Piercing veils of darkness through sound and sight. When shadows overwhelm, laughter makes one feel bright. The best medicine in helping stressed minds find relief. Sometimes you have to believe, to receive a reprieve, that all will be well. What struggles have come will surely pass… focus on your task, let your moments last, for in these special places occur enlightening instances in which we bask. What’s that saying, “at times we all wear a mask?” It’s not a direct quote, though I will note, it’s from a movie that stars one who is a GOAT. Jim…Carrey…slays. Leave a trace when you discover a joyous place you’d like to share with others so they may follow. Come along and let us play, for today, we know we’re walking our very own way. I know of a trio who would likely agree with what I have to say. LEVITY!!!
You’ve just experienced a touch of my wordsmithing, and I’ll define the term levity shortly for your pleasure. I’m Bear Swiftly, the Electro Scribe, and I encourage you to decide how you handle all that comes your way. It’s all about your attitude that ultimately influences your mood. Let it roll, we’re always in control, and this is part one of a two-day tale of my witnessing Chicago’s favorite Triple Entente of excellence in Chicago and Madison, who are delightful and bold in so many ways that are sure keep your heart from feeling cold.
I’ve taken to starting some of these episodes with rhyme, prose, and measure. It’s how I stay light and display a bit of buoyancy throughout my days. Flip open a notebook or journal and let the pen run. Nothing serious, just a bit of merriment and humorous fun. Rarely inappropriate, but I’ve been known to write some bawdry and aggressive poetry from time-to-time. Guess what? I just defined levity, the word, but the trio has so much more in store beyond this definition I’ve just explored.
John, Josh, and PJ burst onto the scene back in 2023, and they have absolutely been stacking wins ever since. One of the things that their adoring fans appreciate most about them is their decorum. Polite, well-mannered, thoughtful, energetic, and absolute treats to be around. Have you ever seen their Tik-Tok videos? Well, I don’t tock or tick, but I did love the preview clip they put forth as a preface to the release of their smash hit, ‘Flip It’. What a baller track! These boyz get it. It’s all about the community and curating spaces where everyone can display their vibe and find their tribe. That’s that shit I do like!
Load your energy into your presentation, fellas, and we’ll give you our own right back. Yea, buddy, that’s synergy. You ever witness a DJ who looks like they’re not enjoying themselves? Yup! It was painful for my duoship to endure that night on May 17, 2024. In response, me and my homegirl, codename Mar Bear, spent two and a half hours getting to know Wally the wall at Soundbar instead of the opener, whose moniker is found nowhere throughout my memory banks. However, it is still a fun story, at least to me, that I enjoy sharing and reflecting on. I hope you’re well and good, Wally, and I know you’re doing an admirable job keeping the Soundbar ceiling standing.
It may seem like Levity became an overnight sensation, but they’ve been honing their craft for at least a little while now. When all the hard work you’ve been putting in finally hits, skies are no longer the limits. You can create your own galaxies, and Levity has been doing just that through their soundscapes. Coming off a number of tantamount successes and outstanding summer and fall performances at festivals like Electric Forest, Lost Lands, and Wakaan, they released their debut EP, Escapism Vol. 1, on September 25, 2024, through the Deadbeats label.
Some of my favorite tracks from their Freshman album are ‘Ignition’, ‘Chill (ft. ProbCause)’, and their collaboration with Alleycvt, ‘One For You’. How do you keep the momentum going? Go on tour, and throw a bunch of free pop-ups for your fans. Nice! Well played, gentlemen. Well played, indeed. When they announced their Snow Day: Full Circle 360 Set, tickets moved HELLA QUICK. Early ticket sales were such a resounding success in Chicago (they sold out fast), it demanded moving the show from the original venue of Concord Music Hall (one of my favorites) to Radius’s cavernous chamber.
I got a close friend and pen pal, Sandi, codename Spicy Nice, and we’d been looking for a proper shindig to shenanigan to. As a matter of fact, playgirl manifested this very experience for us. She wrote in one of her handwritten return letters to me, “We definitely need to pick a show to go and get down at! How do you feel about Levity?” My answer? Pffft, pretty darn good, let’s run it! I’ll share this little trick for making things happen in life for your benefit: if you really want something to take place, write it down on paper in pen. It takes something that’s merely a thought and brings it into reality. The Universe notices this kind of investment and aligns pathways to guide your course, as long as you’re flexible with how, and when, you arrive. In this case, the forces that be were like, “Bear Swiftly and Spicy Nice, get your dancing shoes ready!” Circumstances matriculated in the proper direction and I seized the opportunity. On the final day of January, we set out in each other’s company towards Radius for a heaping of Levity. Pen pal friendship rulez!!!
I gotta say, 360 stage setups are freakin’ dope! As a matter of fact, each and every characteristic this event encompassed thoroughly impressed throughout. Tons of local talent and vendors packed out the smaller Cermak Hall with aesthetics and entertainment starting at 6PM complete with performances from a slew of up-and-coming standouts. Shout out to my homie, Hazcat. You’re kicking ass, kid. Big things are headed your way, Catrina. Stay consistent with your process, keep setting and accomplishing goals, and your dreams will inevitably come true. Without a doubt, I like the cut of your jib, Hazcat. Ooo yeah, DnB and dubstep is a winning formula!
For the main show, the action moved into Radius’s larger rectangular room. Groovy, baby. Let’s party hardy, boyz and girlz! The circular stage sat between two bars, with a mass of bodies pooling around to all sides, as well as filling out the elevated balcony space above. This show was packed out, boiii!!! For myself, the action kicked into high gear when Mary Droppinz took control of the decks. She goes hard while staying cute. My guy Ty has got a bit of a DJ crush on her, and I can plainly see why. She rains sonic fire and brimstone as part of her energizing entertainment.
I think it would be hilarious if Mary Droppinz showed up with an oversized carpet bag purse and started passing out items, some of them random, into the audience. Fruit, candy, stickers, an old transistor radio. Y’know, fun stuff like that. Even better, she shows up on an empty stage and starts pulling from her technological assets like DJ decks, mixer, audio cables, microphones, and setting up shop for an absolutely smashing showcase of her raw potential. However, she’s a busy woman and that would be a TON of extra accoutrements to be carrying around, not to mention work. Being a live electronic performer is tough enough. This is really just pure musing and fantasy, but I’m a freaking Bear, and I WILL CONTINUE BRAINSTORMING AND DREAMING OF SHENANIGANS!
Once Mary Droppinz was done dropping delectable beats to the delight of this wild crowd, Levity ascended the stage. Yeeee buddy, the packed crowd was ready to explode! As soon as everyone caught their first glimpse of Josh, John, and PJ, hearts started throbbing. Once they kicked off their set, this massive audience started moving and mobbing. Yochkti! It’s party time, bay-bee, even though many had been getting after it for quite some time this night already. What I’m really getting at is the intensity in the room amped up another notch. Levity started dropping bangers left and right, and folks responded by grooving to Levity’s elite tunage.
What’s good about having three homies behind the decks is they can take turns sequencing transitions while the others hype up the crowd. It didn’t take much, there was already a LOT of moisture in the air. It wasn’t anything like a stateside Beatles concert back in the day, thankfully. Or… maybe it was? I’ll have to go back in time and make a comparison. I’ll meditate on this you can ask me about my comparitive vision later on if you find me in person. Regardless, I was wearing one of my favorite pairs of Adidas Superstar II’s, and I don’t even know how I’d go about cleaning and sterilizing that kind of mess.
The production elements were excellent and well put together. I’ve seen some elite shows that have impressed, but these 360 stage setups are in a class all their own. Tonight, it consisted of a circular platform with lights affixed in a full 360-degree circle at the apex. This created some awesome moments where the lights scanned throughout the crowd. At times, these lights would point upwards and create some awesome effects that appeared like hourglasses or tornadoes to the naked eye. Each and every observer likely saw something different, but that’s one of the cool things about effects like these. You share with your friends what you’re seeing. “Hey bud, does the stage look like a snowglobe to you?” Maybe, I think I’m seeing it, but that was before a bevy of lasers began scanning above the crowd. Wowzer, Mauzer, so many freaking lasers, bruv!!!
Levity mashed and mauled until about 140AM when, unfortunately, a nightmare scenario occurred. A wooden support beam fell from the ceiling and struck two observers. Now, I want to make this abundantly clear: that’s not on Levity. They’re talented performers and producers, they don’t do building inspection, asset installation, or maintenance. It was a freak occurrence that I haven’t witnessed anything similar happening in Chicago since a Datsik performance way back in the day at the Concord Music Hall in February 2014. A Radius representative stepped on stage and let Levity know their performance would have to come to an early close. As the lights turned on and the music faded away, you could see that Josh, John, and PJ were noticeably disappointed. They love their fans, and this was a huge production they had invested their energies into for their hometown Chicago audience. It certainly wasn’t the end to this night anyone was expecting. Radius had inspectors in the building the following day in doing their due diligence to figure out exactly what happened and ensure the grounds would be safe for future events.
With that being said, every other aspect of this event was a resounding success. As for those who sustained injury, they’re in stable condition and recovering good health. Never one to forget their fans, Levity announced they’d be at Chicago’s Stay Cafe at 2043 N Milwaukee Ave on February 6, and invited any and all to show up and help fill out big cards with love, well wishes, and messages of encouragement to show these two injured souls that they are loved, appreciated, and supported. Once again, Levity goes above and beyond. The consideration they constantly show for their supporters is a breath of fresh air.
Before I close this episode, and I’ll share with you my adventure in Madison witnessing Levity at The Sylvee next, I’d like to take a few moments to give some shoutouts to cool cats and homies. First things first, I ran into Misha Pavelko, owner and operator of EVOL, early on in my night. He’s always a pleasure to cross paths with, and had a big smile and a warm embrace for me.
Next up, Scarlet Widow, aka Fabi Taylor. She’s a doll, and one of the hardest working women I know. She was in the company of Hazcat, aka Catrina Rosetti, who had a stellar performance earlier on in the evening as I already mentioned. Fabi, in addition to spinning spirited sets under her alter ego, also runs Taylor Aesthetics, a local production company responsible for some of the most wholesome events throughout the city, and many of them free! She’s also a loving mother. How the heck do you find the time to do everything, Fabi? You’re fabulous and fantastic, girl. Nothing but love and respect from my camp to yours.
There was an instance when myself and Spicy Nice entered the crowd where a young woman started lavishing Sandi with all types of positive attention. Typical stuff between a couple of gorgeous ladies, complimenting her attire, reflecting on her seemingly veteran raver energy and presence, and pretty much letting her know she was killing it, which Spicy Nice always does in my company. I’d meet this doting young lady’s fiancee, Zach, near the bathrooms later on as we waited for our respective beauties. When his betrothed walked up, and I believe her name was Carrie, she wanted to battle me. Rock, paper, scissors. Game on, young lady. You’re going down! Whatchu want, gurl, a three count, or a four? We settled on rules of 1-2-3-shoot, best of one, and I easily dispatched my opponent. Scissors cuts paper, all day! After my victory, I pulled an assortment of candy from my pocket. Hi-Chews and Charms blowpops for her to select from, and some Electro Scribe stickers to boot. When we engage with one another in healthy fashions like this, we demonstrate tenets that keep our community healthy and happy. Look out for one another. I want to be able to put you in places you can succeed, far into the future.
Lastly, a big shout out to my homies Lulu and Fame. It’s always a pleasure running into you fine folks wherever, and whenever I can. Furthermore, a huge hug and a handwritten letter to come for my homegirl, Spicy Nice. I enjoy big group outings, but an intimate occasion with a scintillating companion in many ways feels more meaningful to me. She kept me company throughout the night as I handled my duties. Our interactions with members of the crowd left everyone we crossed paths with feeling happy, fulfilled, and with gorgeous grins on smiling faces. That’s one of the many things I seek to impress on others. Bring your best self and leave joy in your wake, wherever your path takes you. Between Spicy Nice and I, there were many souls we impacted in a wholesome manner. As it should be. We’re calling our duoship Zenfully Spicy, or Bear Cheekz. If you see us out, come and say hello. Me and my entire crew, we don’t bite, but this Bear does purr to the confused chagrin of many biologists.
One last thing, and this is more of a PSA to my younger audience about pacing yourselves. These celebrations definitely amp up the intensity, and the longer they run, there’s a feeling like one needs to do more. Truthfully, it’s really all about the music. Make that your focus. We come to dance and enjoy revelry together. Respect your boundaries and know your limits. Take care of yourselves, your minds, and your bodies by staying well-fed and hydrated. I want to see your faces, figures, and forms at future events. It’s not a race, but one should treat any kind of consumption like a marathon. You can always do more, you can’t do less.
You ain’t gotta drop five vegas bombs or hennessy shots right off the bat, champ. I personally respect a one-to-one rule, where after each alcoholic beverage I consume, I balance it out with water and hydration. I eat a healthy meal beforehand, and oftentimes during an event when a venue provides an outlet for sustenance, which Radius absolutely does. This keeps me in peak condition to last late into the night, ladies, and keeps me from suffering any medical emergencies within my control. We are responsible for our own internal environments, mind and body, and I’ve learned my limits over the years so I know when, how, and where not to exceed OR proceed. I want you, my darling kit-kats, to come out and have some fun, let loose, and go home safe and sound to return to rage another day. The knowledge we learn about ourselves is just as important as that which we collect about our environments and the people we surround ourselves with, capiche? Papa bear cares about his cubs, and I’ll run and get beverages and sustenance for my chili-peps as many times as is needed. If you’re struggling, there are plenty of good people like myself and Spicy Nice that will lend a hand should you need it.
That’s all for this episode, but there’s a lot more to cover concerning Levity. They deserve it. When I crossed paths briefly with John and PJ after a surprise appearance they made after Lumasi’s Sun and Moon tour stop at Chicago’s, The Point, in August 2024, I told them both the Electro Scribe would be doing some coverage of them down the road. Here you go, fellas. I’ll have part two detailing my expedition to Madison at the awesome Sylvee coming at you soon enough, so stay tuned. Until then, thanks for reading and listening. This is Bear Swiftly, the Electro Scribe, signing off. Sayonara all you samurai.
Be well, be successful. Bear Swiftly.
–Electro Scribe–
