Chicago Vibe Alive

I had been casually searching the web for anything that referenced this epic event actually happening with very little luck, found a couple flyers and DJ line-ups but alas, nothing. So I figured I had a civic duty to post the few pictures I had to try and show the new generation how much god damn fun we were having back in the 90′s. This particular party thrown by the Tribal Brothers crew had a DJ line-up over 150, full circus theme decor, freak shows, a 22 foot inflatable slide, giant outdoor light towers illuminating the entire grounds each nite, 1000′s of balloons (some with something other than helium),a fenced in dog park, circus performers, a 20 ft tall anatomically correct wood skeleton that was burned, traveling theme camps, a bus village, dj dunk tank, swimming pool complete with a water fountain, trampolines, a big man made lake…

I drove up with my friends in my 78 Dodge Ram van with crushed gold velvet interior, which got a little paint job while we were there courtesy of Marc. I remember there being a mist tent to keep cool, and it was HOT! Each morning they had HardCore Breakfast on the mainstage, truly an unusual site to see while the sun is coming up is the sounds of Happy Hardcore just blasting at outdoor concert decibals with ravers still going strong as their drugs had not let them go yet. The burning man ceremony was pretty wild, I also remember roving bands of jugglers and other circus performers just parading around the grounds. There were several different tents, all with different genres of music, house tent, Hip-Hop tent, techno tent, trance tent… you name it, they had a tent.

Most of the pictures I took were from one afternoon when it looks like most people were recovering from the previous night, things cranked up again that night and it was pretty packed. Not sure what the attendance was, really fun regardless.

the only DJ list I could find was the following:
TECHNO & TRANCE TENT. The techno & trance tent will be fully equiped with high tech decor to match the dozens of lasers, including a full color animation laser!film loops, multi level dance paltforms & more… w/ CHRIS LIBERATOR, JON THE DENIST, AUDIO PIMP, ESP/WOODY MCBRIDE, MARK TYLER, OS/2, TAYLOR, CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE, HUGGIE, FREE-K, STRYFE, STARBABY, SPEEDY, GROVER, MERRICK BROWN, MUMTAZ, DAN EFEX, CHARLES LITTLE, MATT DRUID, ADEPTUS, STEVEN KAYE, NICK KICK, RYAN WILLIAM, HOWIE J, SUBVERT, PAUL MATTHEWS, XSENTRX, IAN HIND, ROB DEARLOVE, JACK TRASH, MARK TAYLOR, JAMES HAMMER, WHITE LIGHTNING, CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE, ROBERT OLEYSYCK, J MECHANIK, VAJRA, GUSTAV, COLLIN, THOMAS MICHAEL, KEVIN LLOYD, NICK FURY, KENT CHRISTOPHER, RAINBOW.

HARDCORE TENT. Breakfast w/ SHAFT, LIQUID JESUS, SPREE, JON E, MATT POSITIVE, ERIC SPEX.

OPEN AIR PAVILLION. The open air pavillion under the sky & stars will feature mulitple massive laser rigs & mirrored reflectors, state of the art intelligent lighting,elevated motorized trussing, pyrotechnics, tons of giveaways, guest speakers on the movement & a top secret end of the festival surprise. w/ SKYLAB2000, OTHERWORLD EXPERIMENT, PURE NOVA, MATTER, TONI, PROJECT DX, SHIRAMIS, DREW SUTHERLAND, ALL TIME HIGH EXPERIENCE, Q, NYNEX, DIGITAL ASSASINS, PURPOSE.

DRUM & BASS TENT w/ MC Miracle. The drum & bass tent will feature: authentic jungledecor & large scale video walls, a waterfall, tiki torches, open mic jams, the rastaman fruit stand next to the smoking volcano & to top it all off air misters filled with water & eucalyptus oil. w/ CASPER, FLUX, SANDMAN, WICKETT, 3D, SNUGGLES, DANNY THE WILDCHILD, PHANTOM 45, KID ICARUS, KID ENTROPY, JESSE COLLINS, ANONYMOUS, SCIENTIFIK, DEEPSTAR, DELICIOUS, REGGIE KUEHL, ELIJAH, PURPOSE, NATO, DAVE Y, JOSH, JOSH MANNIS, GARY G, DARK FORCES, ZACH BASS, ADRIAN, DRAGON J

HOUSE TENT. Inside the house tent you will find an elaborate lighting display including video balloons & live video mixing, bubble machines, 3d theatrical props, dance platforms & much more to be announced. w/ JESSE SAUNDERS, REZA, KENDO, LENNY V, ROBERT OLEYSYCK, ZACH, J. ANDREW, CEASE, OAKTANE, DNA, ETHAN, BUDDY, JUSTO, MEL HAMMOND, LADY D, JEVON JACKSON, HALO, VOODOO, JESS ONE, GREG FUNK, STAN DOUBLIN, MINDRIVE, DAN X, DAVE J, DANGELO, OHM, TODD RICHMANN, KENT CHRISTOPHER, DISCO DICKY, MATTHEW SCOTT, BEATNIK, E – TONES, NATE THE NATURAL, MARCUS WATKINS, WILL, NIKO, EDMUND 312, SERGIO DASILVA, THE PRINCESS, JOHN “BREAK IT DOWN” SIMMONS, CHRIS SORRENSON, JAKE MUNZ, DAVE Y, E, MANIC, DISCO D.

HIP HOP & BREAKS TENT. Live video projections on the decks, 20 square laminated break dance platform, urban stret art, oil projectors, the return of the break dancing gorillas, monster disco balls with color morphing spots, breakdancing contest & more. w/LAIDBACK PROTEGE, ANDY LIGHTNING, SALAM WRECK, TIM KROCHALK, SCORPIO, BALCK POETS SOCIETY, RUSTY PELICANS, SHADES OF CREAM, D-ON, TINY, MISS HOLLIE, MELLE MEL, JORDAN, PAUL TALIER, DIAMOND J, SPENDID, TONE CAPONE, JASH, SELT ONE, WEEJ, WHY B, DEVIANT, MC DIAMOND D, CIA, JEREMY J, MIKE D, SCOTT FREE.

DOWNTEMPO TENT. The crystal palace full service cafe with air conditioning, fuzzy furry beanbag lounge, full spectrum lighting that changes with the mood, as well as open air mic times, peotry, tarot readings & more. W/ BOB, CENTRIFUGE, RONALD BAILEY, JASON DEE, MOM, TOD, STAR, MORSE CODE, SIDDHARTHA, ANDY BURNS, TOMMY, GEOFF K, LONO, HEALTHSTAR, MATTHEW BREEN.

This record came into my posession through the mother of all used records scores by Whitmire. 5 rubbermaid tubs full of old jazz and blues records from the original owner on the south side of Chicago. Gold mine… It may be some time before we can beat that jackpot. It is taking weeks just to listen to them all. So not knowing what to expect and really not even noticing it was a live performance I threw it on the tables and what I heard blew my mind. First of all this album was recorded live in Chicago during an Operation Breadbasket meeting. Operation Breadbasket was an organization that was dedicated to improving the economic conditions in black neighborhoods accross the united states in the 60′s. The organization was founded by Martin Luther King Jr. but at this particular time the Chicago chapter was being run by Reverand Jesse Jackson. So as you probably guessed Jackson was present the night of the recording and gives a brief speach before kicking off the first tune “Walk Tall”. Talk about powerful, jesus, makes me wish I had charasmatic preachers warming up my dancefloors before my DJ sets.

The quintet is made up of Julian “Cannonball” Adderley on alto and soprano saxaphone, Nat Adderley on Cornet, Joe Zawinul on keys, Walter Booker on bass, and Roy McCurdy on drums. Thats right JOE ZAWINUL on keys… at an operation breadbasket meeting in Chicago. I’m pretty sure he was one of the only caucasian’s in the building that night which is also pretty cool if you think about it. Throughout the record are call and response chants in between tracks of “We Shall Overcome!!” , “I am Somebody!”, Sock it to me!”and “Soul Power!”

From wikipedia – “During his nine-year stint with Adderley, Zawinul wrote the hit song “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy.” He also composed “Walk Tall” and “Country Preacher,” the latter a tribute to U.S. Civil Rights Movement leader Jesse Jackson. In this title cut to the quintet’s popular 1969 album, Country Preacher, Austrian-born Zawinul demonstrated a sophisticated and intimate understanding of the African/Black concept of cool, of motion and interval. When “Country Preacher” debuted at a live recording session in Chicago at Jackson’s Operation Breadbasket, it elicited enthusiastic cheers of immediate recognition from the mostly Black audience.”

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All in all this is a must have record, I have listened to it all the way through front and back at least 5 times since I got my hands on it. Here is a clip of the first track kicking off with Jesse Jackson’s intro…

I visited a friends farm and shot a curious donkey and a scared stiff toad….went fishing too.  MW