Help, Chicago bound...

[Stumpy]

I will be in Chicago near O'hare next week on a business trip. Any of you folks familiar with that area know of any local blues dives? 8)

I know where all the downtown stuff is but may not get the time to get down there and am hoping there maybe something around the airport worth checking out.

Thanks!

[KokoTele]

If you'll have a car, it's worth your time to make the quick trip to any of the N. Side clubs. The travel time won't be that much, maybe 30 minutes after rush hour. I don't think there's too much close to the airport except for lots of chain restaurants and hotels, so you'll likely drive about 20 or 30 minutes anyway.

[gls500]

And if you don't have a car, and are staying near O'Hare, you can get on the blue-line train of the CTA and get downtown very quickly. There are stops not too far from Buddy Guy's, Kingson Mines, etc.

[Stumpy]

I will have to see where the CTA is from where I will be staying.

What are the North side clubs worth checking out? I have been downtown but am not familiar with these places.

I do hope to get over to the Chicago Music Exchange and gander at some vintage stuff. Are there any other music shops worthy of a visit?

[gls500]

North side clubs? Depends on how far north you're talking about, and if you're talking about strictly blues.

Kingston Mines is on the north side, but still not too close to O'hare, which is on the far northwest side. It'll still be better to use the train.

There's a blues club in Evanston that I've been to and is decent, but that's probably harder to get to than downtown.

If you were to go to one music store, I'd go to Make N' Music. It's new and not vintage, but the inventory they keep is just staggering, and they're nice guys. I don't go to The Music Exchange too often, but I wasn't all that impressed the last time, and they aren't the most friendly store ever.

Enjoy it. It's a great city!

And if you want the best pizza in the city, it's not Uno's, Due's, Giordano's, etc. It's a place called Pequod's. There's one in Lincoln Park, and there's one in Morton Grove, which isn't too far of a drive from O'hare.

[KokoTele]

I posted this for someone a while back. The only thing I'll add is that Chicago B.L.U.E.S. is right down the block from Kingston Mines and also has great acts. The cover is usually less, too.

First, make sure that you catch Big Time Sarah and the BTS Express or Carl Weathersby if at all possible. They play regularly at the clubs around town and both put on incredible shows. (Both are also playing the blues fest, coincidentally).

Buddy Guy's Legends. http://www.buddyguy.com/ Lots of the bigger regional acts play here & some national acts too. It's a pretty big place with a good stage, so they can cram a lot of people in there. Food's good too. When Clapton was on his From The Cradle tour, he played here. I was 18 and they wouldn't let me in, so I stood outside the door behind the stage until the cold started to break my spirit. I stuck it out a while longer until a mean looking black dude with a 9 iron came around the corner. I couldn't tell if he was just trying to intimidate people or what, and decided not to chance it so I left. Pete Townsend drove by in a limo but didn't stop.

Blue Chicago http://www.bluechicago.com/ Two sister clubs a block apart, pay the cover at one and get into both all night. One club is small and crowded, the other is larger and crowded. Mostly Chicago acts, I think, and always good. Big Time Sarah is a regular here, as well as Willie Kent, and they're both great.

Rosa's Lounge http://www.rosaslounge.com/ I've never been there, but it's highly recommended.

Kingston Mines http://www.kingstonmines.com/ Another great venue. Great acts, great food, gets crowded quick. Tickets are getting pricey, though.

Chicago B.L.U.E.S. A block up from Kingston Mines. It's a very small club with a good atmosphere, and gets most of the same blues acts as the other clubs.

Fitzgerald's http://www.fitzgeraldsnightclub.com/ In the very near SW suburbs (Berwyn), has a big variety of roots acts, a big stage, and a HUGE room. It's gotta be 25 yards from the stage to the back, and it's nearly a square room. Easy to get to from downtown by cab or public transport.

There's more, of course, but these are some of the biggies, and the only ones I've been able to find with web pages.

[Stumpy]

Thanks again for the info, I appreciate it!