THE CALIFORNIAN SCENE

The soul scene in Southern California has had its ups and downs. When I first got introduced to Soul clubs via the mod scene in the early eighties, we'd go berserk to energetic songs like "Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie", "Soul Sister, Brown Sugar" and "1, 2, 3". Mod and Soul was a trend for many, and people lost interest in the mid to late eighties because of the growing violence in the Los Angeles mod scene and the appeal of the sixties punk scene. In the early eighties, Bakersfield had some great Soul parties, and also the odd all-dayer in Orange County. Otherwise, not a lot was happening, soulfully speaking.

Soul music is the love of my life and I have the faith that we could have fun Soul dances out here, so far away from the active scenes of England and Europe. After all, many of the songs have come from this area, it should be in our blood!  In September of 1997 I partnered up with scene veteran, Cid Hernandez, to put on a couple major dances. The Soul scene had been hibernating for too long.  We didn't want to do watered-down "mod" dances in which the quality of the music is compromised for the un-soulful. We are coming from a "Pure Soul" standpoint. We were both mods and for us, Soul is what it's all about.

Two dances was enough for Cid, but lucky for me and lucky for the area's Soul fans, Gabby (inspirational and very influential L.A. Crush Bar DJ of the mid-eighties) was totally into the idea of organizing dances. Last Saturday (May 23rd) was our first joint effort, under the banner of "The Golden State Soul Society".

Our quarter page sized flyer read: NORTHERN SOUL NIGHT, Price's Foothill Club, 1922 Cherry Ave., Signal Hill ~ Memorial Weekend, Saturday May 23, 1988 18 and over  8PM - 2PM ~ International DJ Line-up, UK, Austria, US East Coast…etc. Because it was a holiday weekend, there were many special events happening in the area for the mod/sixties/scooterist people. That is stiff competition when there are really so few fans to begin with.

Almost everyone was in the club by 11 PM. They are late starters, and there was a big scooter rally that wore everyone out. The majority of the people were on the dance floor dancing around to songs they'd probably never ever heard before and apparently enjoying it. My Austrian friend, Joerg, didn't hinder their dancing with his more European taste in soul music. They did pretty much clear out for Barbara Mercer's "Call On Me" but I love that song, so I was there dancing, sure. Joerg was selling his most beautiful and fancy Soul fanzine, "Pure Soul", for a measly $6 - it's ALL IN COLOR and on really nice paper.  In his sales box he had tons of German picture covers and records I don't know.  However, no one sold as many records as my organizing partner, Gabby, who really made out well - total shock to me because I didn't know that people here even collect (strange, I know). Truth be it told, I hear it was the Northern California fans who bought the most, they are dedicated.

The hype of the night was Details magazine covering the event. For those who don't live here, it's like the i-D magazine of the States, but more widely read.  The photographer and assistant set up a backdrop outside behind the club. I would fetch them friends who I thought would be nice additions to their collection of people. The writer, Jeff Spurior, would do a bit of interviewing. It was all very official and professional and weird. It was funny hearing the people get asked about their outfits and their responses to "what do you think of Northern". Early in the evening, Gabby and I were interviewed and talk was almost all about how exciting it was finding records here in the early eighties before it dried up - I'm sure the writer was thrilled to hear about that...  I gave my candid opinions on the scene - I really hope he doesn't use that in the article or I'm history. I'm a Soul fanatic, that's all.

This is the very first time that I'd seen any cohesiveness and ready appreciation amongst people.  I know there are individuals who love the music, but for the majority, they've not been very sure about it.  That night, people were very open-minded (more than in Germany and San Francisco, so I'm told) and dancing was Priority No. 1, so I was really happy. There were so many great dancers, too. I'm glad I didn't judge the dancing competition, it would have been a very tough call.  We had two engraved trophies which were topped with torches, and rosettes (which also depicted torches) and winners were also given lovely Kent CD's (thank you, Adrian Croasdell).

Many of the attendees took advantage of the free membership. Membership to Soul clubs is a completely new and foreign idea here. They all got cute little membership cards (which they could fill in later, you know the kind) and our fancy 20 page newsletter (the first issue!!!  What does anyone think of it?)

The attendance was down from the last dance we had (which featured Brenda Holloway and the INciters) because it was Memorial Day Weekend and there was so much going on, and many people out of town.  I think we ended up with over 200 of the true SOUL FANS!!!   No wonder the spirit was there!  (this is a fledgling scene, thus my doting)

Martin and Smithers DJ'd and they tore the house down.  Gabby and Joerg were playing things no one knew when they (the dancers) had the energy to make the effort.  But people here get sleepy from drink and scootering weekends so the fact that so many people kept going past their bedtimes until 2 AM was due to M&S working the dance floor. Smithers was cruel between 1 and 2 - playing their favorites, they were trapped on the dance floor for a solid hour.

Max, who just moved here from England to open his own British art gallery in Laguna Beach, won the men's trophy and a girl in a brown dress (Gabby neglected to get her name - shame!) won the women's.  The Soul scene is coming along nicely, I hope the momentum keeps up.

I'm most excited about the receptiveness to new, quality Soul tracks - people were so enthusiastic! Our music policy is simple, it has to be good solid Soul music.  Rarity or familiarity is not an issue. Last Saturday, the audience proved it to us: if the music is high quality dance music, they're into it!

If anyone is going to be in the area, Cid (my first organizing partner - taught me everything I know) will have a Soul dance June 26.  The Golden State Soul Society's next dance will be July 11, just around the corner. Both of these will be held at the same venue, which, by accounts of people who should know, is "perfect".   Probably because it's old and dirty, with lots of atmosphere.

Anyone with a love for Soul music, come and say hello, you will not be disappointed.

Keeping the faith in California,
Nancy