Page 12 - Poze Magazine Volume 72

ZEDS DEAD

Maybe you’ve heard of Zeds Dead (ZD)? The Canadian twosome, DC and Hooks,
stopped in Chicago, IL for three dates at the Salt Shed, from December 14 th -16 th ,
2023. Smack dab in the middle, on Friday, December 15 th , I made my way yonder for
an experience yielding tasty offerings of savory viewership. Talents like Chef
Boyarbeatz and Khiva dropping heavy sounds alongside DnB afficionado Friction,
enroute to ZD prominently representing personal flavors from deep house all the way
through dubstep. Plus, savory visual sequences selected special for celebrating self-
exploration. “Zeds Dead, baby. Zeds Dead.”

The Salt Shed is a lovely venue with a storied history. Originally a distribution and
warehousing hub operated by Morton’s Salt Co. beginning in 1930. On December
30th , 2014, the south wall collapsed and buried a bevy of automobiles belonging to a
nearby dealership. You always hear about the wind and cold in Chicago, but nobody
ever mentions salt. Morton’s would move their operation the following year in 2015.

The building remained vacant
and forgotten until 2017. After
designation as a Chicago
historical landmark, groundwork
was laid to convert the complex
into a fairground for hosting
music and entertainment
through a $50 million
restoration.

The resulting effort opened to
the public on February 18 th ,
2023, marking the official
beginnings of The Salt Shed as a
venue presenting varieties of
flavorful fun. Despite a battery
mishap (checklists are neat), I
arrived at the event around
9:15pm. After passing through a
metal detector followed by casual
pat down (they confiscate my
navel orange), I make my way
past merchandise booths and
bars, to catch Boyarbeatz sizzling
his final few tracks.
P H O T O G R A P H E R H A R R I S O N L U P F E R
( @ H A R R I S O N L U P F E R )