Bald Eagle - The Wonderful World of Bald Eagle & Friends

Bald Eagle, The Wonderful World of Bald Eagle and Friends: Live at the Fuck Hut #1 (YSI link)

I've been hinting at this one all week and it's finally time to put up the first official mixtape by DJ Bald Eagle. I am so excited about this one for a few reasons. One, it's a dope mix, one of the best I've heard. Second, it's a chance to highlight an amazing DJ who has been slowly but surely making a name for himself and deserves to have a much wider audience now. Finally, it's an opportunity to discuss an entire city, Chicago, and scene that deserve more attention and love.

Bald Eagle, a.k.a. Chris Baronner, has been spinning for 5 years or so in Chicago, joining forces with DJ Mother Hubbard to start the Life During Wartime party in January 2003. It was a response to the fucked-up political climate of that time, a chance to get people together and have fun. Along with LDW, CB has spun with 2 Many DJs, Diplo, James Murphy, The Presets, spun at shows by The Rapture and Bloc Party, just so you don't get it twisted and think my dude has done the damn thing. Fun trivia fact: J2K of Flosstradamus actually got his start as the third member of LDW.

Anyway, this is the first official Bald Eagle mix and I'm so psyched to be able to put it up for everyone to hear. It's essential for anyone who likes the music we put up here on Pound for Pound. It's heavy on the indie-dance side, a nice mix of new and old, hard-to-find remixes, all done with skill and maximum dancefloor detonations. You never have that sense that any song is being chosen to show how deep the crates are, if you know what I mean. For those who like to get to the club at 2am for the peak hour, I'd highly recommend checking out a few of the hottest sections of this one - around the 17 minute mark when The Rapture's "W.A.Y.U.H." kicks in through to the Avalanches and then at the 36 minute mark (Shout Out Out Out) through the Basement Jaxx's "Make Me Sweat." But, I know that my wonderful readers are in it for the long haul, the Larry Birds of the club, first one in, last one out, so I know that y'all are gonna give this a full listen. Trust me, it's worth it. Tracklist is in the comments.

This is a special weekend for my bol, as his monthly jumpoff Life During Wartime is celebrating its fourth anniversary tonight and tommorrow night. It all goes down at The Hideout (1354 W. Wabansia Ave.) and it's going to be incredible. Tonight, you get live shows by Sybris and Apteka, tomorrow night guest DJs Popstatic and Mister Wolf join in. Everyone Is Famous will be there to chronicle the pretty faces and crazy behavior. Time Out Chicago knows (dude, step your opening line game up, ugh) what's up. So does Gaper's Block.



4 years is an amazing accomplishment for any party; it's especially nice when it's one that values having an open scene where anyone can come through and dance and drink and kiss and be happy. Mazel tov to Chris and Mother Hubbard, 4 more years! 4 more years!

Finally, I hope that the people of Chicago appreciate what an amazing party they have here and what a great scene they've got going. I almost hate to turn my hype glare on it, but I have a good feeling that they can withstand it. For real, the rest of you need to start paying attention to what's going on in the middle. DJs and promoters, get at these dudes and ladies and bring them to the coasts, lose the attitude and recognize real talent. Get at Bald Eagle on myspace, friend him, thank him for the mix, book him for you next party or Bar Mitzvah, check out all of the other good Chicago people doing the damn thing. Most of all, listen to the mix, dance to it, make love to it, be happy to it.