I Love The Night Life
by Nestor Louis

There are two types of people, day people and night people. Day people for the most part, live for daytime activities like rock and mountain climbing, a trip to an amusement park, a walk through the park, the beach, etcetera, etcetera. Day people may indifferently take part in an evening activity just to find out what all the buzz is about. Their day really begins at 7:00 A.M. In contrast night people get energized as soon as the clock hits 4:00 P.M. Night people might do daytime activities because they have to, and not because they want. Night people find extreme joy in watching a late movie, having a late dinner date, or just plain old staying up ‘til late. As you can see, there are many activities that separate day people from night people. There are also many that unite them: sports, health, and music. You can enjoy sporting events during the day and evening. Also, you can enjoy a healthy workout during the A.M. or P.M. hours of the day. And without a doubt all types can enjoy music 24 hours a day.

I am, by my own definition and admission, a night person. My fun really begins after 4:00 P.M. I love the night and all it has to offer. It's no surprise that in my life, night and music go hand in hand and that a nightclub represents the knot that ties these two elements. On average, I find myself going out 3 times a week to different nightspots. It's always surprising to discover the different elements that drive people to the same locations. It is not always what you think it is.

For several months now, perhaps years, salsa aficionados (typically night people) have been noticing a substantial decline in patronage at New York City's biggest and most popular Latin nightclubs. Not only is patronage declining, but also nightclubs are disappearing. Some NY club operators, musicians, DJs, and party goers alike will tell you, "things in NYC are not what they used to be. I remember nights that we were working 3 to 5 gigs a night. Those were great days! We would go from The Bronx, to Manhattan, to Brooklyn and Queens from gig to gig. Life as a musician was not great back in those days, but it wasn't bad either." The seventies, eighties and early nineties, were eras ruled by the size of not just the Latin nightlife, but nightlife as a whole. Not long ago there was a Club Broadway II, El Corso, El Abuelo Pachangero, El Copacabana, The Red Parrot, (the real) Justine’s, Casa Quisqueya.... Add your favorite club, on top of the main two we have today, The Copacabana and Latin Quarter. Amazing! From more than five top Latin nightclubs, we are down to two!

As I age, I can't help but to wonder what's happening? Better yet, what happened? Some people point out optimistically to the logistics of basic aging. "People get married, they age, and as a result their lifestyle changes as well as their priorities. No longer is going to a nightclub the cool thing to do. Family activities are more suitable for these people." This is true, however for every married couple that is blessed to age together, there is also a new crop of single young adults that should still find the nightclub scene interesting. It's a revolving door; a generational cycle that is not happening. Again, I'll ask why? What's happening? "Well, you know, today's nightclub patrons are trained dancers. And the amount of mambo kings on the dance floor intimidates the ones that are not. Most of them don't want to be in that situation. So they stay home, more often." Maybe, but the reality is quite different. Very few people that go out to a nightclub go to actually dance. They don't have to, and most do not. Shocked? Well, don't be. Look around. The amount of people standing around with something to drink in their hand easily outnumbers the amount of people doing the dancing. Most of the folks that can actually dance do so with people they know, or with people they've seen dance before. And still the amount of people that do this is relatively small in relation to the entire club. As a matter of fact, you're bound to see more women dancing amongst themselves, in and out of step with the music, turning guys down. So, the mambo king rhetoric goes out the window for me. Think about it. "Well, nightclubs are a form of entertainment. Nightclubs are, to a small degree, part of the entertainment industry. And with all the growth that's taking place within this industry, with the internet, video games, cable television, movies, theater, etcetera, etcetera, a person has many more options for entertainment today than ever before. All of these segments of the entertainment industry are promoting and advertising their products and services to prospective clients. These new choices are substantially reducing the size of our pie." Ok, I can agree with that simply because it's true. It's the law of business. If you are not giving the public what they want they'll look for it elsewhere. "And what do they want, Nestor?" I am glad you asked. The public wants something that moves them.

For months I've been lurking in the shadows of the NYC nightlife, and I love it! Indeed, there is no city like New York City. However, I've noticed that my desire to go to the two remaining major Latin nightclubs has decreased substantially. They are just not moving me anymore. Well, I should say that they are not moving me as much as before because there's just nothing exciting. I remember when the ritual of a Friday afternoon was to pickup the newspaper to find out who is going to be where. "Esta noche en el Corso - Johnny Pacheco y Casanova, Hector Lavoe, Ray Barretto, en Club Broadway - Gilberto Santa Rosa y Ray De La Paz, en el Copacabana - Louie Ramirez y Eddie Santiago." Rafael De Jesus said it best; "the people would come out to see you. They want to touch you, talk to you. This is what the public would expect from you. And as an artist in this music, it was such an honor to comply." Every weekend was an event, not so much because of who was playing, but because of what they played. If a given artist had a hot record, people heard it and subsequently would want to see him play his stuff live! This still holds true for artists like DLG, Victor Manuelle, Jerry Rivera, Marc Anthony, and a mere handful of others. Whether people danced or not was irrelevant. People willingly stood in a corner or next to the stage, singing along with the singer. Being in the same room, regardless of size, with your favorite Latin artist meant so much, it was part of the experience. Today, at least for me, having a live band perform is not important. Mostly because I am not dancing to their music, heck, I don't even know their music! As far as salsa is concerned, the music has become so complicated and at times annoying, that I find myself enjoying a performance more so than the actual music. Today, I find myself dancing and having a far better time with the music the DJ plays. Sadly if this trend continues, live performances in Latin nightclubs will be a thing of the past. They are already a thing of the past in R&B nightclubs.

A DJ friend of mine confessed to me the following, "I play the new stuff, because honestly, the young people want to hear it. They hear it on the radio enough times and it becomes hot! And for the most part it's not bad music. They (the dancers) move and groove to it. They like to sing along with it and whatever. But the minute I play the hard, driving, montuno of some of these Colombian salsa bands, the crowd goes wild!" Recently, I was at a nightspot just cooling out, sipping on a Long Island Iced Tea, watching all the fine looking ladies dance that house music thing when suddenly, the DJ changed gears and you heard the very mild boom of the introduction to El Gran Combo's Goyito Sabater. The dance floor went nuts! It was followed by, El Menu, A La Reina, Tony Vega's, Deja, Gilberto's, Que Manera De Quererte, and ended with DLG's, Juliana. At another joint, after the reggae set ended, the DJ started with Victor Manuelle's, Pensamiento y Palabra, Marc's, Nadie Como Ella, Erick's, Quiero Olvidarte y No Puedo, Gilberto’s, No Quiero Na Regalao, Sonora Ponceña's, Tumba Mambo, and closed the set with DLG's, Muevete. After that set was over the dancers went looking for water and the coolest spot in the club. It was incredible!

The mass-produced salsa sound that's being put out by the executives in the music industry is not conducive to the true essence of Latin music, and it's killing the nightclubs. As a result fewer Latin artists (justly or unjustly) are experiencing success. And with fewer salsa and merengue artists experiencing success, how many successful Latin nightclubs can you have? Not many and that's not the end it. Nowadays, because the bands, and their music, are so bland and confusing, I find myself partying in the little hole-in-the-wall joints. Most of these places have in-house pick-up bands, manned by legends like Paquito Pastor, Eddie Montalvo, Ralph Irrizary, Nicky Marrero, Ray Martinez, and many other superstars that play all the classics with great flavor and afinque. I also follow their DJs because they play great danceable music, and have a nice crowd that follows them. Admission is free or relatively inexpensive. Come on! Pay for admission and drinks? You've got to be kidding me.

Not all is gloom and doom for the Latin nightclubs in New York. In fact there is some type of changing of the guard. Latin nightclubs are becoming more and more precise with the clientele they attract, and the niche they want to claim. For example:

John "Gungie" Rivera, CEO and founder of Prestige Promotions and Prestigio Records, makes no apologies for organizing the performances and shows done in the nightclubs he promotes. His events and his productions are aimed at young Latinos between the ages of 21 to 35. And while his events are just not my cup of tea, Prestige events have an unbelievable following!

Capturing the salsero and charanguero of yesterday, there is La Maganette. Focusing on the mature Latin crowd that still cares about having a good time, La Maganette brings to life yesterday's favorites with great style, finesse and timing.

Attracting a very mixed crowd also, Eddie Batiz and his crew headline at Café Remy and Sequoia. Covering with short time intervals almost every musical style, the parties in these two spots are always packed and jumping.

Staying true to legend, the Copacabana, in spite of some questionable acts that have performed there, is still the crowned king of Latin New York's nightlife. If there was ever a DJ booth that could make live performances a thing of the past, it’s this one. Headed by Henry Knowles and Charlie Cabranes (who also plays at Giggles on Thursday's and Friday's), this is by far the only DJ booth capable of pleasing the dancer and the listener, both young and old, with classic and contemporary true to form Latin music.

There are other hole-in-the-wall joints that I like because of the music their DJ's play and the people that frequent them (put a big star next to "people that frequent them"). I consider these locations great pre-party warm up spots. With cheap drinks and free admission here are some of my favorites.

While the Latin nightlife has greatly decreased, we can clearly see that it's far from extinct. There has just been a small shift in the way the night is enjoyed. It can get worse if the labels and radio continue to put out bad music, or it could get better if they start producing and promoting real Latin dance music. The choices are as unique as day or night.

 

 - nestor@salsaweb.com