Categories: Nightlife
Club Deejays
Author: Audarshia Townsend
The birthplace of House music, Chicago has a vibrant nightlife scene, full of progressive deejays who will keep the beats pounding and your body moving well into the wee hours.
Chicago’s been dubbed the “home of House music” thanks to Godfather of House Music deejay/producer Frankie Knuckles laying down the foundation in the late 1970s. He paved the way for a number of many of today’s most successful deejays in Chicago, and helped set the standard for the spin masters in the city’s hottest nightclubs.
Even though many clubs have shifted from the house and dance music-only format, you’ll still find a number of spots specializing in the music that put Chicago on the map for nightlife. Smart Bar - only steps away from the Chicago Cubs’ Wrigley Field - hosts local, national and international deejays seven nights a week. Genres range from garage to Goth, but house music is what truly draws crowds to Smart Bar since it opened in the late 1980s. The little subterranean spot has undergone many renovations over the years, but it’s still managed to maintain its original vibe. Another house music centric club is Ohm, the alley entrance venue in Wicker Park that made its mark as Red Dog and catapulted deejays like Derrick Carter, DJ Heather and Lego to international stardom. Today, lesser-known turntablists spin here, but the multi-level lounge is still all about house music. Sound-Bar and Vision cater to electro house heads, and the music is at a faster pace and the atmosphere is sceney. Considered mega-clubs, the two River North spots play to large crowds with international stars like Paul van Dyk, John Digweed and Deep Dish as the main attractions.
There’s a lot of controversy about the popularity of the “celebrity deejay,” or the performers who have made their name playing for Hollywood and NYC A-List crowds. Typically based on either coast, in recent years they’ve been coming to Chicago’s trendiest spots to play for our A-List loungers. These deejays are mostly known for spinning mashups, which consist of just about every genre, from rock ‘n’ roll to hip-hop to pop. The most well-known stars hit the bars where there’s usually a hefty entrance fee and recommended bottle service if you want to sit down. Steve Aoki a.k.a. DJ Kid Millionaire, DJ AM, Samantha Ronson, DJ Mompants and DJ Kiss have played the likes of Underground, Manor, Crimson, Le Passage, and Enclave.
And we would be remiss if we left out Chicago’s alternative night spots, where deejays spin more offbeat flavor for your ears. Wicker Park’s Lava Lounge is more than just a hipster neighborhood bar, as local deejays spin cool beats of dub, reggae and liquidy rock nuggets you won’t find elsewhere. Delilah’s - best known for the most extensive bourbon selection in the Midwest - hits a high note with fans for insurgent country music, Rockabilly and Brit pop. And Neo has been around since 1979, but it seems as though nothing has changed inside this Lincoln Park labyrinth. The punks still come for the industrial and Goth scene seven nights a week.
Check out places of interest near Club Deejays:
Big Chicks
5024 N. Sheridan Rd.,
Chicago, IL 60640
The colorful Uptown bar caters to a mostly lesbian and gay clientele but is very straight-friendly.
Le Passage
937 N. Rush St.,
Chicago, IL 60610
A top Chicago nightclub for going on a decade, this Gold Coast neighborhood nightlife haven attracts a high-profile crowd. It seems likely that this will be a club destination in Chicago for years to come.
NV Penthouse Lounge
116 W. Hubbard St.,
Chicago, IL 60610
This ultra-hip modern lounge sits atop 7 floors and serves an exclusive crowd. Take in the sweeping views of the Chicago skyline while the new-wave DJs keep the pop music thumping in the background. The outdoor terrace is a popular place to imbibe a pricy, but well-made drink.
