I'm not an expert on sports bars -- which is what the Voodoo Lounge is during daylight and during playoff seasons, and the locals here enjoy that -- but I know my jazz and blues bars, and the Voodoo Lounge has been one of the best in the metro area for live blues. Â Plus, it has a great late-night food menu from Chuck's BBQ restaurant next door, which you absolutely can't beat. Â It's the best music venue for blues on the SW Side and SW 'burbs and rivals many of the (much more run down) blues bars on the South Side in Chicago. Â Fortunately, every blues bar is a little different, and you'll get a good variety of sound over here. Â Like live jazz, live blues needs support or it'll fade away -- and Chuck's makes it really easy to like this blues bar. Â I've heard a variety of blues musicians here, and even one of my north side faves, the Special 20s, have made it down here regularly.
I don't know what the music schedule is like now that Chuck's is back after several months (they had a fire that destroyed a good part of the building, but they're open again now), so it pays to call ahead. Â Before the fire, there was live blues music two to three nights a week, deejays and sports the rest of the time. Â And the house background music in the restaurant is blues, too.
The tequila menu in the lounge is extensive (as might be expected, given Chuck's BBQ and Mexican-influenced food menu specials), and the microbrew menu is even longer. Â You'll find plenty to like here, and they're more than competent at cocktails, too. Â The proof is in being here, however. Â Come for the live music or the big flat screens, if you like, but try the food, too. Â You'll have a good time.