I’m beginning to wonder if KRAVE promoter Scott Feldman decided to launch the LGBT themed “circuit party” series back in 2005 because he simply wasn’t getting paid enough as Twin Cities Pride Festival Director. It seems even the most unlikely club to garner an audience, did.

Saturday night, epic nightclub was busy and full — surprisingly since the upscale venue known mostly for corporate events was competing with three other major Pride-related events at traditional clubs such as Gay 90′s, The Saloon, and the Eagle/Bolt. While the epic event, called the “Big Gay Pride Party,” is not technically a KRAVE night, it is masterminded by Feldman. I noticed it was stealthily placed under the Twin Cities Pride community events calendar, never mind its technically a private event.

Feldman and his two other cohorts have done well. The second annual foray into the heart of the First Avenue entertainment district at 1st Ave and 5th Street is a gutsy one. It’s not the most gay-friendly nightspots in the city being once anchored by the shuttered Club 3 Degrees, a nightclub church hybrid run by the evangelical Living Word Church in Brooklyn Park. How evangelical? One of their core beliefs listed on their website includes speaking in tongues. The “club” made very public the reason they located there, something about general sinning. Of course that originally had to do with Minneapolis’ own thriving conglomeration of strip clubs nearby.

While epic wasn’t packed and the VIP balconies ran amuck, the dance floor was thoroughly crowded by midnight, as was the large patio. Of course understanding the vastness of the club requires a lesson in history. The former Quest was split into three distinct rooms, the main floor was generally separated from the upstairs Galaxy Room and the wide open upstairs rear bar was once the intimate Ascot Jazz Room, not that any jazz was actually played there.

This means by all impressions epic was packed with gays. The L-word ladies again were sparse to show since the event has traditionally been aimed towards men. Likely women hit Rumors & Innuendo considering that the event planned at Trocaderos was canceled due to the club closing.

It wasn’t quite the night to be interviewing patrons but people were intensely engaged through 2am. It seems heart throb DJ Joe Gauthreaux picked the right mix of old school techno house interspersed with “familiar” songs to the gay community. One rather amazing moment came when the music faded out and started the opening piano chords of “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey. There was a hush then gradually a roar of whoops as the melody crescendoed all while the crowd sung along with the lyrics.

I’m not quite sure the specific significance other than its one of those power ballad ’80s songs that never goes away.

Generally at “straight” clubs, clothing is optional before the patrons enter with miniskirts becoming pseudo-thongs. At about 1 a.m. a parallel cultural observation was made by a passive patron watching his girlfriend perform. He asked, “Why are all the guys taking their shirts off?”

Oh those poor churchgoer rockers across the street.