Heroes

My favorite night in Boston… So ecstatic that Heroes lives on in Boston/​Cambridge after TT closed! Such great energy from the crowd, the music!

If you want a place where you can be yourself, without harassment from bros or anyone else, while listening to great 80s music then THIS is the place to go.
Drinks are reasonably priced, the mixing is good and the crowd is friendly. What else can you ask for?

I’m, generally speaking, not a fan of the common dance club. Unnecessarily loud, overproduced modern dance, electronica and remixed rap in an environment that includes overpriced drinks and at least a portion of patrons who conclude that being numbingly drunk and puking wasted is some sort of Saturday night normalcy.
I do however enjoy music, and fond of music from the late seventies and the eighties. I do enjoy dancing and being in the company of great friends. So Heroes was a natural fit. It cuts out the pretenses and cliches, leaving a truly diverse crowd and great music at a level where one can still think. Drinks are reasonable priced (do note: that I’ve only ever had soda. But none of my friends, who go almost weekly, complain about the prices).
Music leans towards danceable new wave, snyth-​pop, punk and goth, with the occasional throw-​in of more mainstream 80’s hits from the likes of Madonna, Prince and Michael Jackson. The nostalgia of true classics mix with obscure and lesser known treats
Complaints are minimal but there are a few. I suppose having such a well curated night of music comes at a premium because the cover charge is a steep $ 7 dollars. In a medium that makes most of it’s money from drinks to begin with, it seems a bit high. There is a coat check, which is an additional $ 2. Considering parking costs (don’t expect to go by the t-​train unless you plan to bail out early as the night usually ends around 2 a.m. well after the last trains run) it all adds up quick.
I also wish it kicked off before 10 P.M. or perhaps even switched it up alternating some Saturdays for Fridays.
Side-​note: There’s an adequate pizza joint near-​by that stays open through the early morning hours allowing for an after dance nosh.

I wasn’t expecting to enjoy myself, but I really did. The crowd is a weird mix — goth/​queer/​bros/​hipsters. It doesn’t seem like my definitive crowd, but I did enjoy it. Cover was $ 7 (eh) and drinks where priced normally. Most of the music were classic power remixes to eighties classics that even if you don’t know the words, you know the beat. There was a dancer that must have worked there, because she was front and center stage and phenomenal.
Definitely a place if you intend to dance your night away. s

I really ought to come more often. Every now and again I feel like getting drunk and dancing, and Heroes is one of the few club nights in town that plays music I actually like.
It’s disappointing that so many people have a problem with the crowd here. That said, the Boston «alternative» scene really does seem to be stuck collectively in its mall goth phase, and that’s why it looks so ridiculous. We need to make peace with that. Really, if we all started wearing AllSaints and Helmut Lang, we’d be much prettier. I promise.
But in all seriousness, no one cares what you wear here. People come for the music, and that’s how it should be. (By the way, what’s wrong with getting drunk to Morrissey? Yes, please.)
Kudos for being 18+. The next time I go, I’ll probably make some sarcastic remark about obnoxious and dewy-​eyed college students, but when I was underage, I was grateful for a place where I could dance to Depeche Mode and not worry about being puked on by bros. So let’s be nice to the kiddies.
The downside of Heroes is that the space at TT’s is not at all conducive to a dance night. It’s always crowded (after 11), and moving from the bar to the dance floor or outside for a cigarette always involves a great deal of careful maneuvering and shuffling. Bathrooms are a claustrophobic disaster. I’ve never even *attempted* to squeeze into that smaller bar on the left side of the stage, because it’s just too daunting. I also wish the drinks were a bit better, and agree that pregaming is best.

I went to «Heroes» a few years ago and ultimately felt that it had a lot of potential (a diverse and dance-​friendly crowd, good space, and dance-​rich era of music), but just didn’t resonate. So when a group of my roommates friends invited me to come along I was hesitant but decided to give it another chance.
Okay, it’s true that you’ll see some freaky stuff on the dance floor and some eccentric people, but everyone is just out to have some fun so that doesn’t really bother me (However I do get a bit of a chuckle watching the flamboyant kids blow invisible glitter on the crowd and dance with only their hands). The problem is the DJ. He hosts a Goth night at the same venue on a different night and has horrible tendency to lean more towards slower and more angsty industrial 80’s music rather than the pop hits that are more danceable. It’s rare that he’ll blend two strong dance tracks back to back. Usually you’re standing around waiting to hear something that you can actually dance to and it starts to get frustrating. Ok, play Depeche mode, fine. But do you have to pick the absolute most rare b-​side that 95% of us have never heard before that’s also making us want to kill ourselves? I hit dance nights to dance, not to be impressed with the DJ’s vernacular for morose rarities.
It’s really a shame because the 80’s is rich with cheesy and amazing dance songs and they just don’t get played here. I won’t be giving «Heroes» a third chance; I can’t justify spending $ 7 on cover just to stand around hoping a good song is played when I can just hit up Soulejulah at Zuzu’s for $ 5 where I’m guaranteed to dance my face off.

Greatest dance party in Cambridge!

I’ve only been twice but I keep meaning to go more. My friends have been going for years. I went in February with some girlfriends and again last weekend when a friend was visiting.
It’s a great place for us girls who aren’t into the club scene but want a good place to dance with music that we like. And it’s fun to have a reason to dress up. When I went back in Feb there weren’t that many people there, last weekend it was pretty packed so that was awesome. It’s a $ 7 cover. I guess you used to be able to get there early to avoid the cover at 10 pm but they don’t let you in early anymore.
The drinks are a little pricier than the Middle East. So I tend to do more pregaming next door to save $. However at TT’s the bartenders are all nice here, and the drinks are good (strong!). I’m a weaky when it comes to strong drinks so I asked to pour my vodka soda into a bigger cup and add more soda water!
I wish there were more stalls in the girls bathroom, seems like there is always a line.
The DJ is cool and will take your requests (and actually play them!)
Yay for a water container with cups so you don’t have to ask the bartender for water.
Anyway if you are a punk rock, goth, indy, emo, 80s fan, or new wave kid, and want to get your dance on without some idiot Bro dudes knocking you over — this is the place to go!
Or if you just want to see some crazy outfits and possibly have a good laugh this is the place to go to! There is no shame here, everyone is welcome to bring it on!

A solid dance night. Chris Ewen always spins awesome tracks. As long as you can stand the other clientele you will have a good time there.

Best place in greater Boston to get your New Wave, Punk, and Glam fix.
While strongly based around music released from the late 70s through the mid 80s DJ Chris Ewen is also more than happy to play songs by artists who were inspired by and embody the spirit of the early pioneers that made this music genre legendary.

Last year a friend of mine dragged me to Heroes at TT The Bears with the promise we could dress up as «Literary Heroes». So we ate some paper squares that may have had a substance on them and dressed up as Dr. Gonzo and Hunter S. Thompson. I also drank a lot of Wild Turkey.
Needless to say we didn’t fit in with all the people wearing vinyl and neon cyber dreads (phreak the norms man), and I had no idea what was going on, but it was mostly a good time from what I can remember.

Wow, what reviews are on here for this event. Well, here’s my take as someone who attends a bunch of different events @ TT’s – yup, even the goth ones.
There are all types at Heroes. Just like the music. Its pretty varied. You get the snobby more hip than thou types, the goths, the gays, the indie kids, and well, everyone in between. If you come here expecting everyone to be just like you, you might as well leave. Heroes is going to be crowded with a ton of people and if you want to dance, you’ll fight for a spot on the dancefloor. Because Chris Ewen is that good and makes you get out there and make a fool of yourself.
If you know what’s up, you’ll prolly find your way to the back bar, cash in hand, to pay homage to the magnificent Terri. She is my favorite bartender in Boston, hands down. So put your laptops down and fightin words away, and get yourself a drink from her. Really, you’ll be saving yourself a lot of wasted energy.
It gets really crowded at Heroes and TT’s isn’t the biggest venue. No small wonder its a popular night with the great music and decent prices. You’re not going to be breaking the bank to go out here – its one of those pleasures you can indulge in while the economy is down.
So dress however you’d like – there’s no dress code. Don’t forget your cash for Terri’s bar in the back. And relax, enjoy. This isn’t about seriouz biznuss who’s right, who’s wrong. If you think you might just have a ton of fun at the best 80’s night in town… check it out for yourself.

Boston has a dearth of decent DJ nights (alliteration like woah) but I think I can add Heroes to the list of those I would go back to again. I went years ago when DJ Chris Ewen was camped out at Toast but I didn’t really care for that space and the crowd’s energy level was anemic. I’m pleasantly surprised at how Heroes has made a nice and cozy home at TT’s.
The space works well for concerts/​dancing as there’s a reasonably sized dance floor (and for the exhibitionists, the stage) plus the lounge and the bar/​pool area if you want to be slightly more stationary or need a break from the action. There’s two bars on either side of the club so you don’t have to venture far for dancing juice.
The music is awesome for the most part — you get what you come for. There’s a good mix of the hitz and the slightly more obscure 80s/​new wave faves — all guaranteed to get your mojo rising after 15 minutes of exposure. The crowd was diverse with people of all walks of life getting down on a lazy summer evening. Ace!

Many of my most cherished experiences involve going dancing with friends, specifically to a place where the Duran Duran and other old-​white-​lady-​pleasing dance music flows like wine, where there is room to move about and the groping is kept to a bare minimum.
In these sad years since ManRay’s demise, these experiences have grown ever fewer and far between until (ever late to the party) I stumbled upon Heroes dance night at TT the Bears. Thank you, Heroes, for being the answer to this atheist’s prayers. We ended my bff’s bachelorette night here last Saturday and it was the most fun ever. Seriously, ever.

I would love to give Hereos five stars. I have been going wherever Chris Ewen spins for over twelve years now. While TT’s is a major improvement over Toast and Lansdown Street on game nights, it still leaves something to be desired. Possibly I just miss Manray, a sentiment that becomes all the more potent as I wait in line and look longingly at the condo that has sprung up in it’s place…
Excellent music! Masochists will enjoy the scowl from Terri the bartender!

The Fall of Heroes at Toast was a sad, sad night for me. I never made it when it was at Club I.D., as I am far too lazy to cross the river. And the closing of that location made me fear that my favorite dance night was lost and gone forever. But, no! It rises from the ashes, and so close to the spot where the famed ManRay once stood. Huzzah, yes? Yes!
Chris Ewen is a great DJ, who generally knows how to keep things going with a solid, sometimes surprising mix of tunes. If you ask him nice he might even play the hit he and his synthpop band had back in the 80s. Terri slings drinks with the best of them, making sure everything is good and strong; you get your money’s worth with her!
As for the crowd, there’s a group of «regulars» who almost seem like Chris Ewen’s groupies sometimes, and they’re always dancing. But, to go against the stereotypes of «dark, gothy» types like they often appear, they’re not unfriendly or hostile to new people. Perhaps it’s the closing of ManRay and other such events that make them more open to newcomers than the scene stereotypes would suggest, but at any rate, they welcome anyone who likes to dance and have fun with open arms.
Someone here asked who would want to get drunk and dance to Morrissey. Personally, I can remember a number of times that doing just that («Suedehead,» how I love thee!) and having a blast.

Wow folks, judgmental much? Ah, but then this I suppose is the reason that you aren’t having fun here. Too uptight. Heroes is best for people with a genuine love for this kind of music who go to clubs to dance and have fun with friends, not gawk at people.
This is not a crowd for the uptight. This is not a night for people with superiority complexes. Heroes is a surprisingly unpretentious environment considering how often pretension can be associated with underground music scenes. When it was at Toast, I went during the summer in shorts and sandals while a lot of people were gothed out; nobody cares, almost nobody stares.
My one criticism for Heroes is that on occasion, some of the song choices aren’t really the best for dancing — too slow or off-​tempo. There’s a lot of music to choose from that qualifies for this event that’s energizing and ideal, and though all of it is great, you sometimes have to get creative to really dance. But then, nobody really gives a fig if you look silly dancing (I’d venture that 98% of people at *any* club look ridiculous), so you might as well fire up that creativity.
I swear I don’t remember the cover being so high at Toast, but I won’t blame the night’s architects for that — I’m sure that’s TT’s doing.

Talk about disappointment.
I checked it out last Saturday, I didn’t know what to expect but I thought it was going to be fun, good music, etc, it doesn’t hurt to be positive sometimes y’know.
Did the flier say freak-​shows/​rejects welcomed? Okay not everyone but I saw enough of them, every way I turned, I was going blind by the minute, we looked around, then looked at each other while sipping our drinks «what is this»?, «was it suppose to be like this?» «want a hug?» ok I feel better.
Our drinks? may have been good, who knows, we just wanted to finish them ASAP, maybe I didn’t read well what this was about, maybe I got lost in translation, ugh.
I like TT’s, I’ve only been there for rock shows and I hadn’t been there in a while prior to this unfortunate event.
I Agree with Chloe about the goth/​industrial scene, if you’re going to go for it, make an effort, make me stare at you in a good way, I’m not an expert but I know what is bad for my eyesight.
Definitely not my type of crowd, I think I saw two or more Flavio look-​alike, I –can’t –believe-​this-​is –crap!
Maybe the music got better later on? Maybe I’ll grow 4 inches taller when I’m done writing this?.
Not the kind of heroes I like for sure.

Heroes «WAS A LANDSLIDE SUCCESS» last Saturday, according to Terry (one of the bartenders) and about 500+ other people!
Although it was much more crowded than I’d ever seen this place and at capacity by midnight, everything appeared to be well under control.
It truly disappoints me to hear that there were a few people who didn’t enjoy themselves. Although, I do agree with some of the points made by Chloe, I have seen MUCH worse at other clubs in Boston. I’m referring to those joints where everyone wears the same outfit and reeks of Axe cologne. So lame; what ever happened to originality as part of the status quo? I’ll never understand how this has stayed mainstream for so long. Anyway, my friends and aquaintences who enjoy Heroes night may not be magazine cover material, but once you get to know them they’re a hell of a lot cooler and genuine than the shallow crowds found at the other bars.
One of the great things about Heroes is that the crowd is accepting of pretty much anyone who wants to hang out there and you won’t find drunk a$$holes hitting on women and starting fights! It’s a fun atmosphere and, for the most part, everyone’s pretty cool and harmless. There are no snobs here, and that’s the way it ought to stay.
:)
–Not to mention that the music is great and so are the drinks.
I’ll definitely be back on the 19^th.
Thanks Chris & Terry!

It would seem not everyone feels the same way about this night as I do, but here goes.
Heroes is hands down my favorite night anywhere in the greater Boston area, and it has quite frankly gotten to being the only night I enjoy going out to.
I have followed this night around since when it first started at ManRay under the name Transmission (back room, not front), and now it has finally returned to Central Square.
Essentially this night consists of Chris Ewen, famed Boston DJ and musician playing all forms of 80s punk, pop and new wave in a friendly, open to all environment.
The night attracts everyone from indie hipsters to goth fans and everywhere in between, in a fun eclectic mix.
This night is not a meat market, but rather a fun place to come and enjoy underground hits of the 80s.
It is SO refreshing to have a night where the clientele isn’t dudes with untucked button down shirts that reek of cologne and girls who look like they spent a stretch of 15 – 20 in the tanning booth.
01÷05÷08 was a resounding success. I haven’t seen TT the Bears Place so full in my life. (in fact, the place was at capacity by midnight)
Right now it is only scheduled at TT’s for one more night on ⁰¹⁄₁₉. My feeling is, if the turnout can match last Saturday well be looking at a permanent night!