Q101 DJs took to Twitter Tuesday after news that the station would switch to an all-news format in 45 days was reported by Robert Feder. more ›

In just a few short hours we'll be getting CMD+SHFT+DANCE Vol. 2 underway at Beauty Bar. Jake has put together an amazing lineup for this evening, headlined by the "polyrhythmic" DJ stylings of Hernan Sanchez, backed more than ably by Savile and Olin. And did we mention it's free? more ›

Ever since Perry's Stage debuted in 2008, we've closely monitored its progress. What began as a tiny stage featuring mostly unknown DJs and a few dozen people has blossomed into a spectacle of major names in electronic dance music and a new staging area that will support 15,000 Lollapalooza attendees this year. Needless to say, it's the fastest growing segment of the festival, as thousands of young partygoers opt to spend entire days at Perry's Stage, where they can dance their little hearts away. And while this growth is indicative of electronic dance music's broadened appeal over the past few years (specifically after the electro boom of 2007-2008), what has this rapid expansion done to the integrity of the lineup at Perry's? If 2009 was its flagship year, what does it say to have largely the same style of acts (even the same acts) from a segment of music culture that is so incredibly diverse and changes as fast as the seasons do? more ›

Nothing like shitty news to bring you into the holiday weekend, right? As some of you have heard, local house DJ/producer Paul Johnson was seriously injured in a car accident over the weekend. Currently hospitalized, Johnson has sustained some broken bones and faces impending surgery. And though our thoughts are with Johnson and his friends and family, the local house music community is too close and caring to let this tragic accident go unnoticed. Tonight, Smart Bar and 5 Magazine will host a benefit for Paul Johnson. Not coincidentally, it's the same night he was scheduled to perform prior to the accident. more ›

Chicagoist Mix Series is an ongoing feature that profiles local DJs and features a mix compiled exclusively for Chicagoist. This is mix No. 6, brought to you by Chris Widman. more ›

Chicagoist Mix Series is an ongoing feature that profiles local DJs and features a mix compiled exclusively for Chicagoist. This is mix No. 4, brought to you by Skyler Mendoza. more ›

We'd barely had enough time to process the demise of Sonotheque when we heard the news via Chicago Now that nearby venue Lava Lounge will end it's tenure as a club destination on December 18 in favor of a facelift and transformation into a cocktail lounge with mixologist Peter Vestinos (consultant for Naha, C-View, Roof and In Fine Spirits) acting as visionary. Co-owners Phil McFarland and Ty Fujimura will retain ownership of the venue, but with a new name and a new focus on drinks and conversation taking the place of an eclectic roster of multi-genre DJ nights, we're left with another headstone added to the city's nightlife graveyard and a winter full of long bus rides to Smart Bar. more ›

Bike commuters, fixie enthusiasts, racehounds and general fans of two-wheeled transportation can rejoice as tomorrow kicks off the Chicago stop of the five day 2009 Bicycle Film Fest. Pump up your tires, grab your U-lock and get ready to cycle the city in the name of film and fun. more ›

• Sonia Sotomayer has been confirmed to the Supreme Court.
• Gov. Quinn signed the Texting-While-Driving ban into law today.
• DuPage County State's Attorney Joe Birkett has decided to not run against Lisa Madigan for Attorney General next year.

Another weekend. Another street fest. This weekend the annual West Fest closes off Chicago Avenue between Damen and Wood for two days of live music, kid and pet festivities and even an outdoor fashion show. The antithesis of the chaos formerly known as Ribfest, West Fest is the one street fest we can always count on for a relaxing afternoon. more ›

First of all, let's get this out of the way. We were watching the little video with Perry Farrell below and were thinking he's looking remarkably well preserved for a dude who is 50. Then we thought, "Wait, Perry Farrell is FIFTY?!" We've always though Bowie was well preserved but Farrell is giving that man a run for his money. more ›

We just wanted to remind you to keep May 30 open on your calendar so you can join us at The Whistler and celebrate Chicagoist's fifth birthday party. We're bringing in some of our favorite bands -- Grammar and The Interiors (plus a surprise musical guest) -- to light up The Whistler's stage and a few of your Chicagoist DJs will keep the soundtrack going in to the night. more ›

Despite facing criticism that Eddie and JoBo were way too old to be broadcasting "hits and hip hop" to the audience of B96, they soldiered on as morning hosts of the longtime CHR station for decades. Well, not any more – AllAccess.com reports that E&JB have been given the boot by CBS execs. Newcomer J Niice takes over in the short term. The Killer B's program director, Todd Cavanah, told All Access, "We celebrate EDDIE & JO BO's nearly two decades of great entertainment and service. We will miss them and it's time for B96 to move in a new direction. We are looking at several options and hope to have something to announce sooner than later." In other words: Don't let the station door hit you where the good Lord split you. Like so many other radio careers cut short, the duo weren't even allowed a final show to say goodbye to their fans. While we imagine that this news might be out of the demographic for the majority of the Chicagoist reader, maybe some of you listened to 'em in high school – maybe tip out a little bit o' your 40oz. in their honor.
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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. more ›

There are "Adult Fans Of Lego" out there? Really? Actually, we find that kind of awesome. Happy Birthday Lego! more ›

Clayton Hauck, Chicago's everywhere-at-once nightlife photographer, has released the results of a reader's poll he ran to discern which clubs, DJs, promoters, and bands are at the top of The People's list. It's hardly a scientific poll, and Hauck even admits that when it came to the promoter results there was probably more than a little ballot box stuffing, but we find it interesting as it functions as a good peek into the indie-rock dance micro-scene. And this is the scene, one could argue, driving the majority of the musically related social activity in our fair city these days, so we also find it interesting as an indicator of where things might be heading. more ›

Moving forward in our quest to give you readers some options for going out on New Year's Eve so you aren't procrastinating. more ›

The cold weather - and holiday festivities - descended upon Gothamist. The Rockefeller Christmas tree was lit, Broadway stagehand finally ended their strike, and NASCAR decided to run their victory lap through Times Square. There were disturbing photographs revealing the working conditions in which many city manholes are produced and ninjas were also a hot topic, either robbing homes or entering into alibis. But the city was really rocked by how Rudy Giuliani's visits... more ›

We HATE the term Black Wednesday. more ›

The video below should infuriate you. And it should bug the hell out of any female DJ trying to be taken seriously today. DJ Colette -- whom we remember stinking up the joint back when she got her start at Liquid Kitty (at least we THINK that was the first bar stupid enough to let her behind the decks) -- is one of those vain, semi-talented knob-twiddlers that wouldn't garner any attention if she wasn't... more ›

The Hood Internet DJs STV SLV and ABX's band that plays actual instruments, May Or May Not, is releasing their second album tonight, and they've decided to post the whole thing online for a short period of time so everyone can check it out. We've heard it and would say it's well worth buying, so you'd be a fool not to grab it for free right now. May Or May Not spends a lot of... more ›

Man, if ever there was an evening to get your groove on, this evening is that evening. Daniel Ash has a long, storied career manning the axe in not one, but three, groundbreaking bands — Bauhaus, Tones On Tail, and Love And Rockets. Whilst those past acts are known for their atmospherics, said atmospherics owing a pretty huge debt to Ash's guitar work, the man's DJ sets are a world apart. Which is why we... more ›

Grab your quirky t-shirts and head over to the Metro tonight to celebrate the grand opening of the first Threadless store at 3011 N. Broadway in Chicago. To really tee it up and kick it off right tonight, Threadless and Metro are bringing you two free shows. Tonight's lineup will feature Hey Mercedes, Anathallo, Freer and host Marcus Monroe. It starts at 6:00 p.m. and is open to all ages, but you will have... more ›

We alluded to it earlier, but this is one hell of a weekend for music in our fair city. One of the upswings of the indiefication of America has been the steadily improving street festival bills, so we can at least enjoy good tunes with our processed meats and flat beer, and this weekend sees two of the best line-ups all summer unfortunately going head to head with each other. The inaugural Switchyard Festival is... more ›

The name says lounge, it looks like a lounge, it smells like a lounge—well, actually it doesn’t really despite that smoking’s allowed in certain areas--but who would have thought Ole Lounge would have great food in addition to drinks? more ›

If you like hip-hop -- the type of hip-hop that makes everyone jump up and down and yell out a chorus in synch, or the type that includes lyrics about cars and money and hoes or, ahem, finding out your one-night stand's husband is having an affair with a gay minister -- then tonight's show at Schubas is not for you. Kill the Vultures, who are opening for fellow Minneapolis(ans?)(ites?) Stnnng, are classified as a... more ›

"Exotica was a round-trip ticket departing everyday for something more fabulous. It had the feel of distant places, but it took you to spots never before trekked by man ... All this cultural production promised a world more primitive and less mediated than life in the burgeoning white collar states. Exotica was more than a sound, it was design movement, and a pop art reaction to a Cold War paradigm that said all that was... more ›

It's our 3rd Anniversary Party at Subterranean tonight! We are very, VERY excited to finally be past our twos! We are even more excited that this event is open to a broad swathe of our readers since it's open to everyone 18 and over. (And for those of you over 21, we're sure you're excited about the $2.50 pints of Goose Island available all night long.) We've spent the past few days talking to and... more ›

Interview: The Hood Internet more ›

Just a quick reminder ... we're celebrating our 3rd Anniversary with and 18 and over show at Subterranean this Thursday. We've lined up the musical talents of Milk At Midnight, Sweetish, and We Make Thunder to get your toes tapping with tunes catchier than a cross-continental tour of TB. And we've got The Hood Internet DJs STV SLV and ABX spinning until the wee hours of the morning. And we'll have the staff of Chicagoist... more ›