Groove Line

Post – Gay Games Partying Survey (as reported by Me and My Peeps) -
The opening weekend of the Games was a bit uneven from a partying perspective with Victor Calderone at Crobar being the highlight. However, the Closing weekend saw Chicago at its best with very successful gatherings on Lake Michigan for the Men At Sea boat party, at Excalibur for the Olympus party, and at the Aragon for the Official Men’s Closing Party. A pretty bow was put on the Games party package with a fun night courtesy of Matthew Harvat and Tony Moran at Crobar. While for the most part Chicago showed our guests from around the world that we know how to party and entertain, I can’t help but think it would have been nice to see other Chicago DJs - not just Ralphi Rosario - given a chance to shine in a headlining capacity.
( Photo: Crystal Waters performs at Olympus at Excalibur, by Frank Failing - Male Image Photography)

Jack Your Body
A note must be made about what has been rumored to be the most scandalously fun party of Gay Games week: the Wednesday night Real Boys Kiss Boys Underwear Party at Jackhammer hosted by Stoufanhouse.org and Best Bois Video. DJ Oskar (www.dj-oskar.com) was serving up the dance beats really sleazy and sexy like, and the scantily-clad crowd apparently responded enthusiastically, especially a few boys from West Coast water polo teams. Reminds me of the good ole days when underwear parties at Manhole were the talk of the town.

Speaking of the Jackhammer, if you haven’t been recently, you need to go check out all the changes that have been made to the club. This northside establishment, with its truly diverse clientele, has steadily become one of the most popular dance clubs in the city and its re-vamped look will only serve to bring more men through the doors.

Move Your Body
The first ever Chicago International House Music Festival came and went two weekends ago at the Charter One Pavilion on Northerly Island and while the crowds weren’t quite what everyone hoped for, the music truly met expectations. While I missed the Sunday programming, Saturday’s offering on the Main Stage showed different shades of house music at its best. Former Chicagoan DJeremy (who used to spin at Cocktail) started the afternoon off with his groovy garage house style and was followed by Derrick Carter delivering a signature boompty jack house set with plenty of funk and jazz touches.

Segwaying into the summer night was a 6-song vocal performance by Barbara Tucker featuring her hits "Beautiful People," "Stop Playing With My Mind," and "Most Precious Love." Then came the legendary DJ Danny Tenaglia who produced a 4-1/2 hour set of house music that was simply brilliant. Exploring the wide range of house music, the set felt like a blend of Tenaglia’s Global Underground mixes with his Back To Basics discs: an effortless melding of the progressive, electro, garage, and tribal house genres with classic acapellas thrown in to excite the old-school househeads. Those of us in attendance won’t soon, if ever, forget Tenaglia’s performance: a true tour de force.

Future Tidbits
Northalsted Market Days is here once again and yes this year’s festivities seems to lack a certain excitement surrounding them. This is due in part to all of the huge festivities that have clogged the Chicago summer calendar. But fear not, there are two parties of note this coming weekend. On Saturday night at Circuit Nightclub, the Boystwon Ball is back for it’s 5th year with DJs Oskar (pictured) and Hugo at the musical helm. Then on Sunday night, Crobar’s Summer Sunday Series continues with DJ Eddie Baez. (Event Details) Both events should dazzle and please all.

Deep Dish, Tiesto, Benny Benassi and a host of other cutting edge DJs and electronica acts will be on hand at the Charter One Pavilion at Northerly Island (formerly known as Meigs Field) over Labor Day weekend for Pure Future’s megawatt day-long Global Dance Music Festival. Check out www.purefuture.com for info and details.

Be on the lookout for the Scissor Sisters’ new album, Ta-Dah , in stores late September. I’m sure our local gay-owned music retailer, Borderline Music (on Broadway at Buckingham), will be carrying it.

U Should Choose Chus & Ceballos
For those who are tired of hearing a steady diet of formulaic dance remixes of pop songs, Peter Rauhofer’s label, Star 69, has just what you need. Back 2 Back is a continuously mixed offering from Chus & Ceballos, two Spaniards who are known the world over (they’ve spun at Sound-Bar and headlined Montreal‘s Black & Blue Festival as well as the NYC Black Party) for their warm, inviting, and sexy progressive tribal house music. This is a 2-CD set that is sure to please the serious lover of house music.