ATTENTION SHOPPERS (ahem) DANCERS
It’s Black Saturday
at the Boutique House of Afrique Electrique!!!
The digital thermometer reads a brutal 28° Celsius on the coldest night of the season. The semi-empty street breathes wanted warmth as a few brave diehards straggle into brick abodes. Upon approach of the Boutique House, that is Space2, the soundtrack of “oonze, oonze, oonze” rattles the venue’s steel frame that pronounces it is party time. After all, it is Black Saturday, a time to dance. Sadly, not to be found is a line of dancers or a line of dancers standing down the street or even a line of dancers wrapped around the building. Even indoors there is no overly aggressive mob that tramples afoot to bombard the dance space. Instead, the room’s heat warms two cold hands as they hand over two Lincolns to pay the door admission. A glance around the stripped space reveals a handful of beating heartbeats that pump to four-count thumps as a bartender stands bored waiting to serve a Blackfoot Confederate, or something, to guests as the DJ nods and plays music.
Off to a quiet start, it’s the four year anniversary of Afrique Electrique the vision of the city’s uber-producer, DJ, singer, and songwriter extraordinaire Salah Ananse. The party that since conceived has hosted an eclectic clientele with esoteric music palettes. Surely tonight has been a celebration in the making for years.
Before the anniversary’s main event, DJ Salah Ananse serenades the growing crowd with exclusive door busters from the likes of Frank Ocean’s “Thinking About You” (Boddhi Satva Mix) one of the season’s must haves. People mad rush and snatch up vocalist Erin Leah’s mutated jazzy neo-soul vibe on “Radio Billie Stereo Ella.” Superstar Black Coffee featuring Soulstar’s latest, “Rock My World”, and Francophile Arnaud D with Heidi Voquel’s ”Green & Yellow” come wrapped in bushwa treatment. It’s all about the British production duo the Layabouts with American Portia Monique on vocal lead that has the crowd singing “Do Better.” Even Baltimore’s young sensation LeRoyal presented by DJ Spen, offers “Do You Have It?” (Maurice Joshua Mix) as dancers gather from far and near to “Get It.”
Up next…wait one minute! Is that the party’s exclusive goodie?!? Yes!!! Dancers get ready because Black Saturday’s main event is set to commence!
It’s the timeless Josh Milan, formerly of the music group Blaze, onstage. Josh, with hair in twisties and a BLAZE tattoo that travels up his left arm, sports a red Honeycomb tee on top of blue denim, stands ready to make it rain with musical must haves on conspicuous ears. The first gift up for grabs is the world renowned vocalist’s promo “From Now On” (DJ Spen & N’Dinga Gaba Mix) that sells out to the sound of ching-chings.
A quarter past midnight the room is abuzz with activity. People stand around with Moscow Mules in hand, people plop against the wall to hold it up, beautiful women dance against the wall, one male dancer dances with incense in hand that masks the smell of tuna, and a dance circle crops mid-room as dancers in front of the makeshift DJ stage go hysteric. Onstage local DJs smile and pose for snapshots. An army of wide-eyes besieged by guiltless expressions try to enter the backdoor free of charge but are stopped short by the gatekeepers. As the music gets better the crowd becomes livelier.
The “Wish” singer delivers a house head’s musical wish list. There is Germany’s Ralf Gum and Japan’s Namy on digital layaway. But, Josh offers a two for the price of one guarantee that doubles the fun. Double Monique Bingham, the jazzy vocalist with “Poor People” and “Kissing Strangers” (Feliciano Vocal Mix). Double Kerri Chandler with two classics, “Rain” and “Bar A Thym.” Honor two of Atlanta, Georgia’s peaches, Avery Sunshine’s “Ugly Party Of Me” (Terry Hunter’s Bang Mix) and Robin Latimore’s “First To Say Goodbye” who by the way is in the house seated on a bench as she receives a shout out from Josh. Even the party’s guest DJ that doubles as a phenomenal vocalist doubles himself.
The five hour event’s Blue Light Special jumps off when the Honeycomb Recording Label head drops his number one smash “Thinking About Your Body” (Louie Vega Dance Ritual Mix) that causes pandemonium to percolate the room over like Tickle Me Elmo flying off store shelves or accusers lining up to get a piece of the puppeteer’s pie. Pure Fiyah! The crowd gobbles up goo gobs of Dennis Ferrer’s featuring the vocals of the late K.T. Brooks on “How Do I Let Go?” Actually, the dancers have no issues of letting go of a few extra pounds put on by gravy covered fowl, starched stuffing and ham hock collards two days prior. Other must haves include Natalie Cole’s electrifying cover of Michael Frank’s “Tell Me All About It” (White Label Mix) that has people stampede onto the dance floor. The Queen of Gospel ENRG, Dawn Tallman’s “You Are Why” follows Kerri Chandler’s “Bar A Tyme” that proves to be a diamond in the rough as the vocals sound muffled underneath the wallop of the two tracks playing at the same time. Nonetheless, it doesn’t stop those who are in the know for stopping for a moment to offer up heavenly praise.
Within the event’s final hour, through hazy eyes, the Boutique House appears disheveled, a bit like H&M after Versace merchandise sold out at the store. A whiff of cannabis whirls from the right corner near the front of the DJ stage that may or may not provide a contact high. The once mid-size crowd tapers off to a minute army of foot soldiers as hardcore dancers and fanatic fans remain; screaming, singing and doing their thing as Josh transitions from house music to afro-beat, psychedelic funk, 1980’s R&B-one “hand stand” dancer throws his arms up in the air in disgust to the adorable Stevie Wonder’s “Another Star” for interrupting his dance flow right before he storms out of the room- before ending in 1973 with “Dancing Machine” by the Jacksons. At 3 am the music stops-or is it after 3 am? Who cares? And who’s sober enough to note? It is time to bid adios. “¡Uno Mas!” A handful of stragglers yell not wanting to leave. So Salah Ananse throws out to the crowd one last, gracias, tune to the ire of the sound technician ready to jolt.
Wait one moment, no Blaze? The newly established solo artist seemed to trade in his Blaze catalog for his Honeycomb label efforts. Also missing, Afro-house seemed pawned for the deep sounds of east coast house. However, the three hour spirited DJ showcase, traversed by like a twenty minute shopping spree, kept the musical consumers coming back for more and wanting more. Although, Josh did not grace the room with live vocals or a solo performance he won over some tough critics and proved that he possesses more than a pretty voice and that “From Now On” you will know that he is a minister of music with mad DJ skills. Cheers to Afrique Electrique!
All Photography by John Crooms
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Tags: Afrique Electrique, Atlanta Georgia, deep house music, DJ Salah Ananse, Honeycomb Music, house music, Josh Milan