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As we know, Chicago’s Gay
community has its own set of holidays: IML,
Pride, Market Days -- but one of the biggest is
approaching quickly -- not Pulaski Day, but
Fireball. Buzz from the babes in Boyland is all
about this year’s DJ lineup. When out and about
this past week, instead of hearing the usual
banter of “GURL! QUEEN! and MARY!” I heard
“TRACEY, MANNY, and ROSABEL!” This column is
dedicated to those fabulous DJ’s who are going
to make this Fireball the best to date! |
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01/16/2003 |
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Fireball DJ Preview |
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by
Chris Eterno |
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Manny Lehman, AKA The Latin from
Manhattan, played Fireball’s main event 2 years ago and
rocked the room. This year we are honored to have him
returning for Friday night’s Forged In Flame party @ The
Finkl Steel Mill. Manny’s style combines all elements of
dance music from tribal to trance to house and even more.
Although not specific to a genre of dance, one attribute
that stands out in his sets is his ENERGY! Manny’s release
from April of last year (White Party 2002) was a perfect
example of this variety. He effortlessly and seamlessly
moved in and out of songs such as Mantra’s “Away”, Science
Department’s “Breathe” and The Program’s “Love and
Affection”. Manny has always been able to make me dance and
I am looking forward to his energetic style come Fireball.
Setting off the weekend with Manny will be the perfect
jumpstart to a weekend that promises to make us sweat. |
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Warren Gluck is on the veteran
side of the DJ community with names such as Frankie Knuckles
and Larry Levan. Hailing from New York and starting his DJ
career over 25 years ago, Warren’s style is upbeat and leans
towards more vocal type playing. We kindly call this
fluff………..and that’s not a bad thing. Warren’s last release
was from Hotlanta called Voltage released in December 2001.
He exemplified this sound with songs such as Running
(Information Society), Bumpin’ & Jumpin’(Kim English), and
Let Me Love You (Da Buzz). Warren will be enticing us with
his happy sounds at the Saturday T-Dance/Brunch called
“Gluck Puck” at Soundbar. I think he will play this the way
a T-Dance should be played: Uplifting vocals and fun energy
abound. I’m not a fan of T-dances personally, but I’m going
simply to hear a master turn the room upside down in a way
that only a seasoned veteran is able. Those who enjoy T’s
are promised one hell of a set! |
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Saturday’s main event is a first: A
Chicago DJ teams up with a returning main event DJ to
bring us bliss. Rosabel consisting of Ralphi
Rosario (www.ralphirosario.com)
and Abel Aguilera will be playing it fierce at
the Aragon Ballroom for Fireball 2003. Ralphi’s last
release Ralphi Rosario Presents Cassagrande Club is a 2
CD set. One disc gives us the House music sound that
Ralphi helped create. Disc 2 lends itself to a more
progressive Ralphi in which he showcases more of his
production |
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Abel and
Ralphi in the studio |
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work. Abel’s last CD was Circuit Sessions
6. He combines mainstream dance cuts with hard hitting
tribal in a way that only he could make succeed. Centaur has
the priveladge of releasing the very first Rosabel CD which
was made specifically for The Fireball. They are masters at
their trade and I expect to hear a lot of tribal energy and
diva vocals on this upcoming release and their main event
set. The pleasure for me will be in their original
production work, which will be prominent throughout evening.
Neither ceases to amaze me on their own so I can only
imagine the euphoria of them together. Bring some deodorant
and a towel……….they are going to give us a WORKOUT! |
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Returning to Fireball after last year’s
stellar Sunday T-Dance performance, Lydia Prim
promises to rise to this occasion again at Excalibur. Last
year she gave us her signature “sexy” style T-dance which
worked the room into a tizzy! Since then she released a
compilation with Manny Lehman as part of the Winter Party
2002 set. I love Lydia’s CD because she reminds the Circuit
community that real House music can still make you dance!
She personifies this image with use of songs such as Not
Much Heaven (Tomato Factory), Tribal America (Deep South),
Right On (Silicon Soul) and From The Crate (Chris Lum). My
prediction? Lydia is a pro at playing the room. She was
asked back for the same event so why try to fix something if
it isn’t broken? I see more of the deep and sexy. She knows
how to do it and well. Let’s prepare to tear our shirt off
and go nuts! |
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Editor's Note: (01/23/2003)
Due to a family emergency, Tracey Young will not be spinning
Fireball. David Knapp is the replacement. |
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DJ Tracey Young spinning
Monster's Ball |
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Tracey Young. That name is the
new buzz word of the Circuit scene. However, if you
listen to her play you realize that she transcends the
Circuit and really stands out among her better
progressive house peers in the U.S. She will be closing
out the weekend at Excalibur’s Closing Party. Refusing
to compromise her style for integrity to her sound has
gained her much respect in the dance world. Examples of
this are prominent in her White Party 2002 CD release.
She dazzles listeners with true progressive cuts such as
Narcotic Thrust’s “Safe From Harm”, Hamel-Swain &
Snell’s “Future”, and Mashup’s Karmasutra. I feel she
will be the perfect person to pick up where Lydia leaves
off the T-dance and will continue the groove well into
the late hours. In the words of Franklin Vargas, “Work
me, Goddamit!!” |
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For more on these artists
log on to
www.thefireball.com. |
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