Beers and blaring Britpop at The Ottobar

Vertical stripes, skinny ties, Fred Perry polos and, of course, the token guy-in-drag.

Yes, it's Britpop Dance Night again at The Ottobar, when all the mods, skins, punks, indies and emo kids come out to dance the night away and, if they're of drinking age, knock a few back.

The Ottobar, located just around the corner at 2549 N. Howard St., hosts shows for a variety of bands, both local and not-so-local. But Britpop Night, an 18-and-over event held once a month on the dance floor, draws one of the club's biggest crowds.

Left your mod suit back home? Have no idea what Britpop is? Not to worry. Not every patron fits into the aforementioned categories, and only some of the songs played actually classify as "Britpop."

According to DJ Craig Boarman, co-owner of The Ottobar and founder of the event, the name "Britpop Night" is actually a slight misnomer, carried over from the event's early days at The Spot, a former nightclub near Fell's Point.

"When I first started [the event], it was straight-up Britpop," said Boarman. "The Spot had a dance side, where they did dance remixes, ... [and] the other side was Britpop. When I became co-owner of the Ottobar, I brought it here ... and we merged both styles. Britpop is just one type of music we do."

And indeed Boarman, who DJ's the event along with Matt Walter, plays a striking variety of music styles, from electronica and indie to punk and new wave. Of course, you'll still hear some Britpop staples from bands like The Who, The Smiths, The Cure, Elastica and Oasis.

This musical diversity lends itself to quite an eclectic crowd. Britpop Night, or "Underground" as it is more properly called, is one of the few events where you can see a leathered-out and spiky-haired punk rocker rubbing shoulders with a kitschy, sweatered emo kid.

You'll probably even spot a few "mainstream" kids (gasp) among the mix.

"We get a bit of everything," said Boarman. "It's cool because you get all kinds together. Even kids I thought would be "too cool for school' to dance to a band like Erasure -- everyone just goes crazy."

Boarman got the idea for Britpop Night from a similar event called Mousetrap, held at DC's Black Cat club, located on 14th Street. He had been DJing a '70s and '80s retro night for four years when he decided to try his hand at the Britpop genre.

The Ottobar may not be quite as big as Black Cat, but it is certainly more intimate -- the packed dance floor heats up quickly.

And while a significant portion of the Mousetrap crowd stands around drinking and talking, almost everyone at the Ottobar dances together in one big, sweaty pack.

According to Boarman, a few people claim that those who don't look the part "get weird looks." But as far as he's concerned, it's all about getting together and having a good time.

Boarman has no problem letting dancers up on stage to strut their stuff. Not-so-sober guys and girls will show off their moves all night if given the chance -- and the reasonably-priced alcohol keeps them going.

Draught beers are $3.50, bottled domestic are $2.75 and imports run $3.25, but a theme-fitting special on the English-brewed Bass beer is a can't-go-wrong deal at $2.75.

"It's definitely a good bar night for us," said Boarman.

In addition to Britpop, the Ottobar holds other DJ events, as well as karaoke nights, live jazz, happy hour and shows.

The club's upstairs floor features a second bar, pool tables, couches, '80s video games, and a something-for-everyone jukebox.

The club has earned a stellar reputation, staging shows and musical events seven nights a week and providing a venue for local bands. You only have to look at the line outside the club on Britpop Night.

"We've been doing this for two years," said Boarman. "As long as people come out, we'll keep on doing it."

So whether you're into dancing, drinking or just listening to good music, give Britpop Night a shot. Just don't forget your Vespa scooter. Cheers.

Underground -- Britpop Dance Night this Saturday, 9 p.m.

The Ottobar

http://www.theottobar.com