Fireball 2004 swept through Chicago like a roaring flame. In short: Sauci Bernaise and Kimberly S. That's all you really need to know. But let me dish a bit more than that...
Officially kicking off Friday night at the Aragon, "Ignition" sparked into action with Greg Drescher behind the decks. Historically a very local crowd, this Friday party seemed much more about the boys from another place. The beautiful ballroom venue made for a great backdrop for Circuit Mom's final
performance; a high glam material-girl-esque extravaganza. A legend in her own right, we will miss Circuit Mom on the scene. Tracy Young took over the turntables and nearly shook the building to the ground with her thunderous darkness. While I prefer the sounds a little lighter, the crowd was definitely into it.
Saturday's "Hearts on Fire" took place at the Finkl Steel Mill. Like a scene out of the Simpsons, this gigantic warehouse space was drenched in video screens, club lighting, and enormous speakers to create a hard edged space that blended perfectly with the big-room sounds of Rosabel. Performances included a delicious overhead duo of acrobats from the Eye of Newt Circus. In a production number choregraphed by the talented Debra Minghi, Kevin Aviance also sailed over the crowd to give us some realness on the stage. It was a feast for the eyes, including the bits and pieces of Miss Aviance I hadn't seen before... And finally, the Wildfire troupe lit themselves aflame, mesmerizing the shirtless masses. The steel mill space is white hot and I look forward to more parties there. But please, more chairs next time...
But Sunday. Oh Sunday! "Inferno" was held at the Museum of Science and Industry. We got there around 7PM, not really knowing what to expect. Ambling our way up the stairs towards the music, we arrived in a rather plain hall just off the main center of the museum. What the space lacked in décor, it made up for in sound. Kimberly S. tore it up! Masterfully mixing beautifully happy songs with serious dancefloor grooves, her uplifting sound took me to another place. I didn't think it could get any better. But then, the main curtain dropped and all of us made our way to the central dome of the museum. The aircraft overhead were lit by a serious light show with digital projections everywhere. The music got impossibly better and our spirits rose higher and higher until the sassy and gorgeous Sauci Bernaise was brought in atop a giant staircase towering over the crowd. In true Sauci form, she was carted THROUGH the crowded dance floor (Work it Momma!) singing the refrains of "Do It Properly" Second to none, Sauci let us have her all. It was perhaps the perfect positive message for the entire weekend: "There's so many ways to do it. So many ways you see. But the only way to do it. Is to do it properly!"
My heart beats with you in 4/4,
Peter Mavrik
petermavrik@hotmail.com
