and so, last week was lost to a hail of activity and I am uncertain at anything above slightly more than a purely abstract level, what day it is, but that nonsense is over now. I have moved house and more or less (mostly less, but we live in harrowing times and it is foolish to grope around for the Ideal Situation) I’m ready to resume with the regularly scheduled program.
determining what constitutes the regular program, is the thing that must be determined of course. aside from set lists from dj gigs and promotion of those and other events, things have been pretty sparse. there has been a lot of movement on the scene/scene-related front as of late however and there also seems to be a dire need for sorting out the great stacks of mess and mediocrity and trumpeting the arrival of excellent music and cool events and keeping the whole industrial/gothic/electronic/odd& sublime thing from getting stale, predictable and irrelevant. so in the spirit of doing my part, I’ll start with the local.
though I am oftentimes overly concerned with the creeping specter of nostalgia — mainly with being wary of it becoming a crutch that hampers evolution and progress — I do appreciate that industrial fans from all over are so keen on celebrating the history of Wax Trax! Records.
the Retrospectacle celebrates 33 1/3 years of Wax Trax! and the proceeds will benefit the Center on Halstead and will actually be a three-day event due to the demand. From waxtraxchicago.com
In honor of the 33 1/3 year anniversary of Wax Trax! Records and the legacy of its creators Jim Nash & Dannie Flesher, “The Nash Group 2449″ is producing a 2 night multimedia concert event that will celebrate the legendary Chicago record label and store on April 15th & 16th. The event will feature friends & artists of the Wax Trax! label and store including Front 242, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, Luc Van Acker, Paul Barker, Chris Connelly, En Esch, Guenter Schultz, Raymond Watts, Rights of The Accused and more. In addition to the live performances, there will be special guests as well as an all star cast of Chicago DJ and VJ’s to commemorate the label and store. All proceeds will benefit the non-profit, Center On Halsted.
This landmark show is being championed by the Nash family and friends and will honor the influence of Wax Trax! as well as Jim and Dannie. Even before Metro opened in 1982, the venue’s owner Joe Shanahan enjoyed a close relationship with the label and store, one which would result in many joyful nights in Metro in the years to come – Metro is honored to host this once in a lifetime event.
Wax Trax! was not only a ground-breaking music label with an international roster and reach, but also a cultural hub for thousands of Chicagoans and visitors throughout its existence. Jim and Dannie originally started Wax Trax! Records in Denver in 1975, with an emphasis on selling underground and imported music. After relocating to Chicago and opening the Lincoln Avenue store in 1978, it quickly became the heart of Chicago’s emerging punk and art scene. In 1980, after releases from Chicago Punk all-stars Strike Under and international trash-diva Divine, Wax Trax! Records began to solidify their place as electronic pioneers with the addition of Al Jourgensen and Ministry to their roster. Throughout the 1980’s Wax Trax! continued to release ground breaking artists and has been credited around the world as a principal innovator in what has come to be known as “Industrial Music.” The influence of the label and store touched countless bands, venues, promoters and music fans. Both Jim Nash and Dannie Flesher have since passed away due to complications brought on by AIDS, Jim in 1995 and Dannie in 2010.
Proceeds from the event will benefit Center On Halsted, the most comprehensive Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgendered community center in the Midwest. Their mission is simple – in a safe, nurturing environment, The Center On Halsted serves as a catalyst for the LGBT community that links and provides local resources and enriches life experiences. As Wax Trax! provided throughout its history, the Center On Halsted serves as a meeting place for like-minded people who, too often, find themselves disenfranchised or disconnected from the “mainstream”.
a celebration of Wax Trax! wouldn’t be complete without drama of some sorts, so other than Front 242 and My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult, the bands performing Revolting Cocks and KMFDM selections won’t be the “official” incarnations of said bands. Conspicuous by his absence of course is one Al Jourgensen whose Ministry project and innumerable side-projects, including Revolting Cocks, made him the face of the label — but time, it moves on. I’m going for the scene. I want to see all the people who were influenced by the music and things going on in Chicago back in the day, I want to see freaks young and old on parade, and I want to hang out with friends and perhaps run into people that I never see anymore. I will probably also be leaving early that first night in order to run down to the Empty Bottle and see Zola Jesus perform and then scoot off to Neo for Nexus 6, but all told, the Retrospectacle will turn back the clock and make everything seem fresh and new again. Funny what time and memory can do to the present.
