One need only to look at the annual installments of Moonfest, or of its own rowdy anniversary parties, to know that Respectable Street knows block parties. The Clematis Street club's been running longer than some of its legal patrons have been alive, and along the way, its party-throwing has been refined to a science. Step one is to, duh, fling open its doors on nights when Clematis is closed off and attractive to booze-happy revelers. Step two, offer some all-in-good-fun contests or prizes. Step three, set up an outdoor stage and invite some of South Florida's finest musicians to grace it.
All three of these will be in effect New Year's Eve, already a big party night in downtown West Palm. For step two, there's a Ping-Pong ball blast at midnight that promises cash and prizes for anyone drunk enough to chase down the plastic projectiles. And for step three, there's a nine-band lineup of the club's recurring guest stars across a wide spread of genres.
Creepy but classy rockabilly comes courtesy of Lake Worth devils Viva Le Vox, while West Palm's Lavola brings its melodiously eardrum-puncturing shoegaze stylings. Holding it down for the gothy, new wavy, post-punk side of the spectrum are Miami's Astari Nite and Fort Lauderdale's Mission Veo, both acts with charismatic frontmen and a sonic line cast across the pond. And while we're at it, we'll also shout out Shit Ton of Funk, because hey, that's a lot of promised funk.
