Being in the music/dj/nightclub business for so many years, you see many trends that come and go. Nightclubs open, close, change names, & music formats seemingly each week. But one thing in NJ nightlife has remained consistant for years, and that is R3 Ventures setup on Route 35.
"Wildlife Wednesdays" was the premier week night party for years at Club Abyss (wait, club abyss?) YES - for those who either do not remember or arent old enough to, Wildlife Wednesdays was a party that ran for many many years at Club Abyss with Manny the Greek on the wheels with MC Get Busy Izzy and DJ Unique among others that was the blueprint for the amazing residency that I hold now at Deko Lounge. As a fan of the industry and student to the DJs that came before me, it brings me a special feeling to be able to continue this legendary party bringing house music (and DJ JG bringing the hip hop and party stuff) to a packed house in NJ every week. And as much as I am influenced by the original Wildlife, a huge part of what I do on a weekly basis was heavily influenced by what went on inside Deko Lounge for years on Saturday nights. And it saddens me to know that many people do not realize the atmosphere that existed in Deko each and every saturday night known and categorized by one word...... *SESSIONS
Now house music has existed in New Jersey for years before Deko Lounge and it will exist long after Deko shuts its doors, but what the Saturday night *Sessions party did for House and Dance music in the tri state area must not be ignored. Behind the ownership of Kosta and Demetri, and with the help and countless others, *Sessions became the HOME of house music. DJ Richie Santana was the resident DJ and each and every week you could count on Richie being behind the decks from early on until the lights came on at 2am (and many nights well beyond that).
So many people look at Deko saturdays now as basically a concert venue. Whenever a headline DJ is there, people flock to see the big names. But yet when a smaller name or resident style dj is there, people are less likely to show. The scene has changed. People are more concerned with spending 10x the cost of a bottle of vodka and sitting in their own section rather than hanging with the crowd. Dancing in the floor has been replaced by dancing on couches in your section. "Do you know who's spinning?" now has become "Do you know who I am?!". But there is hope. As you can see the flyer above, the good folks at R3 Ventures are bringing back *Sessions.
*Sessions was such an amazing atmosphere. You walked in and you knew everyone. And if there was someone you didnt know, you eventually knew them just from seeing them every week. *Sessions was "unwalkable" long before the term became cool to say. *Sessions used to have a DJ booth tucked in the corner bc the DJ wasnt the star, the music was. And no one did that better than Richie Santana. Every anthem you wanted to hear and new music that you would learn. *Sessions was class. How do you think names like "Chus & Ceballos" became so familiar to the NJ scene? *Sessions was tall thin glasses with big straws. You know *Sessions was the bomb bc it was the only thing that would lift your spirits after the summer fun of Surf Club, DJais, Temptations and XS were over.
As you can see im pretty passionate about this party coming back, and we're gonna need your help to make it happen. It's time to get back to basics. Lets get back to THE PARTY, and good music, good friends, good people. NJ nightlife has been missing something the last few years and in the Fall of 2011 its coming back. If you're intrested in helping us, info is on the flyer above.
Party Safe,
MB
