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» Best Live Music Chicago
The world’s coolest cities have live music scenes that come in all shapes and sizes. The common denominator is that they deliver an outstanding evening of great music—be it blues, Latin, soul, funk, jazz, rock, indie-pop, or something in between. These are our hands-down favorites.
Best Live Music in....
Best Live Music
Chicago
Double Door 1572 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wicker Park, 773-489-3160 doubledoor.com
The Draw: This smallish music club has an international reputation as the place to catch top bands performing in an intimate venue. The sounds can range from hard rock to acid jazz, or even country, and everyone from Liquid Soul to Tenacious D to John Legend has graced the stage. The Scene: It’s a low-ceilinged club with limited space, so you’re just about guaranteed to be close to the front. The décor is limited to a nude mural above the bar. One way to judge the quality of the band is to see how many people are shooting pool in the red-lit basement lounge. Hot Tip: If you hear The Rolling Stones are in Chicago, run to the Double Door. They’ve been known to play unannounced concerts here when theyíre in town.
The Empty Bottle 1035 N. Western Ave., Ukrainian Village, 773-276-3600 emptybottle.com
The Draw: This intimate, no-frills rock venue supplies solid acts almost every night, from Trans Am to Anti-pop Consortium, and from indie-rock to electronic to jazz. The Scene: The Empty Bottle is popular with hipsters who know their way around the indie music scene. The scruffy rock vibe here extends to the décor (concert posters on walls, bathrooms with graffiti and sticker-covered mirrors) and the outfits of concertgoers—dressing up here simply means wearing hole-free jeans. The long bar serves up cheap drinks and offers an above-average selection of draft and bottled beers.
Hot Tip: Stop by for a beer late in the afternoon and let the clued-in bartender tell you which of the lesser-known local and indie groups on the calendar are worth seeing.
Metro 3730 N. Clark St., Wrigleyville, 773-549-0203 metrochicago.com
The Draw: The bookers here have an uncanny ability to attract bands on their way up. The savvy have already heard of them, everybody else will by tomorrow, and Metro has them tonight. The Scene: Metro is housed in an old movie theater with the seats removed, offering great sightlines and making it easy to get close to the stage. Who the crowd is depends on who’s playing. Hot Tip: After the show, head to the basement Smart Bar for some of the best cutting-edge dance music in Chicago.
