RECOMMENDED
Junkie XL is a study in modern crossover appeal. The Flying Dutchman known as Tom Holkenborg (who’s recently transplanted to L.A.) had been chugging along just fine for a producer and DJ until he remixed a little Elvis tune for a Nike advert. Interest exploded, and before you could say “a little more action,” the “Ocean’s 11” crew were swaggering through Junkie XL’s remix of “A Little Less Conversation” (causing the temporary name change of JXL for retail outlets frightened at selling an extra-large junkie to the stroller/walker set). Now a global music titan who designs music for video-game juggernauts EA and has recorded alongside Robert Smith, Gary Numan and Dave Gahan, Junkie XL is on tour promoting his latest heavily collaborated effort “Booming Back at You,” which boasts a cover of “Cities in Dust,” as well as tracks with Steve Aoki and members of Electrocute and Fear Factor. He’s joined tonight by Chicago ex-pat Tommie Sunshine aka Tommie America aka Thomas Lorello—the self-proclaimed godfather of the Dark Wave Disco set, formerly of Dust Traxx, formerly of Electro Sweat, formerly of…hell, where hasn’t the bearded icon and Xylophone Jones headman been? The current New Yorker is a virtual genre by himself, electro-frying rock bands, rocking out dance producers and forever celebrating (and sometimes criticizing) the divide. But image aside, this talented and dynamic DJ is still the man who gave Felix “Thee Glitz,” and for all his rock-marketed appeal, there’s still the former acid-child who makes us wonder if he’ll put together more tracks like the eternally remixed “Dance Among the Ruins.” Tonight both superstars are joined by Dark Wave Disco’s own Mark Gertz and Trancid. (Duke Shin)
Saturday, May 3 at Vision
Reviews, profiles and news about music in Chicago
