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Buenos Aires, Argentina > Buenos Aires nightlife > Speed King Speed KingSarmiento 1679 (@ Rodriguez Pena)
‘How do you say “the singer sounds like a Tyrannosaurus Rex with a sore throat” in Spanish?’ I try to ask the bartender at the heavy metal bar, Speed King. The bartender does not reply. The entrance to Speed King is sandwiched between a popular pool-bar and a dimly lit café. Every one of these venues has patrons lingering in front of their establishments, creating a corridor of youthful exuberance on the north-eastern fringe of Once. Typical performances are a mixture of covers and originals, with popular favourites Pantera and Brazil’s Sepultura obvious influences. For those who want to live fast and die young, ear-plugs are optional; for the rest, they are essential. Black T-shirts are also de rigour. Past the less-than-friendly door-man, the intrepid trudge up a series of steep wooden stairs towards the green stage lights. Set with a similar minimalist rock and roll ambience to Speed King’s Buenos Aires hard-rock cousin CBGBs, the bar is a welcome melting pot away amongst the otherwise close-knit cliques of heavy metal enthusiasts. Resplendent in a sleeveless T-shirt a man of about my age, (but with significantly more piercings and tattoos) doubles over and howls his songs of terror. It is enough to make one want to drink, if only to soothe one’s throat. A litre of beer goes for $8AR (but don’t expect Heinekin or Stella Artois) which is about what the door charge will come to, although on the night I attended it was a mere five. —Speed King review by Murdoch Stephens
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