April 12th, 2006 | The lowdown by Mark Burgess

The Inside on Inside Club

Of all the Fernet-and-coke-dispensing watering holes and cumbia-blasting dance floors that line both sides of Salta's late-night thoroughfare – the lively Balcarce – Inside Club is perhaps the most crudely pretentious. But therein lies its charm. From its bright orange sign above the movie-cinema style entrance, to its massive black-and-white fashion photos adorning the walls, to its over-the-top introduction partway through the night, Inside aims big, like its glittering, silver disco ball. But I’m not prepared to hold that against it.

Evidence of Inside's posturing is first apparent in the queues. There are, of course, two of them, just so it's not too easy. At the first, one purchases his or her ticket (the prices range from 8-10 pesos for a him, 5-7 for a her, drink included in cover); at the second, one wades between the velvet ropes, waiting for the chance to be molested by a bouncer whose self-importance is undeniably confirmed by his suit. Once on the Inside, there are a few steps leading up to a two-faced bar, whose rear set of eyes gaze out onto the massive dance floor. For a better view, head upstairs to the balcony.

Inside Club really only gets going between two and three, but you'll know when it does: a screen lights up with an orange background, welcoming you as the Star Wars theme trumpets out of massive speakers pumped to deafening levels. A DJ speaks overtop of it, assuring you that tonight is your night. It all goes black and atmospheric for a second. Then the strobes kick in, and Star Wars is replaced by manic electronica. This is what you get for the next hour and a half or so, before the lights let up a bit and the music shifts to the more traditional sounds of salsa and cumbia. This is good for the eyes and the seizures, and the salsa aficionado; less so for those to whom switching from electronic to salsa is like being stripped of a gold medal.

Perhaps all this is a bit harsh. Inside Club's main fault is that it is in Salta. Its pretensions would go unnoticed, or even be applauded, elsewhere. So the criticism doesn't hold up. In the end it's a fun place to go with an attractive crowd and a variety of loud music to dance to. And if it were in Buenos Aires, it would cost three times as much.