Some people plan New Year’s Eve outings way ahead of time. They will go shopping for specific outfits or costumes, arrange bottle service in a booth for them and their friends, and maybe even get a hotel or limo. However, a couple of us opted for a bit of indecision (we got invited to what, 8 parties??), which ended up with a last minute decision for a trip to The Flat to check out Jesse Saunders.
We arrived a solid minute to midnight, thanks to some noob Uber drivers that made our ride pretty nerve wracking. We managed to find a gap at the bar and ordered the easiest thing on the drink menu- a bottle of prosecco. Our ninja bartender had our bottle corked and poured just in time for the New Year’s toast, and Jesse Saunders immediately hit the decks.
If you’ve never been to The Flat before, it’s an odd place to have a DJ of this caliber. This is one of our favorite relaxed neighborhood spots to grab a drink or munch on a flatbread on the backyard patio. The dance floor is tiny, about the size of an apartment living room, and the entry door opens up near the front of it. The majority of the rest of the spot consists of some comfortable seating, which was fairly packed with couples snuggling over their various bubbles.
The man himself played an awesome classic set. Hints of “My House” and “I Get Deep” wafted over a small, enthusiastic crowd of dancers. There was a complete lack of space on the dance floor, with bodies moving in unison, and somehow managing not to run into each other. Eventually, a small dance circle showed up, that nudged into the sofa area, as young and old hopped in to show off their moves.
The beautiful thing about good house music is its ability to bring a true variety of all races, ages, and socio-economic statuses together, and this particular crowd was possibly the most diverse we have ever seen. Individuals became united into a crowd, cheering and dancing with the same love. We could not have fathomed a more beautiful way to start this New Year than being a part of that moment.
Journalist/blogger since 2009 and music lover since 1980. Bex now travels the world and writes and takes photos of dance events, creates art in various media, sings quietly to her cat in the shower, and occasionally builds something that tends to involve a blowtorch. She can usually be seen hiding behind some sort of camera rig.
