What do you get when you mix a high intensity, heavy bass dubstep legion with an entertaining sing-along act and a backing powerhouse DJ? The crowd at the local Chicago venue, The Metro, can answer just as well as anyone, so why don’t you ask them? With the UK dubstep act, Rusko opening for the highly entertaining electro/hip hop act, Major Lazer, the anticipation was exciting. It was a sold out show and a line stretched halfway down the block. The crowd was in good spirits, awaiting what was sure to be a night to remember.
With patrons pouring in from every doorway and hallway, a full venue it became; and just when it seemed impossible to accommodate another person, the show began. The crowd was constantly pushing for the opportunity to get close enough to see the sweat on Ruskos face and the jump in his step. The energy charged DJ sent the crowd into a dubstep coma of fist pumping and head banging to the heavy bass style of music known as dubstep. There were buildups that gave the crowd just as much energy as the UK DJ did himself, as he is known for his high energy and fast-paced touring schedule. His track choices and transitions left both Rusko lovers and the faint of heart content, and all that remained was the smiles on their faces as they awaited the sexually charged Major Lazer debut.
Major Lazers world wide touring DJ, Diplo, approached the turntables with confidence and ease as he prepared his equipment and the crowd with what was sure to be a show just as energetic as the previous. Major Lazer himself, followed by his two female companions, approached the stage to the mixed sounds of high-pitched screaming and loud roars of excitement. It was their first Chicago appearance since August. They are known for mixing multiple genres that appeal to the diverse crowds looking to dance. Whether your among the crowd that enjoys or despises the generalization of what once used to be an underground genre, and is now taking the shape of big label acts trying to fill arenas, its hard not to bob your head and move your feet to the rhythm. If you’re skeptical, it’s not all bad. With some quality mixes and a well-known DJ backing up the act, there is anything but the lack of talent and energy in this duo.
Whether you’re the electronic/hip hop type, or a heavy bass driven personality, the show was truly a great mix that satisfied both crowds, and their hunger for music. Chicago, drawing inspiration from both the east and west coasts and luring talent from all over the globe, is truly the Mecca of all things music, adding a flavor of its own. Welcome to the true, Taste of Chicago.

Story by, Chris Hemstreet

For more info about the artists playing at the April 10th Metro showcase, check out their MySpace’s for exclusive tracks and future touring dates.

Rusko: Myspace.com/Rusko

Major Lazer: Myspace.com/MajorLazer

It was a wet spring evening in Chicago, one of many in the early months of the spring season. Chicago has extremely unpredictable weather, and gruesome winter months as well. It would be an understatement to say that April 5th was any exception. With even the gloomy weather in account, this did not stop the Swedish three piece, Miike Snow, and their endless amount of supporters from lining up in the rain for what was to be the second day in a sold out visit to Chicago’s Metro.
Some bands have a hard time filling a single venue, while others, as in the case of more recent showcase, sold out 2 back-to-back days of the Swedish group’s most recent and arguably most successful tour to date. With the up and coming group, Delorean starting out the night with a bang, the lineup was an obvious reason for the tours success. “Amazing”, “epic”, “visually spectacular” were just some of the responses to the group’s live show that left spectators wanting more. With multiple live instrumentations and the overall performance mixed with what seemed like an absurd amount of lighting, their live show had a unique feel that is rarely seen in, “smaller scale” venues and more so in arena style performances.
It began with the entrance of each individual band member in white artisan masks that showed anything but any sort of expression. The blank emotions on each of the band member’s faces started the show off with a theatrical bang. Heading up the rear was front man Andrew Wyatt, shoeless, and ready to get down to business, the musically talented singer/song writer/pianist/guitarist wasn’t going to settle for a mediocre show. Seeing him singing his heart filled lines into the microphone like it was the first time playing in front of a live audience was a refreshing change of pace compared to mass touring bands that lose interest and emotion after performing the same songs night after night.
With a talented drummer, and multi faceted dj, their night didn’t end with the end of the show at the Metro as they went on to play a late night DJ set at The Metro’s adjacent nightclub, Smart Bar. This gave the unfortunate Miike Snow fans that were unable to purchase tickets to the sold out show, as well as die hard fans, an epic encore to end the night on. Never leaving the fans feeling as if they didn’t get their moneys worth, yet still leaving them wanting more was the perfect combination for any music fan. Its fairly obvious to see why the group has formed such a strong bond between fan and performer, drawing the line much closer than you would think as they drew off energy from the crowd to fuel their seemingly never ending supply of vigor and the drive to create something musically unique.

Story by, Chris Hemstreet

For a list of shows, and touring schedule and a peek at their tunes, check out the artists MySpace’s:

Miike Snow: MySpace.com/MiikeSnow
Delorean: MySpace.com/DeloreanDanz

Dark and eerie, with plumes of smoke lingering on the floor to mask the mass amounts of dancing feet that filled up Smart Bar for their weekly Dubstep/heavy Bass Thursday lineup the Chicago underground music scene has grown to know and love. This week, March 25th was a special day. Although the other events are growing in numbers as the popularity for the bass driven music genre is growing, this week in specific had a special guest. Coming all the way from the UK to blow the speakers and minds of local music enthusiasts, the dubstep DJ, DubPolice and Dubsoldiers founder, Caspa arrived ready to impress.
Spinning some old school classics, along with his personal favorites that he has grown to be known for, the dubstep DJ was a force to be reckoned with. Having done tracks with multiple worldwide artists such as Rusko and Deadmou5. Local favorite, Kid Sister was in the mix adding a guest appearance and vocals to an already mind blowing experience that would not be soon forgotten.
With the twirling of glow sticks, dancing of the full crowd, and sea of smiling faces, its amazing how quickly the new genre that is known for the skull crushing bass, wobble that makes the weak of heart dizzy, and overall mood of the songs, attract the most diverse crowd, from a multitude of different genres of music. All one can truly say is that each and every show is a great experience, accompanied by great people just looking to be moved by music like they have never been moved before. Welcome to the world of Dubstep.

Story by, Chris Hemstreet

Check out the rest of Caspa’s tunes at:
myspace.com/caspadubstep

as well as the local openers and residents for the Smart Bar event at:
Phaded:
myspace.com/sosophaded

Special Guest, MC Zulu:
myspace.com/zulumusic

Dark and loud, the pulsing of the heavy bass that made your chest feel like it was caving in, seemed to surround the room no matter where you were standing. The sound system at smart bar, dwarfing any other venue trying to have a clean, but heavy, heart pounding musical experience was evident. With the dance floor full of eager on lookers on March 11th at local heavy bass Thursday venue, Smart bar, were awaiting the fast approaching moment when the Canadian dubstep child prodigy, Excision, would take the stage, and the turntables.
A vastly unique style of laid back hip/hop vocals, mixed impeccably together with metal riffs and heavy bass lines, made the listening experience one of a kind. Making even the most passive on looker want to bounce around to the heavy style that Excision is known for. Track after track, anthems were dropped and all that could be heard over the loud roar of the audio system were yells of excitement followed by what seemed like the entire crowd head banging to the rhythm.
Arms positioned above their heads, crossed at the forearm to form the unmistakable “X” that signified none other than Excision, the crowd was just as excited as Excision seemed to be. The, what seemed like perfect flow of fast mixed with slow, hard with soft, and happy followed by angry, formed one solid cohesive set, that would have impressed even the most skeptical audience members, for what will be known to the event goers as, “The Day Excision Took Over Chicago”, and leave anyone that missed the epic showcase of the bass heavy, Canadian superstar clear and certain of one thing, a show like this will never be missed again.

Story By: Chris Hemstreet

For a chance to check out some of the tunes played at the show, or to see what you missed, check out the MySpace for Excision as well as the local openers for the night:

Excision:
http://www.myspace.com/excision
Dj Belly:
http://www.myspace.com/kevstoast
Akademy:
http://www.myspace.com/akademydub
Phaded:
http://www.myspace.com/sosophaded

A list of future dubstep events at Smart Bar, in Chicago, IL can be found at:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=272865832050&ref=ts

Electro Vs Dubstep

Just like the miracle of chocolate and peanut butter, Calvin and Hobbs, and Jack and Coke, there hasn’t been a better mashup of music like the announced, Electro Vs Dubstep show at the Portage Theater, in Chicago, IL.  Bringing together the best of both worlds, well known, electronic sing-a-long dabce tracks that have reached extraordinary levels of popularity in the past few years from artists such as, Chromeo, The Bloody Beetroots, Daft Punk, Girl Talk, and Boyz Noize amongst too many others to name.  The genre brings together fast paced music, with interesting melodies that make people want to dance.

On the other end of the spectrum you have the newer sensation that is dubstep.  Heavy hitting, large drop’s, and more wobble than you can handle.  The genre is picking up steam with artists such as, Benga, Rusko, Caspa, Excision and many others leading the pack at the forefront.  The popularity of the genre is becoming recognized by electronic music festivals all over the world, with Ultra and Coachella just among a few that has added dubstep artists to their lineup for 2010.

Saturday, March 6^th will be one show to remember, giving again the best of both worlds from local Chicago electronic scene DJ’s, such as, Midnight Conspiracy, Phaded, Nameloc, Solo, Broken Disco 1980, Action Adventure and Destruction, along with live visuals to finish off a night, full of what will surely be an intense array of dancing, drinking, partying, and being exposed to new music at this months 18+ showcase at the Portage Theater. There’s nothing left to say besides, don’t miss out on the opportunity to expose yourself to what truly moves the youth of today, a never ending array of diverse and different music.  See you on the dance floor.

Story by, Chris Hemstreet

Check out the artists playing at, Electro Vs Dubstep online:

Electro:

Midnight Conspiracy: http://www.myspace.com/midnightconspiracy

Broken Disco 1980: http://CustomVibes.com

Action Adventure: http://soundcloud.com/action-adventure

Destruction: http://www.myspace.com/thedjdestructionproject

Dubstep:

Phaded: http://www.myspace.com/sosophaded

Nameloc: http://www.myspace.com/namelocmusic

Solo: http://www.myspace.com/iscratchrecords

Find the event page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=266525074648&ref=ts