The New Deal Gone Gone Gone

The dubstep and jam band faithful were out in full force for Pandemonium Fest in Chicago this past weekend. Featuring the New Deal, Conspirator, and Nero, the fans were not left disappointed. The neon-emblazoned youngsters were jukin' in the uperdeck, wilin' out in the balcony, and ragin' in the crowd.

The night began with Nero sampling the Beastie Boy's "Sabotage" and Rage Against The Machine's "Killing In The Name." The London duo of Dan Stephens and Joe Ray relied heavily on these song's ready-made arena sound, tweaking them only slightly. Lucky for them, the crowd came ready to move.

Then came Conspirator, made up of Marc Brownsterin and Aron Magner of the Disco Buscuits, Christ Michetti of Raq, and Mike Greenfield of Lotus. Their blend of jam band electronica washed over the massive crowd, enveloping them with entrancing visuals.

Meanwhile, a side stage in the foyer featured DJs such as LoBounce, Stratus, Jasper, Decay, Item9, Subnoxious, and Didgy Slacker. Taken in from the top of the staircase, it was a sight to behold. Teenage hipsters wiping out down the beer-soaked stairs and bikini-clad dancers raving away at the entrance of the aging Congress Theater.

I think now would be a good time to discuss the diversity of the crowd. Along with the hipsters and the half naked girls, there was an older woman who resembled SNL's Church Lady, pockets of Jersey Shore wannabes, and even a section of artists painting away at easels.

Blasting electronic beats well into the evening, the diverse crowd and late night vibes created a real festival atmosphere that made this another memorable night of electronica in the home of house music.

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Photos by Joshua Mellin