The dark lords of kinship Urban Decay disciples find common ground through uncommon culture


Hair dyed black. Black lipstick and makeup. Black leather. Even a long black dress with black angel wings attached to the back. Any doubt about the color of choice on Monday? Gothic music and culture have always scared some people - the talk of death, vampires and the darker sides of life. Some who are part of the scene have deep knowledge of the historical and fictional figures behind gothic culture. Others just like wearing black. They all get together now on Monday nights at Davey's Uptown Ramblers Club, 3402 Main St., one of the few places in town where gothica reigns. The events called Urban Decay have featured DJs, live bands and a great atmosphere. This is a small community, but one trying to break out. The Hurricane had a few gothic nights, and there are some informal gatherings at coffeehouses. But Davey's is the firmest roots for the scene lately. It's easy to be taken aback when you walk in. Again, everyone is in black. The nearly dark back room is filled with pounding industrial music. A filtered spotlight, like a ray from heaven, shines in the corner. Candles burn behind the DJs. Statues of angels share table space with skulls and human bones (replicas, I hope). Crosses hang from the walls. Still, there was a genuine, positive feeling of camaraderie. The conversation was free. Smiles weren't scarce. No one was striving to be artifically dark. Or artificially anything. Alyssa, who runs a goth Web site but does not want her last name used, said that's not surprising. ``Compared to your regular club scene, goth people are much more laid-back,'' she said. ``Everybody knows everybody. '' Some might call it pretentious. I'd say it's the opposite. A guy in black shirt and black leather pants danced alone. He kept spinning and spinning, oblivious to the world. At times he seemed ready to twirl off the dance floor. Pretentious? Or did he just not care what anyone thought? If you asked Steven King, it was probably the latter. He says goth people learn to ignore the stares and whispers from others, many of whom think the goths are on drugs or mentally ill. King wants to get a goth scene going in KC and is talking about organizing a ball next spring. He'd like a club devoted to the music he likes. ``There should be more here, not necessarily every day, but not just once a year or once a week either,'' he said. So they just do their thing. If a song makes them want to dance, they do it. Indeed, the dancers at Davey's would blow most clubs away. It's helped the scene that Hot Topic, a store that sells goth clothes and supplies, is open in the Great Mall in Olathe. A new Web site, www.kcgoths.com, is spreading news all over the area. ``It's good for us to stick together,'' Alyssa said. ``If we want things to happen, we have to attend events like (Urban Decay). Otherwise, there will be no scene. Or even less than there is now. ''

  • By: OSCAR AVILA
    Date: 12/11/98