Laurent Garnier live at "Smartbar" Chicago. 08-30-2013.

    With an career spanning 25 years, how could one not go on and on about what France's Laurent Garnier has done or more like hasn't! In England when house music hit and being one of the first to play it at legendary clubs like The Hacienda in Manchester, Laurent has gone on to become one of the worlds most well rounded D. J.'s. and producers there is. Returning back to France in the early 90's to full fill his military duty, He took this new sound and spread it across Europe spinning at raves and warehouses but he didn't stop there. Laurent went on to releasing his own productions like classics "Acid Eiffel" as "Choice from Paris", "Crispy Bacon", and the club stormer "The man with the red face" to name a few. Along with these classic's he has many solid DJ compilations under his belt like the 5 disc "Excess Luggage" mix that sums up a master at work no mater what the music. Not being content with just producing dance tracks, Laurent has gone on to compose for cinema, television and theater as well. In the early 90's he went from spinning behind the decks to talking behind the mic on various radio shows and after falling in love with this in 2003 he started his own web-radio station "Pedro's Broadcasting Basement". Then two years ago started his syndicated show "It is what it is" where this set was originally broadcasted on. In 2010 he toured briefly with Benjamin Rippert and Scan X as "LBS" or "Live Booth Sessions" performing a hybrid of live house, techno, jazz, experimental and D.J'ing. 25 years in dance music is a milestone not many have been able to accomplish yet alone think of but Laurent has and by the sounds of this mix, looks to be able to take on 25 more!

Laurent behind the decks

    Being able to record this set came about by chance. The duel openers this night were former Smartbar musical director Nate Manic, With this being his last night before moving on to other ventures, and Chicago's own DJ Sassmouth. I had sent Nate a message about recording their sets as an thank you for all the support and help over the past three and a half years that he has given myself and the "Datman" while working at the club. A few days later and to my amazement Laurents people had contacted him about recording his set to use on his radio show "It is what it is". I was floored with this news and told him I would come down and record the whole night. I've been trying to see Laurent since the 90's but for some reason it never seamed to work out until now. Either the shows would end early, not even start and from what he told me that night, Miss a live show he did a few years back here in Chicago. Even on a trip to Europe 13 years ago I missed him by a week at the legendary venue "The Rex club" in his home of Paris France. This mix is sadly only an hour from his almost 4 hour set but still hits the vibe of the night right on the head!



    If you haven't already, Click on our Facebook "Like" tab at the top right corner of the blog to keep up with what we have going on. Get links to other DJ mixes, View classica and current party fliers and event links to shows we are supporting or recording. And of course check out this (Laurent Garnier) link for more info on what he's got coming up and support what he does! After all, If it were not for the artists, None of these posts would be possible. 

Hope this finds you all well. Cheers!

Gus Audio.


© Live Sets Chicago. 2013.

Slam live at "Rave Krispes" Chicago. 05-30-1997.

     For the past two Decade's, Slam have come to define Techno in Scotland. Pushing the sound since the 1980's as DJ's then moving on to production work in the early 90's, The duo comprising of Stuart McMillan and Orde Meikle have travelled all over the world scorching dance floors and leaving fans wanting more. Not only have they performed dynamic sets at leading festivals and events globally they have played at some of the worlds best clubs to boot. If that wasn't enough, They also hold residencies at three of the UK's best clubs. "Pressure" and the "Sub club" in their hometown of Glasgow and "Fabric" in London. Not content with releasing only their music such as classics "Positive Education and "Life Times", Slam have also cultivated many other artists on Soma records, (Now in it's 21st year) such as Daft punk and Gary Beck. With their Paragraph label they combine their love and production talents to release both House and Techno gems and with "Alliances" work on collaborations with some of todays most forward thinking producers. With having remixed everyone from Daft Punk to Underworld. Releasing a steady flow of monster tracks on their own and far to many other labels to count. Producing a mix podcast (Slam Radio) and being nominated as the "Greatest dance act of all time" poll in the UK dance music magazine MixMag in 2011, These past few years have been the most prolific for the "Guys from Glasgow" and it looks like they are set to rock on for another twenty years to come!
                                     

Slam live at "Rave Krisp-es" Chicago. 05-30-1997. by Live Sets Chicago on Mixcloud

                                                                                                                                           
      This set was recorded around a time when were recording two or three nights a week, Some nights it would be going to clubs and then to raves. Unfortunately with nights like these sometimes the parties tend to blend together after awhile. As far as I know, This was another set that we recorded that has never been released until now. I was personally looking forward to meeting Slam this night as I was and still I'm a huge fan of their music and mixes. I believe this event was held at the Belmont Armory on the north side of Chicago for an "up for it" crowd. The thing about the promoter and this show was that they did some parties with only a few artists and had them play extended sets. With this show there were four DJ's on the bill. Slam, New York's "DJ Keoki",  L.A.'s "DJ Hyperactive" and at the time San Diego "Miles Maeda" each did two hour sets this night. This was billed as Slams first time in the states and for sure their first time playing in Chicago. Now some have said that with their return this year In January to Chicago makes it ten years since they have played here but I think this might have been last time they stopped in town. The thing that I remember the most was talking to Stuart and Orde before their set about music production and traveling and thinking the whole time that these guys were way down to earth and willing to talk to anyone and everyone. I'm happy that it worked out that I was finally able to post this set on our blog and have it be ahead of their return to Chicago. I hope you all enjoy it as much as the crowd did that night and I have over all these years!


    If you haven't already, Click on the "Like" tab at the top right corner of the blog and follow us on Facebook to get links to other DJ mixes, View classic party fliers from the Mid-West and beyond and event links to shows we are supporting. And of course check out this (slam-djs) link for more info what they have coming up and support what they do! After all, If it were not for the artists, None of these posts would be possible. 

Hope this finds you all well. Cheers!

Gus Audio.