Chris Ewen and Terri Niedzwiecki know how to throw a party – and everyone is invited. On Saturday, February 25th, tease your hair, brush up on your Safety Dance and get your friends – gay, straight, young and old onto Chris and Terri’s “Heroes” dance floor. The new wave Saturday night dance party at TT the Bear’s Place is once again up for Best Dance Night in the Boston Phoenix BEST 2012 Readers Poll. VOTE HERE.
“Heroes” is nothing new, if you know anything about the Boston nightclub history, you might even know Chris & Terri. The dynamic duo met decades ago at Ground Zero and then continued working together at a little place called ManRay. Ever heard of it? Well, ManRay was one of the first clubs around to have a little band called Nirvana play on their stage. There, the Heroes formula – a combination of 80s new wave, retro, electro, punk, old school, Goth, and industrial – was invented.
After ManRay closed, “Heroes” hit the road. With Chris dropping beats and Terri pouring drinks, the “Heroes” dance night journeyed through clubs like Toast, Axis and finally landed at TT the Bear’s Place in Central Square.
This week, I sat down with Chris and Terri to find out what “Heroes” is all about. I wanted the real story behind the night that has twenty-something’s holding their Iphones in the air Shazaming songs like they just don’t care, and forty-something’s feeling like twenty years haven’t passed.
DTRH: Can you share your top ten favorite tracks to keep the Heroes dance floor packed?
DJ Chris Ewen: There’s too much great music from that time, so it’s almost impossible to narrow it down to a “Top 10″…these are a few of my favorite floor-fillers!
In no particular order: Joy Division: Love Will Tear Us Apart, New Order – Age Of Consent, Siouxsie & The Banshees – Hong Kong Garden, The Violent Femmes: Add It Up, Billy Idol – Rebel Yell, Dancing With Myself, MADONNA, David Bowie – “Heroes”, Sound + Vision, Rebel Rebel. Also, electro artists like Yelle, M83, Ladytron, Hercules & Love Affair, Robyn & Lady Gaga…I could go on, but will stop here!
DTRH: What does one wear to Heroes?
Chris: One can wear what one wants…there isn’t a dress code. But I personally love it when people dress up to go out to a nightclub, especially “Heroes”. We get people who dress in 80s outfits – geometric prints, big hair, etc., some New Romantic or Punk outfits, some Goth attire…it’s kind of all over the place. The atmosphere is really very warm and accepting, and the crowd is very diverse, so you can wear what you feel comfortable in. Yes, we do have people in jeans and t-shirts too, but do not worry…no one will judge you!
DTRH: What kind of drinks can we expect from an Evil Dark Drink Slinger?
Terri: Secret drinks are Red Death, Vampire, and Grateful Dead. You can sense a theme going on here. And no, I tell no one what is in them. But, I will say vodka… good Polish girl that I am.
DTRH: Heroes has certainly stood the test of time. Though many have tried to mimic the Heroes formula – no one can compete. How did Heroes come about?
Chris: I guess the secret to the success of “Heroes” is that there was never really a formula beyond playing a lot of great 80s music, and exposing people to some artists and songs they may not have heard before, or had forgotten about but remembered they secretly loved! I started “Heroes” at ManRay way before it became trendy to revive the 80s…it was an experiment I pushed to make happen. Back then, it was initially called Chris’ New Wave Party. I mixed some 80s music with indie rock, and some more underground dance music to create an eclectic and different experience from the other gay nights and clubs around town, which were usually all about house, techno, disco and top 40. It caught on, became a regular ManRay Saturday night event, and has, of course, evolved over time, including the name change to “Heroes”, which is an homage to David Bowie’s album of the same name.
DTRH: Can anyone dance up on stage? Some of the Heroes regulars look like extras from a Duran Duran video – how can we compete with that?
Chris: What do you mean, “extras”? They look like they could be the stars a Duran Duran video! Anyone can dance on the stage, of course. “Heroes” is all for everyone casting aside their inhibitions and having fun. And if you want to be noticed, put a little effort into looking fabulous!
In summary: You haven’t truly lived until you’ve spent a Saturday night dancing your pants off at TT the Bear’s Place for “Heroes” new wave dance party. The next “Heroes” is happening on Saturday, February 25th with the MADONNA “Give Me All Your Luvin” CD Single Release Party. So…I’ll see you there?
VOTE for Heroes in the Phoenix Poll!
Best Dance Night: “HEROES”
Best DJ: Chris Ewen
Best Bartender: Teresa Niedzwiecki
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