Chicago Gets Freaky Deaky

© Tracy Block / RumBum.com

Chrome kills it every time.

To kick off Halloween weekend in Chicago, three headlining acts brought their electro acts to the massive Congress Theater - shockingly enough, speakers remained fully intact throughout. Coined Freaky Deaky, the October 30 get-down between Crystal Castles, Chromeo and Boys Noize brought on involuntary movements and well-crafted dance moves by thousands under the sold out dome.

Don't Throw Stones at Alice Glass

First to take the stage was the dynamic Crystal Castles, who have the kind of sound that piercers your ears until you think they are going to start dripping blood. It's confusing and endearing at the same time, and the energy of Ethan Kath and Alice Glass is unmatched with feverishly pulsating and an undecipherable mixture of electronic beats that induce the crowd into one huge convulsion. Girls dressed as Lady Gagas (an ironic showing at an anti-mainstream event) jumped aimlessly as Glass screamed raspy, sexy, angry words into a muffled microphone during "Alice Practice," one of the best known Crystal Castles tracks around. Decibels reached so high, it felt like anyone might crack an ear drum if Glass hit the wrong note.

As Crystal Castles pushed on, Kath dropped the beat for "Courtship Date," which sounds like a Timbaland track had a drug overdose. [Random Writer's Note: It's funny because fans of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs always seem to idolize Karen O, but Glass would throw O right down the rabbit hole. The difference in the two frontwomen is Glass' sheer badassness. She is so uncensored in who she is and because of that, she attracts a dark, electro-goth crowd that doesn't squint their eyes at this overwhelming show.] As strobes blinked to unearthly sounds, it was clear that Crystal Castles left a lasting impression on both fans who were hungry for more and those who were already heading out for a canned Heineken to rehydrate before Chromeo's set.

Killin' It to Chromeo

Synth-pop duo Chromeo hit the stage, outfitting the LED screen with an enormous logo as if to say, "We came to show you why we're the shit." And, they were. The Montreal twosome broke it down, yet again, for a standing-room-only floor that packed in thousands of sweaty Chicago ragers who lost their coats and couldn't give a damn. P-Thugg worked the vocoder as Dave 1 won over the girls, promising some "Bonafide Lovin'" for everyone. Chromeo presented a welcomed change of pace after the intensity of Crystal Castles, almost like the hot guy next door compared to the girl in gym glass with jet black hair and combat boots. The guys treated the wave of guests to another listening of their Fancy Footwork album, as costumed kids kicked their heels to the title track chanting "Two-step, two-step, two-step."

In the thick of the dance party, cheers, claps and whistles resounded as Chromeo introduced their new jam "Night by Night," the first track off their new, postponed album, which won't release until 2010. Still bringing that sassy flavor, the fresh beats fell right in line with their '80s-disco-dance style. Closing things off with a dreamy "Momma's Boy" and "100%," Chromeo pleased - as always - but aside the debut of "Night By Night," they brought the same set they've been delivering for quite some time now. Since they're off the fest circuit, some expected more than just one crisp jam, but in the end, a reliable act is always a great one. While Chromeo's Rothbury set was definitely one to remember, the pre-Halloween bash brought back Midwest love and respect for those who are always in it to rage proper.

Boys Noize Brings the Hotness

What is there to say about Boys Noize besides the fact that this dude is one crazy German machine? To date, this was the hardest Boys Noize has ever brought it, surpassing his shredded set at Lollapalooza just a few months ago. With the October 6release of Power, his rugged, raging sampler of 12 new tracks, Alex Ridha absolutely murdered the Congress Theatre. Slapping through "Gax," robo-filthy "Kontact Me" and "Transmission," it suddenly became clear why Boys Noize was the main headliner of this event. The Boys Noize fire burned so hot, it felt like Steve Aoki and the Bloody Beetroots created a flammable monster of sorts (which is only to compare this set to the Dim Mak styles of two current vigorous, nasty acts). Sirens rang and bass blew so hard it made your teeth grab on to the very roots of your gums.

Electrolites (softcore ragers) headed out, which made for more dance space. The glowsticks came out in full force while the Boys Noize burn melted everyone's faces off. Still showing love to "& Down" and "My Moon My Man," two of his most popular tracks from the past few years, the German firecracker might as well have doused the house in kerosene and left nothing behind but burnt speakers and busted dancing shoes.

In short, Freaky Deaky was definitely the sweltering spot Friday night, and no one wanted to head back into the cold when the clock struck 2.