25 October 2008 440 views No Comment Print This Post  Email This Post

The main rival to The Garage, the Cathouse is located on Union Street (where its been since 1995), right in the heart of Glasvegas. Being honest, there’s no better student location within the city limits, with free drinks and a mouthwatering selection of gigs being just two of the reasons why you should visit weekly. Don’t let the name put you off, as you won’t find a cat in the place (well, at least not one of the feline variety), and as any hair metal fan will tell you the club echoes the name of the world infamous Cathouse of LA opened by Rikki Rachtman in 1987.

While your unlikely to share a urinal with Axl Rose, Glasgow’s Cathouse boasts its very own set of hardened rockers, in the form of a collection of DJs unmatched by any other club with Martin Bate, Paul Frame and DJ Eric playing regular sets throughout the week. If a DJ isn’t to your liking the club also boasts live music on weekend nights, with everyone from Lauren Harris to Blessed By A Broken Heart rocking the foundations.

Classic Rock and Mainstream Metal is mostly confined to the upper level while the lower level experiments with hardcore, metalcore and punk rock. Club nights are split into two levels, for the best of both worlds, with promotions and free entry on most nights. Vodka Mix costs about £1.80 whereas a shot will set you back about £2. A gothic look and clostraphobic feel add to the darkened atmosphere of the club while revellers enjoy their pints with space. Fast service, and bar staff who know their cocktails, make the Cathouse one of the most well stocked clubs in the area.

One of the more interesting features is the Cathouse’s smoking area, which is a self contained wire mesh balcony, that allows you to breathe some (relatively) fresh air and escape the heatwave inside. During concerts especially the Cathouse can get quite hot, so if not that way inclined, its advised to head out to the smoking area for a cool down. Non smokers needn’t worry as the area is usually not occupied for most of the evening.

Thursdays: Skint
Open 11 to 3am, Skint is now part of Club Kerrang, and boasts the best DJs and loudest music. Pints and Shots from £1.80 and Fosters from £1 just add to the added lure of free entry all night while special events and DJ Colin Rock make for an unforgettable evening.

Friday: Ballbreaker (Level 1)/Vice (Level 2)
Talk about mix and match, no club does Emo vs. Metal better then the Cathouse, with Ballbreaker on Level 1 giving you the heaviest and the powerful while upstairs gives you the power ballad’s and the tearjerkers. With free entry before 12, £4 after, Jack Daniels and Coke costs just £1.80 on a night your likely not to be able to repeat….until, that is, the following Friday.

Saturday/Sunday: Cathouse Saturdays and Sundays
The weekend is just another night for the Cathouse, only this time things are a little bit mixed up, with DJ Eric and Muppet on the ground floor and DJ Billy on the 1st. Both play a variation of classic rock, metal, punk, hardcore, metalcore and Indie and with drinks starting at £1.80 and free entry before 11.30pm whose complaining (unless you arrive after, in which case you will be complaining, at a cost of £6). Sunday, being the Sabbath, gives you a reprieve with a free entry free for everyone (all night) and drinks from £1.50 plus the DJing of AM-Y and guests.

If Thomas Jefferson was alive today, he’d obviously be visiting the Cathouse, a club which shows us that while the mainstream may believe rock and metal is dead there is still a firm place for it in the heart of Glasgow. Students beware, this is gonna rock, and you might never want to go anywhere else!

Cathouse
15 Union St
Glasgow, G1 3RB
0141 248 6606