Boston's best: DJs and dance parties

These days it seems like every house party features a “DJ”, who is actually just some dude fading between YouTube videos until his laptop runs out of juice. Still, plenty of Bostonians are keeping the true craft alive—you just need to know where to find them. 

If you’re looking to avoid the mega-club feel, Cambridge is your destination. The Bonafide Crew supplies the beats for Tuesdays at Zuzu, (474 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge) alternating between two equally entertaining, queer(ish) dance parties. Work! is heavy on disco, New Wave and indie, while Nu Life thrives on dancehall, R&B and raunchy club music. Expect cute, androgynous women and plenty of sweat. Rising from the ashes of Boston’s infamously debauched Heartthrob, Harum Scarum is the latest go-to party for gender-bending raver goths.  

At Risk Youth taps the same dark and sparkly vein with the massive multi-level No Tomorrow at Machine (1254 Boylston Street, Boston), new this year. Flavorheard, one of Boston’s hardest-working DJ outfits, holds down the throwback crowd at its monthly party at Middlesex Lounge (315 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge). BassTown occupies the venue’s Thursday night slot with the dimly-lit Make It New, which highlights minimal European house and techno.

When it comes to hip-hop, it’s all about old school in Boston’s clubland. Fresh Produce, with DJs Knife and Tommee, is an awesome monthly dance party at the Good Life (28 Kingston Street, Boston). The downtown spot is equipped with a bangin’ soundsystem, sexy, well-dressed partygoers, and perpetual good vibes.

For heady electronica, Wonder Bar (186 Harvard Avenue, Allston) hosts Music Ecology on Tuesdays, showcasing heavy bass music of all disciplines, from drum n' bass and dubstep to glitch-hop and psytrance. In the Good Life's (28 Kingston Street, Boston) basement rave-cave, the Bassic Crew puts on special events featuring DJs renowned on the worldwidebass music scene.