ChicagoVerseUniteD: Chicago Scene Salvation

This week on the ChicagoVerseUniteD audio podcast: Tim Pogo from Panic! In an interview recorded at the last Panic dance party at Darkroom, the DJ and promoter reflects on the party’s six year run at the soon-to-close venue. Pogo also reflects on the state of the promoting scene in Chicago now versus six years ago, and hints at the future of Panic, post-Darkroom! Stream or download that podcast below.

(Photo via Colleen Mares of The Axis World and Lewis & Clark.)

Krewella
Logan Square Auditorium, Chicago, IL
Friday, August 17, 2012

Chicago’s Krewella has had a come up that’s seemed to not only surpass Chicago, but almost seemingly skip it. While hometown DJ talent like Flosstradamus came up through local residencies like their run at Town Hall Pub, live EDM trio Krewella’s rise seems to have largely sidestepped their hometown when it comes to local shows. Which made the group’s Logan Square Auditorium show that much more of an occasion.

Taking the stage to a sold out room of all ages of ragers, the trio of Rain Man and Yousaf sisters Jahan and Yasmine delivered a set that started out hard and stayed heavy throughout. Kicking things off with the title track from their Play Hard EP, the act’s stage show launched into high gear, with green lasers blazing and blasts of pressurized steam blowing into the crowd. As the evening progressed, the trio moved between an assortment of dubstep, grinding electro riffs, and hard EDM cuts in a live DJ set, as a blinding light-show aided the full sensory experience. Elsewhere, the trio dropped cuts as old as some of the crowd themselves in Nirvana‘s “Lithium,” as well as pop fare like David Guetta and Sia‘s “Titanium.” Best received, however, were original Krewella cuts, such as the sickly sweet melodic power pop of “One Minute” and the all-out aural assault of “Killin’ It.” All the while, the members of Krewella jumped, shook, and bounded about while simultaneously dipping down to tend to a laptop and their equipment.

With the group out on a run of national and even international dates in the coming months, Krewella’s LSA set proved an intimate and sweaty follow up to the act’s equally kinetic Spring Awakening appearance earlier this summer. More than that, though, it provided Chicago with a glimpse of a hometown act on the rise, in a rare hometown appearance.

Find CVU video of Krewella’s LSA set below, as filmed and produced by Colleen Mares of The Axis World and Lewis & Clark.

(Deahl, onsite at the “Pocket Porn” video shoot. Photo via CVU)

This week on the ChicagoVerseUniteD audio podcast: Dani Deahl! In an interview recorded onsite at the DJ’s “Pocket Porn” video shoot earlier this summer, Deahl shares details of the treatment. The DJ also teases plans for her upcoming projects and collaborations. Find that podcast below, followed by a CVU write up of the video shoot, and the Pocket Porn EP stream.

It’s a late night in June in Chicago’s River North neighborhood. In the red-lit basement of Sound Bar, DJ Dani Deahl is in the center of the action on the “Pocket Porn” video shoot. As cameras roll, a group of attractive twenty somethings are moving in slow motion to the music, all while decked in headphones and glued, heads down, to their smart phones.

It’s been a long day on the set, and the room is hot. The shoot started in earnest around 10am, and now it’s already after 11PM. All said and done, the shoot won’t finish until almost 1am. In spite of this, Deahl is in high spirits, seeming tireless and upbeat.

It’s clear this is no DIY shoot. Instead, there’s a full production team onsite, and each scene calls for multiple takes. Among those present are Porn And Chicken‘s Orville Kline, Cornelius Clark from Fly Kite Media, and of course, Deahl fiancée Fei Tang from EvilOlive. Without giving away too much of the plot from “Pocket Porn,” it’s a cinematic treatment. There’s action and mystery, and of course, Deahl is front and center in that. Find the Fly Kite Media behind the scenes video of the shoot below, and look for the full “Pocket Porn” video to post soon.

This week on the ChicagoVerseUniteD Cover Story Series audio podcast: Miguel Martin (aka DJ Trancid) and Frank De La Mora of EchoDroides! The longtime collaborators discuss the origins and evolution of their EchoDroides project, breaking down the differences between DJ and studio production set ups. Find that podcast below. And check out a lo-fi stream of the group’s Umbra EP, out now exclusively on Beatport, with a full release through all digital retailers on September 4th.

(Artwork via Stizo, photo via Marc Moran)

This week on the ChicagoVerseUniteD audio podcast: Alexander Fruchter of Ruby Hornet! In an interview in support of the new Closed Sessions Vol. 2 full length and documentary series, Fruchter delves into the compilation’s origins and ambitions, and how it captures the climate of Chicago’s quickly rising hip hop culture. The writer and DJ also weighs in on Closed Sessions artists like Rockie Fresh, YP, Kids These Days, and more. Find that podcast below, followed by a video trailer for the full length. And come out to Reggie’s Rock Club this Thursday, August 30th between 6 and 9pm for the Closed Sessions Vol. 2 record release party.

Fresh off their recently released Oceania full length, The Smashing Pumpkins have announced a series of US dates, including an October 19th stop at Rosemont’s Allstate Arena. The dates will see the Pumpkins running through their Oceania effort in full, in addition to integrating classic cuts from the band’s back catalogue. The sets will also feature cutting edge projections and videos courtesy of visual artist Sean Evans, who previously worked on Roger Waters’ The Wall run.

The trek will also offer VIP package options, which include perks like backstage performances, artist Q&As, and more. Check out full details on the VIP packages, as well as a full run down of the band’s dates, at the SP tour page. And find video below of SP bandleader Billy Corgan discussing Oceania‘s live execution, with tour presale info on that video’s page. That clip follows the frontman’s CVU podcast from earlier this summer, and is followed by the band’s recent live appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, where they performed Oceania cut “The Celestials.”

Though the group just released their new Alarms EP last month, Perfect Kiss is already working on new material. Find video from the band’s first day of writing, featuring them showing off their new practice space, followed by the band’s CVU podcasts from earlier this summer. And see Perfect Kiss live this Saturday, September 1st at the Crush In Old Town festival, alongside fellow Chicago acts like Pet Lions, My Gold Mask, Gemini Club, and more.

This week on the ChicagoVerseUniteD Cover Story Series audio podcast: Emmi Chen! The songstress delves into her new solo effort, Songs By Emmi Chen,  revealing just how far back her new material dates, and discussing her reluctance to release her more personal songs. Chen also sheds light on her acting work, as well as departure from Ornery Little Darlings. Stream or download that podcast below, followed by a full stream of Songs By Emmi Chen, as well as the videos for “They Call Me Lizzy” and “Song #3.” And catch Chen live this Sunday, August 26th, at Brownstone on Lincoln, as well as September 6th at Empty Bottle (tix) for the artist’s final performance with Ornery Little Darlings. RSVP for free entry to that show at rsvp@emptybottle.com.

ChicagoVerseUniteD is a weekly music and nightlife podcast series, hosted by Jaime Black. CVU features interviews with the premier talent and tastemakers in the Chicago music and nightlife communities, and is published through the Dynasty Podcasts network. Follow along on Facebook, Twitter, Soundcloud, YouTube, Vimeo, Tumblr, and Pinterest.

Following Scattered Trees‘ recent break-up announcement and final show, new music has hit from On An On, the post-ST project of Trees members Nate Eiesland, Ryne Estwing, and Alissa Eiesland. Premiered at Consequence Of Sound is “Ghost,” the first listen from On An On studio material. It’s a preview that recalls Scattered Trees in voice and guitar, but with more synthetic percussion and an ambient and atmospheric feel throughout. Stream or download that cut below, and look for On An On’s full length debut, Give In, to post on January 29th of next year. And catch the new group’s first live show in Chicago on September 11th at Lincoln Hall (tix).

(Photo via Weird Magic)

Hot off the heels of the duo’s recently released Whispers In The Dark full length, previews from Supreme Cuts‘ collaborations with up-and-coming MC Haleek Maul have begun to hit the web. First up is the ominous “The Dummy,” posted at StereoGum, and which Cuts’ Austin Keultjes calls their “hella warped twisted take on the state of hip hop today.”

Also from Supreme Cuts and Maul is “M00N,” off both artists’ forthcoming Mishka release, set to post on August 28th. Check out that track below, via Fake Shore Drive, and find the group’s remix of Ryan Hemsworth‘s “Overthinking” at SPIN, as well as Supreme Cuts’ recently posted Daytrotter session here.