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Review Mon Jan 24 2011
Review: Felix Da Housecat @ The Mid 1/22/11
Saturday night was a juxtaposition of elements. It was old to new, experience to inexperience, Chicago legend to Chicago's latest club, Felix Da Housecat to The Mid. Felix is no newbie. The Detroit-born / Chicago native / L.A. relocated DJ started making house music in the middle of Chicago's second wave house scene at 15 years old (his first track "Phantasy Girl" blew up in Chicago in the summer of '87). And his 20+ years of throwing down is no joke.
Pre-Felix the Mid was primarily seated or hanging by the bar. As soon as he hit the decks the Chicago native took the Mid on a Rocket Ride. Post-Felix everyone from the Felix fans to the kids who just showed up were up, shaking with their arms waving overhead. As for the music, most people would have expected Felix to drop his usual catchy electro-clash-pop (see acclaimed Kittenz in the Glitz ), but on Saturday Felix focused on a more electronic sound, throwing in an eclectic mix of Chicago house classics and in-your-face-disco. Proof that "House music doesn't go anywhere, they just give it different names" (in an interview at Real Detroit Weeky ). It was a mix all two-stories could get down to.
The Mid Chicago opened just a little over three weeks ago and is your typical Fulton Market area club: two floors, balcony overlookking the DJ booth and one VIP room for non-VIPs (anyone can go into the VIP room). Dressing to impress is encouraged. The club bills itself as a new music-centric venue, kind of like SmartBar in a dress and heels rather than skinny jeans and sneaks. To that point, the Mid has an impressive line-up of electronic artists moving through in the coming months (including Detroit native Matthew Dear, Afrika Bambaataa and Simian Mobile Disco). The only down side is cover is steep, especially when combined with mandatory $4 coat checks and $9 drinks. And the bass could be a little more in your face. If they fix that last part then the Mid has potential to be a great dance club with big name DJs, if you don't mind dropping a little cash.
