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San Francisco's
best kept secret, the Justice League is ground zero for
drum-n-bass aficionados. Located on Divisadero away from the SOMA club
scene the League attracts a devout following. You won't find tunnel
folk or
the Marina set here. What you will find though is hip twentysomethings
and
barely legal teens dancing to fierce beats. Oh yeah, they also spin
wicked
hip-hop, host live bands and give DJ's the freedom they so desperately
need.
The venue is ideal for live music. Having just one dance floor with
a
rectangular bar set slightly back the place feels both intimate and
roomy.
If you like the big warehouse and trashy house music then go elsewhere.
Here the layout is simple and you're not far from the toilet when nature
calls. There's even some tables on the wings where you can chill out
or you
can take advantage of the narrow back balcony for other nocturnal pursuits.
Besides the usual live gigs the Justice League also puts on special
events
like an exotic fashion show last spring complete with rubber bikinis.
For
DJ's they often install slide shows running the latest in Japanese animation
and suspend an elaborate canopy over the stage to enhance the already
funky
ambience. Many top name artists like DJ Shadow and Storm & Kemistry
from
the Metalheadz label have found it to be a haven from the bigger clubs.
Here they rub elbows with the masses instead of being locked away in
some
booth.
But the main attraction is easily the crowd who always get into the
music
whether it be hip-hop or jungle. Their moves are inspiring, intriguing,
infectious even and they don't give a damn about IPO's or dot.com business
plans. The music is what matters so drop any pretentious cover and get
lost
in the vibe. People dance for themselves here. There truly is proletarian
justice at the League as no dress codes are in effect and one needn't
worry
about long lines or ego mad bouncers.
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