San Francisco based label Dirtybird migrated to the Windy City this past weekend September 8th; with a compilation of some of the biggest names within the deep house scene. The event was held outside at 1340 w Washington blvd. Chicago and reaching max capacity as a successfully sold out show!
The music was consuming. It delved straight through my chest and pulled my sternum like the second hand of a mid century grandfather clock. The weight of my body began to sway from my right to left foot without a conscious effort. I was sold and took into the crowd swimming through a sea of exuberant faces. The off key fashion and variety of era inspired looks could make one dizzy trying to take it all in. Feathered hair and red tinted glasses paired with a retro 70s chic look was laterally placed next to plaid combat boot underground 90s grudge looks then just to be counter balanced by bright colored rave girls in latex spanks.
Circles upon circles of intertwining fans filled the space with impromptu conversations. The more I journeyed onto the dance floor the more familiar faces popped out from the wood works. Strangers becoming friends and joining into the hysteria of dance.
Dirtybird have a subtle way of uniting a crowd to share their love of dance music to us. The consistent beats entranced you to dance just as strongly as it compellingly locked you into an immense conversation with close friends. Kick drum knocked down social walls implemented by the ghastly rules put together by an industrial standard of living.
I was thoroughly impressed by Will Clarke’s set. The stage full of dancing fans and girls who became advocates for his unique take. His set was a mixture of deep house yet had a quirky trance vibe. A crescendo of thinly sliced air pushing us towards hard dance drops formed from an arrangement of popping bubbles though a neurosensory pulsating of sequencers.
The night ended with a surprise b2b set by Claude Vonstroke & Derrick Carter taking control of the decks. Vonstroke started the Dirtybird label in the early 2000s. His experience and dedication to this community earned him to be voted America’s Best DJ in Pioneer DJ and DJ Times’ annual poll. In 2017, he was nominated at the Electronic Music Awards for both DJ of the Year and Radio Show of the Year for “The Birdhouse”. He has the innate ability to move a crowd into and from existential dancing frenzies. Vonstroke’s notable style washed throughout the crowd. His methodical transitions started just softly enough until the feeling became so strong that the breath of the reverb could blow our heads away. The reverberate wash came towards a point in zenith where the snares marched into a singular bit wave. He drives up the bass of track B into another adrenaline rush of bassey dance sequences.
Reluctantly, the night ended around 10pm and fans cleared out. Many people still moved by the high of dancing finding their way back into the concrete jungles of Chicago. After making my way away from the warmth of the crowd I felt the cool breeze of the impending fall season chill luckily, I was reminded festival season isn’t over until October! The Dirtybird Camp Outheld in California will be fast approaching!
