Promotion group Elevate Chicago has been hosting a series of weekly Thursday night showcases at shabby-chic nightspot Victor Hotel, bringing in a pumping sound system and booking a wide assortment of DJs and live acts. This Thursday, Elevate has booked a headliner sure to engender plenty of nostalgia for your old raver days: Leeds-based electronica outfit Utah Saints. Along with its contemporaries The KLF and Underworld, Utah Saints made a name for themselves mixing rock and electronic sampling to help pioneer the “stadium house” movement of the early 1990s. The group has sold ten million records to date, recorded with major popular artists such as REM’s Michael Stipe and performed with mega-stadium tours, including with U2. Chicago’s RJ Pickens, a favorite at Vision Nightlcub, opens along with multi-genred DJ and trusted electronic-music blogger Local Hero. There’s really no better way to start the weekend early than with two rooms of quality sound, half-priced sushi, drink specials and no cover. (Elly Rifkin)
March 19 at Victor Hotel, 311 N. Sangamon, (312)733-6900.
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