Club Kooky
For 13 years, Club Kooky's unique club culture has flown under the radar... until now. Time Out scratches at its queer veneer
By Jon Hewitt
The lifespan of any club night is often akin to a one-night stand - exciting, sometimes dramatic, full of debauchery, but always unfortunately short. In a scene that revolves around staying current and fresh, a club night that gets to celebrate its first birthday, let alone its tenth, obviously has the X factor dusted all over its dance-floor.
The masterminds behind Kooky are dynamic DJ duo Seymour Butz and Gemma - two party peeps who have avoided the pitfalls of a often fickle and superficial scene.
Late 80s queer clubbing veterans may remember the weekly Kooky nights at King Cross' Club 77. Shortly after, Butz and Gemma gave birth to their club bub in 1996. Kooky fast became a haven for club kids wanting a venue where they could mash up their clubbing experience through fashion, haphazard dance moves and the opportunity to see up-and-coming performers in a ‘tude-free room.
While cookie cutters were hard at work pressing out ‘classic' gay nights along Oxford street's various clubs, Butz and Gemma worked under the radar, concocting a weekly event which birthed it's own culture.
The key to Kooky's success seems to revolve around entertainment that differs from the norm on ‘the great golden gaytime mile'. By supporting the creative community, Gemma and Butz shepherded their kooksters to the Promised Land for keeps.
"There was so much focus to push American and English dance music in the clubs. That was all good, but we felt the need to hear and be involved in what was coming out of our own backyard," says Gemma.
Whether it be in-your-face bump 'n' grind of underground group Ghetto Pussy or performer Dallas Dellaforce channeling an 80s New Wave hair product commercial, with what he calls FOFOSP (Full On Fuck-Off Shoulder Pads) and gravity defying ponytail, Kooky dishes out shows that push us to appreciate something a little more than yet another Garland miming drag queen.
The artists invited to perform at Kooky these past 13 years is diverse. "We've had over 400 bands play there, including Bif Tek, Itchy and Scratchy, The Presets, Coda, Blush Foundation, Bleepin J. Squakins, Paul Mac and Wolfmother."
Time Out remembers the latter's epic song ‘Woman' sparking Nick Cave, Jarvis Cocker, Daniel Johns, Rufus Wainwright and the McGarrigles to set Kooky's dancefloor ablaze.
In this fast paced and attention deficit inducing modern world of ours, the toughest test of all is still the test of time and Gemma, Seymour Butz and the Kooky parties have passed with flying colours.
Kooky Winter Wonderland, July 19th @ Herman's Bar, corner of Bultin Rd and City Rd Camperdown (Sydney University).