Our (fairly) regular roundup of Music & Arts related news from Chicago-based web media, featuring thoughts and insight from some of the city’s most dedicated writers.
Donna Summer, one of the most successful singers of the 1970s and perhaps the most important female artist in the history of electronic music, died this morning after a battle with cancer.
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MIXOLOGY highlights dj sets from around the web that we believe will contribute to the betterment of society.
Old Meiotic co-hort and recently Denver-based Andrew Kevins played an event this past March at Beatport HQ (Yes, they are his new bosses as well). Featuring tracks from the likes of Metronomy, Thomas Brinkmann, Efdemin/DJ Koze, Moodymann, and Frankie Knuckles, his track selection nicely runs the electronic gamut in proper Meiotic fashion.
Check it out on Soundcloud:
Our (fairly) regular roundup of Music & Arts related news from Chicago-based web media, featuring thoughts and insight from some of the city’s most dedicated writers.
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As dream teams go, the crew of Chicago club and concert veterans recently assembled to run the newish Rogers Park venue Mayne Stage can rival Marvel Comics’ legendary Avengers.Located at the former site of the Morse Theatre, Mayne Stage was completely remade in 2009 in a spare-no-expense, $6 million
The eighth annual Riot Fest has tapped some of the biggest names yet for its raucous stages. The first round of acts announced by promoters includes Rise Against, Iggy and the Stooges, Elvis Costello, the Offspring, Gogol Bordello and the Jesus and Mary Chain.
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As the promoters of the end-of-summer punk-rock blow-out Riot Fest gear up to begin announcing the lineup for their eighth annual shindig, they also are hoping to expand yet again by taking the festival outdoors to Humboldt Park on Sept.
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Our (fairly) regular roundup of Music & Arts related news from Chicago-based web media, featuring thoughts and insight from some of the city’s most dedicated writers.
Inexplicably garnering more love than she has since her 2002 debut from corners that previously have long since grown indifferent and/or fallen asleep, hipster coffee-house chanteuse Norah Jones pairs with the previously infallible Danger Mouse on her fifth studio album, expanding on the exquisite c
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This blog will leave the TV critiquing to the TV critics, but one thing we can say with certainty is that in its fifth season on AMC, Mad Men is on a roll with its musical selections and cool inside-rock references, from Megan Draper’s performance of “Zou Bisou Bisou” a few weeks back, to t
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With her 2008 debut Santogold, the vivacious Santi White earned more than her fair share of comparisons to M.I.A., as if pop might only have room for one high-spirited woman bringing world rhythms into the realm of electronic dance pop.
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Our (fairly) regular roundup of Music & Arts related news from Chicago-based web media, featuring thoughts and insight from some of the city’s most dedicated writers.
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I’ve followed and championed Damon Albarn through all of his many musical journeys. But his new album, Dr. Dee, is a plodding, ponderous, joyless mess.
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As someone who’s followed and championed Damon Albarn through all of his many musical journeys—Blur and Gorillaz, of course, but even the Good, the Bad & the Queen and Mali Music—I wasn’t necessarily daunted by the prospect of the leading British auteur of the alt-rock generation
The self-released Vava Voom is an impressive example of a talented visionary drawing connections to electronic dance music’s past while breaking ground for the future.
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Though, it should be needless to say, electronic dance music never has gone away, forever mutating and evolving in sometimes rewarding and sometimes redundant ways, these sounds haven’t been such a focus for the corporate music industry since the late ’90s, when they bubbled up from raves to draw th
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Bay Area death-metal band Autopsy, founded in 1987 and split in 1995, have been reunited full-time since 2010, and their 2011 LP Macabre Eternal landed on plenty of year-end best-of lists. Influential but hardly famous in the 90s, Autopsy are now revered as pillars of “old-school” death metal, alongside the likes of Possessed, Terrorizer, Obituary, and Chicago’s own Master.…
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Peter Margasak, Reader staff writer, is obsessed with. Peeping Tom, Boperation (Umlaut) For its second album, this Swedish-French trio expands to a quartet: saxist Pierre-Antoine Badaroux, bassist Joel Grip, and drummer Antonin Gerbal are joined by German trumpeter Axel Dörner.…
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Kelly Hogan has been Chicago’s sweetheart for more than a decade now, perhaps the brightest star in this city’s roots-rock firmament. Now with a stellar debut on Anti- Records she gives us a masterpiece.
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Though she first made her impact on the music scene in Georgia in the ’90s, first as the golden voice of the star-crossed Jody Grind and then as a member of the Rock*A*Teens, Kelly Hogan has been Chicago’s sweetheart for more than a decade now, perhaps the brightest star in this city’s roots-r
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The left turns on Blunderbuss, include a lot more piano than guitar and flashes of a lyrical specificity unusual from such a celebrated craftsman of myths, mysteries and fabulous lies.
Chicago favorites the Waco Brothers and Nashville singer-songwriter Paul Burch have traveled in the same circles for years, and both have made records for Bloodshot. Though their output is quite different—the former is loud and woolly, the latter gentle and measured—they share a deep regard for old-school country.…
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Chicago’s cultural minions have announced some of this summer’s musical acts.
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For three decades, Jason Pierce simultaneously has been one of rock’s most notorious yet most productive addictive personalities.
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The Chicago Park District this afternoon finally released its new 10-year and possibly eternal contract with the massive Lollapalooza Music Festival to this reporter and others who’d filed Freedom of Information Act requests.All of its pluses (primarily added income for city, county and state govern
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Our (fairly) regular roundup of Music & Arts related news from Chicago-based web media, featuring thoughts and insight from some of the city’s most dedicated writers.
The new contract that will keep Lollapalooza in Grant Park through 2021 will yield more money for city, county and state governments. But city officials blew the opportunity to eliminate other unfair advantages that the Daley administration gave the politically connected concert in its original sweetheart deal, and to correct problems these create for the city’s permanent music scene.
Only three days before a Deleterious Impact/Public Nuisance Hearing set to take place on the venue, a fight during a hip-hop show at the Congress Theater Friday night prompted a response from more than two dozen police and fire officials and shut down Milwaukee Avenue for several blocks in both directions.
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Even in this golden era of self-obsessed superstars desperate to provide something for everyone, you’d be hard pressed to find an example of anyone in greater need of the ability to focus, self-edit and learn to distinguish her strengths from her all-too-obvious weaknesses.
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The headliners at this year’s installment of the musical Walmart on the Lake (Aug.
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Jaime “El-P” Meline and Emmanuel “Million Dollar Mano” Nickerson couldn’t be more different, at least as far as their images go. El-P is a respected elder in the underground rap world, with a well-deserved reputation as a serious dude that he’s earned both with his music and with his outspoken criticism of industry politics.…
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Alderman Proco Joe Moreno and disgruntled neighbors aren’t the only ones questioning the quality of security at the Congress Theater: Electronic dance superstar Bassnectar, who’s performing a sold-out show…
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Few bands dominated the R&B charts in the 70s and 80s like Kool & the Gang. The group emerged from jazz beginnings in Jersey City in the 60s to become one of the heaviest and most successful funk bands on the planet, scoring massive hits like “Jungle Boogie,” “Hollywood Swinging,” and “Higher Plane” that relied mostly on fat horn riffs, deep grooves, and the ingenious bass lines of group leader Robert “Kool” Bell.…
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In striking contrast to the preferential treatment accorded Lollapalooza, neighborhood, non-profit and community music and arts festivals are having a…
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As he faces a Deleterious Impact/Public Nuisance Hearing at City Hall, Congress Theater owner Erineo “Eddie” Carranza maintains that his frequently criticized venue is “no better in condition or no worse in condition” than other…
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Though it can be admired for filling a void in the local music scene by booking underground sounds and hosting independent concerts that might not otherwise find a home in Chicago, the Congress Theater is notorious among…
It’s official: After his job as this city’s best ever programmer of free live music was twice eliminated by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events in the span of less than a year, Michael Orlove is moving on to greener–and hopefully more grateful–pastures. Here is the press…
South by SouthWest turns the city of Austin, Texas into one of the world’s largest and most chaotic music festivals for a week each March. It’s a daunting event to tackle as a concertgoer, but it’s near impossible to give it its due as a…
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The fourth and final night of SXSW 2012 was not off to the greatest musical start. The first act I caught was Kat Graham. Known mostly for her role as Bonnie Bennett on Vampire Diaries, she’s been dabbling in music while acting…
The level of insanity at SXSW cannot be overstated. The term “hipster Mardi Gras” has been used frequently, but it’s far more than that. Advertisements covered everything, down to the cocktail napkins in bars and the walls of music venues. Crowds willingly submitted to “branded experiences” for the chance at a free Jay-Z show. Tom Morrello of Rage Against The Machine led an “Occupy” styled sing-along. Rumors swirled that Terrence Malick was shooting scenes for his new film with Christian…
Thursday, Day Two, was my first day on random international band watch. I decided to head to some international showcases. My first stop was at the German Wunderbar lunch at Parkside Restaurant, where DJs Apparat, Bonaparte, Coma, Touchy Mob and more spun tues. I can’t tell you who was on when I was there nor did it sound distinctly German, but the tasty fare and friendly folks made it a fun stop. Next I ventured to Taiwan, by way of 6th Street. Inside Soho Lounge, the female-fronted The…
Thursday Bruce Springsteen delivered the keynote address at the SXSW Music conference. Since The Boss is one of the most contentious perennial debates on Sound Opinions, I asked hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot to weigh in on the speech. Will Jim rip it to shreds? Will Greg call Bruce a genius? Watch the videos below to find out.
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AUSTIN, TX—Sharing a place on the short list of rock’s very best “dark night of the soul” masterpieces—right up there with Neil Young’s Tonight’s the Night and the third album by the…
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AUSTIN, TX—We’ve gotta give the Boss this: Though his much-anticipated keynote address at SXSW 2012 was rife with as much mawkish sentimentality as his music at its absolute hokiest, the man alone at a lectern—armed only with an acoustic guitar…
In a tacit admission that Lollapalooza’s original long-term, tax-free deal with the city, crafted in part by Mayor Daley’s nephew Mark Vanecko, was inequitable and possibly corrupt,…
AUSTIN, TX—With the crowds larger than ever—thanks to the burgeoning interactive soiree lingering as the music attendees arrive—and the corporate presence more ubiquitous and obnoxious than this blogger has witnessed in 20 years of covering this event—a temporary four-story tribute to/advertisement of…
Tuesday at SXSW is crossover day, when Interactive and Film are winding down and Music is just revving up. As a result there are a number of sessions that don’t neatly fall into any one category. Anthony Bourdain did a session on social media, Pitchfork threw a party for the Interactive conference and Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo talked about composing for television and film.
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A generation brought up on the new technology of television was shocked last week when it was announced that Davy Jones, the lead singer of The Monkees, had died. Andrea Lenaburg brings a story from her youth…
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Friday marks the start of South By Southwest 2012- universally known simply as SXSW. The little conference that began in Austin, Tex. in 1987 has grown into a cultural and corporate behemoth that is virtually inescapable each March. Nearly 50,000 people will travel to…
Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich has asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed against him for allegedly violating copyrights by playing “Eye of the Tiger” at campaign events.
A defense filing in U.S. District Court in Chicago denies any wrongdoing and says recordings played of the Rocky III anthem constituted fair use. Monday’s filing also raises jurisdictional issues.
The federal lawsuit filed recently by Rude Music Inc. contends Gingrich has used…
Over the last three years, the Chicago International Movies & Music Festival has become an increasingly vital merger of sound and vision, and the few films announced so far for 2012 hold considerable promise.
Taking place at several venues in Wicker Park and Logan Square from April 12 to 15, the fourth annual four-day “celebration of outstanding films, intense concerts, incredible DJ/VJ events, daring live score performances and more” once again will showcase “what music and movies…
Listen to Sound Opinions’ hosts remember Davy Jones on Afternoon Shift
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In honor of the Tenth Annual Chicago Flamenco Festival, which is going on right now, Jerome and Global Notes contributor Catalina Maria Johnson listen to some flamenco fusion.
For a schedule of the festival’s events, click here.
Track List:
1. “Traveller” –…
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Well hello sir; it’s good to see you again.It seems like just yesterday that one of our all time favorite guests during the YFL and JACKSON era of shows – one Mr. Alfred Darlington, aka DAEDELUS - graced us with a virtuoso monome performance in signature dandied-out attire.
The Los Angeles based Darlington – whose prolific output over the years for the storied likes of ALPHA PUP, EASTERN DEVELOPMENTS, PLUG RESEARCH, MUSH, and recently for LA beat scene compatriot Flying Lotus’s BRAINFEEDER imprint – continued his hot streak of releases for NINJA TUNE in 2011 with the Bespoke full length and the Overwhelmed ep, with nary a slowdown in sight.
Known as much for his uniquely playful-but-intricate electronic musical take as he is for pioneering the use of the monome controller, it’s the latter that never fails to surprise. So much so, that his interweaving of bass-laden, headnod-inducing tracks with unexpected dancefloor classics (read: stardust), would punctuate two of our more raucous nights in the YFL & Jackson event series.
Suffice it to say that we’re looking forward to re-making his acquaintance this Friday as the fine folks at THE MID feature his live electronic monome prowessness, alongside fellow beatmavens EMANCIPATOR and LITTLE PEOPLE.
Check the Facebook event page for additional details.
A couple notes from the web this week:
Chicago’s Cultural Affair woes
Jim DeRogaitis has updated his Pop N Stuff blog over at WBEZ with more on the internal downsizing/consolidation drama going down at the Chicago Office of Tourism. The results are not good for those of us who appreciate the fine work the team over at the Cultural Center has done over the past decade.
http://www.wbez.org/blog/jim-derogatis/2012-01-25/cultural-affairs-update-music-out-cold-now-95802
Idol Crap
When the news of Simon Cowell’s will be partnering with Jada Pinkett-Smith to produce a “DJ Idol” show hit the web this week, we threw up in our mouths a lil bit just like most of our friends. Obviously, everyone has their own input and takeaway on this, but we find this piece from the fine folks at TheQuietus to be particularly on point:
http://thequietus.com/articles/07818-simon-cowell-dj-idol
That’s all for now… have a great weekend!
If you haven’t already seen the multiple Facebook event posts out there about this party, consider this your notice. A collection of heads from the mid-nineties heyday of Chicago “rave” have returned for another in the series of Come2Gether revival events, this time at the Mid. Featuring a trio of headliners (McBride, Johnson, Hyperactive) and a lineup of mainstays from the era (Vega, Werner), this promises to be a blast from your big-pants past. Get your whistle on!
Longtime PERLON RECORDS staple SAMMY DEE returns to Chicago with his new label ULTRASTRETCH in tow as he makes his debut appearance at the venerable SmartBar. He plays alongside Frankie Vega and Matt Main in whats sure to be one helluva night.
Full details soon!
Culturally inclined Chicago music patrons can breathe a sigh of relief; the schedule for the Lunchbreak Music Series at Millennium Park’s Jay Pritzker Pavilion is out, and though the fall/winter reorganization at the CCC was cause for a certain amount of concern, this news coupled with the New Music Mondays schedule all but confirms a smooth transition of duties from the former Department of Cultural Affairs to the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture.
The artist schedule is a stylistically diverse one, including artists from the realms of Classical, Jazz, Blues, Indie, Roots/Americana, and beyond. That said, we are particularly excited about the Friday and Saturday lunch time bookings: Chicago House takes centerstage on Fridays, and Saturday’s Electric Picnic brings more diverse electronic sounds to the fray.
Including such dancefloor luminaries as Frankie Knuckles, Farley Jackmaster Funk, and Heather, CHICAGO HOUSE Fridays launch on June 3rd with hometown stalwart Ron Trent. ELECTRIC PICNIC Saturdays will feature the varied likes of the Bomb Squad, Luke Vibert, and Tycho, culminating with the Rephlex Records 20 year Anniversary on Saturday September 3rd. The full schedule is listed below, but make sure to regularly check the Millennium Park website for updates!
Day 3 of the Avant_MUTEK Chicago events ends the celebrations on a high note with a monster double bill of headline-worthy avant-garde electronics: a rare “Live Surround” performance from Germany’s MONOLAKE, coupled with a Chicago debut of Deepchord’s heralded offspring project, ECHOSPACE. DJ sets from Chicago indie electronic mainstays KARL MEIER & CHRIS WIDMAN round out this line up of international and local pillars!
NOTE: Early-bird tickets available for $12 online at the METRO/SMARTBAR website!
Regular $15 tickets available at the door.
MONOLAKEMonolake is Robert Henke, a Berlin-based producer of sophisticated electronic dance music that represents the ideal synthesis of computer-driven musical experiments and dancefloor rhythms. Founded in 1995 by Henke and Gerhard Behle, Monolake is currently Henke’s solo project after Behles left the act to concentrate on his duties as head of the Ableton music software company. Emerging from Berlin’s legendary Chain Reaction/Hard Wax collective, Henke has since released 6 full-lengths and numerous EP’s on his own Monolake/Imbalance imprint. Monolake’s music is indebted equally to both dub and minimal techno–drawing comparisons to Maurizio and Vladislav Delay–while incorporating elements of drum & bass and academic computer music. Cool, restrained, and undeniably rhythmic, the project feeds the fluidity of bedroom ambience into the pulsations of club life, pushing elements of these disparate genres to their limits. Henke’s work as co-creator and conceptual designer of Ableton’s popular “Live” software has revolutionized electronic music performance and in 2009 he was appointed professor of sound design at the University of Arts, Berlin. Monolake’s Chicago appearance features his Live Surround performance, an ongoing research project that explores notions of space and depth in sound (traditionally concerns limited to the production studio), in the non-static and unfocused club environment.
…the aural equivalent of a glass-and-steel skyscraper, and I’m repeatedly sucked in by its grandeur.
– Peter Margasak, Chicago Reader
The deep, immersive echo chamber that sits at the center of DeepChord’s signature Echospace series may appear inspired by the genre-defining work of first-wave dub technoists that appeared on the Chain Reaction label in the mid- to late-90s. But it’s also work that’s quintessentially building upon the Detroit scene where it was born, and that divine marriage of roots and vision make the work at once so highly considered, so timeless, and so pertinent. A Detroit-Chicago collaboration between prolific and low-key ambient dub-techno producer Rod Modell (Deepchord) and Steven Hitchell (Soultek), Echospace released a series of 12″ singles on England’s Modern Love label, all of which were compiled on a CD named after the series, The Coldest Season. The same year, the duo also issued a pair of singles on Lee Purkis’ Fortune8 label, as well as an additional release on echospace[detroit]. As with much of Modell’s output, Echospace’s material is deeply rooted in the Basic Channel/Chain Reaction school of dub-techno, emphasizing deep throbs and alternately soothing and unsettling ambience .
Chris Widman is a Chicago DJ that defies easy classification. As host of the weekly radio program Abstract Science since 1997 and Smartbar resident DJ, he is at the forefront of breaking new styles, crossing genre lines and re-introducing forgotten music. When DJing for the dancefloor, Widman mixes a diverse array of sounds–dubstep, techno and detroit electro among them–to create his own form of sonic warfare, designed to both entertain and challenge audiences. This versatility and depth has seen Widman DJ with acts including Amon Tobin, Kode9, Moderat, Monolake, Nightmares on Wax, Plaid and Skream. Widman also records and performs live with Colin Harris as Quadratic.
For the full-listing of Avant_MUTEK 2011 events, click HERE.
MONOLAKE Live Surroundsound set (DE)
DEEPCHORD presents ECHOSPACE (US)
KARL MEIER(US)
CHRIS WIDMAN (US)
Day 2 of the Avant_MUTEK Chicago series showcases a collaborative multimedia performance by locals FRANKIE VEGA & SEVRON, as well as a different, dance-oriented side musical side of Montreal’s STEPHEN BEAUPRÉ, who performs his own audiovisual project, GEMMIFORM, the night before as part the Avant_MUTEK Chicago opening showcase at the Chicago Cultural Center.
More than 10 years of active participation on the Montreal scene has converted Stephen Beaupré into an uncontestable dj/artist in the world of Canadian music. Attracting attention with his Crackhaus project, for which he collaborates with his friend and fellow artist Deadbeat, Steve has managed to gain recognition as a solo artist with his EP Dirty Lipreading on the upstart Montreal label Musique Risquée, launched by Akufen and Vincent Lemieux. 2006 brought the release of his first solo album, the masterful Foe Destroyer, released on both Musique Risquée and MUTEK_REC. Stephen has been busy releasing a series of remixes and EPs ever since, on labels such as Circus Company and Wagon Repair.
A vinyl enthusiast with a true passion for igniting a dance floor, Chicago’s Sevron has spent the better part of fifteen years obsessively building an enviable record collection. His enthusiasm for new and unique electronic sounds has always been matched by his love of classic dance music. As a cofounding member of the Chicago-based promotional group No Affiliation, Sevron has been a force behind many memorable underground and club events over the last decade.
ADDITIONAL WEBLINKSFor the full-listing of Avant_MUTEK 2011 events, go to http://www.mutek.org/calendar
Immediately following our free opening concert at the Cultural Center, we invite you down to The Mid to continue the Avant_MUTEK Chicago celebrations featuring Denmark’s TRENTEMOLLER, NYC based multi-instrumentalist composer DORIT CHRYSLER, and rising Chicago producer DECIMAL.
Denmark’s Trentemøller initially made a name for himself by skating the line between minimal techno and and electro-tinged house, often crafting epic songs that catered to both the mind and the body. In 2010, Trentemøller garnered attention for the severe left turn taken on his second album, Into the Great Wide Yonder. He’ll be performing his live band project for his Avant_MUTEK Chicago appearance!
Best known for her theremin style, composer/musician Dorit Chrysler also has a prolific recording and performing career as a vocalist, guitarist, keyboardist, producer, and engineer. Making her professional vocal debut at Austria’s Opera House Graz at the age of seven, Dorit would eventually move to New York, fronting a number of notable bands, including New York rock quartet Halcion. Embarking upon a solo career in 2000, Dorit has since performed in American and European venues ranging from notorious dives (CBGB) to concert halls (Disney Hall in LA & Vienna Konzerthaus) to famed music festivals (Roskilde, Ottawa Bluesfest, Phonotaktik). A typical concert features both popular and experimental compositions. Always showcasing her trademark vocal and theremin styles, Dorit also sometimes plays harmonium, harmonica, air-synth, and keyboard in her sets.
Decimalhttp://www.myspace.com/decimaltechno
With a multifaceted electronic sound characterized by melodic elements and unexpected musical turns, Chicago based artist David Spacek’s DECIMAL alias has garnered international accolade and attention in a dauntingly crowded sea of electronic music artist/producers. Influence from a steady musical diet of house & techno in the midwest underground rearing it’s head, David’s years of experience as a live performance artist has given his music a unique perspective, resulting in multiple releases for the likes of Soma Recordings, Enemy Records, and appearances on a multitude of mixes (Fabric# 38). Add to that releases under his ABERRANT moniker as well as other burgeoning projects, the future for David and his DECIMAL project is bright indeed, and his performance at Avant_Mutek Chicago is one to watch for.
TRENTEMOLLER (DK)
DORIT CHRYSLER (US)
DECIMAL (US)
The Avant_MUTEK: Chicago series kicks off with a FREE CONCERT at the Chicago Cultural Center’s PRESTON BRADLEY HALL, featuring the US premieres of two brand-new audiovisual works by respected Montreal artists GEMMIFORM FEATURING THE BANJO CONSORTIUM, and sound artist THIERRY GAUTHIER’s NORD/SUD project.
Initiated by Stephen Beaupré, Gemmiform is a coalescence of his electronic music, the acoustic improvisations of The Banjo Consortium (guitar, flute, accordion, mandolin), and the work of visual artists Nancy Belzile (experimental animation film), Patrick Bernatchez (drawing), and David Fafard (digital imaging, video, VJ live performances). The muted and underlying dimensions of the lived experience is the main theme of this presentation drawing from subjects of timeless relevancy—genesis, growth, metamorphosis and decay, desire, joy and loss, mythos and the natural world, of which the image of a bud, the gemmiform, is a perfect synthesis. The basis for the visuals is an alluring imagery that stems from low tech production re-articulated and supplemented with digital effects. The music uses organic elements of acoustic instruments, field and vocal recordings, before combining them with synthesized methods in order to emphazise the life within the final work. Exploring the relation of the electronic devices with the figurative, the organic, and the narrative, this presentation is organic and fragile, contemplative and emotional, yet still critical—a sensuality, a marrow, a gritty merging.
Handy on guitar, keys and machines – the soft and hard ones, multi-disciplinary artist Thierry Gauthier is also well versed in the visual – from digital photography, film and video, to painting. His deep and accomplished resume includes composition and music production for films, videos, television series, documentaries, multimedia, theatre and installation. He’s also a mastering engineer as proficient in punk rock as traditional electroacoustics, or granular synthesis. Gauthier is currently at work on a series of audio-visual, non-narrative, abstract animations derived from acoustic and electronic sound sources, and photographic and synthetically produced imagery. There is a new language to be discovered in these sensorial minglings and Gauthier is as concerned with the effects and expressive possibilities of synergetic art, as with its movement, light and intensity.
Thierry will be presenting his brand-new project, entitled Nord/Sud – a figurative audiovisual composition that represents nature and the survival instinct with anxiety, tension and nostalgia. The work evolves from microscopic to macroscopic and follow the links of the food chain. The images were taken during winter in Costa Rica, Mexico and Quebec, and the music is made from field recordings, prepared piano, bowed cymbals and synthesis.
ADDITIONAL LINKS:
For the full-listing of Avant_MUTEK 2011 events, go to http://www.mutek.org/calendar
This event was made possible by the Chicago Cultural Center. www.chicagoculturalcenter.org
Ils sont de retour!
(Translation: They’re baaaaaack!)
As you may have noticed from the Facebook posts, Resident Advisor event pages, and the mini-site on Mutek.org, the Avant_MUTEK experience is returning to Chicago this April. Following the success of Avant_MUTEK’S first Chicagoland foray, the program expands from one day in 2010 to three days in 2011, and continues exploring the artistic boundaries of advanced music and digital art via provocative, playful performances from some of the most highly esteemed names in the electronic music world. Of course, we are again partnering with our Montreal friends in the effort, along with our Chicago based cohorts at the Chicago Office of Tourism, React, Abstract Science, Metro/Smartbar, and People of Rhythm.
If you haven’t yet seen the Mutek mini-site, click this link. Otherwise, here’s a quick rundown of events, including web and social media links:
GEMMIFORM FEATURING THE BANJO CONSORTIUM (CA)
THIERRY GAUTHIER presents NORD/SUD (CA)
TRENTEMOLLER (DK)
DORIT CHRYSLER (US)
DECIMAL (US)
STEPHEN BEAUPRÉ (CA)
FRANKIE VEGA & SEVRON (US)
KAWA – visual design (US)
MONOLAKE Live Surroundsound set (DE)
DEEPCHORD presents ECHOSPACE (US)
KARL MEIER(US)
CHRIS WIDMAN (US)
Check the various event pages for updates, and check back on the Meiotic event pages for the latest info!.
It’s hard to believe it’s been eight years since we booked Matthew Dear for his first solo gig in Chicago back in 2003, just after his first Jabberjaw single was released on Perlon. He had actually dj’d here as part of a couple Ghostly tours in 2001 and 2002, so we had hoped for a live performance, however Matt’s PA wasn’t tweaked to where he was performing it out on a regular basis.
Fast forward now to 2011, and the talented Dear has fully realized multiple incarnations of equally intriguing live performance for his various monikers. Luckily for us here in Chicago, the fine folks at REACT are bringing him over to the new West Loop venue the MID where as Matthew Dear’s Big Hands, Dear’s vocals are intertwined with electronics and live instrumentation. He’s tweaked this live presentation on a multitude of worldwide jaunts, so we’re really looking forward to taking in what Matthew & co. have come up with for this particular tour.
Chicago electronic outfit LOYAL DIVIDE opens the space at 8pm, while local heads-done-well LEE FOSS and ORCHARD LOUNGE transition the dancefloor after the Big Hands set. As a sidenote, Frankie Vega and Marc Meiotic will be hosting at this, and though they have an occasional penchant for shoegazing whilst taking in moving live performances, they’ll likely be found all around the dancefloor for this one. Join them, why dontcha?
Tickets are available for $10 at the following link:
Since we typically have cobwebs and fog from NYE strolling about our brains for a couple weeks after ringing the new year in, we figured several things to be probable truths:
So we decided to ask a several old friends and fine Chicago dj’s – Jerome Derradji (Still Music), Michael Fabiano (DJ MF), Frederick Zahm vs. Gianna Hardt (Souvenir / Forte – tag team set), Frankie Vega vs Matthew Martin (InYourSystem / Meiotic – tag team set) – to kindly bring their selecting talents to the cozy confines of the SubT Lounge(the downstairs part, stupid) and travel the house / disco / dub / techno highway.
Thankfully, all said dj’s responded yes to the invitation… we hope that you do as well. 
ADDITIONAL LINKS:
UPDATED JAN.17
Just thought we’d get this in now so you can get a jump on marking up your brand spankin’ new 2011 calendars; Chicago will once again be graced by the uncompromising techno genius of Birmingham UK’s Anthony Child, better known amongst electronic music aficionado’s as SURGEON. As such, it’s only fitting that we assemble a collection of classic Chicago techno heavy hitters to round out the line up: KARL MEIER of Fear of Music/Interrupt Media notoriety takes to the decks, while techno mainstay FRANKIE VEGA closes out the evening. And in what is another great coup of the evening, Koncept’s JOHN PATTERSON rears his head from a year long hiatus, adding to what’s sure to be one of 2011′s highlight events.
Needless to say, we’re pretty excited about this one. Check the gallery along with this intriguing July 2010 interview from the superb online publication, TheQuietus.com :
http://thequietus.com/articles/04595-surgeon-interview-fabric-53
When Rajko Müller’s BEAU MOT PLAGE (Playhouse) was released to an unsuspecting public in 1998 under his ISOLÉE moniker, little did he know that it would cement him in electronic music lore amongst house and techno connoisseurs worldwide. Two years later, he would release to acclaim a full album’s worth of material (Rest, 2000), but sprinkling only three singles in the years following, Rajko would not resurface in earnest until 2005, releasing the universally lauded full length WE ARE MONSTER(Playhouse).
With recent singles on Dial and Mule Electronic, as well as a forthcoming full length slated for release on his ol’ pal DJ Koze’s PAMPA imprint, ISOLÉE brings his heralded live performance to Chicago for the first time since 2005, to the delight of Chicago’s discerning underground electronic music enthusiasts.
Additional performances on the evening include a live set from QUADRATIC (Chris Widman and Colin Harris of Abstract Science). Drawing influence from the likes of Luke Vibert, Monolake, Orbital, Si Begg and Deadbeat, the duo will be playing a slew of new material to keep the dancefloor primed. A first-time tag team set from Chicago techno stalwart FRANKIE VEGA & No Affiliation / Meiotic resident SEVRON starts sets the music off, while a special visual projection performance from artist KAWA provides a visual backdrop for this Thursday night multimedia special!
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Video links
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Meioticast002 is finally available for your aural consumption and digital download, and we know that you’ve been sitting on the edge of your seats in anticipation since 001?s release earlier in the year. Truth be told, the reason for the long gap in time since the first podcast is simple: we’ve been lazy.
That said, we’re still really excited for this one as we’ve finally been able to reel in Chicago ex-pat and Meiotic cofounder Albert. from a busy summer that included walking down the aisle in Chicago, honeymooning in Paris (below right) , graphically designing things for work, and throwing shows with his upstart Seattle crew, Condiment.
Albert drops this lovely mix for us, which we gather was inspired by a lovely season… enjoy!
Tracklisting:
track – artist [label]
1. soon my love – lump [contexterior]
2. cremita – lauhaus [remote area]
3. want your money (dyed soundorom rmx) – wolf + lamb [wolf + lamb]
4. nasty’s party (jamie jones edit) – electric jones [hot natured]
5. slow motion slam – yakine [robsoul]
6. me sabe a porro – basti grub, aldo cadiz [desolat]
7. mi cabeza – nicole moudaber [monique musique]
8. mandara – anthea, alex celler [cecille numbers]
9. mrs creamy – arnaud le texier [safari electronique]
10. house gangster (phil weeks dub) – wally callerio [magnetic]
11. hypnotic house heroes II (sensé loves porn mix) – dj sensé [casa del soul]
12. eightball – djebali, dan ghenacia [freak n chic]
13. sing – deetron [circus company]
14. all ears (mr g rmx) – shenoda [hypercolour]
15. love nasty – rob mello [classic]
16. can’t let you go (marc bernardi rmx) – harmony funk [clone]
“Together with Laurent Garnier, Aphex Twin and Richie Hawtin, Rotterdam’s Speedy J helped define Techno since 1991 with albums like Ginger, G Spot, Public Energy No. 1 and Loudboxer – spearheading labels like Plus 8, Novamute and Warp.
His latest projects span the audio-visual pioneer work of Umfeld, his label Electric Deluxe, his Event Series Electric Deluxe presents, and his upcoming Album Project Open Collabs.
Speedy J performances fuse live PA and Digital Djing, subversive electronics and peak time Techno, using Traktor and other Software technology on 2 laptops to create a fully integrated set.“
Suffice it to say, we (In Your System, Meiotic and Smartbar) are all pretty darn excited to have Jochem in town for one of three exclusive North American dates. Two special tag team sets bookend the night; Frankie Vega and Sassmouth take to the decks for a set, and Meiotic’s own Audiophile and Matthew Martin also join in on the tag team activity. This is all taking place at the venerable SMARTBAR on Halloween Friday, so costumes and early arrival are strongly encouraged!
From our friends at ABSTRACT SCIENCE, check out our peeps in QUADRATIC up on the Metro stage!
Meiotic, In Your System, and Peoplemuver present the second in the EXPOSITION music and art series featuring a live performance from the highly acclaimed experimental electronic minimalist composer/producer THOMAS BRINKMANN.
Famed for productions on his own Max Ernst and Suppose labels, Brinkmann gained a name in the experimental and techno community for his full-length remixes (or as he terms them, “variations”) of material by Richie Hawtin and Mike Ink. With recent releases on Curle, a new SOULCENTER album on Shitkatapult, and an upcoming contribution to a new Richie Hawtin project, Thomas continues pushing to new creative depths in sound. With a wealth of new material to draw from, this Chicago exclusive is even more highly anticipated.
Additional performances on the evening include a tag team dj set from ex-pat BRANDON INVERGO and IYS honcho FRANKIE VEGA, along with sets from scene vet KARL MEIER and a long awaited set from Koncept crew dj SABEO.
EXPOSITION #2 will also be offering a HOSTED GALLERY RECEPTION featuring complimentary wine offerings selected especially for the event by the fine folks at Red and White Chicago.
Only a handful of $12 presale tickets are being made available for this event, so we please do urge you to pick up your tickets in advance, exclusively through RESIDENT ADVISOR ticketing.
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DETAILS:
• START TIME: 10pm
• LOCATION: The event will be held at a northside gallery location. Exact details will be emailed to ticket holders and RSVP’rs on DOS.
• HOSTED RECEPTION: Complimentary wine offerings from 11:30pm to 12:30am selected by the fine folks at Red and White Chicago
• TICKETS: $12 in advance / Available exclusively at http://www.residentadvisor.net/event.aspx?193079
• RSVP: http://www.meiotica.com/ or on the Facebook Event Page.
Additional links:
Facebook Event Page | Resident Advisor
In celebration of the Chicago arrival of Sonar – Barcelona, Spain’s highly esteemed festival for Advanced Music and Multimedia Art – three longtime Chicago staples (Abstract Science, In Your System and Meiotic) invite you to the SECRET SON@R gallery presentation and musical exposition.
This late breaking exclusive features none other than the world renown techno juggernaut ROMAN FLÜGEL. A pillar of the Ongaku / Klang / Playhouse label triumvirate, he’s best known as a partner in the infamous ALTER EGO project and their 2004 anthem ROCKER, but his compendium of releases since the mid-nineties, and festival destroying performances firmly place him in electronic music’s upper echelon.
The evening will also feature a strong slate of local support. A dj performance from scene staple Gianna Hardt, as well as two exciting local tag team dj performances: Abstract Science’s Chris Widman partners with Illmeasures/freakeasy rep Striz, while Meiotic’s Hernan Sanchez and Sevron team up for another set of tag team collabor-action.
CAPACITY IS VERY LIMITED, and a number of discount advance tix are being made available for $10 exclusively through Resident Advisor ticketing(link below). This event will include include a hosted gallery reception from 11:30 to 1am featuring artwork from select Chicago based artists. Full event details will be sent on the day of event.
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ROMAN FLÜGEL (of ALTER EGO)
Playhouse / Ongaku / Klang Elektronik Labels
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also featuring performances from:
CHRIS WIDMAN | DJ STRIZ | GIANNA HARDT | HERNAN | SEVRON
and visual art projections from KAWA
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Hosted gallery reception – Gallery displays from select Chicago artists and
complimentary Goose Island offerings 11:30pm – 1am.
Additional links:
Facebook Event Page Resident Advisor
Presenters:
Abstract Science | In Your System | Meiotic
A vinyl enthusiast with a true passion for igniting a dance floor, Chicago’s Sevron has spent the better part of fifteen years obsessively building an enviable record collection. His enthusiasm for new and unique electronic sounds has always been matched by his love of classic dance music. This blend of innovation and classicism, along with his superior technical skills, has kept dance floors on their toes since 1998. A master of all things funky, Sevron’s DJing commands the attention of a room. Whether his sets are rooted in deep dubby minimalism, soulful grooves, jackin’ Chicago rhythms, cutting-edge techno, or a fusion of these elements, they possess a spontaneity and eclecticism uncommon amongst his musical contemporaries. As a cofounding member of the Chicago-based promotional group No Affiliation, Sevron has been a force behind many of the most memorable underground and club events of the last decade.
Friday, September 3rd
The Quintessential Detroit Sound Selecta
MIKE HUCKABY
(From Detroit :: Deep Transportation/Native Instruments)
Also featuring local selectors
JEFF PIETRO + SEVRON
And Branded Resident JUST JOEY
•••••••••••••••••••••
Martini Ranch | 311 W Chicago | 21+ | 10p-4a
Tastemaker, Educator, Sound Designer, Motor City Proponent; Mike Huckaby has done much for Detroit electronic music. The man behind the legendary Record Time store has gathered an encyclopedic knowledge of music. He is one of those rare guys who know all the roots and culture of electronic dance music, seeing beyond the hype and divisions in the scene, knowing exactly what this music is.
With productions for labels like Rick Wade’s renowned Harmonie Park outfit, London’s Cross Section and of course, his own DEEP TRANSPORTATION and S.Y.N.T.H. imprints, Mike has literally been flown around the world, spreading the sound of Detroit through his eclectic, soul inflicted dj performances.
Having floored the worlds most respected festivals and nightclubs, Mike returns to engage the ears and sway the hips of Chicago at Martini Ranch. Highly regarded producer and old friend JEFF PIETRO (UNLTD, Borrowed Language) supports on the night, along with longtime Meiotic collaborator/latest resident SEVRON. BRANDED resident dj JUST JOEY starts off the night with a heavy dose of Chicago house flavor.
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Martini Ranch Bar + Kitchen Specials
• $3 Old Style Reg & Light Bottles
• $6 Well Drinks
• Buy 1 Get 1 ½ Off Appetizers
• $1 Pizza’s & Brats
Additional links:
Facebook Event Page
The master of the Chicago via San Fran sound is back!
MARK FARINA returns to Chicago this Wednesday for a special midweek throwdown at EvilOlive! Check for full details on the facebook event page!
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Links:
Release party for the inaugural effort on Borrowed Language — UNLTD’s “Billion Black” EP!!!
Featuring DJ’s:
Israel Vines
Jeff Pietro
Karl Meier
Andrew Solomon
Hosted By:
Gabe Palomo, Tomeeo & Kuya
This Thursday finds us celebrating the release of UNLTD’s “Billion Black” EP, the much anticipated inaugural effort on the fledgeling Borrowed Language imprint. Rather than infuse our own little blurb, we’ll simply let the label’s press release speak for itself:
“All music is essentially a borrowed language; indebted to its forebears, but dependent on those who care about it to expand and perpetuate it. With all this in mind, Borrowed Language, a new label not based out of any city in particular, seeks to give something back, instead of contributing to the morass of disposable lifestyle music. Dedicated to releasing forward-thinking material irrespective of genre, Borrowed Language brings you the first release by Chicago’s UNLTD. Emphasizing thoughtful sound design and arrangements, UNLTD delivers 4 tracks of futuristic techno hybrids, spacious with depth and scope to spare. “
Yes, we’re excited. You should be excited as well.
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Links:
Allay Soul (I <3 House Wednesdays) celebrates 5 years of bringing the Chicago get-down this Wednesday with the genius that is Detroit’s THEO PARRISH. With a raw musical sincerity rarely conveyed via turntables and a mixer, lesser disc jockey’s can only dream of taking their listeners to the the musical high ground where Theo’s dj sets simply reside. Never restrained by the simplistic boundaries of genre, expect a groove inflicted dancefloor excursion unlike anything you’ve heard this year. Co-headliner GENE HUNT brings his signature Chicago flow to the decks, while PAUL HARRIS, FLAVIO, and resident SEAN STRANGE round out the Wednesday night line up.
Don’t miss out on the midweek/midsummer heat!
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Links:
As July 2010 comes to a close, it’s a bit of an embarrassment of riches in the city as the Midweek musical finds are abound this week in Chicago:
Click the links for full feature info and details!
Hot on the heels of last year’s initial stateside “SonarSound” one-day events in New York and Washington DC, the Catalan art and experimental music festival returns to United States, this time descending upon the Windy City from September 9 through 11 for three days of music, panels and workshops.
Full details will be announced soon Line Up and venue details have begun to be announced at http://www.sonarchicago.com , with more details to be announced soon.
It’s gonna be a great fall season here in Chicago!
Los Angeles based Andrew Kevins Represents alongside a bevy of International and local talent at LA’s storied Avalon nightclub!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Everyone else is doing it… why not we?
We’re excited to announce that we’re starting up our own podcast series, aptly titled the “Meioticast”. Our first episode features none other than Andrew Kevins, who drops an eclectic, diverse mix. Including tracks from the varied likes of Madlib, Moodymann, Isolee, and Nightmares on Wax, this mix nicely paints a colorful map illustrating the various soundpaths that the Meiotic crew’s tastes travel.
Tracklisting:
Montara – Madlib/Bobby Hutcherson
WorkinOnIt – J Dilla
Freaky MF – Moodymann
Pussy Shepard – Guillaume and the Coutu Dumonts
Milk and Honey – Filburt, Good Guy Mikesh (Basket Mix)
Desde Rusia – Mathias Aguayo
Amigos Comeme – Rebolledo
Party Faktor – Federico Molinari (Robert Dietz Disco Desafinado Mix)
Enjoy Music – Reboot
Nomads – Cle (Mathias Tanzmann remix)
I Called U (The Conversation) – ATFC
Make You Crazy – Veltengruber
I Love Nobody Else – Spencer Parker
Mushrooms – Marshall Jefferson (Noosa Heads Remake)
Beau Mot Plage – Isolee (Freeform Reform Parts 1 and 2)
Fast Tongue – Slow Hands
Soul Purpose – Nightmares On Wax
featuring
AKUFEN (From Montreal | Musique Risquée, Perlon, Mutek, Force Inc)
STEPHEN BEAUPRÉ (From Montreal | Musique Risquée, Circus Company)
LEO 123 (From Chicago | Dark Party, Mush, Old Tacoma) LIVE
HERNAN SANCHEZ (From Chicago | Meiotic)
JEFF PIETRO (From Chicago | fear of music NY)
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For the first time ever, MUTEK is making a preview stop in Chicago. The MUTEK festival – celebrating it’s 11th anniversary this year from June 2 to 6 in Montreal, Canada – has distinguished itself as an international rendezvous for original and avant-garde programming, with interests in both the experimental and the playful sides of digital creativity. As the Mutek festival experience is truly one of our favorites in the world, we’re hoping to expand its awareness in Chicago, and to perhaps sway some uninitiated friends to come along to the beautifully intriguing city of Montreal, Quebec for a couple musically enlightened and inspiring days at the beginning of June. The festival’s 2010 tour features two pillars of Mutek: Montreal cut-up house luminaries AKUFEN and STEPHEN BEAUPRÉ. Chicago based beatsmith LEO 123, Meiotic mainstay HERNAN SANCHEZ , and Fear of Music’s JEFF PIETRO round out the evenings varied line up.
Adding another element to the event is the ABLETON 101 Workshop, hosted by MacSpecialist at 7pm. This Workshop Series includes interactive demonstrations, practice exercises, professional tips and valuable resources from producer, drummer, and multimedia artist Thomas Faulds.
Following the Ableton workshop will be a special technology reception. Ableton Inc, MacSpecialist and other product specialists will be set up and on hand to engage attendees with word about their solutions, providing access to them and assisting with questions. Also featured will be a preferred choice panel of end users, displaying their own midi controllers and gadgets haling from favorite picks from the market place, rare discoveries all the way to custom built.
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Links:
He’s back.
Our favorite dj and yours, DANIEL BELL returns to Chicago on May 7th as the Meiotic – In Your System – Swing Shift collabs continue over at Green Dolphin Street. Joining Dan will be veteran Chicago jack JUSTIN LONG, an IYS tag team featuring FRANKIE VEGA & JOHNNY ARMSTRONG, and Meiotics own MATTHEW MARTIN. Full details to come… keep checking out the Event link below for full event details.
Links:
UPDATED Mar 21, 2010
Ok… so this is coming up fast, but to say that we’re pretty thrilled about the Avant Mutek tour making a pit stop in Chicago is an understatement, to say the least. As Mutek is truly one of our favorite festival experiences in the world, we’re hoping to convince our fellow Chicago heads to head visit one of our other favorite cities in NA - the lovely city of Montreal, Quebec – for a couple musically enlightened days at the beginning of June.
We’ll post full details here soon, including info about the Ableton workshop and vendors, but in the interim, peep the flyer for details! Check the full event details on the Meiotic, Facebook, or Resident Advisor event pages… Advance tix available via the Resident Advisor page as well!
Event Links:
If like us, you’ve had some extra time on your hands and recently browsed to the site on your sassy mobular talk device, you may have noticed that the words & links & letters are sized just right. The Meiotic site has gone mobile…
Please let us know if you break anything.
At 27 years of age, Thomas Erdmann aka Popkan continues to push his unique sound into the new decade and beyond. Heavily influenced by artists like Thomas Bangalter, Derrick Carter, Green Velvet and others after attending underground events in the late 90′s, he picked up a part time job to support his new love for underground dance music production. In 2002, Thomas joined the Meiotic Electronic Music & Arts promotions group based out of Chicago. In 2005, he joined Textone, an online netlabel showcasing acclaimed artists from all over the world. He would later release music on other international net labels such as Clever Music, Intoxik, and Exposed Audio just to name a few. From there he found himself playing at some of the Midwest’s hottest underground clubs and events. He is currently working on music for Detroit based Random Access Recordings, Chicago Hip-Hop group Rebl Music, and a house music project with friend James Turner.
Links:
Exposed to various forms of electronic music through Chicago’s mid to late 90’s rave scene, Matthew’s tastes would be influenced by the vast musical knowledge of his friends Karl and Ken Meier, Dave Siska, Josh Werner, Israel Vines, and Zachary Lubin. Further honing his DJ skills and refining his sound, Matthew would then join the like-minded Meiotic collective. Infusing his dj sets with a mixture of techno, house, and electro emanating from the Detroit – Chicago – Berlin triumvirate, Matthew’s ability to acknowledge the past while championing the present has allowed him performances all over the city of Chicago and the Midwest. From underground events at lofts, rooftops, warehouses, and basements, to such known nightclubs as Smartbar, Sonotheque, Empty Bottle, Lava, Vision, and Zentra, Matthew has performed alongside some of the most heralded names in electronic music; Daniel Bell, Derrick May, Deetron, Dave Sumner aka Function, Joel Mull, Alexi Delano, Los Hermanos, Michael Mayer, Gui Boratto, Angel Alanis, Mike Dearborn, and Troy Pierce, just to name a few.
From the sounds of old salsa, cumbia and merengue records emanating from his parents’ home stereo as a child to the jacking raw beats of early Chicago house which provided the soundtrack to his teen years, Hernan’s early exposure to the musical output of Chicago’s diverse cultural communities awakened within him a lifelong passion for music and movement. Throughout Hernan’s time at university and beyond, Chicago’s influential music scene & quality record stores fed his voracious appetite for electronic sounds of all sorts- industrial, musique concrète, IDM, film soundtracks- to complement the beckoning throb of Chicago’s house dancefloors. However, it was upon his exposure to the work of artists such as Baby Ford & Ricardo Villalobos that Hernan discovered the sound which possessed the darker character he sought from other genres, but retained the enticing warmth & sexiness which he had previously found solely in deep house.
Over a decade later, this sound still resonates within him and drives Hernan to ignite floors across Chicago’s underground dance scene with his tasteful selection of current and classic productions. Hernan’s sets feature a focused attention to detail as he synthesizes engaging dialogues between tracks, all the while maintaining a sensual & propulsive energy to captivate the dancefloor. The percussive afro-caribbean pulse which held such presence throughout his formative years continues to serve as inspiration, flavored with Hernan’s touches of mood, a thick low-end, and the engaging polyrhythmic musical approach of his Latin background.
An established fixture of Chicago’s thriving techno/house scene both on the decks and on the dancefloor, Hernan continues to play at numerous underground events as well as at high-profile venues including Smartbar, Sonotheque, Lava, Vision, and Lumen. He has also played alongside a diverse range of leading talent, whose names include Akufen, Derek Plaslaiko, Dave Aju, among others.
DJ – Chicago, IL
A Chicago native recently transplanted to the northwest, DJ Shift’s (Albert Loo) initial forays into electronic music were heavily shaped by the industrial and new wave sounds championed by the city’s Wax Trax Records. He would then later be inspired by the 90’s Midwest rave scene where his musical vocabulary grew as he was exposed to legendary djs such as Derrick Carter, Derrick May, Surgeon, and Richie Hawtin. When the Midwest rave scene died in the late 90s and along with it the techno sounds that Shift had found himself leaning more and more towards, he and his friends started the successful Meiotic crew (www.meioticpromotions.com) in 2002 and worked with like-minded members of the Chicago dance music community to raise awareness of artists they felt had not received the proper exposure to North American audiences. As a DJ who is open to all music, Shift draws upon disparate influences and experiences to create sets that ebb from the sublime minimal to funky to banging, with a focus on forward thinking tracks that retain a strong dancefloor edge. This sensibility has blessed Shift with gigs in Chicago and Detroit and the pleasure of opening for artists such as Michael Mayer, Dan Bell, Losoul, MANDY, and Jeff Mills. Currently, Albert is involved in the northwest scene with a new crew named Condiment where he continually strives to perfect his craft while keeping the floor shaking.
Andrew was initially drawn into music as a child after many raids of his father’s vast rock vinyl collection, which ranged from the Beatles to Pink Floyd to Hendrix to Joy Division. Andrew purchased his own set of turntables as a freshman in high school back in 1996 and began practicing the art of mixing records immediately after. Initially mentored by a successful hip-hop DJ while playing various mobile gigs and parties in high school, these experiences taught him the art of reading crowd response through music. Andrew’s experiences in music soon began to change. Attending the Drop Bass Network Parties in Wisconsin along with a number of parties throughout Chicago, Detroit, and across the states, he became equally influenced by Kurt Eckes’ legendary Drop Bass parties and family techno campouts, as well as Richie Hawtin’s heady parties of the second half of the nineties. The various sounds of house, techno, electro, hip-hop, and IDM became a sort of obsession for Andrew and friends, following the movements at various events across the country, from Chicago to Detroit, NY to LA.
Aside from his current focus on mixes, remixes, re-edits, synthesis, and MIDI-based performance, Andrew also maintains his passion of creating mixes of music through DJing. With a love of all “great” music, his DJ sets can very versatile and diverse, ranging from downtempo, dub, idm, hip-hop, rock, soul, disco, house, techno, and everything in between, depending on the crowd and atmosphere. Andrew makes a point to steer clear of genre pigeonholing and saturation, but always likes to reference his electronic influential roots of Chicago, Detroit, New York, Berlin, Cologne, Manchester, and Chile in his DJ sets and production work. He has opened for artists such as Ellen Allien, Modeselektor, Michael Mayer, Matthew Dear, Jeff Samuel, Solvent, and Skoozbot, among others.
With having held full-time positions at Shure Audio, Steinway Piano, and Native Instruments, as well as a bachelor’s degree in Audio Arts and Acoustics, these positions have allowed Andrew to continue on in an intimate relationship with music and audio. Andrew currently works full-time for the Berlin-based Native Instruments in Hollywood, California.
[gig-cal tour=1]
It’s no coincidence that our first “new” event post of the year is essentially the first event that we’ve been excited about in a really long time. The first 120 party is going down on February 27th, and yea… it’s gonna be the bidness. There’s gonna be a special space setup and a mini cocktail menu, but add Rick Wilhite of the 3 Chairs from Detroit for some proper disco action, and well… sold.
Southside Disco stalwart Rahaan, Still Music impresario Jerome Derradji, and our favorite latin floorrocker Hernan Sanchez on the bill as well… double sold.
Check the 120 website or the facebook event page for tix and rsvp info.
Alas, time and technology beckon.
Eight years of partaking in Chicago electronic music culture and we’ve finally decided to update the Meiotic site. As usual, we’ll be making tweeks here and there over time to provide a nicer browsing experience. We’ll also over time, migrate the content from our previous site, which we’ll still make viewable for old times sake.
Thanks for staying tuned in!
- Your friends@Meiotic
CHIBlog Roundup:
