RECOMMENDED So you wanna ring in the New Year at Smart Bar? Ah…historic. In its twenty-five years (and counting), God only knows how many beads of sweat have hit the floor, how many signature bendy straws have been curled over a drink with a clutching hand desperate to imbibe while dancing or how many crumbled up bar bills were hastily smoothed out and jammed into the photo-booth, or how many tendrils of smoke have been blown into the ceiling… OK, I guess we can close the book on that last one after tonight, courtesy of the light-up ban. Fans of clear lungs and smaller dry cleaning bills will likely rejoice at the thought of banishing smokers outside, but this one last night is probably a good thing, as the perpetual chimney that is Switch aka Solid Groove (Dave Taylor) headlines the NYE bash. Of course, Taylor is no stranger to Chicago, debuting here last February, and then again over the summer with his M.I.A. producing co-conspirator Diplo. Things will get “A Bit Patchy,” as Taylor’s relentless buzz-saw breakdowns and hip-hop approach to house will surely ignite the willing revelers who can’t seem to get enough of Switch’s bottom-heavy glitched-up rhythms. Lucky for them, local-bleep-done-good Justin Long will also be rockin’ his own tech-infused house, with Santiago and James Amato getting things started. (Duke Shin)
Switch headlines this New Years Eve party, with Justin Long, Santiago and James Amato at Smart Bar, 3730 North Clark, (773)549-0203, on December 31, 10pm-4am. $35. VIP and advanced tickets available at smartbarchicago.com
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