Groove Line

Report from the Dance Floor – Part 1
In the last Groove Line I made mention of the weekly Wednesday night component of Chicago Summer Dance in Grant Park which features local DJs. Well, I went to the first installment two weeks ago with DJs Diz and Derrick Carter and it was completely “off the hook!” Organizers expected about 200 –300 folks to show up and the actual count was closer to 1,500. Diz did his deep house thing to get things properly started, including a housed-up “Love Bizarre” by Prince & Sheila E. that brought nothing but smiles to all around. Derrick Carter took the second half of the night on an energetic ride of jackin’ house music as only he knows how to do.

While I wasn’t able to go last week, I heard from many that Boystown favorites Ralphi Rosario and Michael Serafini had blazing sets in front of a crowd that was even larger than the previous week. Outdoors at night under the stars with a friendly groovin’ crowd is a great way to end hump day. I highly encourage you to get downtown to catch Summer Dance as it runs throughout the end of August. For more information and a full schedule listing call 312.742.4007 or visit www.chicagoculturalcenter.org.

What is Deep House?
Since I’ve been Music Editor of ChicagoPride.com you all may have noticed that I write a lot about a style of dance music that I refer to as “deep house.” Several people have asked me what I mean by that term, as opposed to other forms of house music. For me, deep house is a style of music that is very soulful and emotional with lots of groove. Usually slower in beats per minute than your typical higher energy dance tracks, you’re more apt to hear the nuanced complexities of deep house in a lounge setting (think the Round Room at Sound-Bar on a Sunday)in the pre-peak hours at a dance club (the beginning of a set by Susan Morbito or Lydia Prim). And instead of seeing a remix credit by Hex Hector or Thunderpuss, deep house producers/remixers/artists have names such as Marques Wyatt, The Ananda Project, Ron Trent, Julius Papp, Ben Watt, or Francois K and appear on record labels named Om, Loveslap, King Street, and Naked Music. While you may prefer your dance beats strong and fast, I highly encourage the addition of deep house to your musical diet. Check out the review columns here at ChicagoPride.com (my current favorite deep house mixed Wyatt’s Horizons on Om Records) or go talk to the folks at our music partner, Borderline Music. They’ll be able to guide you on your journey into deep-ness.

Report From Dance Floor – Part 2
While Halsted Street was the seeming center of the universe during Pride weekend, tons of post-parade fun was had at the Sound-Bar T-Dance spun by a Chicago favorite, DJ Lydia Prim. (pictured left at Sound-Bar) Yes, the sound system was problematic during much of her set, but it did not keep those in attendance from shaking their money makers and digging Ms. Prim’s groove.

Ma’s In Town
Madonna-mania it isn’t, but there is still quite a buzz in the air as the Madonna concert tour makes it way to Chicago for shows starting this coming weekend at the United Center. On Sunday night there is the “exclusive” concert after-party at Crobar with DJ Tracy Young while at Sound-Bar the “official” concert after-party takes place with with Joe Gauthreaux (pictured right) in the DJ booth and special guest Niki Haris - one of Madonna’s back-up singers – on hand. The Sound-Bar web site is hinting that the Material Girl herself might make her way to the new downtown club. The other back-up singer, Donna De Lory will make an appearance (a live performance and a meet & greet session) at Borderline Music on Tuesday night, July 13th, at 6pm. (Event Details)

Report From The Dance Floor – Part 3
Since it was Pride Sunday, my friends and I decided to bar hop a bit and ended up at Crobar after departing Sound-Bar. DJ DeMarko was kicking the fresh beats over on Kingsbury and throughout the night it seemed like I was at the Crobar/GLEE Club of old. What a nice feeling!

Age Discrimination? :-)
Speaking of Crobar and GLEE Club, is there a reason why on the web site for their Guest List sign-up when it asks you for your date of birth, it doesn’t go any farther back than 1968? I’ll assume it’s a programming glitch and not an attempt to keep my 37 year-old self (I was born in 1966) from coming to the club. :-)

Report From the Dance Floor – Part 4
Ok, this is the last one. On our nation’s birthday, Hex Hector went all out at Sound-Bar with an absolutely fierce – and fun - set. The man had our hands in the air all night long and showed off his immense talent and creativity by playing a remix of “Glamorous Life” by Sheila E. (that’s the second time in this article her name has appeared), old school house cuts such as “Can You Party” by Royal House, and an incredible mash-up mix of “Missing You” by Kim English and “I Wish I Didn’t Miss You” by Angie Stone. We had thoughts of going to hear Frankie Knuckles at the House of Blues and/or Abel at Crobar, but the Hex-man made it impossible for us to leave.

No Jaxx
Due to the cancellation of the Lollapolooza Tour, Basement Jaxx – which was part of the Lollapollza line-up - will not be coming to Chicago and thus not making an appearance at Sound-Bar on June 14th as previously scheduled.

One Final Note
Thanks to all of you who stopped by Kafka Wine Co. during Pride weekend to say hello to me as I spun tunes for indoor and outside consumption on Saturday and Sunday. We all had such a blast that I’ll be camped out at Kafka again with my music and equipment for Market Days. I’ll give you more of the 4-1-1 as we get closer to the date. Meanwhile, if you’re up in Milwaukee this Sunday night, July 11th, be sure to catch my set at PUMP! at Three Nightclub in the downtown area.