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  • 0

    I have only been here once, and although its not quite my scene, it seemed like a nice enough place.
    There was a live music everyone seemed to really enjoy, ample seating, and the bartenders were giving my friends and I free shots left and right
    So all in all it was a good time

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  • 0

    First time here to see my friends friend band Titus Rodes band.  A bit smaller than some of the other venues Ive been to but still very solid and the bartendar was really nice too!  Titus Rodes is coming back Oct.11th so cant wait to come back to watch these guys play.

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  • 0

    The Elbo Room has gluten free New Grist beer-- they understand the importance of being able to have a bottle of beer with everyone else while watching the bands, which makes them awesome.

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  • 0

    My first visit here was last weekend to see my husband's friend's band The Nubile Thangs who were doing a reunion show. My husband warned me that the place would be small and we likely would not have a place to sit. He warns me of this because he knows I am a diva and do not like to stand for extended periods of time especially in close quarters with other sweaty individuals.

    We were able to get parking really easily (and FREE) across the street a block down. But then again, it was Sunday. Fridays or Saturdays might be a different deal. The first floor (street level) has a tiny bar, a very tiny stage and a few booths. The place was dead and I think the guy playing his guitar only had his friend at one booth to play to.

    The larger bands play downstairs and after climbing down a rather narrow staircase, we got to the basement. The downstairs bar is pretty much the first thing you run into when you get down there. I did not notice if there was anywhay to get downstairs easily if you were in a wheelchair or mobility challenged. Going down these rickity stairs if you're seriously visually impared may be a problem. The place was not crowded and playing was a group I didn't know.

    The floor capacity (if people were shoulder to shoulder) appears to be about a couple hundred people. Fortunately, we did get a place to sit at a couch right off of the main floor.

    Service is pretty much non-existant, from what I could tell by the other patrons (we did not drink anything). If you want something, you need to get it yerself at the bar. Even when my husband's friend's band was playing, surprisingly it was not too loud at all. Congrats to the sound person for now blaring it beyond what is acceptable for the space. The group sounded great and the mix was really really good.

    A downside is that there is a very large load bearing (presumably, because I can't imaging the owner wanting it there on purpose) pole directly in front of the stage, dead center. Its really awkward and blocks your view if you're standing anywhere behind it. Since it was not a packed house, this was not a problem as you could move out of its path.

    The stage lights on the stage are really nice and from what I hear, this has been a new addition to the venue. If you are a small band looking to get a gig here, besides the awkward pole in front of the stage, it appears to be a great venue to get booked at.

    The bathrooms were typical dive bar bathrooms. There was a problem with the woman's room stall door not closing securely. That was a problem. I had to try to keep one hand on the door at all times during my excursion there to prevent someone accidentally opening it on me. So if there is any improvements, I would say this.

    I would visit here again for sure.

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  • 0

    The music is the big draw-in and it's usually the bomb (they get the occasional bad ones, but who doesn't). The drinks are cheap and of variety and are the bomb. The bartenders are friendly and the bomb.

    There's an upstairs area (where you first walk in) but also a downstairs if you keep walking to the door in the back, left side. Downstairs is where the "big" shows are.

    Yeah, it's hipster, but at least here, you'll know for sure that these hipsters are all at least 21.

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  • 0

    I came to the Elbo Room like many others to rock out to my friends band. Overall I was pretty impressed - it looks small outside but they have two floors of live music going on.

    Yes cover charges are not ideal but supporting local music is a good thing in the age of auto-tune.

    I would definitely check out another band in the future and bring some friends along for a good change in pace.

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  • 0

    As a musician who has played the Elbo Room and someone who has just stopped in for a drink I can say this is truly a great venue. The staff is great. Never rude and always attentive! Brian does a great job running sound. They upgraded the stage lights last year with a lot of professional lighting gear.

    The only downside is the cover charge which is usually 7-10 bucks depending on the night.

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  • 0

    I've played lots of shows at the Elbo Room, and been to even more. Its a staple on the local music scene, and playing the Elbo Room is a rite of passage for up and coming musicians in Chicago. They book good music, hire real sound engineers that manage to make even that little, odd shaped room sound great and they keep the place in good order.

    But what distinguishes the Elbo from so many other venues in the city has always been the staff. They are hands down the best rock club in town when it comes to friendly, helpful and generally good-vibe people. I don't think I've ever had a bad experience with anyone there, from the door, sound or serving staff. On the contrary, I have a lot of good memories with the people there. I can't say that about the double door, the (former) note, subT or even Martyr's. They may have bands up on the stage, but the real rock stars are behind the bar and at the door.

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  • 0

    Visited Elbo Room for a friend's cd release party, and I was impressed by the space.  From the outside, Elbo Room looks like your typical dive bar/music venue, so I'll admit that I had a few assumptions about how the inside would look and feel, but those were completely dispelled as soon as I walked in.

    Both the upstairs and downstairs spaces were not dingy, were very clean, and it looks very well kept up.  I liked the video screen listing the beers (downstairs) since there were so many people that I couldn't see what was on tap or in the refrigerators.  I really enjoyed listening to bands in both performance spaces, and while I didn't need earplugs for the type of music that was playing, they are for sale.  I am not sure if other bands tend to be much louder, but it was easy to speak with the person next to you or order a drink while the music was playing.

    I will most certainly go back to The Elbo Room

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  • 0

    If I lived in Chicago, I would go here. This place gets MAD PROPS for having my favorite Columbus, OH band play at their bar. As always The Floorwalkers rocked it though I cannot say the same for the second band. They were bad, really, really bad. I have a hard time believing they were permitted to play.

    The aura of the place was sweet, very dive bar yet respectable. And, amazingly, they had various Board Games up from meaning that if/when that terrible band comes on you can play a game while you wait for the next one.

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  • 0

    Fantastic Friendly Awesome People.  

    Seriously, every time i turned around I was astonished by how nice everyone was.  

    Sound guy Brian.  What a sweet heart.  Seriously, friendly and patient and good at engineering the sound.

    The Door man holy shit. This guy was like the nicest dude. He was like your camp counselor or something.  Always with a smile and a thank you and useful information.  

    It blows my mind.  These people really love what they do and they do it well.  They support local music and they're clearly doing a great job.

    What a wonderful place to see a show and meet friends...
    I highly highly recommend it.

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  • 0

    I always have a great time at Elbo Room. Actually, I don't know why I don't come even more. I have seen a couple crappy bands that I don't think deserve stage space, but in general the music is hoppin and the atmosphere is fun. It's a weird basementy vibe, but once you get used to it, it really feels like a secret special place :)
    Cover is not too bad and the drinks are priced well. The crowd is always cool, too. Lots of normal, nice people. (normal as in functioning members of society, not normal as in boring. Hey, lots of people are not functioning members of society.)
    Anywayyyy, highly recommend. Any night of the week something will be going on at Elbo. Come see your friends play, or come out just to hang.
    Oh! And they have pac man upstairs! I get so terrified whenever I play pac man, but it's awesome.

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  • 0

    I've been to The Elbo Room several times to support my friend's band.

    -There's a main bar upstairs.
    -Downstairs you'll find the local bands playing on small stage.
    -There's another bar downstairs, along with servers, which is a plus.

    Come here to listen to up and coming bands and have a few brews.
    Expect to pay a cover if you are going downstairs.

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  • 0

    This has always been a great venue, I've seen so much music here over the years. From the acid jazz (back in the day) of SUMO to many friend's bands - it's always a great time.

    I particularly like the layout. Upstairs is a regular bar, to take a break from the loud bands downstairs. Downstairs . . . get down and dig with some live music!

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  • 0

    Definitely a little sweet spot on the belly of Lakeview. Nestled away it's a great spot to go grab a brew and catch a new band. Upstairs is quite small and gets crowded rather quick, but no matter because on to the downstairs is a nice size for a decent sized crowd for a not-so-known band. Giving that nice illusion of a full house and not hurting anyones feelings if it's not all the way full.

    Kicker to this place are the $5 tall boys of DAB - a German beer that not once I saw in my entire year living in Germany. It tastes like the German version of PBR but after two or so, you've gotten 4 beers for the price of two and generally stop tasting the beer. Door staff were great, bartenders entertaining and a good crowd.

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  • 0

    I came here to watch my friend's band Knifey Spoonie play last night. The bartender and the doorman (Matt and Michael) were pretty awesome, and the bartender was generous on the Kilo Kai rum in my rum and Coke, and they sold us bacon and chocolate chips from a local baker (surprisingly yummy!). I had a good trip to Elbo Room, and those two guys were very fascinating.

    They didn't really have much in the way of drink specials (even on a Monday night!), so I ended up spending more than I intended, but overall, had a good time. : )

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  • 0

    The number one reason to go to Elbo Room is to go check out bands, particularly if your friends' bands coming to play. Parking was a breeze on a random Thursday night. The cover to enter that night was $8 and the night featured three bands. The top floor was heavily air conditioned and then I marched into the basement.

    My first observation was that the basement was hot, no not like whoa cool hot, but sweltering sweat inducing hot. Secondly, the whole basement smelled like shoes and b.o.!!!! The twin towers of stank and stench was enough to ruin any man's night, but I persevered and was able to grab a beer and had enough room to dance.

    After my friend's band finished up (after 45 minutes, mind you!), we all rolled upstairs. By we, I mean like the entire bar while a third band tried to set up down below. From the upstairs you can see a video feed of the stuff going downstairs, and a friend went downstairs to scope out the scene but it was ultimately declared that we were the scene and there were like two parents downstairs for the last band! Ouch!

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  • 0

    As I stated before, I'm musically lame but there is a band that I kinda fell a little in love with and they are Ode. So one night they were playing at the Elbo Room and g-darnit wouldn't you know it, I was sick. I was determined to see them despite my yucky tummy issues.

    I really wish that I could give the Elbo Room a fair review, but I can't. I spent most of the night trying not to vomit on someones shoes and finding the nearest restroom. I enjoyed the band a lot (L.O.V.E.), but all I remember about the Elbo Room is that there is a cool neon sign above the upstairs bar, a Pac Man table, and a grungy downstairs where the bands play that is similar to Underground Lounge. They also sell earplugs behind the bar, just in case you like your live music muffled.

    I would love to go back and experience the Elbo Room for reals. When I do you can bet for sure that this review will be updated.

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  • 0

    The Elbo Room is known for supporting local up-and-coming bands. Sure, they charge a cover... but how else are the bands supposed to get paid?

    The draft beer selection is pretty extensive, and the PacMan table is a can't-miss! Just be careful where you set your glass on that table... I was 2 seconds away from a 'whoopsie!' after downing a couple stronger brews.

    Downstairs, the room is a bit small but the sound is great! I really like the intimate feel.

    Just a damn good rock club.

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  • 0

    Came with a group of Yelpers to see ODE and had a great night. The place is inviting. I like that there are two levels. The stairs aren't so fun to go up and down after a few drinks, but it gives you a chance to regain your hearing upstairs.

    You have to love a place that will serve alcohol and let you play Pacman at your table. Room to sit, or stand, or dance. Nothing pretentious about this. Everyone was fun and friendly, staff and guests.

    All of the bands we saw that night were good. At least I enjoyed all of them. I also found myself entertained between bathroom breaks by reading the walls in the restrooms and seeing all of the posters and stickers. It just felt so much like the places I used to go to in Minneapolis, so I felt at home and couldn't have asked for much more.

    Oh, and four words - SWEET TEA VODKA LEMONADE!

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  • 0

    I went here for a friend's band's show.   This place is small, and charged a cover (I really hate covers but since it was my friend's band I of course caved and forked out the $10 to get in).   The live shows are downstairs, and it's a REALLY small venue.  Having said that, the sound quality was pretty good, HOWEVER, when we walked down the stairs (yes, stairs, in a bar - ugh), it was horribly humid and warm down there.  We adjusted but it still sucked for the most part.

    I previously reviewed my friend's band ("Loaded")'s last show at Cobra Lounge.  The sound quality at Elbo Room is WAY better than the sound at Cobra Lounge.

    I didn't drink, so I can't critique the bar service or the drinks at all, as I'd done my fair share of drinking prior to my arrival at the bar (they didn't go on until almost 1, and I'd previously been at the Fall Out Boy concert drinking smuggled-in-vodka).

    3 stars, here's why:

    +Good Location
    +Good sound quality
    +I like my friend's band, and anywhere that lets them perform is A-OK in my book.

    -Cover charge (Boo!)
    -Stairs (I HATE stairs, i think stairs in a bar are really the worst idea ever)
    -Really small
    -Downstairs was hot and humid.

    I can't say I'd go back here for anything other than Loaded's next show.

    WHICH, btw, is July 17th.  GO SEE LOADED!

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  • 0

    recently visited Elbo Room on Sunday night to watch my boyfriend play.  Not hard to find parking right outside on a Sunday night for free.  Awesome!  My friend and I entered and it seemed like a pretty laid back place.  It was empty, though, and that was weird.  I mean, I know Sunday isn't a huge drinking night (at least not in my life) but to be the only patrons in the place plus the weird door guy and a bartender is just a little creepy.  

    The door guy descended on us to get our cover to see my boyfriend play.  I know they need to charge cover, but we were alone in there.  He didn't need to walk toward us from the bar and get our IDs and money - it's not like we would have slipped by him or something.  The draft beer was good but they charged too much, especially for Goose Island.  Everything was $5 minimum and the PBR cans were $2 (no way am I paying to drink beer from a can at a bar).  They had a nice bottled section but, again, super expensive (a bottle of Bell's Oberon was $5 - I paid the same for a pint at The Yard).  I did really enjoy that they had Lambic on tap (pêche et framboise) but the small glasses were $9 and not really worth getting.

    I did enjoy that one of the booths had a Pacman table so that we could play at our leisure.  However, it did nto seem to be working in two-player mode so that was a bust.  Bo-ring.  We wanted to go downstairs to hang out with the performers before they started at 9 and the doorman wouldn't let us. I'm sure this is a normal policy when they're setting up for bigger shows and what have you, but my boyfriend and the other acoustic performer were literally just sitting in the creepy basement stage area alone because we weren't allowed to come down.  It was really bizarre.  Just let us down there, man.  We were allowed in promptly at performance time, so I guess that's cool, but there were about six total patrons in the whole establishment.  Weird.

    I guess I just wasn't feeling this place.  The performance area is nice (but cramped if you're seeing something large) and there's a bar down there so you don't have to keep going up and down to get drinks.  The bathrooms were nice and clean but I'm sure tehy're a madhouse when there's a lot of people down there (there were only two women's toilets).  Plenty of seating around the perimiter of the room in case you don't want to awkwardly stand in the middle.  

    Maybe I need to go back on a different night, but my first experience left me feeling like this wasn't a place I'd like to hang out when I go out with my friends. I think I just need to go back on a different night and try it out again since a lot of people give it great reviews.  Sorry, Elbo Room, you just didn't impress me the first time around.

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  • 0

    I feel like this is a place I should've been going to years ago. But no. My first time was just last month. I dig the basement venue vibe. Not a bad place to see a show.

    However, I didn't care for the Saturday night crowd upstairs. A bunch of friends & acquaintences were there to support someone's band so they were all mingling while me and one of my buddies sat at the bar and drank overpriced whiskey.

    Not too shabby overall. I wouldn't "avoid" seeing shows here but since its out of the way, I won't exactly be stopping in for a shot and a beer.

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  • 0

    Love the Elbo.

    There are no pretensions here- everyone is friendly, it's comfortable, it's very "Chicago."  Sure it's dark and dank; know what you're getting into if you come here, don't be 'that person.'

    The upstairs is much quieter, has a bar, booths, and a TV that usually shows a live feed from the stage below.  Some of the tables are converted Pac Man games, which is cool.

    The downstairs also features a full bar, plus the stage.  There are several booths/tables here as well, but plan on standing.  The sound is not bad at all, this will vary on the tech but most of the time you can see a show here that isn't too loud or too muddy.  Sight lines suck, there are poles blocking the stage view, but they've made a lot of progress in the last few years as far as stage lighting goes.

    This is one of the few venues in Chicago where the local music scene thrives.  I've seen bands start out here on a Monday night, and the management will give them a weekend spot if they deserve it.  You will even get the occasional national act coming through here.

    Check for drink specials- regular drinks aren't cheap (though not expensive, either).  But the atmosphere is great, the attitude is great, and the music is great- one of Chicago's best bars.

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  • 0

    The service industry needs to take a few notes from The Elbo Room.  I would come here just to hang out with the staff. You know who you are and I really appreciate the hospitality that is lacking most everywhere I go.
    Thank you!

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  • 0

    The upstairs bar has a huge ass can's of $5 Sapporo and $2 PBR's/Old Style.  Not to mention a kind of huge selection of bottles and drafts printed on laminated sheets for customers to peruse, assuming a basic level of literacy.  A Ms. Pacman machine also graces one of the booths which at her age now qualifies the Elbo Room as a cougar bar.  

    Down in the basement you can uncover a real life music venue without any flat screens locked on ESPN.  The sound is a little unattended levels-wise for the high cover charge but the guy doesn't let it get assblasintingly loud either.  I would guess he's a little busy playing with his extravagant lighting system may overstimulate the seizure prone.

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  • 0

    I have to give the Elbo Room 5 stars and here's the reason why:

    Once upon a time, about 4 years ago to be exact, there was a great band called Sudden Dark and they played a show here with a band called D'z Nutz on the day after Thanksgiving.  My friend from Sudden Dark told me I should stick around because he thought I'd really like their music.

    I didn't really know what to expect, but then the lights went off, the music started and when the lights came back on, there was a dancing squirrel up on the stage with the band, slam dancing. I thought it was the most hilarious thing ever and I had a fantastic time in the slam pit as well.  

    Afterwords, I went up to their drum player and told him I must meet their squirrel.  He looked at me funny and said that he was changing,but he'd send him out when he was done.  I was so nervous because I didn't know what he'd look like or anything.  Then Dave K. and I were introduced, we started talking, and realized we had a lot in common.  Then, later that night he asked me if I wanted to come back to his place for the after party.  I said sure and now we've been dating for 4 years...all thanks to The Elbo Room for having awesome local bands and great local flavor!

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  • 0

    How the hell did I not review this place?  I am pretty sure i did but it somehow got deleted.

    Overall it's alright. They almost never have shows i want to see here (with the notable exception of Master a few months ago) so I don't make it too often.  The sound is fair to middlin', sightlines are sketchy cuz it's a basement.  Reminds me of the old basement shows I used to see way back when if they had a bit more money and a bar.  The stage is freakin' tiny, and I am a tall fella so my head was damn near through the ceiling.  I dunno how the 10 piece ska bands fit up there.  

    I like the upstairs better anyhow, have found the bartenders to be pretty cool and a reasonably decent selection of beers.  Cover's what you would expect for locals. Not my cup of tea where bookings go but as a venue you could do worse.  I haven't seen any douchebaggery/bimboery here, just normal folks out for a night whose tastes run a little mellower than mine.

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  • 0

    First, I would like to say this place is really not my scene so my review may already be somewhat biased.  I came here with my boyfriend to see his friends play in one of the bands last night.  The pictures on this website are either out of date or just makes the place look nicer because its taken in the dark.  We all know how much the dark can distort reality.  Anyhow, there was a neon sign inside that read "The Elbow Room Cocktail Lounge" so I assumed the cocktails would be good.  I must have forgotten I'm in a college town bar and drinks are just to get you drunk.  My friend ordered a cosmo which had so little cranberry juice that it appeared more like a vodka and water.  I had an amaretto sour since I didn't think you could mess this drink up but yet I felt like I was drinking pure syrup and ice water.

    Alright, forget the drinks.  I'm determined to have a good time anyway.  We go downstairs to get ready to watch the band.  Ok, their a/c must only work upstairs because it was boiling hot in the basement.  It felt like a sauna even with their 2 or 3 (about to fall) ceiling fans blowing.  PLEASE make improvements downstairs so it is bearable for your customers.

    I didn't realize just how old I've become until I came here or how spoiled I've become living downtown.  I probably would have given Elbo Room 1 star if I had only been in the lower level but since the upstairs is decent I'll give it two stars.  On another note, EVENING REDNESS IS AWESOME.  Check them out sometime!

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  • 0

    A pretty cool bar actually. And the band area downstairs has all the makings for a good rock venue. Ms. Pacman upstairs is another star.

    However, every single live band here will most definitely suck. I so firmly believe this that even if they were to have the Who reunited and back from the dead, I would still say that. I don't know what it is. Just book better bands.
    I still have a good time, so who cares?

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  • 0

    When I found out old college friends were playing at the Elbo Room (somewhere I had often heard of but had yet ot frequent) I was really excited.  
    The doorman and bartenders are BEYOND friendly which definitely makes the experience all the more enjoyable.

    The drinks are on the pricey side for a bar like this, I mean $6 for a draft beer?!?!  

    The only other downside was there was no AC on Saturday night (it was 90 degrees and humid outside) in the downstairs venu where the bands play and that in itself was almost unbearable!

    Will frequent again if my friends make their way back this way.

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  • 0

    If you treat this like a music venue,this is a four star joint.  The sound is generally pretty good and you get a fairly authentic rock atmosphere.  However, if you treat it like a bar only, the Elbo Room disappoints due to high (but not outrageous) drink prices and high cover charges (though this cover charge does come with live music).

    Don't come here solely to drink.  Come here to rock, and maybe drink along the way.

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  • 0

    Great venue for Chicago rock bands. It has a bar upstairs and downstairs. Downstairs is where all of the bands play. The stage is small but the great bands don't need that much room.

    (wow,  harsh opinions of the bands from other yelpers. Seriously though I've seen lots of really good bands who play there as well as the D.D, Cubby Bear, The Beat Kitchen... If you are a musician or appreciate good rock this is a great place)

    If you are there to see a particular band you can always hang out upstairs ( where its quieter ) to talk and drink until your band sets up on stage. You'll know because of the TV monitors that were installed to give you bird's eye view of the stage.

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  • 0

    I'll go ahead and give it 4 stars- not because its a nice place, but because its dingy atmosphere gives it a true rock experience =)

    As per the disagreement below, i would vote this a "dive" bar- dilapidated bathrooms, sticky floors, band stickers and graffiti cover the walls, etc.

    The beer is cheap, good selection (carries quite a few imports) and ive heard some amazing music here. Alot of my friends bands play here and ive always had a good time

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  • 0

    3 star ratings were born for places like the elbo room. You want to give it 1 star because the upstairs is boring, smoky, and crowded. Or because the bathroom in the downstairs is disgusting. Or because the sound system is good one night out of ten.

    But then you remember that your band is playing there. And everything that makes a place bad feels so right for a rock-n-roll show. It's loud and crowded and smoky and grungy. It feels real - and you love it.

    Clearly, a compromise is in order. You can't pan the place you love - or give high marks to the place you hate. Stuck in the middle again.

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  • 0

    I live in Austin, but my old band once played at the basement of the Elbo Room.  It is every bit as advertised in the other reviews here.  Atrocious sound, poor acoustics, cold beer, and just enough grit to never forget that, hey, you're in a basement playing your guitar.

    Playing at the Elbo Room was a great experience and reading that other folks like the place as well is very cool.  Loading the gear in and out was a bit of a trick, and the upstairs bar and downstairs music area are about as dissimilar as you can get, but the Elbo Room is a cool place to stop in for a cold one.

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  • 0

    This is not a "dive bar". Neither is it an indie-act-bar. The Elbo Room is a cheap bar with cheap drinks and cheap acts; having been part of one of them, I can say that the beer is cold, the acoustics are fine, and the crowds are noisy.

    Stick to the downstairs for music, upstairs for people-watching and/or hooking-up.

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  • 0

    This was "my bar," as far as my regular neighborhood bar to go to from 1996-2000. I've been tight with the owners forever, have seen countless bands come through that have either been great (The Alarm, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Liquid Soul, Angelo of Fishbone fame), were local heroes (Swimmer, Bumpus, eMics), or flat out rocked (PARK, and too many others to name). The basement has a humorously bad reputation, but those who are truly rock fans know that there is nothing more organic than 'discovering' some great young garage band in a basement bar. There's still something special about leaning against a bar you walked down rickety wooden stairs to get to with a beer in hand, tatooed 20-somethings all around, 10 foot ceilings, and a kick-ass band blasting a great song.

    Upstairs, you'll get tremendous bar service from Dave "Cookie" Cooke, Barb, Skip, and many others, and you can ask the (still) regulars why they keep coming. Why? Because it's nice to go to a place where you still feel like you can get a good drink and a shot, and are treated like a regular even if your wife and daughters don't give you a hall pass to go out and play as much any more (no, I'm not bitter... ;)

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  • 0

    I've seen several bands here throughout my tenure as a Chicago resident.  Most have been pretty good ... some have been abhorrent, but I'm not here to review the bands, am I?

    Here's the deal with Elbo Room --- it lacks some of the pretention that occurs in a dive music venue in Chicago.  Maybe it's because it's situated in gentrified Lakeview.  Maybe it's the acts it attracts.  Whatever the reason, I say Yay to that.

    On the other hand, it *IS* a dive music venue in Chicago.  Therefore, the bathrooms are unkempt & littered with both band bumper stickers & "I f*kt [insert name of band member here]" comments on the walls, but that's to be expected.  Cop a squat ... don't actually SIT on the toilets.

    The downstairs (where the gigs are) is smokey, dark, dirty.  & it gets hot ... but especially hot for the performers on stage.

    Speaking of ... the sound isn't the greatest here.  Just expect that.  The last show I went to, the drummer was getting blown away by his monitor which kept getting turned up, the mics didn't work half the time, one of the instruments wasn't amplified the way it should've been, & the backup vocals were virtually non-existent because his mic was shut off the whole time.  Not to mention that the sound to the audience is generally muffled & heavy on instrumentation ... the woman vocalist was wailing & I could barely hear her.

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  • 0

    Sometimes you catch a winner here, but most bands suck big-time.  Maybe its just the sound system, but don't count on it.
    Redeeming quality: table Ms. Pac-Man  (or maybe it's just regular Pac-Man, or maybe its not even there anymore--i've been avoiding this place b/c of repeated bad band experiences adn I can't remember).

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