The Bank was the most important club of my waning youth. I mean there were others don't get me wrong. There was Limelight and there was The Building. But The Bank fit me like a glove and that glove was leather and it was tight. It was at the right time and the right place. LES and proud.
I Never got to DJ at the Bank and that was lucky for me (and probably those who attended as well). Instead I got to experience the Realm or Exedor first hand.
Me and my crew would stumble in around 1am after drinking down the bar across the street (RIP Spiral) and live up the remaining hours getting even more viking like chugging down drinks by The Blue Medusa Jean and the evil bastard Gerard while dancing to The Sisters, The Cure, Depeche or yes even Fictional. Come to think of it I have heard alot of songs for the first time at The Bank. Waking up many times with that dread of 'What the hell did I do last night' that would be followed by a devilish smile. Capricious youth indeed!
What alot of people don't know are all the really good people who made it happen. They weren't the stereotypical seedy promoters. They were nerds, outcasts and British. You had the top DJS like Ian Fford, Xian, Hellraver, Father Jeff, Patrick, Ash in the Crypt! Even some angry long hair named Cyn I believe made his debut there. I bring this up because the ingredients were so fine and precious. All the same it tasted great. All that Industrial, All That EBM (wtf was EBM) and Goth (lots and lots of Goth) oh and synthpop for all you girls :)
I met alot alot of friends there. Friends who still to this day believe it or not still want to be friends with me for some reason. Also a little know factoid - I met Mandana there 12 years ago!!! So its safe to say that the bank gave and gave.
All good things come to an end, and that's fine. It allows new people room to make their own beginnings on their own turf. And that's the way it should be. So the Bank got sold, it got turned into a hip-hop club, and when that inevitably failed even a strip club. But in its near demolished heart it was made for us and us alone.
The Proof was with 2 very special and yes I will even say it 'magical' nights. These 2 reunions proved that I was not the only one with blurry fond memories. I have seen friends who moved states away come back because they were compelled. Lightning in a bottle kittens. But I never saw The Bank as something that ever went fully away. Albion(Where I stumble in) which started at The Bank, moved to Rebel and enjoyed even greater success and is a cause for even further woolgrazing and praise.
Sunday November 21st. I will with all humility be spinning some music at the final ever Bank party. The Building is being torn down, but not its memories those cant be killed. (as much as I wish some could). I really cant put emphasis on this matter. For what little scene we have here in the Great State of New York, We threw some pretty spectacular shindigs. This Party is going to be one of them.
Mad Love and Praise go to all whoever worked at The Bank, you serviced us all so well
