For the better part of this last decade, Downtown nightspot 1914 has been lighting up Union Plaza every week with the likes of popular DJ’s like Johnny Kage, Amer Jandali, Julian V and many more. As time has gone by, these El Paso favorites easily guaranteed the constant influx of young socialites and music lovers from all over the Sun City. Octavio Gomez, owner of the converted warehouse on Durango Street, wanted more. He wanted to infuse his club with something different— something a little more… underground.
Gomez has had a passion for underground & deep-house for as long he can remember. Throughout his leading role in the nightlife community, he is in the perfect position to try new things and expose the average bar hopper to a new kind of musical experience, without compromising the style and atmosphere of 1914.
What makes deep-house different than any of the Deadmau5 or Avicii tracks we hear on the radio? It can be best described as a more mellow and rhythmic sort of dance music. The genre takes different influences from all over the world, and hints of soul, jazz and African beats are some of the signature tones found any track. It’s a slower beat— the kind that sort of puts you in a trance-like dream.
This is the kind of music that Late Night Social Club (or LNSC for short) are experts in. The passion of Gomez for underground jams, and LNSC’s extensive knowledge in the genre, presented the perfect opportunity for a blossoming partnership.
LNSC has gone through many incarnations— starting out with Deep Down in its early years, and then evolving into their realized selves (as LNSC) as we know them now since 2009. LNSC first started out with performances and shows at Eastside Italian restaurant Dominic’s with their weekly DJ night called Go Bang. They brought to El Paso heavy hitters such as Peanut Butter Wolf, Madlib, J Rocc and Classixx. Shows followed at Black Market & The Lowbrow Palace that include their classic “The Terror” Halloween series, plus their popular Soundwaves night that had guest that included very hip and relevant DJ’s Ewan Pearson, Tensnake and Kim Ann Foxman, to name a very few. Their venture with 1914 is certainly different than the venues they tend to frequent.
Though Gomez and LNSC had worked with each other sporadically since the establishment of the 1914, it wasn’t until 3 years ago that the club started a special Thursday night residency for LNSC dubbed, “Bumpswing Thursdays.”
The first couple of years of Bumpswing started off at a slow grind; club goers don’t typically appreciate the slower tones of underground, and didn’t really get the difference between the types of music that Bumpswing nights like to showcase.
But in 2013, Bumpswing began gaining some notable traction. Some of the most recent performers include JT Donaldson (producer from Chicago and co-owner of the Gallery Music Group), Routine from Stereothieves, Justin Miller from New York City plus local favorites such as Vinn-E from the Juarez crew Pastilla Digital.
Because of 1914’s more mainstream music loving clientele, Thursdays have become a welcome medley of different audiophiles. LNSC’s loyal following has followed the crew to the club, and the club’s regulars peep their heads in on Thursdays to see what all the fuss is about.
“The best of both worlds happening all under one roof; the biggest difference is the dancing,” Gomez says, “You go in there on a Thursday and everyone’s dancing their heads off!”
When 1914 first opened its doors, EDM wasn’t as popular as it is now. Most clubs in El Paso were in a comfort zone, playing hip-hop throughout the weekend. 1914 changed that by re-introducing house music to the nightlife scene in El Paso, and now EDM is prevalent at all the clubs.
Popular music nowadays gets pushed by major record labels out to make some coin; the fluff that makes it to the Top 40 lists tends to be pop-like in sound, and lack structure and resonance. This is where underground house steps in— sounds you’ve never heard coming from producers that you haven’t necessarily been aware of either. The underground house movement is spreading organically, the way that music should appeal to our natures.
“We’re trying to change things up by exposing LNSC’s music to more people,” Gomez remarked, “Not in the hopes of making it mainstream, but by helping people discover something new to dance for.”
Get Connected:
Late Nite Social Club
https://www.facebook.com/latenitesocialclub
http://latenitesocialclub.com/
1914 Lounge
http://www.1914lounge.com/
https://twitter.com/1914Lounge
TXT: CRYSTI COUTURE | PHOTOS: DEJEANNE DOUBLET