Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
a gilded European opera house (minus the seats), and the sight lines are pretty
good no matter where you stand. A restaurant also serves lunch and dinner with
hometown blues accompaniment. The popular
Sunday gospel brunch,
offer-
ing a Southern-style buffet, brings a different Chicago gospel choir to the stage
each week; the three weekly “services” often sell out, so get tickets in advance.
329 N. Dearborn St. (at Kinzie St.).
&
312/923-2000
for general information, 312/923-2020 for
concert information. www.hob.com. Ticket prices vary depending on the act. Subway/El: Red Line
to Grand.
Joe's Bar
Part sports bar, part music venue, Joe's Bar is a vast, warehouse-size
space with the spirit of a quirky neighborhood tavern. There's live music
Wednesday through Sunday, with local and national bands playing everything
from rock to reggae. But there are also plenty of gimmicks: the summer “Doggy
Happy Hour” on the patio; air-guitar contests; and “movieoke,” the cinematic
version of karaoke. Joe's can get smoky when it's crowded, but the scenery—lots
of attractive people in their 20s—makes up for it. Another bonus: Because there
are so many different bar areas, you won't have to wait long to get a drink.
940
W. Weed St. (at North Ave.).
&
312/337-3486.
Live music cover $3-$20. Subway/El: Red Line to
North/Clybourn.
Martyrs'
Dedicated to the memories of such late great rock and blues
performers as Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin (who are immortalized on the mural
facing the stage), Martyrs' presents a variety of local bands and the occasional
performance by national touring acts. On the first Thursday of the month, catch
the popular Roots and Rockabilly Jamboree. The low tables, high ceiling, and
huge windows make Martyrs' one of the best places to catch a rock 'n' roll show.
3855 N. Lincoln Ave. (between Berenice Ave. and Irving Park Rd.).
&
773/404-9494.
www.martyrs
live.com. Cover $5-$15. Subway/El: Brown Line to Addison.
Metro
Metro, located in an old auditorium, is Chicago's premier venue for
live alternative/rock acts on the verge of breaking into the big time. There's not
much in the way of atmosphere—it's basically a big black room with a stage—
but the place has an impressive history. Everybody who is anybody has played
here when they were starting out, from REM to Pearl Jam to such local heroes
as the Smashing Pumpkins. Newer “alternative” bands that are getting attention
from MTV and radio stations show up at Metro eventually. The subterranean
Smart Bar—at the same location—is a dance club open 7 nights a week (you can
get in for free if you've seen a concert that night at Metro). Some shows are all
ages, but most require concertgoers to be 21 and older. Tickets are sold in
person through the box office in the attached record shop,
Clubhouse
(sans
service charges), or by phone through Ticketmaster.
3730 N. Clark St. (at Racine Ave.).
&
773/549-0203,
or 312/559-1212 for Ticketmaster orders. www.metrochicago.com. Tickets
$12-$20. Subway/El: Red Line to Sheridan.
Phyllis' Musical Inn
Typical of the neighborhood bars in Wicker Park, Phyl-
lis' is a small, generally uncrowded club booking live rock music (sometimes jazz
and blues) 4 to 5 nights a week. The bookers encourage musicians to perform
original songs, so you won't find any Grateful Dead cover bands here.
1800 W.
Division St. (at Wood St.).
&
773/486-9862.
Cover $3-$5. Subway/El: Blue Line to Division.
COUNTRY, FOLK & ETHNIC MUSIC
The mix of cultures and ethnicities in Chicago's neighborhoods translates into a
wealth of music clubs catering to all kinds of musical tastes, from mellow folk
and melancholy Irish to suave salsa and spicy reggae. Chicago is also the place
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