It’s not often that we here in the Northwest get the opportunity to venture down south to check out what the Bay Area music scene has to offer. This last week though, we were afforded that opportunity. We started our week at Sea of Dreams in San Francisco on December 30th, watching as The Glitch Mob and Pretty Lights threw down for a night to remember. On New Year’s Eve, we made our way out to Oakland for POPNYE, headlined by Armin van Buuren, Bingo Players, and W&W. But perhaps the most fun we had in the midst of this whirlwind musical odyssey, was on New Year’s Day at Ruby Skye with Myon and Shane 54.
[divider]The Venue[/divider]
The venue itself, for lack of a better word, is gorgeous. We walked up to the guest list area, trying to differentiate the right place to stand (as it is at most nightclubs, the mob outside is predictably difficult to navigate). Towards the front of the line, one friendly group of people invited us to stand with them as we all chatted over how our respective New Year’s Eves went. We got to the front and carried on another conversation with some of the most courteous and friendly bouncers we’ve ever spoken with.
We finally entered the wide doors into the expansive lobby of Ruby Skye, replete with a couch, lights on the walls, and a certain red hue to the atmosphere. Grabbing our stage wristbands from the front counter, we began our expedition into the visual feast that was the main room. An ornate chandelier hung from the ceiling above the balcony, pairing beautifully with the Victorian-era dressings along the walls. The space originally was home to turn-of-the-century playhouse, with much of the most appealing aspects of it left behind.
Myon and Shane started off our 2015 perfectly. (Photo Credit: Thomas Blase / T Blaze Photography)
Up on the balcony we were able to catch a view of the entirety of the dance floor, immediately noticing how no single patron seemed to be laboring in line at the bars on either side below; virtually everyone was taken care of quickly, sending them back on their way to the music. We eventually made our way back down, and took up our position on stage behind the decks, as Myon and Shane 54 came on for what was their second night headlining Ruby Skye.