Play, Danny's iconic dance music night, returns at Public Works

The beloved experimental dance music series that ran at the now-closed Bucktown bar Danny's in the 1990s and 2000s is being revived at Wicker Park gallery Public Works.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 2:39pm

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Play, a pioneering dance music night that ran at the now-closed Danny's bar in Bucktown for nearly two decades, is being revived at Wicker Park gallery Public Works. Launched in 1998 by graphic designer and musician Bob Davies and his collaborator Brian Kelly, Play provided an outlet for experimental, avant-garde dance music in an unexpected setting - a candlelit bar on a quiet residential street. The night drew DJs and artists from around the Midwest and even internationally, and influenced the local music scene in Chicago. After Davies moved to New York in 2002, Play continued under the stewardship of DJ Ray_Rod until it finally ended about a decade after its launch. Now, with Danny's demolished, longtime Play collaborator Chris Eichenseer is bringing the series back to life at Public Works, with an opening night lineup featuring DJs from Smart Bar's dark electro night Research & Development.

Why it matters

Play was a crucial outlet for unconventional, boundary-pushing dance music in Chicago in the late 1990s and 2000s, creating a community around artists and DJs who were often sidelined in other scenes. Its revival at Public Works represents an opportunity to reconnect with that legacy and see how the local dance music landscape has evolved since Play's heyday.

The details

Play was launched in 1998 by graphic designer and musician Bob Davies and his collaborator Brian Kelly, who were looking to create a space to showcase the experimental, avant-garde dance music they were passionate about. They started the night at the Wicker Park restaurant Okno, where it caught the attention of Danny's bar manager Ken Kordich, who invited them to move it to his establishment. At Danny's, Play became a weekly Monday night event, drawing DJs and artists from around the Midwest and even internationally, including Signaldrift and Casino Versus Japan from Milwaukee and German electronic artist Oval. The night also featured custom flyers and promotional materials designed by Davies and other graphic designers. After Davies moved to New York in 2002, DJ Ray_Rod kept Play going until it finally ended about a decade after its launch. Now, longtime Play collaborator Chris Eichenseer is reviving the series at Wicker Park gallery Public Works, which grew out of his creative agency and record label Someoddpilot.

  • Play launched at Danny's bar in Bucktown in 1998.
  • Davies moved to New York City in 2002, but DJ Ray_Rod kept Play going until it ended about a decade after its launch.
  • Public Works is hosting the revival of Play on Friday, January 30, 2026.

The players

Bob Davies

Graphic designer, musician, and co-founder of the original Play night at Danny's bar.

Brian Kelly

Musician and co-founder of the original Play night at Danny's bar.

Ken Kordich

Former bar manager at Danny's, who invited Davies and Kelly to move their Play night to his establishment.

Chris Eichenseer

Longtime Play collaborator who is reviving the series at Public Works, a Wicker Park gallery that grew out of his creative agency and record label Someoddpilot.

Ray_Rod

Also known as Quaker Goes Deaf, he took over DJing duties for Play after Davies moved to New York and kept the series going until it ended.

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What they’re saying

“We created this space where we wanted to prioritize weird guitar music, and we also wanted to prioritize weird experimental electronic music, because we couldn't find spaces to do that.”

— Brian Kelly, Co-founder of the original Play night (Chicago Reader)

“There's a lot of excitement about it. Chris has been very great and very respectful, to take a risk and have a vision to kind of pull everything back.”

— Bob Davies, Co-founder of the original Play night (Chicago Reader)

What’s next

The opening night of the revived Play series at Public Works is scheduled for Friday, January 30, 2026, featuring DJs from Smart Bar's Research & Development night.

The takeaway

The return of Play represents an opportunity to reconnect with Chicago's rich history of experimental, boundary-pushing dance music and see how the local scene has evolved since the series' original run at Danny's in the 1990s and 2000s. It also highlights the enduring impact that grassroots, community-driven music events can have on a local culture.