dance hall days

i have posted a psychedelic furs album because of the fashion aesthetic. this was the look that penetrated many of the dance halls that i went to in new york, san francisco, and chicago. in my circle we called it "something black, something earring".

one fantastic place has a very sweet and solid memory of my clubbing days of the early 80's for me. i had lived in chicago since '74 and so was pretty in tune with any scene that was happening on the near north side. we called it "newtown" or "lakeview". it was before halsted street became a homo mall. gentrification hadn't happened and you could still get a 3 floor brownstone or gray stone for a price that didn't involve swallowing.

there was a proliferation of buildings which had hailed as swedish social clubs in former times. one incredible one would be opened by joe shanahan which he called "metro". i remember before he took it over, it was called centerstage and had hosted a couple of great shows including a grace jones "taped" show that had some memorable technical challenges for ms. jones.

but as an addendum to his big show club "metro" there was an addendum dance club that opened around '82. it was called smart bar. michael connelly was the premier dj and i remember feeling as if i'd had my first mint julep after a long drought after hearing his sets. he didn't follow the beat to beat mix that almost every other major club and disco jock had been using. he was far more creative and took us on aural joy rides with johnny cash following a clash song which then was followed by an old school rap record maybe with a bauhaus tune. on and on the eclectic mixes would ensue and we found ourselves not feeling formulaic or a part of the borg, but more sailing on an open sea with the wind changing every so often and not much predictable.

smart bar also heralded a rap night which was unheard of here-to-fore in chicago. there were persons of color all over the club and the culture clash was immediate and another burst of fresh air. there certainly were difficulties and challenges, but i think most of us felt that this change was long overdue and we were happy to weather any uncomfortableness in order to promote progress. funny side note- my friend jill bar tended there and would make me howl when she would describe her absolute horror at a customer ordering a vsop gimlet.

i remember the club was set up like an apartment with different "themed" small rooms connecting shotgun from the front to the back. i think i remember one being a doctor's office. i always liked that one. i could get a check-up whenever i needed. or better give or get an exam at will:P

my dance hall days taught me a lot about socialization and some more of the world. in true "youth" style, i certainly thought i knew it all, but i definitely knew i wanted equality and progress. i also had begun to harbor some fear and resentment, mostly around aids and america's response to it then. talk about feeling like personae non grata... i mean it seemed like we were being targeted as lepers. and i hadn't even tested positive yet. and when i was in smart bar or medusas, i didn't have to think about it either. i mean let somebody else work it out, right? the administration was completely ignoring our existence. and maybe if we pretend it's not there, we won't have to deal with it. (i'm sure this still happens today)-
some dance to remember... some dance to forget

and for me, the following song will always reprezent the smart bar. it was part of the fabric of that first year of the club and later the club became an integral part of chicago nightlife and culture. it was what so many of we "alterna-gays"(tragically hip, anything but disco-except for sure cheap trick) were thinking and feeling in many respects in those days. in many ways, it was " the message" for a bit of those days.... don't push me... 'cuz i'm close...i'm tryin... not to lose my head... huh huh huh