ON THE FLOOR
BOILER ROOM, CHICAGO
Chicago Feels the Heat B
oiler Room has become the most revered and innovative live music broadcast of our time. Since its inception in 2010, it’s been giving dance music fans around the globe
the choice to enjoy a party from the comfort of their living room. But actually witnessing a Boiler Room event live is top of most music fan’s to-do lists. With a solid reputation of bringing the greatest names in dance music together weekly at various secret locations, Boiler Room has kept the free spirited warehouse kid alive in all of us.
Broadcasting all over the world, and featuring everyone from big league legends like Carl Cox to artists just getting their feet wet, Boiler Room ensures that there is something for everyone, bringing talent to the lives of those living in small, secluded areas who might not otherwise get to experience such shows.
With this in mind, you can imagine DJ Mag USA’s utter excitement, and even shock, when it is announced that Boiler Room will be visiting Chicago as an official Pitchfork Music Festival after-party - featuring none other than the ever-talented Nicolas Jaar. Recently given the honorary award of Pete Tong’s BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix of the year, Jaar is a hot commodity for anyone remotely engaged in dance music. This, plus the opportunity to be included in Chicago nightlife history, is a can’t miss deal.
The invite only exclusivity of the event makes us hopeful that we will walk in with expectations met. But exclusivity, especially in a city as steeped in dance music as Chicago, is an almost impossible feat. The week prior, rumors of the BR location spread on social media like wildfire. As a first come, first served event, keeping it quiet is key. Yet while people try to keep it within their party families, it’s to no avail. So by the time we reach the loft, the line is out the door. Walking
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Nicolas Jaar
Boiler Room bubbles over as it makes its Windy City debut with Nicolas Jaar
through the parking lot to get into the line, we’re drawn to the bright lights displaying the Boiler Room logo. It already looks like a prime party.
On first entry, it’s exactly as we had imagined. The lights are dim, the space seems large enough and the music is on full blast. It’s shortly after, however, that seemingly everyone in the room starts to notice just how boiling the Boiler Room really is. Although we’ve joked about the irony of this before, the heat in the loft space is almost unbearable and the one bathroom stall per gender means long lines stretch far along the walls. The music is also not your typical Nicolas Jaar opening. We all know that Boiler Room doesn’t just feature house or other artists such as Jaar, but with a soundtrack of hip-hop and footwork from Chicago’s Teklife crew, featuring local legends Rashad, Spinn, Traxman and Manny, there’s a feeling of discrepancy with what is to follow. The heat, the sardine packed crowd and the music make for a grueling few hours before Jaar is to take to the decks. Although not many people are dancing, we try to focus on the sheer beauty of what Boiler Room is and what it is trying to do in the space. The music chills out and the room lightens with the arrival of exclusive appearances from garage
pioneer Todd Edwards and Montreal’s Jacques Greene, but by the time Jaar comes on we’re not able to see much of his anticipated set due to technical issues.
Overly high hopes mixed with a question over Chicago’s readiness to host an event of such high caliber mean that the outcome is somewhat disappointing. Yet it’s still wonderful to witness Boiler Room take on our home city. From the hotel penthouse broadcast of Disclosure and Skream to the Ibiza villa takeover at Richie Hawtin’s party pad, the environment, vibe and crowd at every Boiler Room has given us a serious case of FOMO. So while we respect and understand what the behind-the-scenes crew of Boiler Room intended to do with this Chicago after- party, we hope the city gets another shot during the fall or even winter.
Boiler Room, you are still a star in our books. Come back again, and really
soon.LAUREN SALM
Teklife & Jacques Greene
Pics: EREZ AVISSAR
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