We love to wax nostalgic about the Paradise Garage, and for good reason. Not only did the New York discotheque give us legendary DJs like Larry Levan and François Kevorkian, but it also helped define club culture for decades to come. Operating from 1977 to 1987 out of a former parking garage in SoHo, it was a headquarters for the city's queer community and a breeding grounds for new musical ideas, from soul and disco in the 70s to the earliest New York house records of the 80s.The brand name has been revived here and there for one-off events—like last year's magical block party outside of the club's former location—and next weekend it will come to the West Coast for the first time. The party, which goes down on December 19th at the Hollywood Palladium, is meant to raise awareness for the GMHC, one of the world's leading centers for HIV prevention, care and advocacy. The two organizations have a long history together.
"Mel Cheren gave the GMHC its first home, donating space for it in a building he owned in Chelsea," says Kenny Summit, owner of Good For You Records, who organized this event. "It was Mr. Cheren's financial backing that helped his business partner and former lover, Michael Brody, create the Paradise Garage in 1977 out of what was once a parking garage at 84 King Street in SoHo."The party also celebrates the forthcoming release of Paradise Garage: Inspirations, a 12-inch compilation featuring track by Frankie Knuckles, Louie Vega and Tony Humphries, among others. The club's original resident DJs, Joey Llanos and David Depino, will be at the controls. "We've done the best we can to recreate the actual sound system that was in the garage, the largest sound system ever to be put into the Hollywood Palladium," Summit told THUMP. "There is a euphoria created when listening to true masters working a pristine high-end sound system, one that no drug can imitate."Tickets are available here and additional info is available via their Facebook event here.
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