The Ritual
2350
Your thoughts trail off.
Feeling the chill in the night air.
Your all white outfit drips.
This Big Game Weekend.
You wanted to go out dancing.
Somehow you ended up in L.A.
The address reads 2811 East Olympic Boulevard.
A white stucco edifice with neon print.
A former theatre.
A former church.
A former restaurant.
In view, separated by a velvet rope, stands the languid, monied, and vixens eying to enter the threshold.
Oh! That’s the VIP line.
You walk through the door.
The sound smacks!
Your face vibrates from the boom and bass. Crystal clear decimals. High-definition clarity.
The crowd roars.
Already!
The Vegas are onstage.
Hugging and posing for photos.
Shejay LEISAN switches the lyrics to “Puerto Rico.”
Dembow and finger snaps parade the aura.
The Angeleno knows her stuff. She tributes the heritage of the upcoming music selector.
Then the music goes deep.
Louie drops the drums.
Anané backs it up.
Playing signature tunes from her Nulu label.
That makes Asians hiding beneath ball caps pop their shoulders and lock into stance.
Watch out!
A guy lifts you. He carries you as your arms thrust the air. Within seconds, your dancing feet land safely on the ground, to allow the goateed man in the wheelchair to roll by you.
The dance floor pulses.
Over two-hundred shadows behind fluorescent pixels dot the expanse.
Live-streaming.
As others travel.
From the bar?
To the exit?
The congas and claves might loose young heads in the audience.
Oh well, their loss is your treasure.
2410
A national treasure is the Vega’s westward expansion of their Ritual party.
A myth?
A folklore?
A fable?
L.A.’s tastemakers, Minimal Effort presents the get-down.
Think their large-scale events.
Minus their even larger, over-the-top personalities from Europe headlining their deejay affairs.
Instead this invite is to house music’s royalty.
The power couple of electronic dance.
The King and Queen of NYC disco.
Google ritual; defined as a religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order.
To the Vega’s a ritual is the husband wife duo playing together.
As one.
A plethora of sounds.
Be music they love.
The Vega’s are practicing some divination that makes so many bro’s tomahawk the air on the second level mezzanine and makes even more babes leap off the ground floor to the song that should retire.
Forever.
Dennis Ferrer’s “Hey Hey” is a whole hell naw for you.
0100
Louie straddles the set, making this the Anané show.
The Take A Ride EP vocalist is animated. Arms upward, punching the air.
Anané serves.
Karnage Kills/KDA’s “Darkskin Queen” (Extended Mix) is the perfect time to grab a bottled water at the bar.
Where “Darkskin Queen” fails, KEENE’s “Mama Negra” excels the party into quintessential headspace.
The Cape Verdean powers through a hybrid set of Afro, house to the quirky.
Tonight the Ritual is less NYC, more West Coast cool.
The Maestro’s frame is bent over.
Hands steady.
Ear to the phone.
Louie tributes Michael Watford belting “Voices In My Mind.” Mr. Watford, thank you for your gift to music. Rest in power.
The Master at Work reps his expansive repertoire.
Mr. X’s “The Curse” (Revisited) excites.
Loleatta Holloway’s a cappella wails across the sound sphere.
The 3 Winans Brothers sing “Dance.”
Tyla’s “Water” pours an atmospheric river over hand-beating percussions. The room is flooded with sex.
Karizma’s “Work it Out” (Mixed) anoints.
As a display of cerulean and magenta flash dance to piano keys swirling on Lil’ Louis’ “Fable” (Director’s Cut Dub).
Vega makes music that speaks to humanity.
His and Josh Milan’s “The World is a Family” unites all people.
The only critique is that the original version plays instead of the Afrohouse Vamp Dub.
All before Anané’s “High,” (Two Soul Fusion Boogie Mix) closes a seamless mix where the music went everywhere.
An epic adventure nonetheless.
0250
Another plus is your white sneakers sparkle clean. Folks know how to keep their libations in a cup at Don Quixote.
The best event space to party with the best people, whenever on the East side. The two-tiered extravaganza feels like home. Good vibes. All smiles.
“You have the best smile. Period.”
A woman compliments you after the final note has played.
“However, you often look down.”
She continues. Her eyes turned from you as though she imitates you.
“There is no need (to look down).
Your feet know what to do.”
0300
True enough, back-to-black outdoors.
In front of the street food vendor selling, hot dogs.
The smell of diced onions charges the chilly air.
“I want to say thank you for being here.” A young man with deep brows speaks. He pauses from stuffing a chorizo further into his mouth.
“You reminded me of how people used to dance in clubs.” He says wiping grease from his palm.
“I’ve been going to clubs since the late 90s.”
He stares into your eyes.”
“Thank you for reminding me.”
He holds a firm grip to your hand.
“I needed it.”
wrds: aj dance
grphcs: aj art (above)
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Tags: #dancefloormagic #housemusicexcellence, afro house, Anane Vega, ancestral house music, California, dancing, deep house music, disco, Don Quixote Nightclub, Eastside LA, house music, house music dancing, latin house music, Los Angeles, Louie Vega, Minimal Effort, Nulu Records, The Ritual, Vega Records