'Beyond a club vibe': These viral parties start at 9AM in the morning and it's a 'Banger'
The early bird gets a tequila sunrise and an epic turn-up.
Jordan Jackson, 29, ensured he took advantage of the two-hour open bar at an experience gaining massive popularity in New York City, online, and beyond.
The event's unique take on nightlife has attendees like Jackson waking up on the weekend to pregame at 7:30 a.m. with their friends.
Instead of the usual: arriving at a packed club after midnight to pop bottles in an overpriced section, Jackson decided to take a chance on the early hour R&B-themed party last year.
When he arrived at the venue, the line was wrapped around the corner, at a time when people are typically still catching z's, making their coffee, or eating breakfast. A food truck was outside, and viral local comedians kept them engaged with on-the-street interviews.
The energy was energetic, and people couldn't wait to enter the venue, Jackson said.
About an hour after the doors opened, Jackson was fully immersed in the party dubbed The 9AM Banger. The drinks were flowing, guests were socializing on the dance floor, and the DJ was playing old and new hits.
Jackson documented his entire experience and shared it on TikTok, which has nearly half a million views. He captured the moment singer J. Holiday came out for an unexpected performance and had the crowd singing his song "Bed" word for word.
"People were lit by 10 o'clock. Everybody was just happy. Everybody was friendly. Everybody's just there to have a good time," Jackson, an avid partygoer, said. "People were talking, which is an element that has been lost in the club scene."
"The fact that people were actually dancing and having fun was super dope," he continued.
The 'banger' was born in a Manhattan apartment
The brains behind The 9AM Banger, Adrian Almonte, Kenneth, and Jonathan Espinal, told Paste BN that creating an inclusive, unpretentious, multicultural, and lively environment is a top priority for their curated experience.
"We're not a wellness event, we're not a coffee shop event, we're a banger," stated Kenneth.
"When you attend an event, you realize why it's called 9AM Banger," Adrian added. "There are no fights at our parties, none of that at our events. Everyone's there to have a good time."
The trio aims for an ambiance similar to the party's roots, which started in 2015 among close friends at a Washington Heights, Manhattan apartment.
"It's beyond a club vibe. I think we've built a community over the past 10 years. It's very inclusive. A lot of people feel like they're a part of us," Jonathan continued.
Back then, they were recent college graduates when their BYOB pregame for SantaCon, an annual pub crawl, escalated from an intimate morning gathering to having 100 guests through word of mouth and group messaging platforms.
"It's still kind of insane to us sometimes that what started in an apartment has now become a national thing," Kenneth said.
Expect the unexpected: Celebrities, McDonald's chicken nuggets, and grandmothers
The buzz around their parties on social media piqued the interest of M'tyma McNeal, 34, who went to a 9 AM Banger to celebrate her friend's birthday in April. She said the crowd was stunned when they heard R&B singer Ne-Yo's voice in the middle of the function.
"It was a surprise," McNeal recalled. "We started hearing his songs, and then he came to the stage, and everybody started screaming."
The shock factor is intentional.
"We always try to keep people on their toes," Kenneth said.
Music artists like A Boogie, French Montana, Jadakiss, Cash Cobain, and Sean Paul, among others, have graced the stage without a formal announcement, adding to the experience.
"Besides the music and high energy and production, we like to give people surprises. And you never know what's going to happen. You never know who's going to pop out," he added. "You never know when towels are going to pop out. You never know when we're going to bring out some McDonald's chicken nuggets. We try to keep it that way."
The majority of The 9AM Banger partygoers are between 21 and 35 years old, but the crew has received emails saying, "Hey, my grandma is coming. Do you guys have tables?" according to Kenneth.
The uncommon early morning alternative has become a highlighted selling point, especially among millennials and Gen Z, who are shifting from spending thousands on flashy bottle service to attending more cost-efficient, DJ-centric day events.
"As people are getting older and people are getting healthier, folks don't want to be out late," the co-founder noted. "We're fortunate a lot of people are catching on to the wave now."
After leaving his first experience at 2 p.m., Jackson said he liked that the sun was out and spent the rest of his evening resting.
Similarly, McNeal added that she and her friend had the whole day ahead of them and went to brunch afterward.
"Being up early, partying early, and then being back in the house at a decent time—I like it."
The 9AM Banger summer tour dates
The 9AM Banger is currently on its 10-year anniversary tour, holding pop-up events throughout the country. Tickets for the following dates are currently available on their website:
- May 31: Reggaeton in Houston
- June 7: Reggaeton in New York
- June 21: R&B in Los Angeles
- July 12: Reggaeton in Chicago
- July 19: R&B in Atlanta
- August 2: Rise & Rosé in New York
Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for Paste BN. You can reach her at tardrey@gannett.com.