The MayDay Scooter Club

Chicago’s annual scootering tradition, Slaughterhouse, kicks off its Bittersweet 16 this Thursday, September 2 at Late Bar.  Special shopping and BBQ at Scooterworks sounds good, and a couple of rides take off from Exit on Friday night.  Saturday starts at ACE and ends at Cobra Lounge for the scooter prom.  Sunday’s gymkhana is hosted once again by Motoworks.

All this with a special guest appearance from this fella…

Full itinerary at www.slaughterhousechicago.com

Busy week in Chicago… find us at Late Bar on Wednesday, July 7 for Mixtape Meltdown and Chuck Wren’s ALL 80s SKA NITE, with the debut of the new HEAVY MANNERS 12″ single, their first new recordings since the early 80s! Late Bar also has tickets to giveaway for Saturday’s debut from The Crombies.

Friday night, July 9, Secret Society Scooter Club leads us all back to Late Bar for the first monthly scooter night – part of the weekly Merge celebration.  Inaugural DJs include Lady J, MLE, Aret, and JJ.  Should be more Crombies  / Mustard Plug tickets to giveaway too! Ride meets at 9:45pm at New Wave Coffee in Logan Square, embarking at 10:30 for an hour long city ride ending at Late Bar.

Saturday, July 10, is the day live 2 Tone returns to Chicago, with The Crombies hitting the stage at Beat Kitchen in support of Mustard Plug.  Don’t miss it - buy tickets online now! They’re only $12, you get 4 bands, more Chuck Wren, it’s 17+ and starts at 8:30pm.

Late Bar
3534 W Belmont Ave
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 267-5283

Beat Kitchen
2100 W Belmont Ave
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 281-4444

New Wave Coffee
Milwaukee Ave & Logan Blvd
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 489-0646

Our Way of Thinking and Mods v. Rockers gave us two sterling weekends in Chicago… lucky for us, the summer is just getting started.  Our friends at Late Bar have tapped local scooter clubs and some of the scene’s finest DJs to get down every Friday – they’re calling it The Merge.  Last week’s kick-off party was a great start, and we see the night growing bigger and better. Expect to hear soul and ska and boogaloo and psych and freakbeat and revival and brit pop and anything else you want to hear that the DJs have in their box. The sound is broad, and we want everyone to feel welcome.

You’re gonna want to say you were there, to tell the kiddies about this night.  Let them know that The Merge was something magical… that Late Bar was your favorite place ever to get a drink and dance.  Luckily, it’s open till 4am every Friday so you have plenty of time to make it happen. And Hobgoblin drink specials to wash it all down.

Late Bar
3534 W Belmont Ave
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 267-5283

As if last week’s MODchicago wasn’t enough for us all, tonight we start Late Bar’s WEEKLY Merge party!  Good god!!

It all kicks off at 9pm with JJ on the decks spinning a mix of 6ts rnb and mod revival 45s.  Late Bar is open till 4am on Friday so the party goes all night.  Mods v. Rockers is screening Quadrophenia at the Music Box at midnite – if you go, you gotta promise to come back to Late Bar.

Tomorrow you’ll find us on Lincoln Ave soakin’ in the scene at Mods v. Rockers – Ton Up Club Chicago’s annual beast of a block party.  Check out the full list of events. Eye popping! Hard to believe how this thing has grown.

We think the $25 all-access pass is well worth it: you can start our tonight at ACE at 7pm, ride up to LATE BAR, and then tomorrow you’re all set for bike registration, fish-n-chips dinner, and the Irving Parkas gig! Oh yeah, hadn’t heard? The Irving Parkas play Saturday, June 19 at Bottom Lounge with All Mods Conned and London Calling.  $10 if you just want to see the Parkas play – the boys go on first at 9pm.

On top off all this, Mike Seate from Cafe Racer will be on hand filming the whole thing. So bring your bikes and look your best!

Well, it’s taken a few days to recover, that’s for sure.  But thanks to old and new friends met and found at Our Way of Thinking 2010.  Another excellent weekender for the MODchicago crew, to be sure.

If you haven’t been there yet, start poking around for setlists on facebook.  Find Eric and JJ here!

DO NOT MISS the next Windy City Soul Club night, coming to you this Friday, May 28 at Empty Bottle.  The boys have the month of June off (don’t worry, plenty more to come), so you’ll be out of luck until July…

Windy City Soul Club

Empty Bottle
1035 N Western Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 276-3600

The CROMBIES are 2 TONE!

Lord Mike, where have you gone? It has been over a year since the legendary last Lord Mike & The Dirty Calypsonians show at Metro. And people worldwide have inquired whether the former Deal’s Gone Bad singer – and world’s dirtiest Calypsonian – would ever sing again. Some were generally concerned for his mental state…but most wanted to gain back a sense of hope – what new band could fill the void and guarantee a night of drink and general stupor? Over the past few months, “Lord” Mike has been secretly plotting his new act – with former members of the Calypsonians – and they call themselves THE CROMBIES! Are you missing that live 2 Tone sound? Have no fear – the dance craze sound has returned to Chicago! And catch their debut show opening for Mustard Plug at the Beat Kitchen on July 10th! A MUST SEE SHOW!!

The CROMBIES are also gearing up for their debut 7″ single on Jump Up! this fall!!

Visit the Beat Kitchen site for tix!

Good times last Friday with WCSC… lots of feet on the floor and talc in the air. That’s just the way we like it. Jordan brought his camera, so head over to the Gallery and see if you can find yourself!

Windy City Soul Club returns to the Empty Bottle on May 28.

It’s back… and we’re not just talkin’ about the patch on JJ’s jacket. Windy City Soul Club returns to the Empty Bottle on Friday, April 30. It’s been too long, but that can only mean one thing… the boys got a lot of new records and they’re all itchin’ to drop the biggest the best northern soul Chicago has ever heard. It’s WCSC. Welcome Back!

Windy City Soul Club

Empty Bottle
1035 N Western Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 276-3600

Just a quick reminder… the Dan Parry Memorial Fundraiser is this Friday, April 16, at the Globe Pub. This is an important event to all of us, so we hope all of you can make it out. A $10 cover will go towards funding a scholarship for aspiring EMTs, Paramedics, and Firefighters in Chicago.

WCSC’s JJ, Ben Pirani, and Xavier plus MODchicago’s Eric Colin will be playing tunes all night long.

The Globe Pub
1934 West Irving Park Road
Chicago, IL 60613-2408
(773) 871-3757
8pm – 2am; $10