Shiba San at Concord Music Hall
It’s always a glorious occasion when you’re able to dance around to some house music for a couple hours and it’s even better when it’s with your house loving DePaul Music Business Vice-President and best friend, Kofi Brooks, who also happens to be a big fan of continuous beats and disco era music genres. For this reason, among many, the Shiba San x Walker and Royce Business Casual show at Concord Music Hall in Chicago last Friday night was one that I needed, and one that had me itching to grab a ticket to more house shows around Chicago to boogie the night away at.
We arrived a bit early, only to pass the time with a quick game of Eye Spy ended by the beginning beats of the opening DJ, who neglected to share his name but succeeded in blasting the night into the deep realms of soulful house music. As the crowd began to fill, and people began getting into the groove, it was evident that we were in for a treat that night.
As Walker and Royce took the stage, the crowd was stirring, and as the pot mixed, the sound drove us headfirst into rhythmic creative expression capsized by rounds of the disco ball. At first sight, the production looked minimal, but as the night continued, the lighting only became more intricate as the music moved along, Shiba San began his set, and people moved their feet.
Strangers mingled, and me and Kofi found ourselves interacting with other attendees, making friends, appreciating costumes, and moving our bodies while tracks moved steadily into final drops and goodbyes. As the night concluded, I was asking for more, but I was filled with a feeling of being content, and ready to brace the sounds city, and the silence that followed.
When you click on Shiba San’s “About” tab on Spotify, it proudly declares that the Parisian producer found fascination and inspiration in Chicago House and from my experience at his recent show at Concord, I can only imagine how many others feel the same. I think it’s because of the culture surrounding the Chicago music scene and specifically house shows that causes artists to influence their work by the Windy City and bring that magic to their work.
That culture is one of experimentation, friendship, dedication, and success and since my arrival in the city in 2017, has only proved itself to me again and again. It seems that artists like Shiba San love coming to Chicago, and the feeling is much appreciated though roaring applause of audiences and happy faces of house music lovers wishing the beats never ended.
Shiba San x Walker and Royce’s Business Casual show was one show that seemed like it could go on forever, and truthfully, I don’t think fans would have minded. It was the type of show that fills the space in our heads and hearts that only music can.
Since the show, I find myself patiently waiting for another opportunity to get my body moving among other fans and mixing the soup that these DJs created that night. I am confident that opportunity will arise again soon, as not every occasion can be business casual, but in the end what’s wrong with that? House music teaches us that it’s important to switch it up, and build inspiration from things that fascinate us, just like Chicago does for Shiba San, and just like Shiba San did for me at the show on October 25th.