John Acquaviva at "Live on the decks 3". Chicago, 02-26-2000.

     This post comes from the Definitive man himself John Acquaviva. His involvement in dance music dates back to the early 80's when he would spin at local clubs and had been DJ'ing at least a decade before founding one of the world's best known techno labels Plus 8 Records with fellow music lover Richie Hawtin back in 1989. That's when his international DJ career really began to take flight. He was also one of the first artists in the early 2000's to spearhead the use of Final Scratch, a computer program used for DJ'ing digital audio files. Seeing that DJ's would also need a place to get audio files for the new medium , he had a part in the creation of Beatport.com. The largest online mp3 music download site that specializes in dance music. In 1993 he and Plus 8 partner Hawtin and friend Karl Kowalski launched Definitive Recordings. The focus was more on quality House and Tech-House which released tons of classics such as "House Music for all" by Blunted Dummies. The label went silent at the end of the 1990's but relaunched in 2005 as an digital label and has been going strong ever since with steady releases by Acquaviva and new partner in crime Olivier Giacomotto. John has had a long history of performances here in Chicago and around the Mid-West beginning with raves in the early 90's then moving over to the club circuit with stops all over the city and was one of a handful of international DJ'S to hold residency at the iconic Smartbar in Chicago during the early 2000's.

    This show was held at the infamous Harvey expo center / Photon Laser Tag venue located in the south suburbs of Chicago which held countless parties over the years. As you can see from the flyer above, this event was jam packed with talent but to many the highlight of this night was John Acquaviva and Richie Hawtin headlining in their own room. Before the show a group of us went to the famous Russian Tea Time in downtown Chicago. After dinner John and the group of about 10 of us made our way from Chicago down to the venue. As we arrived the line was few hundred people long and stretched across the parking lot. After finding a parking spot and making our way in, we headed through the main room, a center room from what I remembered was playing Drum & Bass and on to their room. As we made our way up to the DJ booth through what seamed like thousands for people spread across three rooms, we all knew everyone was in for a great night. After "The Datman" setup his equipment and Acquaviva took to the decks the room really started to fill up. As the night progressed we had heard from people around the booth that party goers still waiting to get in started to rush an open side door to the space and were sneaking by security to get in to the event. In all the confusion, a security guard saw "The Datmans" recording equipment in the booth and since they were not informed of it before hand, got thrown out the event with a few other people from around the DJ booth. In trying to clear up the mishap, he walked up an hour later and told us what had happened and that he had to sneak back in himself because security didn't believe his story.

         

    

Miles Maeda at "Direct Drive" Chicago. 01-18-1997

 
    Last but not least from the "Direct Drive" event is Miles Maeda. Miles played two sets at this party, One earlier in the second room and the last set of the night in the main room. Miles has been a staple in the Chicago music since the 90's. I believe Miles was the closer for a few of this promoters party's. I can remember for awhile, If you went to a party or club in Chicago during the 90's, Miles was probably in the lineup. I left before Miles's set but have a story from another party. DJ Hyperactive and I were listening to Miles play at a different party and were discussing his tracks when Hyperative recalled a party they both played at were it was outside and it started to rain. Miles brought the house down when he dropped "Singing in the rain". I think that's what makes Miles so special as an artist. His timing and track selection has people guessing. Miles also recently celebrated his 11Th year at Smartbar as a resident in Chicago. I'm not sure of the track's on here but this sets is around the same time as his Easy mix tape. This set is around 45 Min's or so. Get more info on Miles on his link in the artist's link area If you haven't already,

Miles Maeda live at Direct Drive Chicago. 01-18-1997 by Live Sets Chicago on Mixcloud

    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 (Miles Maeda)  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!

DJ Hell at "Direct Drive" Chicago. 1997

    Next up is DJ Hell set. The tape says it was around the 2AM hour. This was by no means Hell's first or last party in Chicago. Based in Germany, Hell has been through Punk, New wave, Hip hop, House, Techno, Electro, Electroclash and back again! One of his first singles "My definition of house music" became a huge club hit when it was reissued on Belgium's R&S records in 1992. I was one of the MC'S for this show and when I introduced Hell I called him the "German Cowboy" over the system because of his stance while mixing (Riding the decks) and his long sleeve button down shirts he would wear. After his set, He was talking to the promoter and asked who introduced him on stage. I thought the worst but when he asked how I knew they called called him that in Europe, I was at a loss for word's and was picking my stomach up from off the floor. This mix goes in and out of house and techno. Classic tracks on these sets are Josh Winks "Are you there", Jeff Mills "The bells", Laurent Garnier "Crispy bacon", Basement Jaxx's "Fly life" Gusto's "Disco's revenge", Daft Punks " Phoenix and Dave Angels remix of Ken Ishii's "Overlap".  Originally I posted this mix from an 90 minute cassette tape that I had but after words I got a hold of the full two hour Dat tapes from the show and thought why not put it out as it was recorded. So here it is the way it was that night!

DJ Hell during his set.

DJ Hell live at "Direct Drive" Chicago. 01-18-1997. by Live Sets Chicago on Mixcloud

    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 Hell) 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. 

Special thanks to Clark Terry for capturing and letting us use the pictures from the night.

Hope this finds you all well. Cheers!

Gus Audio.

Frank De Wulf at "Direct Drive" Chicago, 01-18-1997.

                                                 
     This set comes from the king of the Belgium sound himself, Frank De Wulf recorded live from his set at "Direct Drive" in Chicago.  Frank got his start doing radio while still in high school and never looked back since. His first hit track “Acid Rock” under his alter ego "Rhythm Devise" but he was better known for his "B-side" releases (which all got re-released in 2010) and his countless remix work for groups such as The Shamen, Erasure, Orbital and one of my favorites his remix of The Orb's "Blue room" just to name a few. By all accounts Frank was the rave scene's first superstar if you will at a time when the movement was just taking off in Europe and all the D.J'S at that time had his tunes in their boxes. Sadly Frank took a break from D.J'ing, production work and traveling awhile after this show to focus more on his post-prodution company "GRID" and work on other ventures. Since then Frank has dusted off his equipment and started working on new music, preforming and returning to what his fans have felt he has done best, produce great music!

Frank De Wulf live at "Direct Drive" Chicago, 01-18-1997. by Live Sets Chicago on Mixcloud

      I choose this mix to kick off the site with because it's the event that the "Datman" and I first met at back in 1997 and from what I can see is his first and only show ever in Chicago. Frank opened the night at this event and was a bit disappointed about his time slot. Rightfully so because the crowd was still getting through the doors so venue was a bit empty during his set. The story that sticks out about Frank is that when he got into town Frank and the "Datman" went out shopping for laser disc's and got along quite well with each other because of the fact that they both were video and audiophile's and at that time. Frank's set is late 90's European techno with tons of jems from that time.  I posted this when we started the blog as an two part mix from cassette tape but since then I got a hold of the full 2 hour dat and reposted the mix how it was originally recorded.


 If you haven't already, Click on this Live Sets Chicago link or our tab at the top right corner of the blog to keep up with what we have treading on our Facebook page. 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 all of these artists personal sites links above their sets and where high lighted through out the post for more info on what they got coming up, tour dates and be sure to support what they do. After all, If it were not for the artists, None of these posts would have been possible.

Hope this finds you all well. Cheers!