Results tagged “clubs”

                                 

There may only be three chords in a typical blues song - but that was no limit to musical variety this weekend. More than 600,000 people were expected to attended the annual free festival in Grant Park. And no matter what stage (or what club) the house was rocked. The best concert we saw (of the more than 60 acts who performed) was blues icon Bettye LaVette. Now 63, LaVette has been in the music business for more than 45 years, a fact she spent several minutes discussing as she transitioned through her set. Age has not proved a barrier though - LaVette even dropped the mic to sing unaided at some points Saturday night.

Electronic music is a medium ripe for resurrecting the sounds of the past, and every year one or two sub-genres reappear with a new twist. This year is widely becoming known as the year dubstep finally stepped out of its own dark shadow and into a position of public popularity.

Rehab is not only the best party going down each and every Monday, it's also arguably the strongest weekly residency in the Chicago with it's appeal across multiple genres and everyone's welcome attitudes. We became fans of their evening at evilOlive partially because it didn't feel like a typical club night. Sure, there were throngs of dances, but there was always room to chat with friends or duck away fro a game of pool if you weren't feeling a particular DJ's set.

Cut Copy, Hot Chip and Hercules and Love Affair have proven that there is room on Chicago's dancefloors for more than juke and electro. Drawing on influences from post-punk to disco to the radio greats of the past, it seems electronic pop is gaining momentum in a big way.

DJ duo Rocktapussy -- DJs Mother Hubbard and A-Cup) (a.k.a. Chess Hubbard and Jessica Gonyea) -- are throwing a party at Sonotheque tonight with He Say/She Say and Silverghost. The pair have been honing their skills both around town and on the road and have been drawing a steadily growing crowd of dedicated fans to their gigs. We dig the duo for the playful personality they've been injecting into their sets off late, and there ability to put together mixes that don't recycle the same ol' tunes you hear every other Serato DJ in this city working to the nub.

Does it Offend You, Yeah? first caught our ear with the suprema-catchy early single "We Are Rockstars" took us right back to the mid-'90s Big Beat explosion with its rock sensibilities laid like dripping blood over the dance floor. Honestly, after hearing that tune we were ready to write them off as just another dance rock band, albeit one with a slightly revivalist bent that appealed to our more sentimental nature.

What's more fun than the Gay Pride Parade? Northalsted Market Days! This weekend the party lands between Belmont and Addison on Halsted. Numerous stages, merch stalls, party people, babies in buggies, dudes with tails made of peacock feathers, hipsters, alt-bros, Trixies and their Chads, DJs, dancers, and little old ladies looking for a good time choke the six block stretch from the early morning into the evening. It's the street fest to end all street fests and we never, ever miss it. This year you'll probably find us hanging around the Roscoe stage where the bands include Hey Champ, Carey Ott, and Scotland Yard Gospel Choir. Here's a taste of what you can expect from Hey Champ.

Until Bottom Lounge (re-)opened, in order to find a good tiki lounge one had to travel to the suburbs. Within the city limits Trader Vic's closed last year, paving the way for the overpriced and subpar Lockwood restaurant. Trader Vic's was the lone standout for years after Ciral's House of Tiki in Hyde Park put up the shutters in 2000.

Crystal Castles create dance music out of brittle 8-bit derived beats and high-pitched squeaks and squonks. It's dance music for the Nintendo generation, full of dancing Marios and Luigis grinding up against ambisexual Sonic the Hedgehogs. For the most part their music is heavy on the treble and way in your face, and we understand that's not for everyone.

We have been waiting for the debut from local duo Walter Meego for forever. Seriously. We've seen them on "next big thing" lists for at least the last two years -- and believe us, they belong on those lists -- but only now can folks who haven't seen them live finally get what the buzz is all about.

Lauri Apple of Gapers Block asked me a while ago if I'd be interested in representing Chicagoist in a DJ battle against her / Gapers Block at The Burlington tonight. Naturally I accepted the challenge without a second thought.

In our heads the weekend has already landed. Local heroes Flosstradamus have gone global and put together a little mix for the Bang Gang promoters down under. If you haven't had a chance to check out the duo's out of control Chicago parties, this is a nice little 30-minute sample of what the boys are capable. And, of course, it includes the obligatory Kid Sister appearance near the end of the mix. [credz]

Tonight marks the seventh installment of Stay Smooth, the every-so-often Yacht Rock-inspired party that's the brainchild of hot shit Chicago DJs Bald Eagle and STV SLV. What started as a gathering of friends and those in the know in the intimate upstairs lounge at Schubas has become a full-fledged calendar event, and the captain's hats, jean shorts, and deck shoes will be out in full force. Still confused on the Yacht Rock concept? Here's video that'll clarify:

We recently told you that palindrome proficient club evilOlive is the Monday night hot spot. Hipsters flock there (maybe because it’s so ironic to get loaded on a Monday?) to knock back PBRs and get down to the indie-rock dance party during the club’s weekly Rehab program.

We just learned that tickets to ALL Metro and Smart Bar shows are only available through their websites, or the Metro Box Office. There will still be service fees for tickets bought online, though we believe they will be much reduced due to Metro handling all sales internally, and there is still never a service fee for tickets bought at the Box Office.