The Phenomenon That Is Demarkus Lewis
“Yooooooooooooooo!!! What’s up?” He grabs you by the hand giving you a bear hug.
“I haven’t seen you in a minute.” You reply.
“Oh, wait, you have to see someone.” He leads you meandering through the heat. The sweat. And the thump from Jimpster featuring Mavhungu’s “Tribute.” Luminiferous flashes guide you through the mass. Their bodies careful not to brush against you and you them.
“Yo, look who I found.” He yells at a recognizable face with thinner cheeks.
“You too!” You yell. “What’s up? What ya’ll doin’ out here?”
“Yeah, we both moved here years ago.”
“What!” You reply. “I had no clue at all.”
Then everyone belts a boisterous laugh. Hearty hugs are exchanged amongst the group of four turned five. Everyone smiles. Catching up on recent plights of life. Their blinding white wattage breaks through the aphotic haze.
1600
Earlier, standing outdoors, the venue appears more fit for adult entertainment than the city’s premier underground electronic music destination established at its current locale a semi-century ago. Walk into the non-assuming entrance and you’re expecting a whiff of lemon-pepper fried chicken wings, or at least, pulled pig. A nod to the Lone Star State.
Immediately, you get roller skating vibes. Viewing a conspicuous floor. Where LED cobalt chases ruby across wooden tiles. Black walls are painted with song titles. “Music Is The Answer” to “Respect.” Step. Pose. And smile between the multi-hued “It’ll Do” headphones. They are painted from across the bar. Dance by the table reserved for the Cruz’s. Over there, alongside the wall of the black comfy leather benches to the left of the room. And to the room’s right? Bodies are parked on a black wood engrained bench aligning the length of the entire wall. The space feels homey. A sanctuary to get down to the signature sounds of Demarkus Lewis.
When the drums jack at 123 beats per minute and when the hi-hat swings, soulful vocals are sliced and choppy chords overlay the low-hum of bass. Lewis’ “I Don’t Beg” emits crystal clear from hanging overhead sound gear. The kicker is playing Osunlade’s “Mama’s Groove.” The Jimpster’s Slipped Disc Mix sounds expansive. The decimals are on point, and not overpowering.
Crown Demarkus Lewis the non-disputed Father of Deep House in Texas. The Dallas native wows! When playing his friend, Miguel Migs’ “Lost Messages” (Migs Salty Vault Mix) and the heated AirBorn Gav & Hurricane’s “Work” (Atjazz Extended Remix). The new anthem jumpstarts the party. Yasss! The dance floor oozes with warmth. Bodies fill the expanse.
Affectionately esteemed as one of the hardest working deep house evangelists of today, Lewis is a music producer’s producer. Always remaining loyal to the underground code and vanguard. The “Please Tell Me (What)” songwriter’s output rivals that of kings, namely, Louie Vega. On any given week, the dance music veteran might release two to three tracks/remixes on digital music platforms. Recordings from his Grin Music and Grin Trax Labels keeps him booked and busy. Does his ingenious mind ever run out of ideas? At 1500 published songs and 30 years of deejaying, the phenomenon that is Demarkus Lewis keeps global dance floors sustainable.
This afternoon party is no exception. Sweat drips off the brow. Dancers are worked into a fury. Lewis wearing a black snapback and black tee knows what to do. Slow the groove to 120 beats per minute. “Shine,” sings Glam Soul’s Miranda Nicole on the Zepherin Saint’s most polished production.” Much to surprised ears the music stays Afro. Claves. Chants. Native tongues. Shimza’s “That Organ Track,” and Soulroots featuring Soul Star’s “Vuka” awes. Perhaps, playing Afro should not shock as Lewis plays inclusively and moonlights as his drum n’ bass alias Drizzle.
The brightest moment of the hour arrives playing Risk Assessment’s “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay.” Yes, that song. That has mouths open wide. Singing. Fists pumping the air. Hairy shoulder bears and their pruned boys arrive indoors from vaping on the outdoor patio. There spins and twirls the glow sticks of the multi-colored hair raver. Everyone gets in on a little Whitney action. Everyone besides the real Whitney. Instead, the lesser known Monica Blaire belts, “I’d rather be alone than happy.” Music producers take note, removing the late great iconic Whitney Houston from singing her anthem is blasphemy. It’s not right, nor is it okay.
But many attendees fail to notice or care to notice. They are busy having fun. And people watching is priceless at It’ll Do Club.
Welcome
Where everything is bigger in Texas. That’s cap. In cosmopolitan Dallas, adult entertainment and night clubs close at 2 am. Reads the can’t miss painted hours on It’ll Do’s exterior-a whitewashed wall. Serving alcohol two hours and fifteen minutes after midnight is illegal. Businesses could see their liquor licenses revoked, or worst, their doors permanently shuttered. After all, by law Texas is conservative. And in rural areas very conservative. “Texas has been good to us,” a friend replies while dancing. But to others not so much. The marginalized. Women. Trans. Immigrants. And where the forsaken find refuge-the nightlife is scolded. As non-profits are fighting to change archaic thinking of the night industry. Marginal groups are fighting for change. Their right to party safer. They’re right to party longer into the wee hours. Their right to drink alcohol on Sunday.
“Cha-Ching,” chimes the cash registers at the bar this Sunday evening.-Shout out: Texans know how to keep liquids in their cups. From not falling onto the floor. As the wooden tiles are still pristine clean. After all, you danced into the club wearing clean white sneakers and you will be damned if you don’t dance out of the club wearing clean white sneakers-As queues of partiers hunched over or standing akimbo await their libations. Their heads bopping to “Brand New Day.” Hold up! Is that the Louie Vega featuring Blaze’s “Brand New Day?” This means the King himself is playing. Yo! Louie Vega is in the house!
words: aj dance
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Tags: #dancefloormagic #housemusicexcellence, afro house music, Dallas TX, Day Party, deep house music, Demarkus Lewis, Grin Trax Label, house music, house music dancing, It'll Do Club, Louie Vega, soulful house music