“Shake ​‘N’ Vibrate” Thursdaze Heats Up June at Cafe Nine

Cafe Nine brought back another beloved series to its in-person scheduling last night as Shake ​‘N’ Vibrate — the DJ-led, all-vinyl dance party — helped New Haven ease back on to the dance floor.

Led once again by DJ B the T Jr. (aka Brendan Toller), the series will feature special guests every Thursday for the month of June, including some of the city’s legends letting their own style and sway shine. Toller was thrilled to be back.

“Paul” — as in Paul Mayer, owner of Cafe Nine — ​“asked if I would do all the Thursdays in June, so here I am,” Toller said over a beer before the festivities began. He and another DJ will split sets each week between the hours of 8 and 10 p.m. Those scheduled for the weeks ahead include Shaki, Dan Soto, Enrique, DJ Dave Coon, and on this first night, Dooley‑O.

“It’s a good representation of New Haven DJs,” Toller said.

“It’s Brendan’s version of New York’s ​‘Night Train,’” Mayer added.

“It’s cool,” Toller said. ​“I’ve been such a fan of all of them and now I finally get to work with them … well, not Dan. I work with him all the time,” he added with a laugh, in reference to Soto, his bandmate in two New Haven-based acts, Dust Hat and Killer Kin.

Toller was hopeful that the dance parties would help some music lovers who had been missing the city’s nightlife ease their way back into the scene.

“It’s a nice inaugural way for people to say hello to their friends again and have fun,” he said. He also had personal reasons for wanting to participate.
​“For me, I miss hearing this music back-to-back over a sound system with a shared community. It not the same listening to these songs alone at home.”

Previous iterations of Shake ​‘N’ Vibrate happened around once a month, occasionally with a theme or even a live band, Toller has no specific plans for the months ahead, choosing to concentrate on the here and now and these four events in particular.

“From here on in I’m on as needed,” he said. ​“I’m Cafe Nine’s utility man.”

Music fans and dancers in wait came together slowly but steadily once the clock hit the 8 p.m. mark. Toller took to the turntables first as friends reconnected with friends and drinks were ordered. I would be remiss if I did not mention my daiquiri, prepared by Caitlyn Sheriden behind the bar at the Nine on this night. She showed me the new specialty cocktail menu, which also included a strawberry margarita and a mai tai. My drink was perfect for a steamy June night: light, tangy and tickling the tongue in all the right ways. I’m calling it the drink of the summer.

As the music started making everyone move, even if they were seated, my friend Jennifer Dauphinais arrived to meet me and said with a smile, ​“I plan on shaking it up there,” pointing to the dance floor. We headed that way and soon a few others followed, including a group from a bachelorette party and Dan Soto, who spoke with me about his upcoming set before we hit the floor.

“I’m excited,” he said. ​“I intend to bring my taste and make people dance to my own weird stuff.”

Dooley‑O took over the turntables as the floor gathered a couple more dancers and got everyone rocking along to an array of ​‘70s and ​‘80s dance classics, like ​“Rock Steady” by The Whispers, ​“Hot Stuff” by Donna Summer, and ​“Let the Music Play” by Shannon. By the end of his set the number of dancers — and smiles — had multiplied.

Toller came back to the stage with more classics from the ​‘60s and ​‘70s, such as ​“Mr. Big Stuff” by Jean Knight and “(Do The) Push Pull” by Rufus Thomas, as a steady flow of visitors came and went from the bar, tables, and dance floor. Toller even took a turn dancing behind the shade on the stage, where during previous events he has had a dancer perform. The general atmosphere was one of celebration all evening as the two DJs took turns playing short sets and getting the crowd worked up. Even those standing off to the side, or remaining in their seats inside the bar and out, seemed to emanate a sense of delight in returning to a more typical night out on the town. It was in a word — as said by friend and dance partner extraordinaire Stefanie Harris — ​“freeing.”

As people began to ask around if the music was really going to be over at 10 p.m., Toller came back to the stage to speak to Dooley‑O, who then announced, ​“we’re going until 11.” People cheered. No one seemed to want it to end.

“Is this the future?” Soto asked me at one point mid-dance. ​“Maybe the future is right now,” I answered. And we kept dancing.

Shake ​‘N’ VIbrate Thursdaze continue every Thursday through June at Cafe Nine from 8 to 10 p.m. Admission is free. Please see Cafe Nine’s website and Facebook page for schedule and more details.