the larger and more seasoned
venues in Chicago and New York. Catch it at the right time, and Rain will
serve you some of the hardest big city sound you can handle, served up on
a sound system of huge acoustical deliciousness. Sets on the weekend are a
good mix of House and varied electronica, with a healthy dose of pure hip
hop fun. We've been impressed at how well the sets are engineered - the right
number of pulsing, all out energy grooves, followed at exactly the right time
by a breakbeat or downtempo number with a more true techno-ish feel. Hat's
off to the DJs.
The people:
This is one of only a very, very few clubs in the city where we're consistently
approached by people throughout the night. In English, the people are very
friendly and outgoing. This applies to the staff as well, who have always
been courteous and acted like real people instead of employees. Real people
with, gasp! a sense of humor! Guys take note: The girls are hot. And there's
a lot of them. This is definately a good place to come meet people if you
can handle yourself in a conversation with three or four ladies at some point
before the liquid courage turns your words to slush. Ladies take note: The
guys are friendly, and the, um...lounge lizard factor seems to be well below
acceptable levels. We've never had a problem just grabbing the nearest person
when a hot track starts booming and hightailing it to the dance floor. Why?
Because dancing is the order of the evening, and everyone seems to spend most
of their time doing it. Come early, stay late, and dance, dance, dance.
The atmosphere:
One of our favorite things about Rain is the lighting. Just like looking in
a mirror under flourescent lights will pretty much give every living soul
on earth a terrible complexion, a great lighting job can turn even the most
dubious of spaces into the magical land of Oz. And dubious Rain is not. Couple
the already sumptuous decor and furnishing with a well installed and tuned
lighting system, and the result is...well, good. Very good. Like walking into
a place where nothing matters except the beat, the drink, and the cutie across
the room. Weekend at it's best. Our only beef: The general seating over near
the door could be a little more plush. But, with the great job Rain does setting
the mood, and all of the people who are coming to take part, you're going
to be on the dance floor all night anyway, so who cares?
What to wear:
While a snapshot of the patrons at a trendy dance club can often look like
a gothic funeral from all the black, the atmosphere at Rain lends itself well
to color, and dancers respond in kind. Ladies, colorful tops with slim dark
pants work well here, though we've seen plenty of shimmery skirts and the
always passable midriff black. Guys, check out the Central Park Jean from
Kenneth Cole. Thin, dark denim cut low at the waist and large at the ankle.
The takehome message is: Sleek and sexy, but you don't have to go posh. Be
comfortable, because you're going to want to dance. A lot. Please leave the
sneakers at home. And you probably won't get in with a hat, so trim and comb
the hair. You also won't be needing the 40 pound crucifix necklace to enjoy
the evening here.
When to go:
Mondays are a popular Service Industy Night (SIN, how clever) and ladies night
combo. Weekends are the best with Fridays being a better night in our experience.
You pretty much can't go wrong, though, so stop by whenever the spirit moves
you.
