Dino G Presents: Steve Lawler + Jimmy Hill

[Guest spybarchicago1]

Dino G Presents: Steve Lawler + special guest Jimmy Hall courtesy of VIVA Music Saturday November 14th, 2009 at Spy Bar Chicago!

To recieve reduced admission RSVP to dino@spybarchicago.com

For table / bottle service RSVP to joeyg@spybarchicago.com

For any further questions or concerns feel free to email me at dannyv@spybarchicago.com or go to www.spybarchicago.com

About Steve Lawler:

Forward thinking, groundbreaking, precedent setting: not just the true essence of progression, but an apt way to begin a biography on the world renowned DJ/producer Steve Lawler. That’s progression, not to be mistaken with the term progressive, music Steve Lawler’s often been associated with. Lawler is much more than a progressive house DJ. A child of the acid house generation, he’s been busy with the beats long before genres were but a twinkle in clubland’s eye.

An electronic artist who defies generic boundaries, ever since his days organising the infamous motorway raves under the M42, Lawler’s set his own agenda, following his natural musical instinct behind the decks and in the studio. 2008 has been the best example of this; after 17 years of hard graft, more people are beginning to take note of Lawler than ever.

One glance at his recent releases suggests as much. ‘21st Century Ketchup’ on Ali Dubfire’s much lauded Sci+Tec was a run away success at the 2008 Miami Winter Music Conference, ‘Femme Fatale’ on Josh Wink’s legendary Ovum was one of the summer’s heaviest hitters. And they’re just a small sample of what’s fast becoming one seriously prolific pie with releases on Tsuba, Drumcode, Systematic, Tanzbar, Boxersport, MBF and R&S all primed and focussed squarely on the dancefloor. ‘Horses For Courses’, released on Renaissance in 2007, is a fine example of Steve’s recent work; a dark rumbling romp, (it’s about as progressive as jelly and ice cream). His tracks with Audiofly and Dino Lenny as SLAAF and SLADLY are a similar affair with discerning acclaim coming from the dancefloor, DJs and music press alike.

VIVA Music, Steve’s label, has been key to this progression. His days heading the much-missed Harlem Records have paid priceless experience; Steve knew exactly what he wanted from VIVA from the off. Embracing the power of digital distribution and forming strong links with the MP3 powerhouse Beatport, he’s in the previously unheard-of position to only sign a track if he “thinks it’s the bollocksâ€. Those are his very words – focussed and passionate about his music, he doesn’t even care if it sells. Luckily it does sell, with each release receiving heavy patronage by techno luminaries such as Laurent Garnier and Carl Craig.

With VIVA came responsibilities such as promotion and adept A&R, both of which he’s excelled at; his VIVA launch nights at Pure Pacha will go down in the venue’s illustrious history, his VIVA tour has taken him across every continent and every festival worth knowing. As for A&R, just ask artists like Simon Baker, Audiofly, Presslaboys, Bearweasal and Livio & Roby and they’ll tell you all about the support, encouragement and opportunities Lawler has given them.

VIVA works as a culmination of everything that’s gone before; from the aforementioned illegal raves, to his residency at super club Cream or the Ibizan schooling where he famously played eight hour sets at Café Mambo seven days a week. He’s remixed high profile artists such as Jamelia, Dido and Justin Timberlake and worked with world renowned dance imprints Global Underground, Renaissance and Bedrock. He’s released some of the scene’s most collectable mix series such as the ‘Dark Drums’ ‘Lights Out’ and, most recently, the ‘VIVA’ series. Now on its second release, the ‘VIVA’ series has revealed Steve’s widescreen vision better than any mix before with down tempo and deep house playing a big part in the beat blend. Needless to say, the tours supporting such releases have taken him to every corner of the globe from New York to New Zealand.

Heralded as King Of Space by Ibizan locals, fans and industry peers Steve held a triumphant residency for seven years at the Balearic super club (a club he returned to in 2008). His Viva Harlem Nights events, be they at The End or on tour, consistently sell out and his residency at London’s Home Club was one of the infamous venue’s only success stories. He’s even been headhunted by horror film director Iain Softly to make the theme tune to the 2005 movie Skeleton Key.

Yes, Steve's seen it all and experienced everything club culture can throw at him, from mistaken identity to scary stalkers... He's even been held at knifepoint in a dark alley behind a Mexican club for not playing a request! It's these years of hard sonic graft, however, that have fine-tuned his understanding of electronic music and its relationship with the dancefloor.

Now, armed with his experience and understanding of the intricacies of dance music and the drama that lies within, Steve enters the most exciting stage of his career. No longer seen as just a progressive DJ, he’s the happiest he’s ever been, both as a DJ and in the studio, working more prolifically and diligently than ever before. The summer is spent jet setting around the world’s finest clubs from Watergate to Womb, performing to thousands of revellers at every party, while the winter sees him retire to the studio making the music he wants to make. Not what people expect of him.

Dynamic, driven and drastically obsessed with performing as well as he possibly can. Steve’s passion for house, techno and electronica is too strong for one simple generic association, and right now his message is louder than ever. 17 years deep and Steve Lawler isn’t just at the top of his game, he’s pushing the boundaries of what a DJ can do – both technically and creatively – as an artist and as a successful label businessman. Now that’s progression.

About Jimmy Hall:

It was back in 1995 Jimmy first fell under the DJ’ing spell. Two years later and he’s picking up gigs all over his home town of Birmingham. It was here he first started getting a reputation for playing the perfect soundtrack to any night. The following Summer, Jimmy jets out to Ibiza where he lands himself a residency at the Kaos Café. Renowned for its infamous after parties and hedonistic party atmosphere, Jimmy would often play all night, and then go back to do an eight hour set at the after party. “I learnt how to properly DJ that Summer. I played more than I slept and just had the best time!†says Jimmy. Whilst in Ibiza Jimmy played at some of the most prestigious clubs on the island including Es Paradis, El Divino, Café Mambo and many more. On his return to the UK that autumn, Jimmy’s diary went nuclear. Guest spots at Republica, Golden, Gods Kitchen, Ultra Vegas, Promise and Sundissential to name a few followed. He became resident at Golden and Republica and shows across the globe started to trickle in. Fast forward to NYE 2000. Jimmy headlines Circus X in Brisbane, Australia. The boy from Birmingham has come a long way in a short time and before the year is out he will have played on nearly every continent Times were changing though… As trance and hard house began to swamp clubland, Jimmy took a step back. “I never really got the hard house thing so found myself playing the warm up sets at my residencies which I looked forward to. I got a chance to play with grooves at around 125bpm. Techy, tribal and proggy stuff. It made me realize that music had to move me before I could move a floor with it. It totally changed the way I set about DJ’ing. You won’t believe how many hard house and trance DJ’s told me how much they loved what I was playing. That was a big compliment.†Since then Jimmy has gone from strength to strength. He now holds two monthly residencies in Germany. “Smaller clubs that are really into what I do which is cool.†He is also a regular guest at arguably the biggest club brabd in the world right now Gods Kitchen. And so to 2005. Jimmy sees the New Year in and plays closing set at Gods Kitchen Birmingham after Eric Morillo. In March his debut track ‘Acid Rock’ is released on Steve Lawlers Harlem Records to critical acclaim and gets hammered everywhere. In June the simply massive ‘Totally Porno’ is released on the same label and receives airplay on every dance show that matters as well as getting hammered by the likes of DannyTenaglia, Deep Dish, Sasha, and of course Lawler. “A massive unadulterated chunk of dancefloor filth from the Brummie boy wonder…†is how DMC describe it! Jimmy was also an original member of the Punkrok collective who rocked floors at Pacha London, Turnmills and Gods Kitchen as well as releasing 2 tracks on the respected Toolroom. Jimmy himself was responsible for the massive Punkrok remix of the Bizarre Inc classic ‘Playing With Knives’ and the remix for the title track of the New Order album ‘Sirens’. Now solo, Jimmy has signed to the highly respected 24 Management as an artist, joining the likes of Max Graham, King Unique and Paolo Modjo to name a few, Jimmy is set to launch his own label ‘Authorised Propaganda’ before the end of the year. Look out for the debut single by Jimmy ‘The Good Shit’. Massive is probably the only word needed to describe this track. It’s been a huge year for Jimmy studio wise as every DJ worth his salt has switched on to his sound, now it’s your turn!!!

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