The Singing DJ returns to Chicago

Much to the disappointment of procrastinating fans, Tuesday night's Kings of Convenience show at Double Door has already sold out. If you're a fan and didn't get tickets to this performance: 1. Shame on you!! How dare you doubt the drawing power of Erlend Øye? 2. You're not completely screwed...there will be a Kings of Convenience DJ set at Sonotheque following their live Double Door set. The live set at Double Door starts at 9pm, so I'm guessing the DJ set at Sonotheque will start about midnight? I don't know about Erik Glambek Bøe's DJ skills, but the other half of Kings of Convenience, Erlend Øye, dropped one of the hottest dance mixes of last year, with his 2004 contribution to the DJ Kicks series. Admittedly poor at beat matching, Øye makes up for lack of skills behind the 1200s by improvising lyrics over breaks and occasionally adding lead and background vocals to the mix. This technique probably sounds a bit corny, but somehow Øye pulls it off. I had a chance to experience the "The Singing DJ" myself last year at a one-off SmartBar performance and it was a complete riot. Subsequently, his DJ Kicks album has been universally lauded by dance fans, electronic heads and indie-rockers alike. Not a complete substitute for Tuesday night's quiet (aka "the new loud") and intimate set at Double Door, but the Kings of Convenience DJ set at Sonotheque is certainly worth checking out for fans who want to hear what the Norwegian duo listen to after-hours when the acoustic guitars are put away.