Most Fun Ever…Mad Decent Block Party: Chicago, August 21, 2010

Most Fun Ever… Mad Decent Block Party, Chicago

I knew when Mad Decent announced that their annual Block Party would be taking place in cities other than just Philadelphia and my beloved Chicago was one of them, I knew that going was not not an option. Two things clinched my decision for me:

(1) Porter having a 20% Off Sale — which made me love them even more
(2) Bringing along my best friend and party companion, Glynis.

I had no idea who was going to be playing, but frankly – it didn’t matter.  I had heard epic amounts of insane stories and Chicago is a city filled with music and soul.

Our road trip began on the flight to Chicago, where we ended up sitting beside two old people who literally packed sandwiches for the flight.  The worst kind of sandwiches too.  Tuna and egg.  I thought I was going to vomit, but somehow I made it through. We landed and made our way to our hostess with the mostess for the weekend Joseph and Vicky’s house in Bucktown.  Yes, you may have read about them previously in my Pitchfork review.

I had gotten the lowdown & dirty about the Mad Decent pre-party at the Diesel Store in downtown Chicago, which included heaps of free alcohol.  Since we had already began drinking on the plane (something had to kill the awful sandwich smell) – we decided to check it out.  Well well well, let’s just say, the Diesel employees were NOT IMPRESSED with the obnoxious hipsters getting right pissed in their store. I don’t know what they were thinking.  Be stupid, potentially?  All I know is I had three drinks and I got high school drunk.  That says something.  Willy Joy (new Trouble & Bass signee and Chicago native) was spinning the event and doing an awesome job at that. The other thing I should comment on that was kind of stupid was that since the Diesel store employees were so “focused” on getting everyone out of the store once the party was done, they shoved everyone outside were opened alcohol cups with a Chicago Police car waiting outside.

S-M-R-T ?!

I’m sure you’re all aware of what went down next.  Basically, I saw the live version of COPS go down.  This police officer kindly asked us to pour our drinks out (fair enough, right?).  But some drunk ass belligerent dude would not and well, dude got arrested.  Then his friends started yelling at the cop asking for his badge number.  Cop retorted with his badge number and then said something to the effect of, “This guy is dumb.  If I come back and anyone has alcohol – guess who his joining him in jail.”  I laughed. The guy getting arrested was grinning like an idiot.  Jesus.

Next up, we went to the John Hancock Tower to have Sky High Cocktail.  Yup, more booze.  But also, cos we were told Shia LaBeouf was filming Transformers there.  Not that we cared.  But, we were drunk.  Oh, and we had to kill time before our dinner reservations at Graham Elliot.  You know, the guy who has been on Top Chef Masters, Iron Chef America and planned the food area at Lollapalooza this year?  Yea, that guy. No big deal.

Well, no Shia sightings.  We even asked the staff.  But the Sky High Cocktails were AMAZING and the observation deck at the John Hancock Tower was pretty awesome.  I mean, I guess that’s REALLY why you go there, right?

Off to Graham Elliot for our 8 course tasting menu (cost: $125 USD) where I think I had one of the most delicious meals of my life.  But holy hell, I think the sommelier there was trying to get Glynis and I wasted.  We ended up glasses of beer champagne and what we believe to be grappa shots for free. I don’t believe I should disclose exactly how much, just because I fear he might get in trouble.  However, the man did a FINE job at keeping us happy.  Plus our server took us for a kitchen tour at the end of the night.  Unfortunately, we were unable to meet chef.  But we did meet everyone else in the kitchen whilst they were scrubbing away. Our resos were at 9:30PM and we didn’t end up getting back to our place til 12:30AM. Yes, it was quite the experience.

OK, so the Mad Decent Block Party on Saturday — which is really what you all want to hear about.  Where do I begin.

Well Diplo, a backup generation for the event would have been nice.  We arrived at 2:30PM and got to listen to about one hour of music.  I was fairly surprised to see how empty the venue was.  But I knew in my hearts of hearts that the venue WOULD fill up.

POPO were incredibly and I really enjoyed them.  I think listening to their mixtape prior really got me primed and ready for their set and they were super hyped for being at the Block Party as well.

But just as the man I was most hyped about seeing, Freddie Gibbs, was taking to the stage with his crew – the generator blew.  I have never heard so many boos.  Notably, the promoters looked pretty panicked as well.  So what did they do?  Start giving free shit out:

-Diesel Dollars
-Airhorns
-Mad Decent Block Party Shirts
-CDs
-Records

You name it, they started giving it out, just to shut everyone up. Which I guess, kind of worked.  But to pacify a crowd and not loose people after you tell them, “Hey, the generator blew.  It’s going to take 15-45 minutes for another one” and then it takes 2 HOURS?!?!  Well, yea – it’s going to take a lotta free PBR to keep people happy.

But once the crowd filled up, a new generator was on-site and people got progressively drunker — well, it was like a whole new party started.  Freddie Gibbs went back on stage and finished his set.  He friggin melted face.  Sharing Maker’s Mark with the crowd and blunts.  Stripping down and hopping out into the crowd.  The crowd busting through the fence and getting as close to the stage as humanly possible.  This is the second time I’ve seen Freddie Gibbs and seriously, if you have not checked him out – PLEASE DO.  You are seriously missing out.

Next up was Maluca.  She was the best thing to have after Freddie Gibbs.  I don’t know how Toronto has slept on her.  She played with the guys from POPO and this female DJ.  But she has all the energy, talent, Latina vibe.  She kind of reminds me of this Baille Funk sound, but different.  Either way, the one thing I remember from her set was her busting out this AMAZING Barbie Girl rendition then hopping into the crowd.  Seriously, this woman is amazing.  Plus, I forgot to mention she was in a full-on DeeLite get-up.  Craziness.

Gotta admit, next up was Boscoe Delray and I thought they were sloppy as hell.  I know that we were missing a generator for 2 hours.  But next time dudes, don’t get drunk as hell.  You’re performing.  All I can say about their performance was that they kept stopping and starting. I really just didn’t understand.  One girl told me to quote her in my piece as saying they were: “terrible”.  So there you have it.  Quoted.

To redeem for what the crowd had just went through, which was an epic downer, Blaqstarr came and picked the crowd up.  By this time, every inch of the Hideout (where the Block Party was taking place) was packed to the tits and dancing.  Hell, I was being daggered and was invited on stage by Blaqstarr to dance.  Yes, I’m amazing.  What can I say?!   I mean, there was even a burger shaking its ass.  So thanks be to Blaqstarr for picking that up and killing it.

But the lady of the hour was Kid Sister.  She tore things up!  Chicago has mad love for Kid Sis and Kid Sis has mad love for Chicago.  She played with Willy Joy as her DJ with earlier classics like “Pro Nails” and “WTF” to newer stuff like, “Right Hand Hi” and “Get Fresh”.  People were straight wildin’ out and she had some Chicago juke dancers come out on stage with her for awhile.  It seriously made for an awesome and real time.

I’ve read other places that people felt this Mad Decent Block Party compared to that in Philadelphia.  Personally, I don’t know.  All I can say, is I had an incredible time and if it’s held in Chicago – I’m going back.  I know that Chicago has definitely won my heart over and Mad Decent has me forever.