Super cool that street festivals like Wicker Park Fest are nearly free and have stacked lineups. Perks of living in a big city. I will be there (probably) Friday and Saturday for sure.
I know it has been discussed before but what are your favorite and/or least favorite venues to see a show in Chicago? I like the Beat Kitchen, Subterranean, Schubas, Lincoln Hall, Empty Bottle, Thalia Hall, and Riviera Theater the most. I love that at the Riviera I can sit in the seats for part of the show then move to the standing area if I want to. The only criticism I have out of those is that the Empty Bottle starts all of their shows at 9PM which sucks on weekdays, and even weekends when I have no plans beforehand. I wonder why they start all their shows at 9PM? Seems like a turn off for potential showgoers/patrons. As for dislike, I am not a huge fan of House of Blues. It is difficult to see depending on where you are standing. Otherwise, I guess the only other venue I am not a huge fan of is venue in Tinley Park because it is hard to get to and not the best concert experience there.
I agree with all of the ones you like. Lincoln Hall, the Vic and Thalia being my favorite. If my fiance is coming, the Riv is the best. She's 5 foot and we usually get there at doors to snag the first row of the balcony. I am OK with the metro as long as it isn't a sold out show, it gets brutal in there if it is. I hate Aaragon and HOB.
Also lol to the surprised wealthy inhabitants of Wicker Park who had never seen anything resembling a mosh pit before when people went off for Rozwell Kid and everyone took out their phones
one of the unintended side effects of gentrification. i'm a tad pissed that i wasn't able to make it to any of wicker park fest this weekend because of life, but i did hit up corridor for the first time this weekend and their beers/food were phenomenal. i'll definitely be back there.
The Empty Bottle starts all of their shows around that time because they are a 21+ venue exclusively. Sans special occasions where they have certain shows, it's been like that the entire time they've been open. Hell, most of the 21+ exclusive venues in the city are like that (Livewire, Liar's Club).
I think Wicker is well past gentrification at this point: even when I was in school a few years ago the rents were as or more expensive than Lincoln Park
oh. i know wicker has entered white yuppie central, but i'm more bemused at the fact that people were filming a pit. if wicker park fest happened in logan, i can't imagine there'd be as many peeps filming.
I know it is 21+, but does that mean they are required to start every show late/at the same time? It just can be inconvenient, especially on a weekday.
When PUP did their free show there two wicker park fears ago they didn’t get done until like 1:30 or something. My old ass was hung over for three days.
That too. Not only do the late start times suck at times but if there's a show I want to see there I'd rather not it end at 12 or 1AM, especially if it is a weekday. Weekends I can understand, and aftershows too, but I just don't fully understand the reason. It's not like people over 21 are going to drink less at 7PM or something or magically are less tired late at night.
FYI: Both are coming back here in the fall/winter on tour. Remo Drive at SubT and Rozwell Kid at Beat Kitchen.
09-05-2018 The Hotelier : Schubas Tavern | Lincoln Hall Heads up, nerds. The Hotelier is playing a 9/5 show at Schubas.
I'm going for the first time in October, my gf is running the marathon, we are there for 3 days, what should we do?
I kept a list of stuff I'd recommend people based off things I've done/others I know have done. Not at all comprehensive, and may have changed some as I no longer live there :( Chicago