Are you in the "Mood To Move" in a "Destination Unknown"???

Music has and will always be apart of my life. I can even tell you my earliest memory of music or at least recognizing it's influence. I would be around 5 years old in Pre-K napping and the teacher would always play Kenny G's "Forever In love". It was a calming song soothing us to sleep for a long 30 minutes. My mother a music enthusiast would play gospel, rap, pop , rnb, rock and jazz. She opened my horizons to appreciate multiple genres of music.

My fondest and most exciting experiences with music were always at our family functions in the early 2000's. Notable artist played were Outkast, Pastor Troy, D4L, Lil Jon, Soulja Boy, T.I, Yung Joc, Unk, Three 6 Mafia, Lil Wayne, Missy Elliot, and the list goes on. Me and my cousins would be outside in the Georgia summer sun with the smell of honey suckles and pine trees around us drinking some hugs. Then we would get called to join the adults on the dance floor we made on the grass hyping each other up. I would tear up the floor always doing my own little freestyles like my cousin Cruise and Uncle Anthony.

As I grew up though the world moved forward and dancing began to decrease at functions with people focusing more on their image than being in the moment. I would have small moments that matched the vibe of those childhood memories but nothing ever was the same. Teen clubs like Skatezone were all about twerking and catching a dance, which felt feral and animal like. School dances began to decrease slowly and even when we had them people could only dance to familiar line dances like the cupid shuffle. It almost felt like dancing was a odd thing to do, with people saying "You're doing to much" when I would get into my little rhythm.

I could only live through stories about parties my relatives had. About how my great grandama Mattie Mae would host neighborhood parties. About how my grandma Detra and grandpa Jeff would tear up the dance floor and never stop until morning came. About when they lived in the Capital Homes and how Freaknik would shut the city down. I could only live my dreams of breaking it down in those memories and through movies like mom's favorite "Saturday Night Fever". I guess you could say I was an old soul stuck in what seemed to be a bleak future.

Then one day last year in November after having gotten used to being mobile in my first car I decided to see night life for myself. I can't say the night life or party scene is dead if I hadn't tried to go to an event right? At the time I was interested in Little 5 Points as I really liked the vibe of the area and in all honesty reminded me of easier days and past memories. I was looking for bars and stumbled upon Star Bar Atl. That saturday they were hosting an event titled " Destination Unknown". The event was 80's New Wave Rock themed music I unironically had in rotation for years from watching John Hughes films like Weird Science, Pretty In Pink, and The Breakfast Club. I decided it was interesting enough for me and drove to little five.

I parked behind Aisle 5 and walked to the gas station for some cash, then headed to the club at 9pm right when they opened likena newby. I walked up and was told to wait as they were still setting up. When I eventually got in It I saw the duo DJ's Twijit and Ian playing his tracks and the logo Destination unknown behind him. They also had a TV displaying a montage of 80's films one of which was Weird Science. I felt awkward in all the negative space and decided to get my self to shot of tequila to loosen up.

I drunk and waited for the crowd to come slowly dancing to the music, getting use to be in a bar and all that. One thing I realized upon seeing the crowd pick up was that I was the only young person there. It felt like a high school reunion with all these older people rocking fits from the day. Some looking emo others wearing preppy attire with white boots and high socks. One thing however that Immediately loved was their teen spirit. They were dancing along as Depeche Mode played. Some songs I didn't know but I was vibing regardless dancing learning how to dance to New Wave Rock by following the crowds example.

I don't know if it was the alchohol or maybe my vivid imagination but as I danced in the crowd I felt I was transported back in time to the late 80's dancing with these people in their youth. It was trippy but I loved it because this was what I always imagined a club would be like. I left that night drenched in sweat as I walk to my car excited for coming back again to the other events learning about the 25 years of it being ran by DJ Twijit and his Friend Ian.

Having opened my horizons I began searching for other events in the city. I was recently interested in underground atlanta and followed their page. Then I saw this interesting event "Mood To Move". Their videos showcased people dancing and the genre of music they played was house music a genre I didn't recognize I listened to only recalling Baby don't hurt me and will ferrell shaking his head. I was excited and guess so was the city because the line was long at underground. The event was held at Future Underground and had two floors. The DJ that I saw first was Playr1 and he played some funky house music that immediately got me moving.

As the night went on i eventually transitioned to downstairs which was larger then the first floor and began dancing my butt off. The energy was high and filled with amazing dancers, I mean like So You Think You Can Dance type dancers. They would open up their circles and started hidding some crazy foot work or even some freestyle spins. It was my ideals of what club should be like made real. The crowd was filled with wonderful people and everyone was in the moment.

That December night was my first glimpse at the rising night life scene in Atlanta. It seems I wasn't alone, that my generation is filled with equally yoked spirits who want to dance. Fuck a section let me see you sweat on this dance floor. I'm glad that I decided to go out solo and experience what this city has to offer. Whether it be a blast from the past like Destination Unknown or a modern revolution like Mood To Move you can find me fully immersed dancing my ass off.

Maybe one of these times you'll catch me in the wild and see for yourself but that's for you decide. Are you someone down to get loose through the night to the music or are you a tight ass the prefers the stand around pretty static like mona lisa.

Anyways that it for this entry plus I got prepare for a date with this spot called Pisces tonight. Catch you later groovers and tight asses.