Roy Davis Jr. Live from "Red No. 5" Chicago, 04-05-2002.


Roy Davis Jr. warming up the crowd.
   Originally from California before moving to Chicago, Roy was turned on to house music by greats DJ Pierre, Farley "Jackmaster" Funk, Marshall Jefferson and Lil' Louis. He then took that love and started DJ'ing while still in his early teens. Later on he began producing as he calls it "Soul Electronica". A blend of Garage, Disco, R&B, House, Soul, Hip Hop and Electronic music. Things really got moving in 1993 when he was asked to do A&R for Strictly Rhythm while still in college. Roy has released many great singles and albums during his vast career both as a solo artist and as a member of a group on label's such as Soul electric, Defected, Strictly Rhythm, Ubiquity, XL, Peacefrog, DJAX, and his own Redcat Records. Some of his stand out group productions were 1992's "Rise from your grave" with "PHuture" along side Earl "Spanky" Smith. 1996's "Times Fade" with "PHuture the next Generation" along side Chicago's DJ Skull and 1999's "Watch them come" while part of "Men from the Nile" with Jay Juniel. As far as collaborations go, You can't forget 1996's timeless "Gabriel" with Peven Everett laying down both the vocals and trumpet on the track. Many have credited "Gabriel" with kick starting the UK Garage scene when it came out and still holds it own to this day. Roy has also had Billboard chart success with hits for Eric Benet / Faith Evens, Mary J. Blidge, Seal, Patty LaBelle, Terry Dexter, Christina Milian and Morcheeba to name a few. With a steady stream of his own and production work for other artists and steady gigs all over the world, It's safe to say we will be seeing and hearing from Roy for a long time to come.

Crowd at Red No.5
     This set took place during the time I was recording audio for the Club and DJ TV show I was a part of here in Chicago. The guys from the show would call me up and have me come down to where they were filming and record the sets. This night they filmed and interviewed Roy for an episode that I think aired after it got finished but as far as I can tell it's not up anywhere online. Going off of who ever was talking on the mic during the night, this was an event called "Silly Rabbit 5" on a Friday night. The place was rammed packed with people (as you can tell from the photo's) and the vibe was very heavy and music was, well you can tell from the recording great! At one point during Roy's set a women in the packed DJ booth got on the mic and started singing along with Roy and Peven's  classic "Gabriel". As it turns out, Some one left the mic on during his set and on certain parts of the mix you hear the crowd yelling (mostly me. Ha!) and cheering in the background, especially towards the end of the night when he was really bringing it. The crowd noise isn't enough to take away from the recording but it does adds some character to it.



     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 classic and current party flyers and event links for shows we are supporting or recording. And of course check out this (Roy Davis Jr.) 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. 2014.


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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.
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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!
                                     


                                                                                                                                           
      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.
   


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DJ Jes One Live at "Red No 5" Chicago. 12-27-2001

 



    This post comes to us by the “North Woods Shaolin” himself, DJ Jes One. Originally from the northern suburbs of Chicago but now based in Mellen Wisconsin, Jes One has been in the House scene now for over 20 years. With humble beginnings in 1989, Jes One has spun at Nightclubs, festivals, and raves all over the U.S. and has appeared on various underground and commercial radio mix shows during that time. He was also owner of the “Groove Shop” record store in Rockford Illinois but has since moved on to the "Groove Shop North" in Mellen Wisconsin. Jes One was so well known for his style of turntablism by layering vocals over House, Techno tracks and scratching that he was featured in ad campaigns for Shure record needles around the time this set was recorded. Along with DJing, Jes One has also released tracks alongside such artists as Frankie Bones, Josh The Funky 1, Alex Peace, Paul Anthony, and Woody McBride to name a few and countless mix cds. Since his move, Jes One has been involved with “First Mellen Group” organizing events and club nights for the past few years around Wisconsin





    This set was recorded at during Shure’s “Future sound of Chicago” event at the now closed “Red No. 5” club in Chicago. I had just met Jes One a few weeks prior to recording this set at a time when I was jumping from club to club recording shows. Jes One had told me about this show and that he wanted me to come out and record the night. Shure had done a few “Future sound of” shows at a few different clubs that show cased up and coming artists and let then take control of the night with them all being the headliner. This mix displays the true skill of Jes One’s mixing with great presence and flow by going from grooving house and vocal cuts to banging Tech-House. Be sure to click on his link under the artist’s links area to get more info on what he’s got going on and when you can catch him live in a city near you.


    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 (DJ Jes One) link for more info what he has 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.

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Derrick Carter live at "Shelter" Chicago. 05-09-1997.






                       
                                                                   
    This Classic set comes to us by a man who many has called the "DJ's DJ" at a venue that has long been torn down in Chicago. Derrick Carter has been known to be part of the "Second wave" of artists that came out of Chicago in the mid 90's but has actually been involved with House music since the mid 80's, had his first record released in 1987 and remix duties dating back to 1991. He has produced under a number of names such as DJ Bang, Innocent and Tone Theory. Along with being involved with groups such as Symbols and Instruments, Sound Patrol, Little Green men, Music for Freaks and ran both the Blue Cucaracha and Classic record labels the later with co head Luke Solomun.




    This set was recorded at Shelter night club when Friday's were "Material" night's and Derrick along with fellow Chicago jocks Josh Werner, Scott Song, Diz, J Dub and DJ Heather were your residents with hosts DJ Colette and Eric. I believe Shelter had been open for 10 years before it closed it's door's in 1998 and I was able to enjoy the last two years and the last Saturday night there. I don't remember if I was at this night but this set captures the spirit of a city at the time when the "Second wave" of Chicago producers and artists were making there mark on house music. Derrick closed out the night on this set going from classic Chicago house, Some current cuts from the time and a cheeky track of the Benny Hill theme show all mixed with Derrick's flair. As far as I know, There hasn't been many sets from Shelter released so I'm very glad to be able to share this one with you from a Chicago Icon and super cool guy. Be sure to click on Derricks link under the artist's links area to catch up with him the next time he's playing in a city near you.


    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 (Derrick Carter) link for more info what he has 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.
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