I was lucky enough to catch the tail end of Chicago’s underground rave scene. I saved every penny, working odd jobs and living on bulk pasta just to afford tickets, and drove 4+ hours just to get there each Saturday.
Those experiences changed the trajectory of my life. They showed me unconditional love, acceptance, and what it means to gather in a truly safe container. And the music hit me upside the head. I discovered something I didn’t even know existed but had been calling me home. I remember at my first party, I climbed inside a speaker like it was a womb, letting the bass just swallow me.
I carried what I learned in those late-nights-to-early-mornings with me as life went on. And they’re at the foundation of every event I host now.
GLOW on Saturday captured that spirit in such a precise way. I didn’t know exactly what to expect, but I knew it was going to be special.
When the lights came back on and we looked around, we knew we had created something extraordinary (really it was more like “what the fuck just happened”). It felt like stepping through a portal. The convos during cleanup were some of the most profound I’ve had in a long time, and confirmed just how much this is needed right now.
Deep gratitude to everyone who trusted the vision: to
@12thhouselb for providing such an *amazing* container,
@druali @hyphenselect @evelynstarlight for your collab + DJ + Ajna Light superpowers,
@poppa.cap and
@culturenightsdtlb for the elite plant cocktails and vibes, Evo and
@domwhalley for bringing straight MAGIC to the drums,
@templetwelveohnine and
@evelynstarlight for the incredible glow adornment and for grounding us with the sound bowls, our incredible live artist
@theerealhorseman for creating such a beautiful and cosmic piece,
@romagio87 for the dope portraits 📸.
And a VERY special thank you to
@apotheosis_mycology for providing the custom glow 🍄 delicacies and helping set the frequency (we got so many compliments, my guy).
This one felt different. I’ll never forget it.
