We can be “Heroes”: To Chris Ewen and T.T.’s, with love

On a recent Saturday in June, attendees of the “Heroes” dance night at T.T. the Bear’s Place in Cambridge paused to sing “Happy Birthday” to Chris Ewen, who has DJed the weekly dance night since he created it 2005. Ewen, onstage with hostess Xtine, was visibly moved. He thanked the fans for their years of support, and before he headed back to the DJ booth, he implored everyone to go to the back to get some cake.

Tomorrow night, Ewen steps into the DJ booth at T.T.’s for the last time. It will be the last “Heroes” at the vaunted Cambridge establishment, which is closing at the end of the month. “Heroes” will temporarily move to Brighton Music Hall for some dates before it settles into its as-of-now undetermined new home.

I had never been to a dance night where the DJ interacted with the crowd in such a way, and I certainly had never been to a dance night where cake was served. No club night has ever struck me as this personal or familiar.

But “Heroes” is a unique night, even in Cambridge’s Central Square, where “no one is weird because everyone is weird” is a way of life. “Heroes” stood out because of its diverse crowd and its diverse playlist. You could see preppy guys in collared shirts or long-haired Goths in all black, and they’d all dance to The Pointer Sisters and Nine Inch Nails. All together. “Heroes” has long been a family of misfit toys, with Ewen as its unassuming and humble patriarch.

It was a night for fans who appreciated music. That sounds like an obvious statement about a dance night, but Ewen’s years as a music fan showed through. He is not afraid to play deep cuts or transition from one song to one of a completely different genre. Having been his friend, I’ve enjoyed hearing him talk about transitions and beats per minutes. (If you ever get a chance to meet him, ask him about Pulp’s “Common People.”) He is a DJ’s DJ, and more than once, I’ve bumped into other DJs at “Heroes.”

Beyond making a cool place for DJs to watch a master, Ewen created a home for people who wouldn’t necessarily have a club night otherwise. It was gay-friendly without playing boots-cats-boots-cats remixes of top 40 hits. It was not an ’80s night, even though the music skews heavily toward that decade.

With the closure of T.T.’s and the relocation of “Heroes,” Central Square loses more than a great dance night. It loses a piece of its history and part of its charm. Other dance nights will pop up and can be good.

But how many of those dance nights will inspire you to take a break from dancing so you can sing “Happy Birthday” to the DJ?

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