When it comes to parties, bigger isn’t always better. Last night I ventured to Plan B in the East Village, where a certain car company (whose name sounds like li-on) helms a cool, low key Tuesday night shindig. Instead of forking over a lot of money to rent out a fancy venue, the party takes place in this small bar space with a very decent sound system. Even more curious is that they promote the party almost entirely by word of mouth which is the oldest form of viral marketing, you know.

When I arrived DJ Haul was on the decks, and I was impressed how he managed to mix a set of cool ‘90s underground house hits (namely “Deep Inside” by Barbara Tucker and Louie Vega and “New Jersey Deep” from Ashley Beedle’s Black Science Orchestra) without getting too nostalgic. And speaking of New Jersey, speed garage/two-step demon Todd Edwards (pictured), who some might remember from his “Face to Face” collaboration with Daft Punk, ventured from the Garden State (Bloomfield, to be precise) and brought his swinging brand of booty-shaking house that often gets overlooked in this continent. Like its affordable line of compact cars intended to be tricked out, I left the party believing small is the new big.

image by Darren Ressler