Wax Trax! Records was the center of the universe for a generation of punk and industrial kids in Chicago and beyond, so this is pretty thrilling news: on June 15, Chicago will have an opportunity to relive the glory days of the early 1980s to mid-nineties at the Wax Trax! Records pop-up retail shop at the Metro. For one day only, Wax Trax! will open up its archive of original releases, posters, t-shirts and other rare treats, with a roster of DJs and a full-service bar.
The pop-up store is a dual celebration: kicking off the rebirth of Wax Trax! as a label imprint under the helm of Julia Nash, daughter of label co-founder Jim Nash; and as a single release party for label regular Chris Connelly’s latest project, Cocksure. This all-ages event may indeed be worth getting up uncomfortably early for. The first forty people to show up get a free Wax Trax! goodie bag, and in the words of Nash, “We don’t mess around with our ‘free shit.'” Additionally, the store is only open from 11am to 4pm, which leaves a short window of time for crate digging, collectible hoarding, or catching up with old friends/avoiding old flames. (Keidra Chaney)
June 15 at Metro, 3730 North Clark, (773)549-4140. 11am. Free. All ages.