Medleys In Motion

Medleys In Motion Mobile Disc Jockey Service was recently named one of the Best Mobile DJ Services in the Chicago suburbs by Suburban NiteLife Magazine (see article below).  

After seven years in business, we are honored to be named one of the Best Mobile DJ Services in the 'Burbs for 2004.  I am proud of the reputation and client base we have built throughout the Chicagoland area and look forward to continued growth.
Greg Koeppen, Owner

To receive this award is quite an accomplishment for our company.  There are hundreds of mobile disc jockey services in the area and to be selected as one of the Best of the 'Burbs is a great honor for us. Thanks to all who voted for our company.
Steve Slobe, Entertainer

BEST OF THE 'BURBS 2004

(April 2004)

    The who’s who of the suburban bar and music industry converged 600 strong on Bamboo Room in Schaumburg for the eighth annual Suburban NiteLife Best of the Burbs awards party on March 22.

    The gathering crowd enjoyed an hour of open bar and a free buffet, courtesy of Suburban NiteLife prior to the Monday night awards presentation, which kicked off at 8:15 p.m. The party doubled as the launch of Bamboo’s HIP nights, the Monday night party for hospitality industry personnel ($1.75 drinks and two-for-one entrees).

    After a month of internet nominations followed by six weeks of online voting, winners were announced in 73 categories. In all, 14,000 registered Suburban NiteLife readers cast 80,000 votes for 1,356 nominees. For perspective’s sake, that’s a far cry from the first awards ceremony held eight years ago at the Mill Race Inn in Geneva which featured 13 awards and a meager 50 people in attendance. That’s called progress.

    Now the awards party is considered the year’s top gathering of the area’s most influential bar industry owners, managers and staffs – the people most responsible for fun in suburbia – all collected for one great night.

“It was absolutely fabulous,” Suburban NiteLife Publisher Bart Loiacono said of the bash. “It was beyond my wildest expectations. I am the epitome of ‘Oh my God, what if I throw a party and nobody comes, pacing and chewing my fingernails.’ Not only did they come, they came in droves. It’s absolutely great to be able to put 600 people in a bar on a Monday night.”

    The lights dimmed, the spotlight came up and Bamboo DJ Rick Hype got the crowd hyped. Live drummers on each side of the stage introduced Bart with a drum roll as he announced the first of the winners.

Some highlights of the evening included the award for Best Rock Club, which went to the new Durty Nellies in Palatine. The new version of the great club continued the same great booking policy of eclectic music styles to win the 2004 award in its first year of business. The new Nellies has a true stage, nearly a concert hall in fact, and the fans voiced their appreciation with their votes.

    There were some eyebrows raised due to Bamboo and sister clubs Boogie Nights winning seven awards, but the explanation for that is simple: they have an unbelievable following of people who are marketing savvy, not to mention they are great clubs that deserve recognition.

Suburban NiteLife thanks all those who voted online and especially those who attended the big party. For those of you who missed it, you’ll have to wait another 12 months to enjoy the single most glamorous bar night in the suburbs.

    And without further ado, here are the winners of the Best of the Burbs awards.

Best Mobile DJ
Horsemen Ent. Miklo Records
S & R Music Explosion
Main Event Entertainment – Murph
The Bartman Karaoke Show
Medleys in Motion - Greg Koeppen & Steve Slobe
Bart from SNL Productions
Dj Terry Rocking Radek
Chili’s Karaoke

Best Night Club
Bamboo Room, Schaumburg
Synergy, West Chicago
115 Bourbon Street, Merrionette Park
American Dreams, North Aurora
Chicago West, Sugar Grove

 Best Manager
Holly Ryan, Boogie Nights Lombard
Frank, Dakota’s Schaumburg
Jimmy, Dakota’s Schaumburg
Mark, Cody’s Aurora
Tracie, Georgio’s Crystal Lake

 Best Female Front for Band
Debe Welch, Debe Welch Band
Kristy Rose, Twisting Roses
Kimi Hayes, Kimi Hayes Band
Lisa Tyndall, Moonlit Candy
Kim Whelan, No Love Lost

Best Male Front for Band
Dave Mikulskis, Hi Infidelity
Ron Lynn, Head First
Bob Biagi, Infinity
Deep, Straight Jacket Society

 Best Bouncer/Doorman
Jeff Wilson, Boogie Nights Schaumburg
Candyman, Algonquin Roadhouse
Mike, Charlie Fox’s
Ski, Splinters
Mike, American Dreams
Jimmy, Dakota’s

Best Overall Restaurant
Bamboo Room, Schaumburg
Charlie Fox’s, Batavia
Chicago West, Sugar Grove
Park Street, Mundelein

Best German Food
Schnitzel Platz, Glendale Hts.
Fritzel’s, Lake Zurich
Bavaria Haus, Schaumburg

Best Reuben
Duke O’Brien’s, Crystal Lake
Muldoon’s, Wheaton
Mickey Finn’s, Libertyville
Quigley’s Irish Pub, Naperville
Shannon’s Pub, Glen Ellyn

Best Steaks (tie)
The Flame, Countryside
The Bamboo Room, Schaumburg
Magnum’s, Rolling Meadows
Gibson’s, Rosemont

Best Open Mic
Gator’s
Miss Kitty’s
A.C.E. Open Mic, all locations
Pumproom Acoustic jam
602 North

Best Bar Back
Earl Deinert, Basement Bar
Lance, Charlie Fox’s
Horn, Buck’s in Lake Zurich
Jorge & Ismael, Dakota’s
Brian, Chicago West

 Best Hip Hop
The Straight Jacket Society
Too White Crew
The Moods
Mic One
Herbin Rejektz

 Best Volleyball
North Beach, Downers Grove (indoor)
Sideouts, Island Lake (outdoor)
Foundry, Aurora
Synergy, West Chicago
Alumni Club, Schuamburg

Best Waitress
Camille J., Boogie Nights
Tracy, Idols
Jamie F., Chicago West
Nicole, Dakota’s
Sharlene, Synergy

Best Pizza
Charlie Fox’s, Batavia
Lou Malnati’s
Georgio’s, Crystal Lake
Mama Sue’s, Glen Ellyn
Dakota’s, Schaumburg

Best Margarita
Chicago West’s “Tuesday margarita”
Cheeseburger in Paradise
Bahama Breeze
Lalo’s
El Cortez

Best Darts
Shark City, Bloomingdale
Hot Shots, Warrenville
Splinter’s

Best Under-21 band
Twisting Roses
Player Shanking You
Kalie Sue Palmer Band
Evil x Innocence
504 Plan

Best Female Bartender
Jo Jo, Synergy
Nicole the Greek, Bamboo Room
Letisha, American Dreams
Christine, Dakota’s
Yvonne, Synergy
Shelly, Charlie Fox’s

Best Martini
Bamboo Room’s dirty martini
Dakota’s sex with Billy martini
Chicago West’s over the rainbow
Magnum’s Key Lime Pie martini

Best Fine Dining
Bamboo Room’s Koko Café
Chicago West’s Local Supper
Jason’s in Montgomery
The Melting Pot, Oakbrook Terrace
Kampai Japanese Steakhouse, Mt. Prospect

Best Casual Dining
The Filling Station, St. Charles
ChicagoWestdine.com
J. Alexander’s, Oak Brook
Al’s Charhouse, LaGrange

Best Club Owner
Pete, Charlie Fox’s
Mike Burnett, American Dreams
Alex, Dakota’s
Jim Rich, Chicago West

Best Dance Club
Boogie Nights
Bamboo Room
Dakota’s
Temptations
Rolling Lanes

Best Wings
Buffalo Wild Wings, Elmhurst, Plainfield, Algonquin
Gator’s, Palatine
Chicago West
Hooters
Franks for the Memories

Best Ribs
Anyway’s, Oakbrook Terrace
Charlie Fox’s, Batavia
Famous Dave’s
Portillo’s/Barnelli’s
Chicago West

Best Burgers
Country House, Clarendon Hills, Lisle, Geneva
Chicago West, Sugar Grove
Cheesburger in Paradise, Downers Grove
Elfie’s, Glen Ellyn
Filling Station, St. Charles

Best Coffee House
Chicago West’s Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Lounge
Xando Café, Hickory Hills, Palos Hills
Starbuck’s
Caribou

Best Waiter
Rick, Cheeseburger in Paradise
Luis Mendez, Chicago West
Tim, Cheeseburger in Paradise
Jeff, Nick’s Charhouse

Best Male Bartender
Mitch, Sundance Saloon
Hefty, Charlie Fox’s
Billy, Dakota’s
Scotty, Georgio’s
Adam, Durty Nellie

Best Original Band
Pheromone
Debe Welch Band
7th Heaven Band
Straight Jacket Society
Kimi Hayes Band
SmackDown
Humpback Wail
Dave Tamkin and The PPC
Disposable Pets
Kisty Rose of Twisting Rose
Lisa Tyndall & Moonlit Candy
TORN
Bottle of Justus
Mindsight
Arbor Avenue Station

Best Tribute Band
Hi Infidelity REO Speedwagon Tribute
Silent Lucidity Queensryche Tribute  
INFINITY---- JOURNEY TRIBUTE  
American English - Beatlers Trib  
My Sacrafice - Creed Tribute  
ARRA-tribute to classic rock  
Bad Medicine - Bon Jovi Tribute
BATTERY - Metallica Tribute  
Dirty Deeds/ AC/DC cover  
Crash - Dave Mathews  
CRAZY DIAMOND-PINK FLOYD  
HEAD GAMES Journey, Foreigner, BonJovi  
Band on The Run - Wings Trib  
Funky Monks - Red Hot Chili Peppers Tribute  
Kashmir - Led Zepelin Tribute  
ELEVATION - A U2 Tribute   
My Own Prison - Creed Tribute  
Weathered - Creed Tribute Band  
THUNDER ROAD - Bruce Springsteen Tribute  
Denny Diamond and The Longfellows  

Best Dance Band
Cover Gurl
Déjà vu
Dizzy Stick
Afrodisiacs
Fabulous Janes
Maggie Speaks
J.P. & The Cats
Members Only
Underwater People
Sixteen Candles
7DEEZ Band
Incognitos

Best Classic Rock
Infinity
Hi Infidelity
Matz Broz
Head First
7th Heaven
ARRA
Biff & The Waybacks
Scramble
The Four Man Band
Johnny Starr and the Meteors
Chrome Rose
Head Games
Alex & The Allstars
Centerline
Rumour Hazit
The Core

 

 

 

Best Duo
Andrew Blake & Erica Heiden
Deep & Miklo, the Straight Jacket Society
Jimmy & Justin, Wojdyla
Kimi Hayes & Paula Marr
Lynette & Erick Acoustic Rock Duo

 
Best Jukebox
Miss Kitty’s, Naperville
Chicago West, Sugar Grove (seasonal)
C.J.’s, Wheaton
Buffalo Wild Wings, Algonquin

Best Rock Band
Hi Infidelity
Got Smack
Matz Broz Band
Cat Fight
7th Heaven

Best Fireplace
Walter Payton’s Roundhouse, Aurora
Chicago West, Sugar Grove
The Lodge, Lisle
Prairie Rock, Schaumburg

Best Beer Garden
Walter Payton’s Roundhouse, Aurora
Chicago West, Sugar Grove
Charlie Fox’s, Batavia
115 Bourbon Street, Merrionette Park
Filling Station, St. Charles
Durty Nellies, Palatine

Best Promo
Buck’s- Lake Zurich: Meat Raffle! Meat Raffle!
Dakota’s-Schaumburg: $3 u-call-it
Chicago West: Oberweis Hall of Fame
Synergy-West Chicago: Fat Bills
Durty Nellies-Palatine: 50-cent Buds

Best Solo Performer
Rick “Elvis” Saucedo
Debe Welch
Andreanna Moravec
Jonny Tremonti
Paul Alodi

Best Ice Cream
Uncle Harry’s of Wisconsin
Oberweis
Cold Stone Creamery
Baskin Robbins
Dairy Queen

Best Italian Food
Gallo, Roselle
Maggiano’s
Sambucca on Harlem, Palos Hills
DeMarco’s, Addison
Buca di Peppo, Wheeling

Best Latin Music
Joe Cantu, Amore
Banda Rika

Best Acoustic Solo
Kimi Hayes
Rich Matz
Andrew Blake from 7th Heaven
Paul Alodi
Jimmy Blaze from Arra

Best Brew Pub
Mickey Finn’s
Walter Payton’s Roundhouse
Prairie Rock
Flatlander’s

Best Rock Club
Durty Nellies, Palatine
Sean Kaley’s, Lemont
Rory’s, Addison
602 North, Glendale Heights
The Edge, Midlothian

Best Mexican Food
Lalo’s, Berwyn
Cozymel’s
Maria’s, Rosemont
La Magdalena
Chevy’s

Best Alternative Lifestyles Club
Temptations
Hunters
Club Adventure

Best Heavy Rock
Prehensile Tale
No Love Lost.org
Thanatopsis
Savage Henry
Blown

Best DJ
Rick Hype, Bamboo Room
Miklo, Straight Jacket Society
DJ Johnny, Sideouts
Cyclone Pete, Dakota’s
The Bartman

Best Concert Venue
Synergy, West Chicago
The new Durty Nellies, Palatine
115 Bourbon Street, Merrionette Park
Chicago City Limits, Schaumburg

Best Blues Band
Back Alley
Ronny and the Rockits
Howard and the White Boys
Screemin’ Blue Dogs
Dawn O’Keefe Williams Band

Best Original Music Venue
Muldoon’s, Wheaton
Chicago West, Sugar Grove
New Durty Nellies, Palatine
602 North, Glendale Hts.
Chicago City Limits, Schaumburg

Best R&B Band
Ronny & the Rockits
Uncle Bob & the Bluzers
Darrin & the Cry Babies
Hit List
Michael Heredia

Best Alternative Band
Bad Monkey
Smackdown
Jostelen Weed
Wicked Garden
The Fabulous Janes

Best Acoustic Band
The Matz Broz
Wojdyla
7th Heaven
Lynette & Erick
Acoustically Challenged

Best Shot
Sex with Billy, Dakota’s
Duke O’Brien’s, Crystal Lake
Gator’s, Wheeling
Chicago West, Sugar Grove
Ski’s, Sycamore

Best Karaoke Company
K&G Entertainment
Main Event Entertainment
S&R Music Explosion
The Bartman Karaoke Company

Best Male KJ
The Bartman, King of Karaoke
Gator, American Dreams
Captain Karaoke
Jeff, Knight Life

Best Female KJ
Kathy Middleton, K&G
Denise Hawkinson, S&R
Just Say Jules, Phoenix Blonde Ent.
Karen, PS Pub Karaoke

Best Bowling Alley
Bowling Green, West Chicago
Sideouts, Island Lake
Rolling Lanes, Countryside
Stardust, Addison
Jeffrey Lanes

Best After Work Party
Boogie Nights, three locations
Dakota’s, Schaumburg
Chicago West, Aquarius early bird
44th Street Tavern in Batavia

Best Pool Hall
Hot Shots, Warrenville
Algonquin Roadhouse, Algonquin
Foundry, Aurora
Fox & Hound, Buffalo Grove
Cuephoria, Fox River Grove

Best Sports Bar
Hot Shots, Warrenville
Chicago West “The Tavern,” Sugar Grove
The Foundry, Aurora
Idols, Palatine
50 North, Streamwood

Best R&B
Ronnie and the Rockets
Darrin and the Cry Babbies
Hit List
Michael Heredia
Joe Cantu

Best Karaoke Club
American Dreams – North Aurora
Charlie Fox’s in Batavia
Sponge Reef (Schaumburg)
The Blue Iguana
Duke O’Briens
Bono’s in Lisle
TGI Friday’s
Manhattans / Carol Stream
JB’s – Elgins
Ricky D’s
Pete and Jonny’s
Cody’s Food & Fun

Vote for your favorite cover of SNL
June Gina
August
September
Diva Deb, October
March
November
May
December
February

Best Live Theater
Riverfront Playhouse in Aurora
Kirk Players
The Hale Theatre Company
Lincolnshire Marriott Theatre
Pheasant Run ‘Flanagan’s Wake’
Dave and Buster’s Murder Mystery
Center for Performing Art (Munster, IN)
Waukegan Community Players  

Best Country Band
Smokin Gunz
Chris Michaels
Crossfyre
Heartsfield
Big Guitars
Riptones

Best Heavy Rock
Prehensile Tale
No Love Lost
Thaanatopsis
Savage Henry
Blown

 

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