Mark Farina Delivers A Dose to House Music Junkies [12-27-14]

Chicago native and San Francisco resident Dj Mark Farina flew back to his hometown last Saturday night to sprinkle a little holiday house music cheer among an eager Smartbar crowd. Mark Farina did not disappoint. Every year that Farina comes back to the city of Chicago to play a three to four hour set, house music aficionados come out in droves to dance until the light switch flips on; bright bulbs revealing a still-packed venue of dancing house-heads at 5am. This year was no different. Once again, Mark Farina sent the crowd on a long, spiritual, house-based musical journey.

Smartbar set the stage with its moody, minimal lighting and crisp Funktion One soundsystem; both perfectly complimenting the intimate vibe in the basement venue. The night took off around 1am with Farina laying down deep, funky house tracks to get the crowd jacking on the dance floor early; setting the tone for the rest of the night with Kevin Yost’s “Messing with my Soul”.  The tempo remained upbeat all night and attendees kept dancing as Farina seamlessly mixed different flavors of house back and forth throughout the evening to showcase his versatility and create a variety of rhythmic dancing on the floor. Farina moved back and forth between jazzy house, soulful house, classic house(such as Linden B “Deep Beats [Cee’s  Siren Dub]” 1992), and straight-up banging house. At one point the crowd seemed to move and sweat in unison to the ‘freak and fly’ lyrics of Kid Enigma’s “Dangerous” track.

At the end of the night I left Smartbar satisfied; all house music taste buds fully indulged. I can safely say I will be looking forward to the next Mark Farina event.  Be on the lookout for more appearances by Mark Farina in Chicago and the midwest throughout 2015. You can find him playing at clubs (Smartbar, Evil Olive, The Mid), street fests (West Fest), larger festivals (Detroit’s Movement), and various underground loft parties and  afterhours.

Mark Farina at Smartbar

Mark Farina at Smartbar

Crowd - Mark Farina at Smartbar

Crowd – Mark Farina at Smartbar

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOljR-8yRww&w=560&h=315]

Ultra 2015 Phase 1 Lineup [UPDATE]

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ultra flyer

A few weeks ago a picture of the alleged flyer announcing the Phase 1 lineup of Ultra Music Festival (pictured on the left), which takes part in March in Miami during the Winter Music Conference, surfaced and spread cross the internet. Nothing was confirmed on any of Ultra’s social media sites or official website until now.

 

Pictured below you have the official Phase 1 Lineup Announcement take directly from Ultra’s Website. Turns out this rumored “fake” flyer turned out to be real.

Who plans on attending Ultra in March?
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New Years Eve 2014 Guide

happy-new-year

Wednesday 12/31/2014

8Fifty8 NYE 2015 $95 General aadmissionand table packages available here.
Castle The Ultimate New Years Experience Gold & Platinum packages still available. Follow the link for more information and tickets.
Castle Lair Vested ORIGINS NYE feat. Kerry Leva, RJ Pickens, Hummingbird, J. Worra, & Patrick Beatman $60 General Admission. Drink packages available. Follow the link for more information and tickets.
EvilOlive NYE Event feat. DJ Rush, Osunlade, Strictly Jaz, Unit Ticket and table information available here.
The MiD Mid NYE 2015 feat. local DJs Ticket and table information available here.
Primary Mostly Disco NYE Edition ft. Lancelot & Golf Clap $20 General Admission tickets/ table packages available here.
Roof on the Wit NYE Bash Reservations Call: 312-239-9588
Smart Bar The Mirror Ball: A New Years Eve Extravaganza $35 Advance / $40 Night Of / $80 Reserved Seats / $400 VIP Tables (Seats 4), $750 Diamond Table (Seats 6). Purchase tickets here.
Sound-bar Nova NYE $175 General Admission tickets are available here.
Spybar Spybar NYE fet. Anthony Attalla Tickets are available here.
Studio Paris New Years Eve feat. Afrojack $250 general admission/Table packages available. Buy tickets HERE. To reserve a table, please call 312.595.0800 or email studioparis@leye.com.
Time NYE 2014 feat DJ Viktor, DJ Mauricio $30 general admission tickets and table packages are available here.
The Underground NYE 2015 $65 General Admission tickets and table packages are available here.

 

Just Stay Chi! Weekly Clubbing Preview 52 (2014)

Monday 12/29/2014

EvilOlive SRTB Presents: Porn n Chicken Bronies (My Little Pony Bros) Banger RSVP Deal: Free before 11:00 PM
The MiD Green Velvet & Claude Vonstroke For tickets follow the LINK
Tuesday 12/30/2014
Primary Primary $2 Tuesdays Say “Diana” at the door for FREE entry till 12 AM Reduced After.
Roof on the Wit Roof Live Reservations Call: 312-239-9588
Time Industry Tuesdays  w/ Dj Rock City and Sye Young For reservations follow the LINK

Wednesday 12/31/2014

8Fifty8 NYE 2015 $95 General aadmissionand table packages available here.
Castle The Ultimate New Years Experience Gold & Platinum packages still available. Follow the link for more information and tickets.
Castle Lair Vested ORIGINS NYE feat. Kerry Leva, RJ Pickens, Hummingbird, J. Worra, & Patrick Beatman $60 General Admission. Drink packages available. Follow the link for more information and tickets.
EvilOlive NYE Event feat. DJ Rush, Osunlade, Strictly Jaz, Unit Ticket and table information available here.
The MiD Mid NYE 2015 feat. local DJs Ticket and table information available here.
Primary Mostly Disco NYE Edition ft. Lancelot & Golf Clap $20 General Admission tickets/ table packages available here.
Roof on the Wit NYE Bash Reservations Call: 312-239-9588
Smart Bar The Mirror Ball: A New Years Eve Extravaganza $35 Advance / $40 Night Of / $80 Reserved Seats / $400 VIP Tables (Seats 4), $750 Diamond Table (Seats 6). Purchase tickets here.
Sound-bar Nova NYE $175 General Admission tickets are available here.
Spybar Spybar NYE fet. Anthony Attalla Tickets are available here.
Studio Paris New Years Eve feat. Afrojack $250 general admission/Table packages available. Buy tickets HERE. To reserve a table, please call 312.595.0800 or email studioparis@leye.com.
Time NYE 2014 feat DJ Viktor, DJ Mauricio $30 general admission tickets and table packages are available here.
The Underground NYE 2015 $65 General Admission tickets and table packages are available here.

Friday 1/2/2015

Castle Plastik Funk & Armand Pena Password: “WHYSOCHI” Ladies FREE ALL NIGHT, FREE before 11:30 PM and half off after for GENTLEMEN. For bottle service and bday parties text 773.504.4348
EvilOlive Derek Specs x Mr. Bobby For tickets follow the LINK.
The MiD Oliver Heldens – Autograf – Zebo For tickets follow the link. Use Password “WHYSOCHI” AT CENTURY ROOM DOORS- Free before 11 PM, $10 from 11 PM till 12 AM. Regular price after. For bottle service and bday parties text 773.504.4348
Primary Nick Buch Presents: Post New Years Party FREE before 11pm w/ Facebook RSVP here.
Roof on the Wit Steve Smooth Reservations Call: 312-239-9588
Smart Bar IKE RELEASE / CHRISSY / STEVE MIZEK $7 All night. For tickets follow the LINK.
Soundbar Release Fridays RSVP Deal: FREE Before 12 AM, $20 After.
Spybar GARRETT BELSCHNER + DINO GARDIAKOS Free Before 12am $20 After. RSVP here.
Studio Paris Fred Matters To reserve a table, please call 312.595.0800 or email studioparis@leye.com.
Time Friday Nights ft. James Deen, Axon For reservations follow the LINK.

Saturday 1/3/2015

8Fifty8 Resolution 2015 Ladies Free, men til 12am. Text 8fifty8 to 545454
Castle MS54 Password: WHYSOCHIFree untill 11:30PM $15 After. For bottle service and bday parties text 773.504.4348
EvilOlive Alan King, Jamie 3:26 Password “Opene Sesame”  for free entry.
The MiD Audien Password: WHYSOCHI Free entry all night for ladies, full price for gentlemen. For bottle service and table reservations text 773.504.4348
Nikki NYE Rehab RSVP: No Cover before 11:30/Reduced After
Primary Primary Presents: John Mork Say “Diana” at the door for FREE entry till 1 AM!
Roof on the Wit delaChapelle Reservations Call: 312-239-9588
Smart Bar Demarcus Lewis For tickets follow the LINK
Sound-bar Local Talent Password: “WHYSOCHI”  Free entry until 12 AM,  half off after .  For bottle service and table resevations text 773.504.4348
Spybar Inphinity & Kalendr RSVP DEAL: Free Before 12 AM $20 After
Studio Paris Lil Jon For Tickets follow the LINK. To reserve a table, please call 312.595.0800 or email studioparis@leye.com.
Time Viktor, Chris Bedore and Dante For reservations follow the LINK

Sunday 1/4/2015

Smart Bar Derrick Carter,  Michael Serafini, Garrett David $7 All Night

 

Flosstradamus @ The Aragon Ballroom 12-26-14 [Recap]

floss flyer

The major duo of Josh “J2K” Young and Curt “Autobot” Cameruci were clearly a must see as they made a stop in their hometown of Chicago during their HDYNation Tour. The anticipation grew so large for Floss; who can be best remembered for their legendary parties at the Boystown dive bar Town Hall Pub, it was no surprise that the whole Aragon Ballroom venue was sold out. The crowd brought an interesting mixture of both EDM and hip hop lovers.Floss 12-26-14  (2) logo

GTA warmed up the crowd right before Floss came on to destroy. After seeing GTA this past summer at Electric Forest my expectations were definitely set high. GTA rocked the crowd playing the perfect mixture of trap and house. GTA clearly set the right mood for Flosstradamus to come on stage.

Floss 12-26-14  (1) logo

Floss opened with a bang and blue smoke which soon revealed their gigantic stage that stood high with the HDY Nation flagged dropped down from the top of it. Josh “J2K” Young popped out with his HDY Nation flag and commanded all the HDY grlz and HDY boyz to raise the Floss symbol in the air. When “Original Don” came on everyone went insane, after all it was the song that started it all for Floss.Floss 12-26-14  (3) logo

Floss threw it down dropping hit’s like “Roll Up”, “Coco”, “Climax”, “Stoner”, “Pillz”, and of course “Mosh Pit.” Floss took immediate crowd control commanding the 5,000 people in the crowd to take out their lighters and phones while all the lights were shut down. Simultaneously the crowd swayed side to side as the music slowed down. The show was overall great, but I do admit I had bigger expectations for Floss going harder considering Chicago is their hometown. Looking back to seeing Flosstradamus almost two years ago, this show can be considered just a bit disappointing.

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