CW Update: Much The Same

We don't spend all that much time at Universal CityWalk but we did drop by Saturday night to check it out. Basically, it's still the same that it's been these past 11 years in the post-PI era. Red Coconut Club still has a live band early on weekend nights with a DJ between sets and after the band ends.

Bob Marley's still has a live band playing mostly Reggae. Years ago a CityWalk manager told The Blog that Bob Marley's was "cash cow" for CityWalk with a long line of people paying $7 each to get in. It was still that way as we passed by on Saturday night.

Rising Star is primarily a Karaoke club but it differentiates itself from the others by having a live band accompany the singers along with a couple dancing girls. Given the popularity of Karaoke, it's a well-traveled venue. It also gets even crazier between band sets when the DJ plays Top 40 hits and everyone starts dancing!

Occasionally there will be a DJ playing at Antojitos for special events but otherwise it's just a Mexican restaurant. Long gone is former occupant Latin Quarter featuring DJ Leony (USA). It was the craziest Ladies Nights ever on Thursday nights when Leony was known to throw down many entire House and EDM sets! Not anymore.

Margaritaville is still there with a live Top 40 band early.

And of course The Groove is still CityWalk's main dance club and it gets packed on Friday and Saturday nights. Their Thursday night 80's Night is long gone. We were hopeful when Electromagic took over the DJ contract several years back that we would hear more electronic dance music in the club but it has remained primarily Hip Hop and Top 40. A recent dispute between Electromagic and many of their weekday resident DJ's saw several of the DJ's resign. The Groove remains The Groove that you know post-Pleasure Island, not The Groove you remember from the late 90's/early 00's when it was an electronic dance music club.