Even before the sun made the birth of the new year official, the Vinyl crowd was busy becoming intoxicated with a strong dose of deep dark succulent brew from the hands of the House Wizard himself. No Dick, Tom, or Harry. Oh, no. This year you could only replace our Danny with another Danny, England's Danny, Danny Howells. It's taken me a full day to recover, but I gotta say: What a fantastic way to start the new year! I know all those who just woke up agree that New Year's Eve with Danny Howells was a dream-like night that will stay with us forever. It was, in terms of music and overall vibe, the best New Year's Eve party I've been to in my life. The truth is I don't think there could have been a better party in New York, but I sure hope that there were many as enjoyable. New Yorkers needed that this year more than ever. It was my first time seeing Danny Howells live, but I could tell New York's own Vinyl crowd has a love affair with him, a very special connection. There was so much love at Vinyl and Danny was brimming with it, blowing kisses and gesticulating graciously to his adoring fans, among whom devine-looking girls and aspiring and inspired dj's could be counted. Spinning off the year 2002 with Bent's "Always", a unique and beautiful flow of haunting basslines and levitation-inducing grooves, Danny delivered with easy-going mastery a new year's set that suspended gravity and gave us a potent whiff of heaven. Everyone was exuding joy there and New York could not have made its newest resident Dj feel more welcomed. Amongst all that is unforseen and uncertain, 2002 brings at least two certainties to New York's nightlife: first, Danny Howells will be with us live and in full effect at the end of every month, and, second, Danny Tenaglia will stay home with us for another year. Vinyl promises to be the epicenter of joy in 2002, so what else is in store for New York. Who follows? Deep Dish and Digweed? One thing is for sure: we will continue to be blessed. This past year, New York proved to be the best amid the worst atrocity it has ever confronted. We continue to dance and chant, but we will never forget our tragic losses. Instead, we will remember the good and the the bad and enable the triumph of good over evil each in our own individual way. New York not only needs music; it's true, but music always makes our happiness more accessible by giving it a tune by which we can remember it in times of sadness. On new year's day, new memories were made at Vinyl and many more were recalled. Each had a tune of its own. (a review i read on another msg board. just a taste of what u fewls are going to get later this month from my favorite dj, danny howells. nice seeing stacey and joeygk. that's how we do it out here...)