As Suburban Sound Syndicate continues to flourish, it’s good to look back and reflect on successes that propelled them forward. Humble beginnings, and challenges overcome. Their first event was held on August 5, 2023, at the now defunct Syndicate Skatepark in Elgin, IL. Any skater cats reading this are likely drooling, for I know many a roller who has thought to themselves while grinding a rail or landing a kickflip, “We should throw a concert here, a rave in a skatepark would be super dope!” Those were Josh Denson’s thoughts, and Syndicate Sound Session 001 was an outstanding event without a doubt. Come along on this ride as I share details of the first event Suburban Sound Syndicate ever organized.

The inspiration for Syndicate Sound Session 001 came shortly after Cairo officially closed its doors. Josh and his group of friends wondered what was next, so Josh started making moves. He had previously connected with a representative of Syndicate Skatepark during Cairo Ale House’s heyday and sent an email to inquire if their location would be suitable for a show. As time passed, no reply came, until almost two years later. Syndicate Skatepark was indeed interested. 

The location was ideal, however there were hurdles to overcome enroute to throwing one of the coolest shindigs Elgin has ever witnessed. Josh spent time in the indoor skatepark nearly every day for a month assessing and planning. Things were rolling, and everything was looking good. Plenty of vendors were on board, as was Genesis Art Collective and their cadre of painters, and some top-notch music talent was lined up as the mainstay of entertainment. 

Once the day arrived, everything was running smoothly through setup. However, as the show approached, they turned off the lights to test their projection mapping and visual displays. What they found was this killed their sound setup. Flipping the light switch effectively disabled power to many of the outlets in use. What did they do, give up? Naw, man, the show must go on, and it would this night. The fellas grabbed some ladders and covered each of the lights with black garbage bags. A crude fix, but an effective workaround as they were crunched for time. A little can-do attitude and problem-solving spirit helps in nearly any difficult situation. 

LuSiD headlined the night followed by Mufunka, Floating Sea, NVTURE, and Psychotropic Picnic. A Funktion-One rig courtesy of Sub Valley Sound ensured the music sounded great throughout the wildly entertaining night. Some patrons had brought their decks and skated the grounds during the heady goings-on, performing sweet tricks to impress and delight. Fire spinners shared their own masterful skills, and nearly twenty vendors and twenty live painters were on hand demonstrating their own hard work and talents for this occasion, the most recorded to date at any Syndicate Sound Session episode! Outside, a car show was simultaneously ongoing, and eventually these two crowds intermingled. “What’s going on over there? Cool stuff, we should check it out.” 

Syndicate Sound Session 001 featured visuals elements courtesy of Synestesia and After Dark Productions. Projection mapping, lasers and lights, visualizers, and a tripped-out school bus kept eyeballs amused. Have you ever read, or heard of, Tom Wolfe’s, The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test? Think in terms of Ken Kesey and The Merry Pranksters ‘Furthur’ bus. If you’re not familiar, instead imagine a typical yellow school bus decked out with unique paint and lighted in a psychedelic fashion. Is… is that Ms. Frizzle? Good, you get it. Now imagine one of the best empanadas you’ve ever eaten. Delicious, right? You can thank Street Food King for that, also located in Elgin. They showed up to ensure attendees were well fed through their culinary artistry. If you’ve never had an empanada, stop messing around and treat yourself, IMMEDIATELY! 

Once again, there were challenges. Elgin police were called to the scene to shut this sweetness down, but after speaking with Josh and checking out the inside, the officer’s decided, “Naw, let e’m have their fun, they’ll just take to the streets anyhow if we shut it down.” Another obstacle was overcome, the biggest one thus far, to Josh’s delight. The lively and energetic crowd was free to rage into the early morning. Shoot, LuSiD played at least a two-hour set. He was feeling it! If your headliner gives you that much gusto, that likely means they’re vibing with what’s happening. So was everyone else, except the Elgin city council. 

It was from this event that Suburban Sound Syndicate officially began with a blueprint for success. Get your community involved as much as possible. Thanks to the Elgin city council, they’d never return to this location, which makes this event all the more legendary. One and done, baby, and on we go to the next one! The organization would move on to host events at other locations in the suburbs garnering even more successes and prestige, continuing to build their pedigree for presentation and production with each and every show. Syndicate Sound Session 002 would take place at Rookie’s Rochaus in West Dundee, IL, but that’s a story for another time. 

Be well, be successful. Bear Swiftly. 

--Electro Scribe--