What happens when you cross a gifted graphic designer with a renowned local event promoter? You end up with Perth’s hottest new venue dedicated to those who dabble in the darker, alternative side of life! Located just minutes from the City with plenty of parking and public transport options, Obsidian Alternative Bar (formally known as Akademi) is the answer for those of us who have long been searching for a fun, relaxed atmosphere with cheap food and drink options to bring out our inner dark side. Needless to say, when I heard about Obsidian’s soft opening last week, not even the tail end of a cold was going to stop me from hanging out with my fellow freaks to celebrate this promising little hotspot.
Let me begin by saying I was simply blown away after stepping into Obsidian Bar for the first time. The walls are plastered with nostalgic underground event posters and each room is decorated with artistic taxidermy displays, creepy old books and so many other cool pieces of décor with their own unique stories to tell. The layout is nothing short of a feast for the senses and every detail is so well considered for the alternative scene that I instantly fell in love and felt like I had truly found my place in the world. Without hesitation, I found a nice quiet spot on one of the comfy couches and took in my surroundings while enjoying the venue’s ambient sound system which is a perfect level for networking with friends and fellow artists. Even if you aren’t in the mood for socialising, the TV next to the main bar area will keep you entertained with an endless stream of Heavy Metal and other alternative music videos to visualise the venue’s diverse playlists.
A steady flow of patrons continued to spill into this cosy little watering hole and I could sense a feeling of unity and excitement as the friendly staff rushed around with delicious smelling orders of hot food to compliment the cold weather. The pizzas were by far the people’s choice for the evening and I think the kitchen started to run out of ingredients within the first few hours due to an unprecedented demand from all the hungry customers. After careful consideration of the pizza menu, my friend and I settled with the “Pig Destroyer”, which lived up to its tasty reputation and left us completely full and satisfied. The size of this beast was enough to fill a small army and I loved how it was cut in the shape of an evil looking pentagram which further tempted me to go ahead and indulge myself in sinful delicious gluttony. To wash it all down, I decided to try out the flagship cocktail “Black Magic” which contained an interesting mix of lime, coconut, agave, tequila and charcoal. Although I’m normally not a huge fan of cocktails, this fiery liquid creation was filled with so many flavours and I felt all warm and tingly inside as I slowly enjoyed this mystical beverage right until the last drop.
The air was filled with joy and laughter as punters began to break off into their own groups and hang out by the bar or even enjoy a few rounds of Guitar Hero which was a whole lot of fun to watch. As the venue swelled with even more fresh faces, the efficient bar staff effortlessly kept up the pace with their friendly and fast style of service and the noticeable smiles on their faces reflected their dedication and loyalty to the cause. Although the crowd appeared to be quite young, you certainly wouldn’t feel out of place if you were a bit older. In fact, Obsidian Bar customers are probably the least judgmental people you will ever meet (considering how they are looked upon and perceived by the ‘normies’ in our society). I would highly recommend this inclusive place for anyone looking to find their niche.
To wrap things up, there is so much potential for the future of Obsidian Bar with upcoming events on the cards such as listening parties, Metal clubs, quiz nights, Playstation competitions and so much more to be announced over the coming months. I imagine this will be the perfect venue for kindred souls who are daring enough to stray from everyday society and enter the world of the alternative.
Keep up the great work, Obsidian Team! We all look forward to seeing what your wonderful venue has to offer!
Follow Obsidian Alternative Bar on Facebook here. Photos by K. Darius Photography.
