There’s a new LGBT bar in South End named Cathode (CATH-OWED) Azure (AZ-YOUR), and although the name eludes me, the bar is absolutely something new and different. This soon-to-be hotspot, located at 1820 South Blvd #106, is the lovechild of owner Doug Lemmone and his partner and their desire to bring the smooth and sexy vibe of South Beach to Charlotte.
Cathode Azure is like walking into a hip lounge, underwater. The entire space is washed in a serene tropical blue that perfectly complements the modern white leather chairs and silky house music. This lounge boasts several unique amenities including an iPad station beside the bar for social networking (or stalking) while you’re waiting on your cocktail and no bottle purchase required “VIP” rooms with chaise lounges and stylish décor. Personally, my favorite element was the absolutely giant platform in the middle of the main room, upon which we were given permission to sit and dance elevated style.
Not surprisingly, there was no shortage of ridiculously good looking people to ogle, and the environment was also conducive for conversation. The layout and ambiance make this is a great spot to meet friends and relax… but then also boogie on furniture if the mood strikes. Doug and crew have managed to successfully create the Miami experience in North Carolina, and it certainly holds up to their concept of providing a refreshing something new and different. Weird name, grand place.
This article appears in Best of Charlotte 2012.
The owner Doug is far from professional! This “club” is a joke!! Stay away
snarky !
Every gay person in Charlotte knows how few choices there are with regard to gay clubbing/nightlife here, so it’s no surprise that a place like Cathode Azure isn’t trying too hard. And given how small the venue is, this sad state of affairs might be just as well. Sadly, once a newer place opens–and one always eventually does–I have a feeling this joint will go the way of all that have come before it (think Marigny, Velocity, Genesis, Stonewall, The Garden and Gun Club, etc). Now, mind you, the physical space of Cath Az, despite being a bit challenged in the square footage department, isn’t bad. The problem is more with the music–and therefore the general atmosphere, which, alas, is nothing new when it comes to Charlotte gay clubs. For some reason, club managers and DJs in this area seem afraid to risk playing anything cutting-edge or little known, which true, hardcore, regular club-goers want to hear. Instead, they opt for what they think is safer stuff–such as “dance remixes” of the radio’s top 40 hits, which might be fine if the idea is to cater only to those occasional nightlifers who are afraid to dance to anything they haven’t heard before. Too often, though, this just leads to sets filled with bad versions of pop songs that were never originally meant to be high-energy dance numbers. It also leads to jarring, inappropriate shifts in tempo, energy and mood–not unlike listening to the radio. It’s no way to carry a crowd into blissful surrender on the dance floor, which any DJ worth his or her salt should strive to do. When Charlotte DJs should be giving clubbers meaty stuff, perhaps a bit dark, perhaps a bit deep, instead they offer only airy fluff with no substance. And the DJs at Cathode Azure are among the worst offenders as far as this goes. Their sets are filled with two-minute ditties that bounce erratically across the spectrum from R&B to hip hop to bubble gum pop to–well, you get the picture. And if they veer away from the current radio fare, it’s only to dredge up the most overplayed, worn-out hits from yesteryear. Sadly, most Charlotteans are so inured to this being the norm that they just ride it out as best they can…until, of course, the next new club opens. It’s only a matter of time before Cathode Azure goes the way of those that preceded it because the likelihood of its management staff making any changes is slim to none.