Revolver Upstairs

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Review of Revolver Upstairs from The Age
by Clem Bastow, July 17, 2008

Revolver suits a turn-up-for-dinner-and-leave-at-breakfast sort of evening's entertainment.

It's not uncommon for certain venues to become institutions and in the case of Prahran's Revolver, institution status was granted, in rough historical terms, just after the invention of the wheel.

The sprawling venue at the top of a precipitous staircase (which, incidentally, should by rights be anaethema to - ahem - festive patrons, but seems instead to draw them upwards like lemmings in reverse) attracts a love/hate relationship with many punters, which likely has more to do with self-hate once said punters find themselves sinking into a couch at 5am rather than any wrongdoing on the part of the bar.

Split between the band room, back bar, and Thai restaurant, Revolver is one of those venues that very much suits a turn-up-for-dinner-and-leave-at-breakfast sort of evening's entertainment.

The venue has had its fair share of revamps and the walls have shag-pile carpet feature hangings, alongside stencil art, Obey posters and other retro/daggy-chic odds and sods. A forest of chandeliers hovers above the bar-side tables and chairs, which provides a nice counterpoint to the brown-on-brown ephemera of the rest of the room.

The bar itself, a caged, moodily lit piece of design still in thrall to Mad Max would be the focal point of the room if everyone else wasn't so busy staring at each other. Regularly rotating DJ shifts keep the drinking soundtrack moving, so if you don't like M.I.A, wait a while.

Drinkswise, Revolver provides an excellent range, from the same-old-same-old favourites up through top-shelf spirits, and characterful highlights such as my favourite, Jamieson Raspberry Ale ($7) among the expansive beer menu. Pool tables and arcade games provide entertainment for those who've not reached the peak of their evening's activities, though if you're going to have the greatest pinball machine of all time (Simpsons Pinball Party), regular services to keep it running smoothly would be a good idea - though I suspect playfield polishing does not rate as highly on most partygoers' must-have lists as it does this pinball wizard's.

Ultimately your enjoyment of Revolver depends on a number of variables - music, crowdedness, light levels - but if you can ignore the hype (positive and negative) and look for a venue that is relaxed and, in its own funny way, stylish, this is one institution that long ago earned its stripes and continues to come up with the goods. Just watch out for those stairs.

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March 21, 2006

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For bookings email gigs@revolverupstairs.com.au