Stepping into The California Clipper felt like entering another era. The venue, a landmark cocktail bar and intimate live-music space known for its vintage glow, was the perfect backdrop for ACID FELLAS’ debut night, the new collaborative project of Floor Supervisor (Joel) and Sheeper (Joe). Before you even made it past the bar, you could hear it: quirky, bubbling acid lines weaving through the room, immediately setting the tone for what the night was about to become.
Chicago has always played a defining role in acid music, so seeing new artists take on the genre carries a special charge here.
And since we’re talking Chicago and acid, here’s a quick nod to the real origin story:
Acid house didn’t come from a studio accident; it came from a “failed” machine.
The Roland TB-303 was originally marketed as a bass-guitar emulator, but its sound was so synthetic that musicians pawned them off for cheap. Chicago DJs, experimenting with cutoff, resonance, and envelope knobs, unlocked that now-iconic squelching tone. A misunderstood machine became the backbone of an entire genre; a mistake that turned into art.
That experimental spirit is exactly what ACID FELLAS brought to Clipper.
Their B2B was seamless, each DJ taking over and folding their sound into the next without breaking the energy. The progression was intentional, starting playful and quirky, gradually building into heavier, more hypnotic layers that filled the room with intensity. It felt like a cohesive journey through the many micro-worlds of acid: techno-leaning moments, groovier breaks, and those unmistakable 303 lines that you feel in your chest.
There was no need for high-frills production or flashy theatrics. The music spoke for itself. And it was obvious: these guys have serious talent and a real passion for the craft.
In the city where acid house was born, it’s always exciting to see new artists push the lineage forward rather than let it fade into nostalgia. Last night felt like a small but meaningful spark, the kind of creative birth that keeps the underground alive.
If this debut is any indication, Acid Fellas are here to carve a lane of their own.
Long live acid.
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