White Star Sports Bar

as Jason from Sweet Cobra says, "Never go to a show here again!"

There was a cover (I paid, unlike Ann D.) but i gladly will to see Sweet Cobra.

As mentioned, the bartender cut the set short...at 11 PM.  Speculating as to why - it may be because the Polish locals prefer the lone TV to the awesome rockness of Sweet Cobra, but that's only a guess. Regardless, really disappointing move by the staff.  she actually tried to take the mic from the band. bogus.

ALL that aside, it's in a really crappy location, no ATM, and has blacklights. would not go to again, even if some band i really love was playing, cos i know they'd get cut short again. the door guy was really nice though.

started out fine.  $4 for a pilsner urquel draught.
nice crowd for sweet cobra.

but suddenly staff informed the band that they needed to stop; not privy to why.

i only know it took longer for them to set up (and they are swift pros, sweet cobra are) than they played.
what the fuck. ok i didn't pay a cover for the best band in chicago.  but i made the trip to hear them, and they were cut short. not good for the band, not good for the fan.
eww.

I'm still kind of flabbergasted that such good shows have been going on in here and that everyone involved with the place is so cool about it.

What you have at White Star is a Czech bar (I believe?  Correct me if I'm wrong.) that in order to bring in customers has begun to put on shows in the back area.  There's a tiny stage with enough room for at least four people to stand on, a disco ball, enough room to cram a hundred or so people to watch and decent sound.  Bar dives are not uncommon and shows are on the cheap; the Cult Ritual show, a band on tour from Tampa, FL, was only $5.  I got a huge mug of some Czech beer that I'd never heard of but was absolutely delicious for only $4.  I kind of wish I was actually in the mood to get drunk that night just because it was so cheap.  The regulars ended up staying through out most of the show too, which was kind of cool of them.  

My mind is kind of scattered right now so this review isn't as clear as it should be, but White Star really is an unexpected gem.  It has pretty much everything going for it minus the location being far from where I live; who cares about that though, for such a cool place I'm willing to travel and explore parts of the city I don't spend much time in.