News of David Bowie’s death Monday sent shock waves all over the world, including right here in the Gainesville community.
Fans looking to celebrate the late singer’s life don’t have to travel farther than the local bar scene in downtown Gainesville.
Arcade Bar plans to bid farewell to the star in true Bowie fashion: with a costume tribute party Thursday. The local bar, situated at 6 E. University Ave., aims to celebrate the songster with a night of Bowie music, fashion and film starting at 10 p.m.
James “Jimbo” Rountree said he decided to create an event after noticing a few Bowie events around town following the singer’s death.
“I thought that a costume party would be a little more engaging,” the 28-year-old bar manager said. “And embody a lot of what people enjoy about David Bowie.”
He said he really wanted to do it this week, because everyone is reflecting on Bowie.
Rountree said the bar plans to put Bowie-inspired drinks together for the costume party.
“One of them is Major Tom Collins and probably a Space Oddity Shot,” he said.
Chad Darby, a local disc jockey, said he aims to keep partygoers entertained with a mix of the singer’s deep cuts, big hits and music within the glam rock genre, as well as some of his later releases.
Darby named Bowie as an influential factor for his choice to work in music.
“The first 45 my father gave me when I started collecting records, he gave me a ‘Space Oddity’ 45 single,” the 34-year-old said.
Darby said it was one of the first things he owned that his father gave him, and he still listens to it today. He hopes attendees enjoy the party and celebrate the life of the late singer.
Fans set to attend the event reminisced about what Bowie meant to them and what they plan to wear.
Daniel Cheney, 20, said he plans on dressing up as the Thin White Duke.
“I like costume parties in general,” the UF finance junior said. Cheney hopes to connect with other Bowie fans and discuss the late singer’s music.
“Most people my age listen to EDM or rap,” he said. “And I listen to David Bowie.”
Cheney recalls hearing “Changes’” in second grade, when he received his first MP3 player.
“I had 13 songs and that was one of them,” he said. “It’s just one of my favorites.”
Cheney said he believes Bowie stood for people who felt isolated.
Megan Newsome, a UF astronomy and physics sophomore, identified “Space Oddity” as one of her favorite Bowie songs and said he impacted how her field of study is viewed.
“Science geeks in general love David Bowie,” the 19-year-old said. “He was the geek of music and made things like space and weirdness cool.”
She said Bowie made it OK to live life authentically.
“A lot of people get really anxious just thinking about it,” Newsome said. “Thinking I don’t know who I am, or which gender is right for me or if I can be one gender and dress differently. And it’s kind of cool whenever someone like David Bowie comes back into the general eye and people think it doesn’t matter.”
