My brother just sent me this link. Republik is reopening in 2 weeksish…
Republik resurrected Iconic rock club returning 10 years later
Mike Bell, Calgary HeraldPublished:
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
The Republik is dead. Long live the Republik.
This month, the doors will open once again on a Calgary alternative rock institution that has lain dormant for the better part of a decade — the Republik Nightklub, which will be one of three new venues in the old Victoria’s restaurant block, at 306 17th Ave. S.W. True, it may be in a different location from either its first home orthe venue that shut down in 2000 and currently houses Tequila, but ownersare hoping to recreate the spirit of the seminal ’90s nightclub by revivingits name.
“It’s definitely important to me that we stick to whole philosophy ofwhat it was,” says Victor Choy, who opened the original Republik (516 9thAve. S.W.) in June 1987, before moving it to its longtime 219 17th Ave. S.W. location two years later. That philosophy was providing an alternative to the Top 40 dance bars in Calgary, and to create a venue for up-and-coming local and touringbands. Along with the defunct Westward Club as well as the Night Gallery, the Republik helped indie rock not only survive, but thrive in aconservative city.
During its heyday, The Republik hosted acts ranging from Calgary’sHuevos Rancheros, Wagbeard and Red Autumn Fall to Canadian fare such as Moistand Our Lady Peace and international biggies such as Pavement, Wilco, Yo La Tengo and Courtney Love’s band Hole. But as the ’90s came to a close, DJ culture took over, with turntablists becoming the new rock stars and interest in live music subsequentlywaning. That was one of the main reasons Choy, 43, chose to close the doors,thereby putting an end to an era. He admits, though, that since that time he’d been approached by a numberof people trying to get him to either sell them the name or to reopen it himself, but he’d always balked at either suggestion. So why now? “Why not?” Choy says with a laugh. “Since the Republik has closed, every time I go out I always run intopeople who say, ‘When are you going to open the Republik? When are you going to open the Republik? When are you . . .?’ — nonstop.
“It’s now at the point where even my nieces and nephews are asking.That’s all they listen to, whatever the indie scene is all about now — guyswith tight jeans, and the whole My Chemical Romance thing. That’s the whole culture that they’re living now. “So it’s for them I guess, and I’m also doing it for the people thatmissed out,” he says before quickly adding, “and there’s nostalgia for mealso.” But Choy says doing it right was the most important aspect inresuscitating his first venture into clubland — he and his brother Jim are alsobehind other venues such as The Mercury, The Whiskey and Flames Central. Livingup to the name while not tarnishing the memories of those who grew up withthe Republik, he says, was foremost.
To do that he turned to Dan Northfield, 35, and Travis Burke, 34, whoare partners with Choy on another establishment from his stable, the Drum & Monkey Pub on 1st Street S.W. “They’ll bring integrity to it,” Choy says. “And I’ve been adamant withthem that this is what it has to be.” Northfield says he didn’t need a lesson on the legacy of the Republik, having spent many a night there watching bands — a fact easilyascertained by the music played over the speakers at the Drum. “I’m going into it as a fan, for sure,” he says. “That’s why it was flattering when Vic approached as a fan and as a regular there. “There’s definitely pressure, but we just want to create that sameenergy we enjoyed when we were younger hearing great up-and-coming bands that were cutting edge for the time.
“I think the time is right. All these kids that are regulars at the Drumnow that were never even old enough to get into the Republik aresuper-excited about it. They’ve heard the stories from their older brothers and their parents about what a great venue it was.” Perhaps the biggest obstacle the new club will have to overcome is competition. Calgary’s indie bar scene is hopping now, with live venues and dancebars plentiful in the beltline area. Even the Republik will be sharing itsspace with two new choices — a dance lounge called Stylofone, and arestaurant and lounge area called Lola’s. But Northfield points to that, instead, as a positive. “I think times have changed — the kids like the rock and roll again,”he says, noting the Republik will be set up for live music from Mondaythrough Friday, whenever needed. “Friday nights the Drum’s lined up, the Ship (& Anchor Pub) is lined up,the Hi-Fi’s lined up, and if there’s a decent band at Broken City it’s soldout. “The city’s large enough, people are wanting a venue like this. Ifthey’re willing to line up at those four venues on a Friday night, there’s definitely a market for it.”
That sentiment is echoed by Solange McAlister, general manager of Broken City, the club that, along with other venues such as the Warehouse, has carried the live indie music torch since the Republik closed. In fact,she sees only good things coming from it. “We’re welcoming it,” McAlister says. “We’re happy that there’s anotherlive music venue that’s opening up because there’s so much that’s comingthrough. There are so many touring bands that can play 200 to 300 size room andthere are very few venues that can accommodate that. They either play a smallbar or they play (the U of C’s MacEwan Hall) and the more smaller venues we have, the better. “With all these touring groups now coming through and realizing there’sa market in Western Canada, the local bands I think kind of get left out.So we’re excited because everything will get spread around a bit more andwe’ll be able to accommodate local bands a bit better.”
Final touches are being put on The Republik and it should be open withinthe next two weeks. When it does, only time will tell whether it lives up to its name or tramples on the memories of those who frequented it in the past. Choy himself would love to see some of the regulars return, but at thesame time now he’s more focused on the memories and the regulars that are to come. “To get all of those old faces and regulars in one room, at one time –that would be phenomenal. But it’s probably not going to happen. Maybe the initial opening,” he says after a thought. “But afterwards it’s the new generation. It’s the new generation andthis is for them.”
mibell@theherald.canwest.com
- – - Republik Bands From A to Z
Some of the bands and artists who performed at the Republik from 1987 to 2000.
Alien Sex Fiend
Bad Brains
Bay City Rollers
Art Bergmann
Bif Naked
Big Sugar
Bo Diddley
Bootsauce
Bran Van 3000
Neko Case
Cheap Trick
Chixdiggit
Cracker
D.O.A.
Desmond Dekker
Dread Zeppelin
Dream Warriors
Alejandro Escovedo
Fishbone
Forbidden Dimension
Furnaceface
Giant Sand
Grandmaster Flash
Crispin Glover
Goldfinger
Goo Goo Dolls
Green Day
The Hanson Brothers
The Headstones
Hole Huevos Rancheros
The Jesus Lizard
Juliana Hatfield
Robyn Hitchcock
Matthew Good Band
Matchbox 20
Moist
Charlie Musselwhite
New Model Army
Nickleback
No Means No
Our Lady Peace
Pavement
Placebo
Posies
The Pursuit of Happiness
Queens of the Stone Age
Rainbow Butt Monkeys
Red Autumn Fall
Jonathan Richman
Rheostatics
Ron Sexsmith
Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet
Shonen Knife
Sloan
The Smalls
The Smugglers
SNFU
The Stone Roses
Supersuckers
Swervedriver
They Might be Giants
Toad the Wet Sprocket
Urge
Overkill
Wagbeard
Weeping Tile
Wilco
Bob Wiseman
Yo La Tengo
Zuckerbaby
Article retrieved on 10:04 PM 12/12/2007 from:http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/entertainment/story.html?id=f98
