Groove Line

Does Anyone Work?

I was out on the town a bit this past Sunday and Monday nights and there were plenty of dancing bodies gyrating to the musical beats. There was a nice crowd at Hydrate Chicago on Sunday too see Frankie Knuckles receive his congrats from the state legislature and then dance to his traditional house music beat. The next night I was pleasantly surprised at the large crowd at Green Dolphin Street for the recently re-incarnated Boom Boom Room. Wow! DJs Michael Serafini and Lego were serving up the main room with an energy that rivals a weekend night while banging out the house tracks. It felt like a real deal Chicago-style house party where any and everyone fun hangs out.

The Heart Still Beats

The Hearts Foundation had been relatively quiet since February’s Fireball, but they recently announced a few events including two upcoming parties: it’s annual Memorial Day weekend Tea Dance to coincide with all the IML festivities and a Fireball Volunteers Appreciation Party. Hot Tea 4 will be held this year at Sound-Bar on Sunday, May 30th starting at 4 pm while the Appreciation Party will be on Saturday, July 17th, 10:00 p.m., at Circuit Nightclub. DJ talent will be imported for both events with Mark Anthony (Montreal) spinning the Tea and Kimberly S (LA) doing the Appreciation Party.

More Cox

One of our favorite divas, Deborah Cox, is releasing a greatest hits CD this. In addition to including all her greatest singles the CD will contain a few rare mixes. For those of you heading to NYC anytime in the near future, you can catch Ms. Cox on Broadway starring in Aida.

Concert Line

The Christina Aguilera concert for July 2nd has been cancelled. Van Halen is coming to town July 19th and 20th. Probably not the same type of crowd.

Those looking for bangs for the bucks: The Tweeter Center has both Lollapalooza (July 29th and 30th) and the Ozzfest (August 21st). Parrot-heads will be pleased on August 26th and 28th that Jimmy Buffet is in town, while those wanting a more refined night should note the dates of August 8th and September 12th for Josh Groban and Norah Jones, respectively.

For a bit of musical history, the month of June is highlighted by the following concerts: Rush (5th), Fleetwood Mac (12th), and a double bill of Chicago and Earth Wind & Fire (19th).

And finally if you want to spend a lot of time amidst a bunch of screaming teeenage girls: Jessica Simpson on July 6th while JC Chasez joins Britney Spears in concert on July 17th.

“Sundays At Space!” (I Wish)

Well, it looks like things are getting real interesting on Sunday nights here in Chicago for the dancing boyz and girlz. First off, there’s Anthem @ Crobar Chicago, the successor to GLEE Club and the place to go when you just can’t get enough of that harder-edged higher energy peak hour sound. DJ Teri Bristol pops in about once a month and with other guest DJs, local and from out of town, filling the schedule. For those looking for more of a groove oriented house sound, then Hydrate Chicago has what you need. Alternating weekly residencies are the legendary Frankie Knuckles and Lego.

A newcomer to the scene is OTDL (On The Down Low) at Zentra. In addition to providing that old school house music feel, this is the venue for those wanting their beats hip-hoppish. This night just started last month and it already has become an essential for many. And the next Sunday night option to be unveiled is at Sound-Bar. After the Hearts Foundation gets things started off Memorial Day weekend, June 6th will be the official kick-off. Word on the street is that the resident DJs will be Ralphi Rosario, Mark Pichiotti, Earl Pleasure, Chris Eterno and Luis M and that there will be a space downstairs for the women presented by Chix Mix.

Despite Chicago’s size, it will be interesting to see if the market will be able to support all the various Sunday night offerings. In addition to these high profile promotions, Sundays up in Boystown still has dance floors kicking the beats at Roscoe’s and Charlie’s.

Circuit Rising?

I guess the D Train is running from NYC to Chicago’s Halsted Street with an express stop at Circuit Nightclub. The Big Apple’s DJ Escape will be manning the decks on May 22nd for the Military Ball with Chicago’s DJ Jim Lewis opening. Then it’s DJ Guido the Friday of Memorial Day weekend, May 28th, for the annual Pornapalooza with a special guest performance by Melba Moore.

I (Memorial Day) L Weekend

The leather men and women are making their annual pilgrimage to Chicago again for IML and of course the partying throughout the weekend will be grand. Of special note – and the event I’m most looking forward to - is the Leather Rites party at the Metro on Saturday, May 29th, with the one and only DJ/producer Paulo (Los Angeles). He’s absolutely one of my favorite DJs and will undoubtedly have the Metro dance floor writhing in tribalistic ecstasy. With Suzanne Palmer and Colt models also perfoming, this is a can’t miss event.

The official IML parties for the weekend include local DJ talent with Mark Vallese spinning the Victory Celebration party on Sunday, May 30th, at the House of Blues, and Circuit MOM DJing the Black & Blue Ball on Monday, May 31st, at Excalibur.