any good places to see bands in Chicago?

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 7:29 am

I live about an hour and a half outside Chicago..

Where's the good places to see the up and commers?
I know the normal places like the Metro,and The Double Door.
Not the Blues Bars ,but the underground Rock-n-Roll dirty dives.

Or the Open Jam/Poetry slam kind of things..those are fun.

I'm going to be in and out of town over the next couple of months so I'm trying to be productive with my down time(((drinking with a purpose:)

Also, what are some good local bands that arent big enough to be playing at the Metro yet?

Any tips?

Thanks,
Harry

jonathan · Post by **jonathan** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 7:42 am

Venues:

Rock-n-Roll "dives"

Beat Kitchen
Schubas
Empty Bottle
Subterrainian
Darkroom
The Cobra Lounge

Bands:
This Is Cinema

themagicmanmdt · Post by **themagicmanmdt** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 12:44 pm

empty bottle seems to have the shows down my alley.

john vanderslice tonight!

xonlocust · Post by **xonlocust** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 11:43 pm

http://chicago.ohmyrockness.com/
http://victimoftime.com/

http://holiday.chicagoreader.com/music/

those "dives" aren't even really dives at all - but that's probably why it was in quotes.

real divey places that have good underground shows are ronnys, cal's, the mutiny, quenchers, town hall pub....

all depends on what you're into though. i was at a show at martyrs tonight (i hate that venue) but a band i recorded had their release show there.

i played abbey pub thurs nite. good for hip hop and some bigger touring bands... i saw spoon and the breeders there.

poetry slam type stuff hit the green mill. (and jazz)

drumsound · Post by **drumsound** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 7:16 pm

Haha the Mutiny is one of the first clubs I ever played when I was about 19-20.

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 8:05 am

jonathan wrote:Venues:

Rock-n-Roll "dives"

Beat Kitchen
Schubas
Empty Bottle
Subterrainian
Darkroom
The Cobra Lounge

Bands:
This Is Cinema

This is Cinema? Are they playing anytime soon?

I use to play at the Beat Kitchen back in the90s

Thanks for all the ideas folks.....any more bands to be on the lookout for?
maybe I can put a band Ive never heard together with a venue I've never been to and make a night out of it.
Thanks ,
Harry

xonlocust · Post by **xonlocust** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 8:49 am

cashed checks · Post by **cashed checks** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 3:16 pm

check mpshows.com for the side of the rock world that showers less frequently than the rest. they book quite a few venues in the area.

TheStevens · Post by **TheStevens** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 12:34 pm

has anyone been to uncommon ground? from their website it seems more like an intimate setting than a rock bar... anyway i'll be playing there on thursday with april smith.

JGriffin · Post by **JGriffin** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 1:41 pm

steve3b1 wrote:has anyone been to uncommon ground? from their website it seems more like an intimate setting than a rock bar... anyway i'll be playing there on thursday with april smith.

It's more a coffeehouse, I've played there. Good room, smallish but nice. No reverb or compression on the PA system, be warned. Nice staff. I enjoy playing there.

kweis7 · Post by **kweis7** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 8:55 pm

Sounds like you're looking for rock stuff but the http://www.greenmilljazz.com/ is a cool hang (for jazz and in general). Last time I was there I got to hear Wallace Roney's sextet. The band was smokin plus the club had such a wide range of folks, from upscale types to hipsters to college students to urban street looking dudes that the people watching was top notch as well. Way cool.

asomewhereplace · Post by **asomewhereplace** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:02 pm

You should definitely check out Quenchers Saloon at the corner of Fullerton and Western(2401 N. Western.) Music most every night, rarely a cover, food and over 250 beers from around the world. I run an open mic there on mondays and have played there with bands, run sound etc. Its a great alternative to the usual venue. Quenchers Website

Also, the Art Gallery Cabaret has an awesome open mic on Thursdays with a lot of raucous behaviour heh.

Where's Russ · Post by **Where's Russ** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 7:57 am

Munity!!!

Empty bottle was one of my favorite places. The double door is ok...Jesse (the sound guy at the Double) is AMAZING tho...what he does with that little room. Same with Scubas.

Pick up the Reader or MetroMix, close your eyes, flip the pages, and pick a place!

The Green Mill has great jazz bands!!

Russian Recording · Post by **Russian Recording** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 8:50 am

Cal's Liquors rules. we just played there last week and it was a ton of fun. The friendliest folks and a great atmosphere.

asomewhereplace · Post by **asomewhereplace** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 9:23 am

cals IS awesome, it only takes about 20-30 people at a show and it feels packed. And cal's fest, which happens every year takes place outside in the back alley.
400 S. Wells

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any good places to see bands in Chicago?

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