back2basics

_An introduction to Spencer Lokken A beat nut since the very beginning, Spencer would be lost without the guidance of sound. A classically trained violinist since three, after schooling at the University of Wisconsin-Madison he put off professional performance for a nine to five position in the music biz while maintaining a consistent string of DJ gigs around the Midwest. Along with locals Ben Silver and Bethany Briscoe, Spencer formed the Orchard Lounge, a DJ collective of friends and music lovers devoted to exposing the masses to a wide array of headnodic jams. Music designed to be bumped anywhere from the dance floor to the couch, the three specialize in downtempo and your off the beaten path house, but keep things fresh by incorporating classic hip hop, electro, and funk into their sets. Never one to take things too seriously, Lokken thoroughly understands his title as a DJ, repeatedly assuring people of his role as middle man. Concerned most with spreading other people’s art, Spencer wants crowds to acknowledge that the real heroes are the people whose names appear on his records. Other ways he gets the word out on underground acts are by writing for Chicago Innerview magazine and totally bugging people on the train. His DJ mixes have received a considerable amount of attention and some nice awards have been thrown his way, but seriously, who the hell cares? www.orchardlounge.com A few questions Describe what you play. That’s hard to say, it completely depends on what type of night I get booked for. My forte used to be hip hop but I’ve started to grow out of it. What I haven’t grown out of are the rare groove funk/soul tracks from the 70’s. In my mind nothing touches that time period. As far as contemporary fare, over the past few years I’ve really focused on downtempo and house that moves the mind. I’m not going to get into labeling the stuff I play, I’m just not a fan of dropping a thousand adjectives to describe a sound. I will say, however, that my music is pretty much on the complete opposite end of the spectrum from “jackinâ€. Admittedly, the bulk of it takes patience to enjoy and appreciate. I think it’s far too easy to stir a crowd into a frenzy with a corny breakdown, so I like to play records for the more discerning dance floors. That said, the simple answer to your question would be that I try and play music that captures people’s attention...the stuff that makes you lose your mind no matter where you hear it. Who are your influences? Metro Area, John Dahlback, Kevin Yost, Pete Rock, Premier, DJ Inc, Jori Hulkkonen, Putsch ‘79, Cpen, weird non-smartbar music extraordinaire Lee Foss, but mostly my fellow Orchard Loungers Ben Silver and Bethany Briscoe. What labels do you find yourself buying the most tracks from? Obviously as my tastes change, so does my reply for this question. Lately it’s been Clone, Dessous, Deeplay, Get Physical, Ninja Tune, K7, and I’ll still at least listen to everything I! Records puts out hoping for a gem. How are you going to play on the night? I don’t know, how many drink tickets are you going to give me? Nah, I suppose that depends on who I’m after, what time of the night it is, etc. The Lair has a great system and I have a feeling the crowd down there is going to be pretty dope. It’s going to be one ill joint after another I suppose. Zero filler. Why spend all that time and money on DJing? Hey man, if it starts to get lame, I’ll just hang up the headphones. Right now though, there’s nothing in the world that beats getting back to the crib after a great trip to the record store. I say it’s time and money well spent. I spent thousands and thousands of dollars on music before I ever even considered taking spinning seriously. Why stop now? What's the best night you have played out? The Hook in Brooklyn alongside Ben Silver and the Disco Biscuits. Performance wise, nothing even comes close to that experience. A ton of the kids in the jam band scene really know what’s up and me and my little crew have consistently gotten love from them. It’d be really cool if that crowd and the more musically minded clubbing crowd would cross paths more often at events. Your favorite parties in the past? Kevin Yost @ Zentra 2002, Chris Lum @ Rain in Miami 2002, Pete Rock @ Smartbar 2004, STS9 Live PA @ Sonotheque two weeks ago. Winning submission For iTunes, etc iTunes and Real Player 128K iTunes and Real Player Dial-up Windows Media Windows Media 128K Windows Media Dial-up _Track Listing ORCHARD LOUNGE – SPENCER LOKKEN - LAZY TONES phonique - electronique vibe morgan geist/erlend oye - ghost train tiefschwarz - renix jeff bennett - sitting bull bookashade - ain't got much to lose frankman - mellow madness scsi-9 - autumn love m.a.n.d.y. - put put put u&i - love me tender bgb - that human feel recloose - up & up martinez - dubwise kevin yost - another world The inside-chicago showcase is on May 13th in the Lair (same night as the Promoters Ball @ Vision). For free entry before 11, please R.S.V.P to showcase@inside-chicago.com. Many thanks to Zeus for hosting the mixes. If you want super fast web hosting in Chicago, he is your man.

Go where the DJ is. Keep an eye on this callendar. http://www.inside-chicago.com/fforum/cal.asp?view=monthly&date=5/9/2005 They are all decent. Crobar is less musically driven these days. Soundbar and Godskitchen @ Vision have the biggest names. And smartbar is small intimate and probably has the more underground tallent.

_An introduction to Andrew Kevins Andrew purchased his first set of turntables back in 96' and began practicing the art of mixing immediately after. Initially he was mentored by a successful hip-hop DJ, but Andrew's tastes in music soon began to change as he began attending the Drop Bass Network Parties in Wisconsin along with a slew of parties throughout Chicago, Detroit, and the midwest. Many of these events were parties hosted by Richie Hawtin, Derrick May, Green Velvet and other house and techno pioneers. Minimal house and techno became an obsession for Andrew and friends, following the techno movement at various events across the country, from Chicago to Detroit, NY to LA. Andrew's sets range in diversity from warm, atmospheric ambient laptop sets to lush techno and jackin' house DJ sets. Uniquely creative mixing skills craft mixes with sophisticated sounds and plenty of thick and heady dosages of low-end to make the bodies move on the dancefloor. Currently, Andrew and friends are involved in a media production and promotional collective, known as the Borderline Media Group. Andrew is in the process of finishing up his studies of Audio Design for Visual Media at Colombia College Chicago. He has been playing a variety of DJ gigs around the midwest over the years, and is currently hard at work in the production studio honing in on weird, distinct, and unique sounds and sequencing complex rhythms. A few questions _Describe what you play? I play a diverse and sophisticated blend of electronic music, ranging from warm ambient laptop sets to jackin' house and lush minimal techno DJ sets. I've also been spending a lot of time in the studio, honing in on weird and specific sounds, and working on expressing my creativity through the machines. _Who are your influences? Too many to name, but at the moment I'm very inspired by what artists such as Mathew Jonson, Matthew Dear, Jeff Samuel, Troy Pierce, Magda, ZIp, and Ricardo Villalobos are doing. These are all relatively younger, newer artists who are helping to re-define the sounds of minimal house and techno. Some of them are of similar age and backgrounds as myself and it's great to see them breaking through with such amazing material. Also older artists such as Richie Hawtin, Baby Ford, Derrick May, Derrick Carter and Mark Farina, Dominick Eulburg, Riley Reinhold are all still pushing the sound boundaries. I have met some of these artists and they all seem very down to earth and really care about the music. I really like the idea of these newly emerging artists pushing the development of the sound to the point where the older pioneers are very inspired by it. _What labels do you find yourself buying the most tracks from? Perlon, Contexterrior, Kompakt, Sender, Playhouse, Revolver, Telegraph, Bpitch, Max Ernst, Accidental, Pokerflat, Trapez, Traum, Substatic, Firm, Kling Klang, Rhythm and Sound, Minus, Classic, Areal, ItIsWhatItIs, Musik Krause, and Ghostly International are A FEW of the labels I enjoy. _How are you going to play on the night? I'm going to play in a way that is most representative of my style. My tracks will whirl inside of the brain while providing a jackin' dosage of low end to keep the bodies busily moving on the dance floor. I normally play with a beat sampler as well, to record on-the-fly loops to layer on top of the tracks I'm mixing. _Why spend all that time and money on DJing? It's something I've been doing since my early high school days in 96'. It's something that myself and my network of friends have developed such a passion for, it's simply become a way of life for us. I guess you could say that I'm a victim of obsession. _What’s the best night you have played out? Well, there's been quite a few but one of my all-time favorites was a party we did called Area 51. It was a crazy party we threw years back on July 4th in a clearing in the woods between Milwaukee and Chicago with a long winding road that was in the middle of nowhere. We brought in generators and built a massive DJ stage, and massive fire pits. A very large group of people attended this party and I spun a very psychedelic 3-hour house and techno set. Most of the people were out of their mind at this party and many crazy things took place. I remember at one point in the night, I layered the old-school classic "Egypt, Egypt" on top of some tripped out techno beats and everyone in the woods were shaking their asses. There was something special about being in the middle of the woods in the middle of nowhere and having an alien theme for your party... _Your favorite parties in the past? Well, I've been attending parties since I started spinning in 96' but I would have to say the Richie Hawtin parties were the best. The first time I saw him he played a very insane 4-hour set with a Roger Waters interview at the beginning. I remember a massive green laser filling the sky in the valley he played in which was some remote field in Wisconsin that Drop Bass Network found. Everyone was walking around like fucking zombies not saying a word, just under a complete spell by the music! I am also very fond of his Jak, Control, and Plus 8 parties he did in Detroit. Intersteller Dreamfest was a sensational party as well, which was a 3 day festival held in the woods of a sacred Indian ground somewhere near St. Louis. . Winning submission For iTunes, etc iTunes and Real Player 128K iTunes and Real Player Dial-up Windows Media Windows Media 128K Windows Media Dial-up _Track Listing To follow. The inside-chicago showcase is on May 13th in the Lair (same night as the Promoters Ball @ Vision). For free entry before 11, please R.S.V.P to showcase@inside-chicago.com. Many thanks to Zeus for hosting the mixes. If you want super fast web hosting in Chicago, he is your man.

_An introduction to Michael Hahn While some what a new comer to the DJ circuit, Michael’s passion for this scene is however not. Starting as a promoter rather than a DJ, he began working with the now defunct Sound Pharmacy and Catalyst Crew, and helped provide monthly underground and club events within the Colorado area. Some of the events included great talent such as Q-bert, Kimball Collins, Dave Ralph, Wyatt Earp, Jackie Christie…and their yearly outdoor Moontribe Collective Festival. While all things are not meant to last, he returned to his hometown, Chicago, where he began to tone his skills into a funky house infused sound. His bedroom skills eventually led to his first residency at Gramercy Lounge and eventually to many guess spots across Chicago – including Narcisse, Minx, Transit, Funky Buddha Lounge, Red No Five, Zentra, Big Wig. Currently, he is working on future gigs in and out of the city hoping to further expose his ever funky sound to the masses. His current style has moved a bit forward trying to connect the never ending genres into one seamless mix looking to always showcase his own trademark sound to the dance floor. Michael hopes to get into the studio soon with production and will be launching this summer a clothing line, Illightenment. A few questions _Describe what you play? lately been really feeling the tech or jacked up house sounds but adding a layer of funky chicago sound to give it some extra bump _Who are your influences? Derrick carter, Miles Maeda, Danny Howells, Paul van Dyk (don’t laugh), Mazi for dj’s, new order and smashing pumpkins from the old skool days. _What labels do you find yourself buying the most tracks from? uh....too hard of a question to answer, too much stuff out there w/ producers on various labels...really i dig helluv on the net and at recordstores going by producers and labels trying to get to the good stuff..but i really feelin lawnchair generals lately, trentemoller is really nasty right now as well, john tejada is real good, patrick turner, skylark...and actually robsoul and justin longs new label dot bleep have been real hot. _How are you going to play on the night? Not too hammered.....it sounds much better really it does _Why spend all that time and money on DJing? Passion really, cool hobby as well much better than collecting comic books i think. At the same time something really dope about playing records wherever it is and helping set the vibe to all the peeps really gettin into it and kind of just enjoying the moment and having a great time. _What’s the best night you have played out? One night at minx was really the first actual gig i ever had...everyone was dancing and lots of friends were there and new friends were made. _Your favorite parties in the past? In Chicago it has probably been one of those Lee Burridge shows at vision in the main room, before it was Godskitchen. Any night in Smartbar as dirty as it is, it has mad vibe. Paul van Dyk at crobar was real good awhile back. Safe house loft party w/ harri and q burns was real fun. Danny Howells vs Danny Tenaglia at arc opening party was real good.....i could go on and on about this.... Winning submission For iTunes, etc iTunes and Real Player 128K iTunes and Real Player Dial-up Windows Media Windows Media 128K Windows Media Dial-up _Track Listing Thomas Sah – white? Lawnchair Generals – You got to Jason Hodges remix – Feelin Hypnotized Asad Riszvi/Tom Gilleurm remix – Hill Climber Joey Youngman – Troubled Chiled David K – Yo Chicago Nathan Coles remix – Frey Check Inland Knights remix – Down Out Mike Dixon – House Alienz Tedd Patterson – Dub dub Trentmoller Mix – Do what u do Skylark – Drop the beat Fortier/Porter remix – D-Shake Yaah Paul Woolford – Naughty Times Flashback Rework – Puffin Stuff John Tejada/Justin Maxwell – Madness Inland Knights - ? The inside-chicago showcase is on May 13th in the Lair (same night as the Promoters Ball @ Vision). For free entry before 11, please R.S.V.P to showcase@inside-chicago.com. Many thanks to Zeus for hosting the mixes. If you want super fast web hosting in Chicago, he is your man.

_An introduction to Sassmouth Sassmouth, a classically trained party girl, sought refuge through electronic dance music in an effort to escape the bullshit of capitalism. Always on the lookout for the next serious party, Sassmouth's training brought her to all corners of the globe including regular holidays in the world's techno capital, Detroit; annual pilgrimages to the Winter Music Conference, and Ibiza's closing parties. After perfecting the art of dancing 'till sunset, Sassmouth was inspired to DJ in 2002. She began fueling bars, lounges, house parties, and morning gatherings in Chicago with her mix of techno, house and electro. Sam's love for the more minimal side of techno influenced her decision to study in Santiago, Chile in 2004, where she further developed her minimal melodic sound amongst the Chilean techno community. She eventually snagged a set at one of the top techno nights in the city at the infamous Dominica 54'-- once again rocking that friendly late morning crowd. Upon returning to Chicago in 2005, Sassmouth has continued her late night shenanigans behind the decks at various Naughty Bad Fun Collective events; the west-side underground spot, Deadtech, and most recently enjoyed the headlining slot at Cincinnati's only regular techno night, 'Bang'. Take a disco nap, come early, and stay late to catch her punchy techno and jags into jackin' house. A few questions _Describe what you play? Minimal to maximum techno, house and electro, mainly of the German, Detroit, Chicago and Swedish variety _Who are your influences? Richie Hawtin--especially his DJ sets at the Control parties in Detroit over the last few years, and his Plastikman live PA in Montreal at Mutek last year. I'm also a big fan of Steve Bug and Ricardo Villalobos because I love the unique way they mix techno and house. _What labels do you find yourself buying the most tracks from? Minus, Poker Flat, Spectral, Dahlback, Docile. _How are you going to play on the night? I'm gonna bring the minimal bang! _Why spend all that time and money on DJing? It keeps me sane. _What’s the best night you have played out? When I played at Dominica 54 in Santiago Chile last December--It was my first time playing at a peak time (which is around 5 am there), and the place was packed. Everyone was going crazy for the more minimal tracks--it was definitely my kind of party. _Your favorite parties in the past? Any party with a quality sound system where you can hear the intricacies of the music and feel the bass the way it was meant to be felt--through out your entire body. Most recently, the In Your System events with DJ Surgeon and Speedy J, any Meiotic event, Adam Beyer at Vision, Matthew Herbert at Mutek last year, Richie Hawtin at Arc in New York, and the Jak party in Detroit several years back. Winning submission For iTunes, etc iTunes and Real Player 128K iTunes and Real Player Dial-up Windows Media Windows Media 128K Windows Media Dial-up _Track Listing Hobbre ojo - Manejando un Carrito Rapidito por Santiaguito Crackhaus - Barberchop Marc Houle - Pepper Sten - Stalker D Wulle, a Garcia - #11 (A-Side) Unkown - Unknown John Tejada - Sweat (on the walls) Hugg & Pepp - Kanelbulle Bobby Peru - For my Bleeps Steve Bug - Loverboy (Guido Schneider remix) Abe Duque - What Happend? (b-side) Todd Bodine - For Nothing Danny Ward - Scott Sounds Donnacha Costello - Opal Richardo Villalobos - Easy Lee (smith n hack mix) Mathew Jonson - 911, How Can I Help You? The inside-chicago showcase is on May 13th in the Lair (same night as the Promoters Ball @ Vision). For free entry before 11, please R.S.V.P to showcase@inside-chicago.com. Many thanks to Zeus for hosting the mixes. If you want super fast web hosting in Chicago, he is your man.

You do need tickets, i think the sky deck tickets are about $10, and you are a few floors below the top. If you go up the Hancock you can go to the bar at the top for free. And you can even buy a glass of Champagne for the cost of going up sears to just walk about.

check out www.inside-chicago.com for club listings and ideas.

www.inside-chicago.com

Wtf?!

^^^^ all good advice

Howells comes round every so often. Sadly Tenaglia hasn't been over for years. Check out inside-chicago.com (i n s i d e - c h i c a g o . c o m ...no spaces)for up to date listings.

Hard to find breaks in Chicago. We ran a night a few years back. A group called Recess do breaks nights and used to have a Sunday afternoon (but thats now ended).

try www.inside-chicago.com

Pretty easily with the gift of flight DJ's do much bigger distances than that to play. He is playing, it's booked and confirmed by Spundae.

Is that you Tommy? Anyway listen to that diesel77 guy, he knows whats up. Redno 5 is crap now. Smart Bar, Spundae and Pure nights have the biggest names. But there are loads of other quality nights. The Chicago scene has taken off over the last year. Check out www.inside-chicago.com (sorry DaVe). There is an events callendar, it's not up to date for that time yet... but it will be. Also have an ask round there may be afters or a decent loft party going on.