"Walking the Dog," "Mr. Big Stuff," and "Hold On, I'm Comin'" were just a few of the soulful songs played on Thursday night in the hopes of bringing attendees back to the 60's and 70's, the glory days of the legendary STAX Records. The Southern Soul Dance Party took place at Tala Vera, a fairly new Mexican restaurant on State Street.

About 25 people came out to shake their groove things for a few hours. DJ Derrick Lucas was able to spin tunes to keep the majority of them on the dance floor for just about every song. Lucas is a regular DJ for Jazz 90.1, but he says he enjoys getting the chance to play the music he grew up listening to, calling it "family reunion music."

The music that Lucas played was easy to dance to, varying in style and tempo, and kept the audience out of the seats. That's undoubtedly because the songs released by STAX were often inspired by the dances of the time, like "the jerk," "the dog," and "the boogaloo," Lucas says. The DJ even gave a quick dance lesson on how to do the jerk.

There were a few songs that seemed to break the flow of the night, and people began to sit down. I spoke with Lucas afterward, and he said any time he played songs released after 1969, people stopped dancing. They weren't ready for the funk of the 70's.

I spoke with a few attendees and got mixed reviews. Some particularly enjoyed the atmosphere of the night, digging the fact that everyone, including the DJ and MC, were grooving out and having a great time. Others said it didn't hit the spot, suggesting that maybe the song selection or atmosphere didn't click for them. I agree with the latter note; while the restaurant has the potential to be a great spot for a dance party, more people were needed to fill the room and match the energy of the music.

This event was the third of its kind, the first two being held in 2009 and 2010 at the Bug Jar. Lucas wants to make it a traveling event, and has plans to bring his heart and soul to a different venue in Rochester every time. I'll be there, in the midnight hour.