Club Alcohol
Address: 127 Georgi Sava Rakovski Str.
http://www.clubalcohol.com/
Working hours: 6pm to ...

A classic Saturday Night Live skit I watched back in the States featured Chris Kattan and Will Ferrell as the Butubi brothers, two guys always trying to get into the hip nightclub known as The Roxbury. Famous for their wild head-banging dance moves and preference for the song What is Love? by Haddaway, the two brothers would have felt at home here in the heart of Sofia, at the trendy club Alcohol.

An unmarked, short, creepy corridor off Rakovski Street leads to a heavy metal door, often flanked by security, down a flight of stairs and straight to the coat check, where one has the option of entering two different rooms. The door to the left offers young, energetic dancing fiends the adrenaline-pumped atmosphere many Sofians crave on their nights out on the town. Scattered bar stools and counter-like tables litter the dimly lit room, leaving ample space for dancers to get down and funky. Housing two large bars, there is a wide-selection of alcohol at a moderate price. Sizeable speakers are spread throughout a large room able to hold 400 people or so, to the point where the loud beats would even startle your deaf grandmother. Featuring modern house music, specifically progressive and vocal house sounds, there is always the occasional retro or hip-hop track played throughout the night. The club's three DJs are known to mix up their sets, anything they need to do to ensure the people keep their dancing shoes on, though in the end, it really all starts to sound like techno song after techno song - if one is honestly able to differentiate between tracks.

To the right of the coat check is a small room, decorated in Oriental style, filled with comfortable couches and a number of hookah pipes. Labelled as a VIP room, to prevent the likes of the Butubi brothers from crashing this seemingly reclusive space, many Sofians step across the hall and take a break from the claustrophobic, mind-blowing mania of the room next door. Featuring ethno and chill-out music played at a softer level than the neighbouring pulsating beats, club-goers seem to appreciate the unique alternative the venue offers.

Established three years ago, Alcohol is viewed as a popular night spot for many young people and is seemingly packed every Friday and Saturday. With no dress code and playing the most modern hits, it presents a comfortable environment to let yourself loose and toss away the inhibitions. As DJ Dong commented: "The most important thing at Alcohol is the people and the atmosphere - to make sure that everyone is always having fun!" The enthusiasm of the staff is always an added bonus, though the busier nights often present a longer wait for drinks.

Sofia is lucky to boast so many clubs that offer the same potential, although many seem to lack distinguishing characteristics. What is not as commonly advertised happens to be the special opportunity that this club offers on the weekdays. Open every night from 6pm to when no one is left, never charging a set cover, if there is one at all, Alcohol takes a breather from its typical music to host Karaoke Night every Wednesday.

Karaoke is a symbol for the international olive branch for people to come together and celebrate each other's gleeful spirit, hoping everyone is intoxicated enough so the performances are at least tolerable! It says a lot about a club, and how it chooses to represent itself, when it takes one night out of every week to host such a production. It may have been the song (I've had) The Time of my Life, featuring the melodic voices of two very youthful, very drunk kids, that drew me into the club, but that was only the beginning of a very entertaining evening. I should note, due in part to the fantastic singing and brilliant, especially creative dancing moves I saw, that the "Roxbury guys" would have easily found their new home away from home here at Alkohol. Whether it was the styling talent of perhaps the worst James Brown impersonation I have heard, singing Sex Machine in a thick Bulgarian accent, or the glass-shattering attempt of a poor girl's version of Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You, it was the energy and obvious sense of enjoyment of all the people around that really created an ambiance that makes me want to return.

If one is interested in the traditional bump and grind that techno has to offer, Alcohol is a great place on the weekend, filled to its maximum capacity, lots of dance space, and even the occasional 50 Cent single or Village People's YMCA. It is definitely a worthy competitor in Sofia's club scene, especially with its smaller VIP room offering an appropriate respite if so desired. More than anything, it is the lively nature of the people who go to Alcohol, nearly all of whom are constantly dancing, that welcomes people from all walks of life. Though I have yet to hear Haddaway since visiting the club, I know it is on its way next time I stop by; and one night, if I am lucky, I'll see the next generation of Butubi brothers stroll right past me among the swarming eccentric, upbeat crowd.