House music parties at the Cubby Bear

It’s no secret that the city has been closing black clubs (owned, operated or catered to) left and right that either infiltrate the downtown area or that are in the 312 area code and are blasting Adonis classics at 3am. Which is why all of a sudden on the South Side the best house music and house music DJs were being found in lounges like the Tropical Den on Stony Island or The Club on Cicero. And just when you thought you could call the city “racist” for segregating-by-music, here comes the 118 bpm with Loleatta Holloway’s voice to the one area of the city that seemed exclusively reserved for Mellencamp, Springsteen and anything sung by Steve Perry. Not since the days of AKA’s on Sheridan has house music had such a surprising and universal impact of bringing people from all over the city to one destination to hear, feel and live the experience that Frankie birthed. House music in Wrigleyville is like watching Tiger invade golf or Barack invade the White House: it’s not a black thing, it’s a beautiful thing.

1059 West Addison
(773)327-1662
cubbybear.com

Best of Chicago 2009