The longest night

STEREOSTORY

Jan 3, 2020

DAY1 2020 AT STEREO – DEBRIEFING

STEREO STORY: LONG TEXT: Once again

*** Original text published in January 2020 on Facebook, then forgotten… Updated and published in Sept 2023 on my blog

CHUS+CEBALLOS, you tore the house down and kept feeding the party despite your many days of travel and nights of work. Congrats!

The whole night was a success and a constant renewal of rhythms, each more explosive than the last, but for me the most wonderful part of this New Year’s party is without question at the end, the last 3 hours, when people leave and only a few indestructibles remain… and I wanted to share that with you, because Stereoheads will probably recognize themselves in this very personal experience, shared by all.

Around 2 pm, when there were only about twenty of us left, long after DJ Chus had left for a well-deserved rest, I realized the privilege we had of having Pablo Ceballos with us like this.

It was so intimate, so family… For me, THAT is Stereo.

THAT is the spirit that unites us, when the DJ decides to just play forever, for us, and people stay, for him.

The lights are then often dimmed and steady, you see the faces, the DJ smiling, the happiness and gratitude of the survivors. He looks at his wife with a teasing smile, she nods to give the go, he looks at the floor raising his index finger, “ok, an other one”, and we shout with joy lol

It’s like finding yourself in a living room among people who like each other, sharing an experience so unique and rare.

This magic that is created could not exist without the gathering of these magic ingredients without which nothing appears…

I mean the people of course, but also the space to dance, essential, the light that leaves us in half-darkness, people who WANT to be there, but above all, that inner state of surrender, of letting go, the moment that surges between two fractions of time, so much further than the one when you were maybe telling yourself hours ago “ah I really should get going”… Nhhann nahn… Fuckit-it! I’M YOUNG!

For those who have lived it, don’t you agree that the magic is found at the end of the weekend…?

Let me explain: when you’re at the end, at the far end of the night, when the music stops and it’s really over, everyone accepts it and changes phase.

But when you find yourself at the end of the line, and the DJ decides to just play on and on long after normal closing time, when only the craziest of the crazy remain (often barely twenty) who won’t budge, THAT is when you forget what you thought you knew, the certainties and the presumptions…

No idea if he’ll finish at the next tune, or in 2 tracks, or never…

It’s THAT moment when you no longer know when it will end, not even the DJ himself, when everyone just lets themselves be carried by the vibe, when everyone lets themselves be inspired by the other until the very end. Again. And again…

When your friends have all gone, your cell battery died long ago, and you have no idea what time it could be. THAT moment is the most delicious.

Exactly as this guy tells me when I shake his hand, when there are only a handful of us left on the floor. His name is Russel, short and stocky, red hair, cap and an ear-to-ear smile: “Bro! All my friends have left since hours! I’ve no phone anymore, i’m from toronto and they can’t reach me, but Man! I don’t care! In fact, I’m sad for them cauz’ they are missing THAT! It’s magic!”

It’s THAT moment when you ACCEPT it, when you stay for the music, no matter if the DJ finishes at the next track or in an hour… You are WITH HIM. You dance FOR HIM. And he plays for you.

And that’s only one example, there are a thousand others, but for me THAT is Stereo.

This jewel box of sound and safety that allows the surrender of the SELF, without worrying about YOU, to find your own ME again. And it’s from deep within this cocoon that the rebound often begins…

To each their own Stereo you’ll tell me, to each their moment and their events, but at its base it’s a ground of freedom where you can express yourself and give free rein to all your creativity, in respect and love of the other, always. But this is not a given, nor eternal, we must recognize that.

Forgive my wording, it’s the one that comes to mind to express this, but is there a greater privilege than sharing a moment that exists only through the unique meeting of certain elements, gathered by currents so vast that no one could fully conceive their ties and their consequences, except by seizing the present moment… (yes yes it’s OK not to have understood, it can take a few readings…)

I’m quick to say thank you you’ll tell me, and it’s true, but I am so grateful to life to begin my year this way, and to be part of this moment outside of time, neither owed nor expected, thus having a unique value no dollar could ever offer…

Pablo’s friend and travel companion is on the floor and we’ve been dancing for over 15-20 minutes like animals with the few warriors of the place, we’re very tribal, joyful, we DEVOUR the dance floor like kids, while some fifteen people sit in the speakers and enjoy the scene! I ask him: “Tell me, does he often do this elsewhere in the world, play for a handful of lovers?”

– Hahaha you can’t be serious? he answers. All the great afterhours clubs in the world have closed their doors. And he names a few, all dead. “There’s only R Lounge left in Tokyo, and another in Seattle. But here?! Man, this is home! It’s one of the only places in the world where when you come back, you’re always home.”

And he concludes before getting back to dancing with a huge smile of joy and pride: “You know Chris, there’s everywhere else, but at Stereo, we’re home! Look!” And indeed, all I see around me is only happiness, friends, love, a family. And a rare and privileged moment, as we’re already over two hours AFTER the official end time of the night (around noon). That doesn’t exist in every club, definitely.

Wow! I feel even luckier to be part of this. May it always be so, if I may ask the heavens. And we keep dancing to the sound of Pablo Ceballos offering us an intimate performance…

Even Vasilios, the club’s security who watches over us and our wellbeing, starts dancing around 2 pm, himself shouting to the DJ “an other one!”. And he dances well too, after a whole night of work! When I tell him, he answers laughing “Of course! I’M greek!” hahahah excellent! And it goes on!

I have so many incredible anecdotes and privileged moments with this incredible duo, but for a few years now I’ve had a particular love for these ends of nights that don’t end, often at the hands of Pablo Ceballos, the magician. And this year, I will remember this one among others…

Ultra tribal music, ritual and sacrificial, magical! A textural and atmospheric sound in stereo wandering from right to left, hypnotic. The DJ is having fun…

In a dance move, I’m on the floor, on my knees, sudden black lights, black flash, cap over my eyes, stretchy pink scarf at full extension, I open my eyes upward and there’s a guy above me doing some kind of voodoo incantations with his hands, dressed in black, cap, I smile at him and join in the game, but suddenly I realize it’s Pablo himself who came down to have fun on the floor! His smile at that moment was worth all the gold in the world to me.

I shout “HA! Pablo!” and jump into his arms, kissing him on the neck. He laughs. We dance, he kisses his wife, it’s beautiful. Their friend and companion dances with us, along with Vasilios our security agent and other dancers, we’re all together.

I have a thought for the love of my life Junior Hernandez – In Memoriam, with whom I shared so many fiery nights under the command of Chus & Ceballos, our favourite DJs in the whole world. Too wonderful! I am at the height of happiness, and could die this very second to go join Junior and I’d be happy.

In that moment nothing else exists or matters. Pablo goes back to the DJ booth and keeps playing.

Eventually he selects a piano piece, which he mixes to create the most unexpected finale. Completely out of time, I am suddenly in a philharmonic concert hall, and every piano note rings like crystal. A gentle finale, I fall to my knees, tears run down my cheeks… wow.

I leave the club last, it’s nearly 3:30 pm, completely satisfied and maybe a little tired. The last time I got up was… last Monday after all. Bah! Barely 48 hours! It’s the previous 75-hour block (Friday-Monday) affecting me a little I think.

At the exit there are 2 people visibly waiting for someone. I ask them “Who are you waiting for? Because i’m the last one” “You probaby dont know him. His name is Russel, a short red-hair guy. He have no phone anymore”

– “hahaha good for him! I did tak to him, He left a little while ago! Dont worry for him, everythings fine…

I think he lived his most beautiful Stereo ever…”

Thank you guys…

Chus & Ceballos cap

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commentaires-blog

Reader comments, at publication (in French)

Braha Coën
Wowow Merci de nous partager par ta si belle plume ta vie du moment present, ton process of the now , tu m’en as donné des frissons Mr Le Frissoneur!

Sam Vi
Omg Christophe quel beau témoignage ! Vraiment je n’aurais pu exprimer mieux que ton texte en mot ce sentiment indescriptible de pousser les limites et d’être entouré des gens que tu aimes avec la meilleur musique les meilleurs dj et le meilleur (((tem…