Hero Worship
Rhythm & Sound DJ at SmartBar, Chicago
At quarter to one, after a set of uninteresting techno and dubious downtempo, the lights were cut and Rhythm & Sound played unmixed deep dub on a laptop to a talkative, mostly unappreciative crowd. The building rumbled and snares cracked.
Despite an extensive knowledge of the Basic Channel back-catalog and Wackies reissues, I’d be hard-pressed to ID tracks, but it was heavy, thumping pleasure. I spotted at least one autograph-seeker clutching a couple of 12-inches. One fellow eyed the subwoofers with a critical eye. Von Oswald (I presume?) barely looked up as he tweaked levels subtly. He started his DJ set with older, slower vocal reggae and worked up to obscure nineties productions with heavy reverb.
SmartBar was a small, tough crowd with a few rude hipsters, but it was worth the trip to see the first of only three U.S. Rhythm & Sound “45 Session” appearances. Unfortunately, after a half day of travel, I lacked the stamina to stay past 2:00 A.M. My friend Nathan (emulsion) and I left before the set was complete, visions of Jamaica (via Berlin) dancing in my head.
Other Dates
Saturday, Sep 2
P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center
22-25 Jackson Ave at the intersection of 46th Ave
Long Island City
Sunday, Sep 3
Currents
673 Franklin Street
Detroit
