Beyond Heaven: Chicago House Party Flyers — Volume II, from 1981-1992

Take a deep dive into this collection of flyers and other house music related ephemera from the 1981 to 1992, courtesy of Mario “Liv It Up” Luna, a DJ who lived in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago throughout the 1980s. These flyers, also called "pluggers," were used for promotional purposes. Placed in record stores and passed out at schools and on the street to help get the word out about upcoming house music events, the flyers document the graphic culture, specific events, and major players of Chicago's emerging house scene. The collection featured in Volume II of The Almighty & Insane's series based on Luna's archive documents an extended window of history, from early “mobile discos” that reflect the roots of the underground movement before the term “house” was even coined, to the emergence of a new generation of house DJs and artists in Chicago inspired by the original pioneers of the genre. The volume reflects a mix of figures and parallel movements that were entangled with the world of house. From dance groups to party crews, along with promoters, labels, and record stores, both well established and lesser known—all are points of departure to good memories and/or further investigations into one of the greatest eras in the history of Chicago music, with a legacy that is profoundly influential to this day. A fantastic resource for those interested in the intersection of music subcultures and graphic design, fans of house music and Chicago subcultural history, and anyone interested in the visual language and typography associated with house music in the late twentieth century. Published by Almighty & Insane Books, Softcover, 96 pages, full color, 6 × 9 inches