Los Angeles-based disco party A Club Called Rhonda celebrated its four-year anniversary with a retrospective at POPTart last weekend. The Koreatown gallery, owned and curated by LA drag queen Phyllis Navidad, is lined with posters and club pics from Rhonda. In a city where parties come and go, Rhonda has managed to strike gold with its decadent sense of style, coveted DJ bookings, and "everyone’s-a-freak" attitude. I sat down with one half of team Rhonda, Gregory Alexander, to reflect on the club's commendable run.
Matty Pipes: Where did the idea for club Rhonda come from?
Gregory Alexander: It was a necessity for us. At the time there wasn't a place that brought together our different types of friends, with an amazing soundtrack, an "anything goes" attitude, and a low cover charge. We drew inspiration from legendary parties of the past that we weren't old enough to attend, as well as parties we'd encountered on our travels.
MP: Four years is a long time in club speak, what's the secret to the party's longevity?
GA: I think that we can attribute our success so far to our attention to detail and production quality, the growing storyline of Rhonda, and word of mouth from our loyal patrons and guest DJs. Also, my co-creator Loren and I just LOVE to party, we take it very seriously, so I think that shows.
MP: Why a retrospective now?
GA: People would tear down the promotional posters and hang them on their fridge or wall and take pictures with them. One day Phyllis came across someone who had framed and hung the posters in their house and she pitched the show to us. We know that most retrospectives occur after something is finished and gone, but we thought this was a great way to remember our beginnings, while paying homage to the people and moments that have made the party what it is. It also serves as a bit of a history lesson for those who have newly discovered the club.
MP: Do you have any crazy DJ moments from Rhonda?
GA: Oh God, there have definitely been some crazy moments! A few that stand out are when Dirty Dave DJed in just a pair of white briefs back in 2008, when Nicky Siano (a resident DJ from Studio 54 back in the 70s) was high on pills and sweating profusely while spinning an amazing disco set, or when Theo Parrish went missing after his set. The staff from the hotel Theo was staying at later told us that he came in at 3am to use the Internet, piled all of his pillows into a corner, and then didn't even sleep there.
MP: Is there a Rhonda style?
GA: I think the common style is usually skin. People really go over the top with their embellishments, but most people dress to show skin or are prepared with easily transitioned pieces. It's a club where you're the odd man out if you're not dancing, so obviously it gets hot in there. There's even a late night rule, "No shirts on stage," so make sure you've done your crunches and are wearing a cute bra!
MP: You curate the elaborate stage sets every month. Can you describe some of your favorites?
GA: One was for Azari & III's first time at Rhonda, when I turned the stage into an all-out jungle. There were tropical plants and netting everywhere and green LED lighting. Another favorite was for one of my birthdays, themed "Bedtime Stories". I put a bed on stage with tons of pillows and giant teddy bears, hung up a big tranny version of the Man on the Moon, and draped silk fabric everywhere. It felt like a really insane and sexy slumber party in the middle of a disco.
MP: Is there really a Rhonda?
GA: Rhonda is very real, alive, and well. Her character is based on all of us, but taken to the extreme.
MP
Matty Pipes: Where did the idea for club Rhonda come from?
Gregory Alexander: It was a necessity for us. At the time there wasn't a place that brought together our different types of friends, with an amazing soundtrack, an "anything goes" attitude, and a low cover charge. We drew inspiration from legendary parties of the past that we weren't old enough to attend, as well as parties we'd encountered on our travels.
MP: Four years is a long time in club speak, what's the secret to the party's longevity?
GA: I think that we can attribute our success so far to our attention to detail and production quality, the growing storyline of Rhonda, and word of mouth from our loyal patrons and guest DJs. Also, my co-creator Loren and I just LOVE to party, we take it very seriously, so I think that shows.
MP: Why a retrospective now?
GA: People would tear down the promotional posters and hang them on their fridge or wall and take pictures with them. One day Phyllis came across someone who had framed and hung the posters in their house and she pitched the show to us. We know that most retrospectives occur after something is finished and gone, but we thought this was a great way to remember our beginnings, while paying homage to the people and moments that have made the party what it is. It also serves as a bit of a history lesson for those who have newly discovered the club.
MP: Do you have any crazy DJ moments from Rhonda?
GA: Oh God, there have definitely been some crazy moments! A few that stand out are when Dirty Dave DJed in just a pair of white briefs back in 2008, when Nicky Siano (a resident DJ from Studio 54 back in the 70s) was high on pills and sweating profusely while spinning an amazing disco set, or when Theo Parrish went missing after his set. The staff from the hotel Theo was staying at later told us that he came in at 3am to use the Internet, piled all of his pillows into a corner, and then didn't even sleep there.
MP: Is there a Rhonda style?
GA: I think the common style is usually skin. People really go over the top with their embellishments, but most people dress to show skin or are prepared with easily transitioned pieces. It's a club where you're the odd man out if you're not dancing, so obviously it gets hot in there. There's even a late night rule, "No shirts on stage," so make sure you've done your crunches and are wearing a cute bra!
MP: You curate the elaborate stage sets every month. Can you describe some of your favorites?
GA: One was for Azari & III's first time at Rhonda, when I turned the stage into an all-out jungle. There were tropical plants and netting everywhere and green LED lighting. Another favorite was for one of my birthdays, themed "Bedtime Stories". I put a bed on stage with tons of pillows and giant teddy bears, hung up a big tranny version of the Man on the Moon, and draped silk fabric everywhere. It felt like a really insane and sexy slumber party in the middle of a disco.
MP: Is there really a Rhonda?
GA: Rhonda is very real, alive, and well. Her character is based on all of us, but taken to the extreme.
MP