Tonight as we all celebrate the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and ‘Murica in general, local music venue and dance club Chicago is celebrating 13 years of business in various forms in their current location as well as 238 years of the greatest country on earth.
Tonight’s festivities at the local dual threat club will not be the usual red white and blue, burgers, and hotdogs type of celebration you might expect. Rather, tonight they will host a vaudevillian assortment of dancers, DJs, and music. 
Lafayette based group Vagabond Swing will provide their brand of cajun-gypsy-jazz-punk downstairs in the Hookah Room, while local DJs put a ‘spin’ on the vaudevillian theme upstairs. According to their website, Vagabond Swing has been described by one inebriated fan as “Gogol Bordello’s bayou cousin.” Having seen the group a number of times, I find this description pretty accurate. Obviously a group of once young punks, the still young group brings the edge and energy of the reckless punk movement to something a little different. Upright bass, mandolin, fiddle, and percussion instruments work along jazz guitar and frantic drums, weaving a cloth that comes together as something beautiful and rough at the same time. Wear your dancing shoes (or no shoes at all) because these are some rug cutting tunes that you won’t want to miss. (If you are a fan of Dirtfoot, then you are likely to be Vagabond fan. Highly recommended by this author.)
Speaking of dancing, tonight’s event brings the first performance of a new team of dancers. The Chicago Showgirls are led by Abby Kruger, a former Cirque du Soleil dancer. New to the area, Abby and her crew will be preforming at Chicago often. Their performance tonight will be true to the theme, as they dance to vaudeville tunes both upstairs and in the Hookah room, and promise to bring the overall energy and aura of the night to new levels.
If you are headed downtown tonight to celebrate America in all her glory, do yourself a favor and swing by Chicago Downtown. Doors open at 10, so head down after the fireworks. I imagine you will have no inclination to leave.
