Desperate for Trance, Industrial, Hardcore, ANYTHING! (Chicago, Lincoln: house, neighborhood, to buy)

[sponger42]

After fleeing Indiana to live on the coasts, then travel the world, we've made the terrible error of returning (temporarily.) Though it's 3 hours away, Chicago provides our only escape from the soul-crushing environment we've stumbled into.

We desperately need somewhere to dance to something with a real beat. We used to come home a few times every week, soaked through with sweat from cutting loose for a few hours in our favorite underground industrial or trance club. Now I'm ready to chew through my own wrists for a single night of hardcore!

Please help us find a high-intensity club in Chicago. Someplace that's not a meat market, where people actually come for the music and dancing (or drugs) would be best. Trance, any flavor of Hardcore, Industrial, EBM, Powernoise, are all fine.

Just, please, not another *ffing place with a "DJ" playing the "Midwestern Mix." (House from 1993 + R&B from 1995 + what sounds like a pop mix CD from 1997). No more pool tables! No more piano bars! No more goofy fratboy ______ bags bobbing their heads to Kid Rock!! ENOUGH!

Give me an empty warehouse armed with enough bass to trigger an involuntary bowel movement, 600 ravers, and a ___load of alcohol! Something like this has to exist in Chicago, right? Help me out!

Thanks!

[via chicago]

i cant say im exactly tapped into this scene, but the big warehouse parties of years gone by are pretty much gone thanks to anti-rave ordinances. you're basically looking at the same touristy clubs you probably already know about in the river north area.

[Lookout Kid]

It sounds like this guy needed to come to Chicago ten or fifteen years ago when raves and industrial music had a larger following. It's a rapidly fading scene.

[reppin_the_847]

Alright, this venue may not be as large in scale as what you're looking for. Certainly nothing like say, Club Space in Miami, but the music is definitely on point if you're seeking out the electronica. Check out Smart-Bar, which is ironically in Wrigleyville, but has nothing in common with any other club/bar in the entire neighborhood. I think you'll be happy there. People come there for the music. As far as other spots, you'll have to keep an eye out for specific events most likely. Not sure if there's a regular spot for the hardcore house/trance/industrial type music these days. Smart-Bar might be your best bet in Chicago. Sometimes Sound-Bar in River North can be ok (main floor & the VIP area), but you may find it to be too mainstream for your tastes.

Originally Posted by sponger42

After fleeing Indiana to live on the coasts, then travel the world, we've made the terrible error of returning (temporarily.) Though it's 3 hours away, Chicago provides our only escape from the soul-crushing environment we've stumbled into.

We desperately need somewhere to dance to something with a real beat. We used to come home a few times every week, soaked through with sweat from cutting loose for a few hours in our favorite underground industrial or trance club. Now I'm ready to chew through my own wrists for a single night of hardcore!

Please help us find a high-intensity club in Chicago. Someplace that's not a meat market, where people actually come for the music and dancing (or drugs) would be best. Trance, any flavor of Hardcore, Industrial, EBM, Powernoise, are all fine.

Just, please, not another place with a "DJ" playing the "Midwestern Mix." (House from 1993 + R&B from 1995 + what sounds like a pop mix CD from 1997). No more pool tables! No more piano bars! No more goofy fratboy _____bags bobbing their heads to Kid Rock!! ENOUGH!

Give me an empty warehouse armed with enough bass to trigger an involuntary bowel movement, 600 ravers, and a _____load of alcohol! Something like this has to exist in Chicago, right? Help me out!

Thanks!

[via chicago]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

It sounds like this guy needed to come to Chicago ten or fifteen years ago when raves and industrial music had a larger following. It's a rapidly fading scene.

There really isnt a outlet for people into dance/electronica at all in this city. Sonotheque gave it a go with the concept of being a club for people who actually care about the music, but even they in their small size had difficulty and are now defunct. I know theres been talk of having a summer festival revolve around "intelligent dance" which was being spearheaded by the newly formed Chicago Electronic Music & Arts Coalition, but there hasnt been any news from those guys in close to a year.
Chicago Electronic Music and Arts Coalition

[sponger42]

Thanks for the tips, names, and the links. I'll do my homework and hopefully they'll yield something fruitful!

[Lookout Kid]

I know a guy who's really in to House music, and he typically follows specific DJs around the city to different locations instead of becoming a regular at a specific club. He has no trouble finding the specific niche within House music that he's in to (I can't remember what it is because I am not in to House music at all). I think he's also into Trance, but probably not the other genres listed by the OP. I'd check with him, but he recently moved to California.

[reppin_the_847]

Hmm, this is sort of taking a cue from Lookout Kid's insight about his friend and the DJ tips. Get in touch with the friendly folks at Gramaphone Records in Chicago. This record store is a hangout and outlet for many DJ's, both local & visiting that are looking to buy the hottest new electronic records on wax. Usually there are fliers lying around the store, and plus you can ask the staff and/or any visiting DJ's about the hottest events taking place in town. I know for a fact that they specialize in electronica (house/trance, etc. etc.), so you can't go wrong. Their store is in the Lincoln Park / Lakeview area. near Diversey & Clark Here's their website:

GRAMAPHONE RECORDS - Chicago, IL

And here's the website for Smart Bar, that I suggested earlier:

Smart Bar | Chicago

And the more mainstream & larger Sound-Bar (way more annoying Jersey Shore type clientele, and you may not dig as much of the music, but they do play some good electronic at times on the main floor & VIP areas):

Chicago Nightclub | Upscale Chicago Nightclub | Chicago Nightclubs | Chicago Clubs | Chicago Dancing | Chicago Dance Clubs | Late Night Dancing Chicago | Martini Lounge Chicago | Chicago House Music | Upscale Nightclubs Chicago | Clubbing Chicago | C

Other large clubs more similar to Sound-Bar, but beware of very annoying fistbumping clientele (after all, we have the most guidos of any Midwestern city):

Vision Nightclub: Vision Night Club Chicago

Crobar (Chicago): crobar

There has to be more, but these are some of the key choices that come to mind. I like reading reviews on Yelp (www.yelp.com) for clubs when I can. Good luck!!!

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by sponger42

After fleeing Indiana to live on the coasts, then travel the world, we've made the terrible error of returning (temporarily.) Though it's 3 hours away, Chicago provides our only escape from the soul-crushing environment we've stumbled into.

We desperately need somewhere to dance to something with a real beat. We used to come home a few times every week, soaked through with sweat from cutting loose for a few hours in our favorite underground industrial or trance club. Now I'm ready to chew through my own wrists for a single night of hardcore!

Please help us find a high-intensity club in Chicago. Someplace that's not a meat market, where people actually come for the music and dancing (or drugs) would be best. Trance, any flavor of Hardcore, Industrial, EBM, Powernoise, are all fine.

Just, please, not another place with a "DJ" playing the "Midwestern Mix." (House from 1993 + R&B from 1995 + what sounds like a pop mix CD from 1997). No more pool tables! No more piano bars! No more goofy fratboy bags bobbing their heads to Kid Rock!! ENOUGH!

Give me an empty warehouse armed with enough bass to trigger an involuntary bowel movement, 600 ravers, and a load of alcohol! Something like this has to exist in Chicago, right? Help me out!

Thanks!

Take your daily hit of acid, put on some Benny Benassi, a strobe, and call it a night.

[GT28107]

Originally Posted by sponger42

Give me an empty warehouse armed with enough bass to trigger an involuntary bowel movement, 600 ravers, and a ****load of alcohol! Something like this has to exist in Chicago, right? Help me out!

LOL and you're bashing 90s music/trends... oh the irony.