When someone asks, “What’cha know about this, kid?” in the realm of music, it can be taken one of two ways. It can be spoken dismissively, questioning your musical knowledge, or it can be tinged with admiration, acknowledging that you know a track that holds value and cool points. Sundown Soul Club (sundown-soulclub-lasvegas.com) embodies that latter brand of admiration, where music isn’t just entertainment but a profound expression of self, continuous discovery and education. In spinning their rare records, these DJs prove that they care more about sharing the music rather than guarding it.
The local collective is made up of both veteran disc jockeys and passionate vinyl enthusiasts. Pulling from their personal wax museums, the group gathers at the Griffin twice a month to drop the needle on the sounds of past and present.
During its midweek front room listening party, it’s common to see bodies gathered around the turntable deck with a drink in hand, bobbing their heads deep in trance, only breaking to discuss or ask what’s currently being played amongst each other. And you’re sure to hear songs that’ll stop you in your tracks and have you saying “damn’”while attempting to Shazam in secret. (If you want to prep your ears for the night with some deep cuts: We caught “Please Wait for Me [My Darling]” by The Masters of Houston, ”Love Me When I’m Down” by Soul Inc., and “[Ride On] Iron Horse” by The Marlboro Men.)
“It’s hard, trying to find people in this city that are like-minded to play this kind of music,” says McKenny Corbin (who DJs under McNasty). “Funk is its own reward … this is very much a labor of love.”
McNasty might say it’s difficult to find like-minded music aficionados, but Sundown Soul Club was founded through natural mutual connections. Paola Puente (Double Peas), Harry Abraham III (DJ Harry A), Herman Chavez (Sin City Soul), Daisuke Arikawa (DJ Ari) and David Haffner (Cool Hands) found each other through record store visits, DJ events and casual introductions. After a few backyard record hangs, the decision to keep the party going was a no-brainer, and the refreshing authenticity of the organic music they’re playing is something the city craved.
“We’re in such a quick society now that you can make a song in your living room on a laptop,” says DJ Harry A. “Whereas the stuff that you’re hearing here on these vast records, are real instrumentation, real orchestration, real lyrics, real arrangements—and not only does it sound good but when somebody listens, it’s like an education.”
And they all play their own styles. Harry A jokes that he plays music for the ladies, real dance-y jams that get the party going. DJ Ari loves to spin soulful reggae. Sin City Soul is renowned for playing his deep soul. Double Peas has a collection that touches all genres and decades. McNasty likes to play anything funky and soulful no matter its release date. And Cool Hands, owner of Friends of Sound Records, is known for playing disco. Widening its already expansive spectrum of music sharing, SSC also invites local and out of state spinners to guest DJ, sparking an abundant group of admiring listeners.
“A lot of the music that myself and my crew play is not something that’s easily obtainable,” says Double Peas. “It’s really cool to see that resurgence. I was waiting for it to hit our town and instead of waiting, we created it.”
What went from being an intimate listening party with friends has grown into a community of folks who also want to dig on tunes and riff about their favorites. DJ Ari, who’s spun for 25 years and in Vegas for the past eight, perhaps has the defining comment on the mission: “I’m Japanese, so I can’t speak [English] very well,” he says, “but I’m here for the music.”
Sundown Soul Club March 8, 9 p.m., free. The Griffin, sundown-soulclub-lasvegas.com.
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