Having had difficulties finding the venue, I was pleasantly surprised when we finally arrived at Piccone. Admittedly, the club wasn't what you might call 'jumping,' (or something similar in hip-hop language, I don't pretend to know anything about it), but there was a good, honest, friendly feel to it.

Being only a few weeks old, Piccone is clean, tidy and sleek. It's also quite bright, which is a relief when you compare it to its darker alternatives (Livebar, anyone?). The club's cream-coloured walls are to thank for the extra light and make the space appear much bigger too. You see, if I were feeling unadventurous, I could choose words like 'intimate' or 'cosy' to describe Piccone's setting. But those aren't really hip, club words, so let's see what else I can come up with. Hang on a minute though - the low tables, dark wood and red-cushioned chairs, the comfy sofa booths - they do create a cosy, pub-like feel and the size of the place certainly does render it intimate... So what does this kind of habitat have to offer a crowd of hip-hop lovers?

And there, ladies and gentlemen, is our biggest question. Piccone's logo is a circle with a wing protruding from its right side - something reminiscent of Harley Davidson, I thought. The furniture is the type you'd find in an English pub - homely, yet sophisticated. Then there's the drum kit, amplifiers and Les Paul guitar on your way to the toilets, in front of the "DJ" and occupying precious dancefloor space. Not exactly congruous to a hip-hop club - which may explain the looks on the customers' faces as they came in.

A mixture of surprise and bemusement were the main reactions I registered, leading me to wonder if the party could really get started in here. However, by about 1am people were up on the dancefloor, rotating, gyrating and grinding themselves in an appropriate fashion. It was a shame then that the DJ seemed to have little or no experience at what he'd been hired to do. More than once the same song was repeated and tracks were simply stopped before the next one started, leaving an awkward gap in between. The music wasn't loud enough either, but I wondered later if this was deliberate, so we could talk.

Now, it would be a crime not to mention Piccone's special guests. First, at just after midnight, a pair of black and white clad Japanese men did a dance routine, involving a variety of body popping, clothes grabbing and moon walking moves - all very Michael Jackson, including the 'ooh, embarrassing' factor. Not long after that a second duo appeared, French this time, who were more spontaneous and more impressive for it, throwing themselves about in a break-dancing fashion.

Let's be serious here. To survive, it strikes me that Piccone will have to make its mind up about what it wants to be. If it's a club then it must find better DJs and hold back on the cheesy novelty acts. I have a feeling though that it's going to work much better as a pub or live music venue. Monday night has been declared open stage and other nights will feature pop or folk music - far more in keeping with the comfortable seating and the small size of the venue. Having said all that, Piccone is an attractive, comfortable space for a drink with friends and I would be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to going back to see what else it had to offer. Hip Hop party every Friday with a 120rmb open bar 9pm-3am.

Piccone 
Location: 1 Taojiang Lu, near Dongping Lu