Among the multitude, a man, a bit older than most of the crowd, makes his rounds. He's "dressed to the nines" in a white dress shirt, red suspenders, and a carefully placed fedora. He hopes tonight will draw a huge crowd, that he can do more than just break even. But no matter what, nothing will stop him from putting on the next show. He loves the music, the scene and its people.

The man who weaves in and out of the tattoed girls and the vintage-clad arms and legs is Lenny Lounge. It could be said that he is primarily responsible for the emergence of the swing scene in New Jersey. With his bi-monthly magazine Retro-Reactive, and his traveling swing shows of the same name, he is the source for many swing networks all over New Jersey.

His mission is simple: to get people out of their living rooms to enjoy this simple form of 1930s jazz with others.

Although the shows have been successful so far, Lenny says, "I've been pushing swing here for a little over two years and people are getting into it more and more, but I still have my work cut out for me."

One obstacle Lenny has been continually fighting is the stereotypes people have about swing -- that it's grandma and grandpa's music. "To be honest it was very hard in the beginning because that's what people always said to me ... but let me explain something. When grandma and grandpa were growing up in the '40s, they were our age, 15-25," he says.

"Swing music was actually started to gear towards the younger crowd. It was a type of rebellion in its day, so the only difference is this is the '90s instead of the '40s. The music still has the same energy and excitement that it did then."

Lenny agrees that swing may be the music of old, but it certainly never was the music of the old. It's simply too energetic. Lenny offers a simpler explanation. "I think people like to get dressed up and dance to swing because it's fun! ... One big happy party for all!"

For Lenny, the swing scene isn't just about the music. Participation is a must, especially when it comes to the clothes.

"You can dress anyway you like to a swing show, but I think it makes it much more fun if you take the time to get dressed in vintage clothing. I think everyone likes to play dress up," Lenny says.

"I think people like to get dressed up and dance to swing because it's fun! -- Lenny Lounge

Young swingers mystically combine modern essentials such as baggy pants and tattoos with vintage garb like fedoras, saddle shoes, and gloves. One goes to a swing show to feel the era, and what better way to do that than to drape yourself in that era's clothes and surround yourself with others who do the same?

Of course, the music is also part of the fun. "Neo-swing bands are smaller in size, but play big band style songs," says Lenny. "That's what I think makes it so appealing to the kids today. To have a five- to eight-piece swing band on-stage pumping out so much energy, it has to feed off to the crowd."