The name “Temple” has been floating, positively, around various trance forums for the past couple of months. So much so, that an immediate opportunity to review it just had to be embraced. At around 2.30pm last Sunday, a trance hungry mate and I headed into vBar on Liverpool St in World Square. We were greeted by a friendly enough security guard, who sadly took umbrage at both of us wearing shorts, and more troubling still, to my accomplice in thongs. After some basic begging, I was allowed entry, but my plus one was made to head up to Woolworths to annex a new pair of runners.

Meanwhile I made my way through the front bar, past a shiny establishment of pokies, and through to the back section, where Temple had just kicked off. Scott Richardson, (bedecked in thongs) greeted me, completed the formalities, and I’d soon had my first look at the club which has been getting rave reviews from the inner trance sanctum of Sydney. First impressions were good. A perfectly sized room, set out with a distinctly Asian theme, an ably sized amber coloured bar, and ample seating. A quick look to the outside area illustrated a perfect chill out, or smoker’s area, with a vista to the wider World Square complex.

By the time my mate had arrived back from Woolworths with a brand, spanking, new pair of “classic” Dunlop Volleys, the crowd had doubled, (to twelve) including a few individuals wearing the aforementioned banished footwear. At $45 for the Dunlop’s, one had the right to feel aggrieved. Back to the music, where Muli was rattling out his own progressive/electro-ey blend of trance, including the epic Shiloh hit, “Dream On”. Whilst not exactly the driving stuff that I personally enjoy, Muli did delight his own small band of followers, one of whom enjoyed bellowing “TUNE” at every opportunity.

By 4pm, a couple of mates had joined us, and Slim had taken to the decks. The trance soon went up a gear, with Slim playing a pounding yet still Armin-esque set, the best of which was Vendex’s “No One Cares”. Still the crowd remained small, and still very little action other than good music endured. 6pm came, and the four of us made an executive decision to head home for dinner and return for the main musical fare, Jumping Jack. As a result I didn’t catch Arbor or Scott Richardson, but by 8.30pm, with a belly full of Spanish chicken, the better half and I had returned. By this time, Temple had gathered a few extra punters, but as soon as JJ stepped up, they left. Why? I’m not sure. Our mates rejoined us soon after, and with a disinterested JJ banging out a couple of trance classics, we were left to entertain ourselves by chatting to a few long time trance aficionados. By 9pm, the 4 of us, plus the remaining “other”, were the only 5 left in the place. Half an hour later and Jumping Jack had culled the tunes leaving the vBar staff to set up for a Cirque du Soleil after party.

Whilst the vBar was empty last Sunday, it does possess the potential for some seriously stonking parties. Testimony to this was the heaving throng present for John Askew at their previous instalment. In the meantime, with summer fast approaching, Temple’s organisers need to do something to accommodate the wider male populace. Shorts, and thongs are clubbing de rigueur these days, and failure to accept both will only lead to trouble, or tennis. With that sorted, and with a storming Bose sound system foremost in mind, we can only hope that Sydney’s trance community gives Temple the patronage that it deserves.