Ding Dong Lounge

I’ve been trying to get to Ding Dong Lounge for a few months now as the last time I was visiting Melbourne they were closed.
Sneakily hidden down a laneway (of course) in China Town Ding Dong’s is one of the première live music venues in Melbourne and plays host to an eclectic blend of rock and roll, punk, garage and new wave live bands and DJ’s.
On a Friday it only cost $ 7 to get in, it was relatively crowded, the music was awesome and the drinks were cheap! Definitely being added to one of my favourite places to go in Melbourne!

Came here for a friend’s music show. Had a great time. Good sound. Cool layout with a smoking room. The venue literally overlooks the flower drum.

One of the major memories I have of Ding Dong Lounge is seeing one of the last shows of the late Rowland S. Howard, ex band member of Nick Cave’s first band The Birthday Party. It sticks in my mind because I liken Rowland S. Howard to Ding Dongs.
Like the late Rowland S. Howard Ding Dongs is currently no more, but has left a legacy of rock and roll that is to be admired by fans and foes alike. In June 2011 the German Eatery Hofbrauhaus burnt down rendering Ding Dongs unable to open it’s doors.
It is set to re-​open later on in 2011. It will remain to be seen whether it keeps it’s broody black floors, dark hedonistic vibe and intense rock ‘n’ roll legacy. Here’s hoping the next comparison I will be making will be with the come back queen Madonna. That is, with less boob cones and a devil horned hand raised in the air. Long live Ding Dong’s, may you continue bringing us rock ‘n’ roll for years to come.

Oh, the times I’ve had at Ding Dong. Usually very drunken times. I’ve seen tonnes of bands here and always had a great (and drunken) night. Most akin to the kind of band rooms that dot New York City (and in fast there is a Ding Dong Lounge in NYC), it’s dark and gritty inside, with a lowered floor in front of the stage to accommodate dancers/​moshers. That also means you can get a good view of the stage from almost everywhere, except from the couches near the back of the venue, which are a great spot to lounge and spill some drinks. The bar staff are a friendly and motley crew and the drinks are well priced.
When the bands are done, there’s often DJs to take you into the wee hours — and that lowered floor is good for dancing!
Note: due to the fire at the old Hofbrauhaus underneath it, Ding Dong has closed temporarily but will be back up and running very shortly!

Located in Chinatown (slightly weird) in the same laneway as Hu Tong Dumplings, Ding Dong Lounge calls itself a rock n roll venue. With both live bands and djs spinning rock, new wave, electro, punk and garage, it’s a great place to dance or stand around in a crowd in front of the stage.
I discovered Ding Dong Lounge because a friend of mine who was a local musician invited me to see a band. He said Ding Dong Lounge was quite cool. No kidding… so this is where all the cool kids hang out — a sea of black skinny jeans, tattoos, and piercings. I was not sure what to expect, but the music was great as most live music would be, but the vibe wasn’t quite right. Too many people in too dingy of place it was quite suffocating.
Maybe I’m not cut out for smaller venues, but for those who love live music, this place is a must (once it opens again at the end of 2011).

Another bar and live music venue that claims to be the «Home of Rock & Roll» in Melbourne is the Ding Dong Lounge. Sister bar to Cherry Bar a couple of blocks away, Ding Dong Lounge is located in Chinatown, above the Hofbrauhaus, German eatery.
In July, said German Eatery caught fire, and in doing so, a lot of Ding Dong was ruined. After rumours that the owners were to sell, they came forth announcing that Ding Dong was to be relaunched and reopen at the end of 2011.
For those who didn’t get to see if pre-​fire, Ding Dong hosted rock and roll bands from Thurs to Sat night, and then kicked on til the early hours spinning rock and punk tunes to a full dance floor. This is the kind of place that plays your favourite songs from your own record collection, but has a bar and more people than you can fit in your living room.
From touring bands to Melbourne rockers, Ding Dong has a large stage and plenty or room to see from anywhere in the venue. With it’s bar staff alone a draw card for many male punters, I can safely say that black singlets and tattoos never go out of style.
Looking forward to seeing the new and improved Ding Dong Lounge later this year… and then updating my review…

Oh hi there Ding Dong. Right in the middle of Chinatown? Well yes I will go eat dumplings before visiting!
Sister to Cherry bar, Ding Dong is like it’s kind of cool sibling, but a little hit and miss, living in the shadow of someone else’s achievements.
Look, there’s nothing terribly wrong with this place, don’t get me wrong. There’s just something about the flow of the venue that kind of throws me out. You end up standing around in awkward groups and for some strange reason, «the mingle» doesn’t happen as naturally as it could. Having all those chairs along the walls and a table in the middle of the room doesn’t help. Good for resting drinks, but particularly great for encouraging people to segregate.
So, get your drinks, and head down to where the band or DJ’s are. Staying at that top end of the venue is the only way to have a boring night. That second half of the bar is where it’s all happening.
Closed until it recovers from being right next to a fire, which will forever be known as the «Great German Sausage Fire of 2011», we wish you a speedy recovery and look forward to a bit of a late night dance session.

Although Bill Walsh, the mind behind Melbourne’s Cherry Bar, has attempted to create an alternative to the city’s ever increasing number of electronic clubs/​bars/​pubs, Ding Dong’s feel is unfortunatly a little forced. Desite being popular among Melbourne’s Indie and Alterno crowd, most nights it seems that people are more interested in getting obliterated on expensive drinks rather then listening, discussing or appreciating the live music on offer. Despite these problems, Ding Dong certainly draws a considerable number of people who want to be seen, creating an interesting mix of punters who are actually alternative thinkers amidst those who wished they were. Again, as the drinks are not as cheap as your average pub and the music is often just to loud to have a reasonable conversation, this venue has great potential but falls down by forcably marketing edgy alterno culture at over inflated prices. Great potential, poor results.