Let’s just say, “Stay Tuned!”

The Chippewa Valley has only a few extreme party events throughout the year, you know when they are and what I’m talking about: FATFAR, Halloween, New Year’s Eve, and the unforgettable Decadent Cabaret. We’re going to talk a bit about this year’s Decadent Cabaret which is scheduled to begin on Friday, March 6th and end on Saturday, March 7th.

What do events like these have in common?

Lots of Beer!
Great Live Music!
And… Lots of Scantily Clad Ladies Parading around in “SKIMPY” Costumes or Clothing

So what does this mean for you? What can you expect at the 30th Annual Decadent Cabaret? And how can you prepare?

Well first of all – you need to know where to go and what to bring with you for this great night of debauchery. The 2009 Decadent Cabaret will take place at the House of Rock on Water Street in Downtown Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The cover charge is just $5 at the door for music from 10 different bands each night. Yes you heard that right – just $5 for 10 different bands!

30th Annual Decadent Cabaret

Friday and Saturday March 6 & 7
Doors open at 6pm with the Show starting at 7pm and going all night until Bar Close!
$5 Admission each night – 21+ to party

Where: House of Rock, 422 Water Street, Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Bands on the list:

Friday Night – Orestus, Kaptivating Kate, The Daredevil Christopher Wright, Jim Pullman Band – with a Pixies Tribute Set, Social Parasite – Alice in Chains Tribute, Fanoffbirdsafe, Meridene, Laarks, The Klenz/Walk Jazz Sextet, Sicamore

Saturday Night – Drunk Drivers, No Loving Place, The Shorn, Mors Mortis Machinatio, Yam Cannon, Children of the Beast – Motley Crue Tribute, Eau Claire Blues All Stars, Flags Will Cover the Coffins – Metallica “Kill ‘Em All” Tribute, Tony Basley Band, Dinosaur Jr. Tribute

What to bring:

The Decadent Cabaret is the time for risqué costumes and outfits. Whether you choose to arrive in leather or lace, dolled up in a fancy dress or a snappy suit – make sure that you go all out to have the best dress-up experience you’ve had all year! Remember though: this isn’t a Halloween costume party where you think you need to throw on a mask or dress up like a clown. The Decadent Cabaret is the time to show off your hottest outfits. Leather, lace, pinstripes, whatever you have available for the sexiest time possible – bring it!

What to expect:

20 different bands will be playing between these two nights. That’s right! 20! So much music, so much variety, and so many people ready for the hottest party this side of 2009! So grab your hottest clothes and your all of your sexy friends and get ready for the 2009 Decadent Cabaret where as far as we’re concerned: clothing is optional!

We’ve got some pictures from last year’s Decadent Cabaret and will be throwing some of them up soon. We’ll also throw some of our video footage together too so that you know what kind of music to expect.

Decadent Cabaret has built a rich tradition in Eau Claire: a tradition of fishnet stockings and notoriously memorable musical performances. The unofficial rule of Decadent is to sport a costume that is too scandalous or ridiculous for Halloween.

Saturday March 1 is the evening in question and the doors of the House of Rock at 422 Water Street open at 6pm and the debauchery begins at 6:30pm. The cost of admission is just five bucks for a bill that includes twelve talented area bands.

“It’s as though Halloween, Mardi Gras and New Years Eve were all on the same day,” describes HOR sound technician, Brent K.

Entering into its 29th year, the Cabaret has become a cornerstone in Eau Claire’s musical heritage.

“It’s important that everybody understand the tradition and the history of the event,” said Joe Gunderson, House of Rock’s booking extraordinaire. “If people understood where the event came from and what it stands for they might be more inclined to dress up.”

“I think that there are a lot of people that go into this event blind and don’t understand the history. To me it’s all about the history and that’s why we keep doing it. It’s a unique way to represent the music scene, and what its history is in Eau Claire.”

The Jaggernauts and the Drunk Drivers are notable bands in the 2008 Decadent lineup. Both bands have entertained and dazzled Decadent in past years. The J’nauts are infamous for coming up with some of the most creative song choices for the event, while the DD’s aim to surprise with outlandish Cabaret costumes.

“It’s a night where people like to do something out of the ordinary, do a tribute set or something totally off-the-wall,” Kuechenmeister said. “That’s the fun part about it for me too.”

I, Torrent, The Edgar Allen Pose and The Shorn are some of the newer bands that will hit the Decadent stage. Mors Mortis Machinatio will play their “peel your face off metal,” as Purge the Woods, Daredevil Christopher Wright, and the Walk/Klenz Jazz Sextet round out the fantastic lineup.

“I like to keep it very traditional. I do the show as half traditional and we like to give younger, newer bands a shot at it too; so we keep the tradition going with the youth,” said Gunderson. “The older crowd bands, they do it every year, and they are expected to play it every year. I mix some younger and different style bands so that they learn the tradition of it and can keep carrying it on after we get done playing.”

Each band gets 25 minutes on stage and performs anything ranging from original tunes to an entire set of cartoon themes.

“It all depends on how ambitious the band is as to what they do for Decadent Cabaret, and what they are remembered for,” said Gunderson. “The older bands kind of tend to branch out more and do something a little crazier because they know the history of the event. The younger bands sometimes stick to their original material, which is fine and that’s kind of how it gets mixed.”

Pictures courtesy of the House of Rock. Story by Rachel Wick.