Concerning start
While walking up to the new club, there was someone getting driven away in an ambulance who, as I was told by an attendee, had collapsed on the floor while dancing. They might not serve alcohol, but that will not stop people pulling up tipsy.
I reached out to Frequency a few days later but did not receive a response.
Prices
All that commotion did not deter the line that was forming; however, and I waited 10 minutes before I could get in even as we saw the emergency vehicles pull away. The fee to get in is a 12-dollar one way stamp on the back of the hand or a 15-dollar wristband that will let you leave and return the whole night.
So, if your 21+ and want to drink at Panama’s next door, or University Bar in the basement, you will have to pay the 15 dollars because the doorways that usually connect the sister establishments are now permanently closed. This means the outside entrances are the only way to hop between bars.
Frequency does offer its own menu of mocktails ranging from about 3 to 6 dollars. The slushy machines are also still up and running, just without that familiar aftertaste because there is no alcohol to be had here.
The look
As for the aesthetic changes, the DJ is no longer looming above the dance floor in the VIP lounge but is now on the raised platform at the end of the dance floor, giving them more opportunities for crowd work.
The skeleton lifeguard is also absent from his chair.
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The Dj is now level with the dance floor
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Empty Lifeguard Chair
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Speaking of the VIP lounge, the lights were off and replacing drunk patrons watching the dance floor were security guards who now have a bird’s eye view of the entire establishment.
Tighter security makes sense for an 18+ crowd, and there was always one or two up there on the lookout for contraband.
The Vibe
Now that you have a good picture of what it looks like, how about what it felt like? Well, I showed up at about 11:15 PM and the crowd was thin but energetic. Not a lot of bodies but the ones that were there were having a good time. Now is this because of the ambulance incident? Most likely. But it did not last for long, and by the time it was midnight the bar had filled up completely.
The crowd had some young faces, and a lack of club etiquette that is expected from a younger demographic, but there surprisingly seemed to be a mix of both young and old with the majority being younger.
The DJ of the night was TLDSTR, and she kept the energy of the crowd up the whole night. The music cut off for about 30 seconds at one point, but once she got it back up and running, the crowd got back into it without skipping a beat. A good DJ can make or break a night, and she had the floor full and moving.
What do other people think?
I was able to interview Aria Johnson the day after to see the thoughts of those who made it to the opening weekend, and this is what she had to say.
She shared that the 12–15-dollar ticket price might not be worth it for bar goers who are 21 plus, unless they have friends who are under 21, and want to share the club experience with them. However, she did mention that it is a great alternative for students who want to go dancing and who aren’t interested in going to frat, or house parties.
Overall, she did say she would like to go back but with her younger friends and that for her, the 12-dollar one-way entrance fee is her go to price.
What do I think?
So, in conclusion, my review would have to be that if you are over 21 and want a classic night club experience that is rare in Chico, Frequency is a good choice to dance when making the walk from the Bear or Parkside.
You might also think of investing in that 15-dollar wristband so you can drink at Panama’s and University bar right outside and hop back in without skipping a beat.
But for the under 21 demographic, if you want to learn bar etiquette before you can buy your own shot come sip on a 4-dollar slushy and dance with your friends. The experience should definitely be worth the 12 dollar price.
