Chicago trip

Adam Waldron · April 15th, 2003, 08:45 PM

Hey folks,

Boss just tells me he is sending me to Chicago for a short business trip.

As a bluesman who has never been to the US, I am very happy!

Now, what I wanna do there is check out some great blues each night, possibly play at a jam night, maybe snag a killer deal on another Tele and eat some fine tucker.

All I know of so far is Buddy Guys.

Chicago TDPRIers, tell me where I should go! :D

Thanks!

Adam

CharlieO · April 16th, 2003, 09:40 AM

When are you coming to Chicago? Tell your boss that you need to wait until the last week of May, so you can catch the Chicago Blues Festival.
http://www.ci.chi.il.us/SpecialEvent...edule2003.html

Otherwise, check out this link for a pretty good rundown on the local clubs:

http://centerstage.net/chicago/music...les/blues.html

When you get to Chicago, pick up a copy of The Reader, a local entertainment paper. You'll find a good calendar of local music, and you can search for the names of well-known musicians.

Bill Beck · April 16th, 2003, 02:15 PM

It has lots of local concerts and musician info-
www.illinoisentertainer.com

Let us know when you get a time frame pinned down.

eryque · April 16th, 2003, 02:49 PM

Adam, that's awesome! Like Charlie says, blues fest is May 29-June 1, maybe you can tell your boss that you'd rather not fly with the war on and delay until then? I'm a Chicagoland native and am trying to wrangle vacation time for that weekend. Are you staying in downtown, or going out to one of the 'burbs? If you're downtown, the clubs are easy to get to, out in the 'burbs presents a problem or two, but they're not insurmountable.

Unfortunately, I moved away before I was old enough to get into clubs all the time, but here's what I've found on my trips back over the last 7 years.

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 & 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.

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, 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.

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.

Adam Waldron · April 16th, 2003, 04:20 PM

Great!

Well, the trip is around June 23-27 and is based on the NPE plastics show. Oh man, would love to have made the blues fest....

From all these links, looks like I am going to have a very memorable time!

I am hoping I will get enough time to check out a good music store that does deals. Might get me a little prize!

Cheers,

Adam

Adam Waldron · April 16th, 2003, 04:22 PM

Oh yeah, I will be staying downtown..... I don't think getting around will be too much of a problem...

Cheers,

A

4mal · April 16th, 2003, 05:44 PM

I'm real partial to Makin' Music. It's a high end shop though so I buy less freequently than I visit. I actually haven't been for about a year as I no longer live nearby. They stock some seriously fine gear and it's worth a visit. As for the dealing part, the chicago land stores that deal, don't usually have great gear to deal with from my experience ... that might have changed though so maybe someone local will have other suggestions. Have a great time, Chi-town is a very cool city, lot's to do and plenty of music opportunities.

Mike Better · April 16th, 2003, 05:49 PM

Make n' has nice gear, but their prices are outrageous.. I mean, just off the wall.. I'll buy a stomp box there occationally just cuz I feel guilty..

Go to Midwest Buy n' Sell.. It's like a pawn shop that just carries gear.. Inventory there changes a lot, but it's your best bet for a cool find.

Mike

April 15th, 2003, 08:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
Adam Waldron Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Adelaide, Australia Posts: 605	Chicago trip Hey folks, Boss just tells me he is sending me to Chicago for a short business trip. As a bluesman who has never been to the US, I am very happy! Now, what I wanna do there is check out some great blues each night, possibly play at a jam night, maybe snag a killer deal on another Tele and eat some fine tucker. All I know of so far is Buddy Guys. Chicago TDPRIers, tell me where I should go! :D Thanks! Adam

April 16th, 2003, 09:40 AM	#2 (permalink)
CharlieO Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sarasota, FL Age: 56 Posts: 1,214 5 Photos	Plenty of choices When are you coming to Chicago? Tell your boss that you need to wait until the last week of May, so you can catch the Chicago Blues Festival. http://www.ci.chi.il.us/SpecialEvent...edule2003.html Otherwise, check out this link for a pretty good rundown on the local clubs: http://centerstage.net/chicago/music...les/blues.html When you get to Chicago, pick up a copy of The Reader, a local entertainment paper. You'll find a good calendar of local music, and you can search for the names of well-known musicians.

April 16th, 2003, 02:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
Bill Beck Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Chicago, Il. Posts: 366	Here's another publication for you... It has lots of local concerts and musician info- www.illinoisentertainer.com Let us know when you get a time frame pinned down.

April 16th, 2003, 04:20 PM	#5 (permalink)
Adam Waldron Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Adelaide, Australia Posts: 605	Thanks a lot guys, much appreciated! Great! Well, the trip is around June 23-27 and is based on the NPE plastics show. Oh man, would love to have made the blues fest.... From all these links, looks like I am going to have a very memorable time! I am hoping I will get enough time to check out a good music store that does deals. Might get me a little prize! Cheers, Adam

April 16th, 2003, 02:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
eryque Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: albany, ny [not chicago] Posts: 6,815 44 Photos	Adam, that's awesome! Like Charlie says, blues fest is May 29-June 1, maybe you can tell your boss that you'd rather not fly with the war on and delay until then? I'm a Chicagoland native and am trying to wrangle vacation time for that weekend. Are you staying in downtown, or going out to one of the 'burbs? If you're downtown, the clubs are easy to get to, out in the 'burbs presents a problem or two, but they're not insurmountable. Unfortunately, I moved away before I was old enough to get into clubs all the time, but here's what I've found on my trips back over the last 7 years. 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 & 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. 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, 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. 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.

April 16th, 2003, 04:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
Adam Waldron Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Adelaide, Australia Posts: 605	Oh yeah, I will be staying downtown..... I don't think getting around will be too much of a problem... Cheers, A

April 16th, 2003, 05:44 PM	#7 (permalink)
4mal Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: The Gorge Posts: 1,933	I'm real partial to Makin' Music. It's a high end shop though so I buy less freequently than I visit. I actually haven't been for about a year as I no longer live nearby. They stock some seriously fine gear and it's worth a visit. As for the dealing part, the chicago land stores that deal, don't usually have great gear to deal with from my experience ... that might have changed though so maybe someone local will have other suggestions. Have a great time, Chi-town is a very cool city, lot's to do and plenty of music opportunities.

April 16th, 2003, 05:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
Mike Better Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 507	Make n' has nice gear, but their prices are outrageous.. I mean, just off the wall.. I'll buy a stomp box there occationally just cuz I feel guilty.. Go to Midwest Buy n' Sell.. It's like a pawn shop that just carries gear.. Inventory there changes a lot, but it's your best bet for a cool find. Mike