Gotta Get Us Some Tighter Pants

By Tankboy in Arts & Entertainment on Mar 29, 2007 8:15PM

Ever wonder why it seems like EVERYONE who works at Schubas Tavern is a DJ? Walk into the venue on a typical night and one of the furthest thoughts from your mind is probably “electronic music,” as the dimly lit room and comfortable wooden tables are more likely to invite images of acoustic guitars and creaky pianos than big headphones and furious turntable laptop manipulation. Ironic then that not only has the upstairs room at Schubas’ become a destination for dancing, but the venue itself has become the 9-to-5 for a few budding jocks ready to come out of the closet.

The staffers who have the helm of the Onion/Tovaritch/Warsteiner DJs Upstairs weekly romp may have day gigs behind desks or hanging posters at the north side venue, but each has a deft touch on the turntables as well. “Master Intern” Matt ROAN and sometime door man DJ MATT FIELDS may be the best known of the bunch, with ROAN’s Dance Party Magic collective scoring a recent gig with Yo Majesty and Fields’ shining in a spot on the flashy Tomorrow Never Knows Festival.

Tonight’s DJ Upstairs event concludes a month of Schubas’ Employees of the Month residencies behind the tables with sets by Silver Wolf (a.k.a. promotions guru Tim Stephans), DJ Davey Deep Beatz (promotional staffer Megan Davey), and a special guest set by sometime-vinyl tickler DJ MR, known to most as talent buyer Matt Rucins. If that ain’t enough to entice you out into the suddenly March-like night, Dirty On Purpose (whom we raved about before) will be haunting the downstairs music room with their noisy, ethereal harmonies. Still want more rason to head over tonight? There are $1 Berghoff bottles and Warsteiner and Tovaritch Vodka specials.

DJs Upstairs is tonight at Schubas, 3159 N. Southport. 10 p.m., 21+

Thanks, Lizz!