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Metro
Rating Details »
Category: Music Venues [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Wrigleyville, Lakeview3730 N Clark St
(between Racine Ave & Waveland Ave)
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 549-0203
New Years Eve with The Jesus Lizard
Spend New Year's 2010 with Metro and The Jesus Lizard. Tickets go on sale Saturday 11/7 at noon. http://bit.ly/2tVOsF
- Nearest Transit:
-
Sheridan (Red)
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- DJ, Live
- Best Nights:
- Thu, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- Yes
187 reviews for Metro
Probably the closest thing to a perfect music venue as you can get. Nice size, respectable capacity, stickers covering EVERYTHING. Even in the bathroom.
If you haven't been to here, definetly treat yourself. It is a blast, the sound is really good, there's a balcony for shorties who can't see too well from the floor, and there's a newer, larger merch area (it used to be the record store next door).
For years, bands have made live albums and videos here, because it's just such a cool venue and those white pillars on either side of the stage are unmistakable and instantly recognizable. To say you've been to the Metro is to truly say you're a Chicagoan.
PLEASE NOTE: if you're going during baseball season, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD check the Cubs schedule!! If there's a Cubs game, take the train!! You WILL NOT find parking anywhere on a game day. This club is literally less than two blocks from Wrigley, so needless to say when there's a Cubs game, there's a lot of people around. Do your self a favor, and just jump on the red line, it will save you a lot of stress.
Since the Metro was the site of my very first concert going experience - JBTV free show with The Judybats about 1992 - it will always have a special place in my heart. But my nostalgia aside the Metro has been consistently showcasing great bands that I have come to see since then.
I am no musician or sound engineer but the shows have (usually) sounded good. The sight lines are great; there really is not a bad place to stand, or sit, in the joint. The staff there, most everyone you encounter on any given night from the door to coat check to bartenders are great folks. And should you partake of the bar, drinks are usually made quite strong; in fact, skip the beers since they are usually mediocre quality and overpriced and just get liquor (I usually do not say this, kids!). One of the biggest downfalls about the place is the bathrooms could use a bit of regular cleaning during events because come later in the night they can get rather messy.
Also like how they have non-live music events from time to time. Love going to Nocturna there even if it is a bit cavernous of a venue for it. Also, saw a movie screening there recently. As for the venue itself it is a great old building with beautiful ornate architecture. Next time you are there, if you have not already done so, take a look at the actual architecture in the main room. Hopefully this building will be around for a long time.
When I was younger, I used to live at "the" Metro. Not literally, of course (though there was one time that Cake did a free show there at 5:30 a.m. so I almost lived there that day). But when I first moved to Chicago 10 years ago and lived in Lakeview, I was at the venue two or three times a week. And this frequency showed restraint since it seemed like a band I love played there every night.
As I've gotten older, I no longer long for the bands the kids love so my visits to Metro have grown fewer. Though each time I go, I still feel like Metro takes care of me. In a way, Metro is like "The Giving Tree" of Chicago concert venues.
For those who haven't read the greatest children's book of all time (so much better than "Where The Wild Things Are"), it's the story of a boy who talks to and takes from a tree what he needs. As he grows older, the same tree always provides something. From branches to climb as a child to a stump to sit on as an old man. And Metro has done the same thing for me.
As a boy, the Metro provided me a mosh pit. I didn't come here but once in my teenage years - I had the similar St. Andrew's Hall in Detroit. But the slam dancing at Metro is the wildest in Chicago. The punk bands it used to (and still does) host draw people from multiple states to experience a gig in Chicago.
As a young workaday drone, the Metro provided me with good sound all over the venue. From the far back of the main floor, you can still hear just as well as at the front. I recently saw Michael and Michael Have Issues there. I was a little worried how a comedy show would sound at a rock club, but the acoustics were still pitch perfect. I could hear every word of every joke.
Now as someone whose knees have started to go (I'm not old but I feel it), the Metro provides me with seats with views. The balcony is set up as a completely seated (and surprisingly comfortable) area. And the wings wind around back almost on top of the stage (and usually are not VIP area). It's comfortable and has good sight lines.
I can only wait to see what Metro gives me as an old man. It will probably still be around. Though it could be nostalgia since the architecture at Metro is already classic. Anyone bored before a set can easily waste time staring at the ornateness of their surroundings.
In "The Giving Tree," the dude is a selfish git and never thanks the tree. I am not that guy. I thank the Metro every time I'm there (and thank Chicago for having it) with my money. And I hope to keep thanking it for years to come - even if I have lost my hipness about most of the bands that play there and pay it far less visits.
Metro is my absolute favorite venue of all time.
No matter where you stand or how crowded the place is - you can always find a great view. I cannot attend a Metro show without going into the pit. Usually whoever I'm with gets stuck holding my purse and glasses while I go push the kids around. I can only hang so long these days, but I can't help myself. Crowd surfing at Metro is on my Bucket List, but I haven't grown the balls to do it quite yet.
The sound is good and they book a nice variety of acts. Everything from punk, hip hop, rock and awesome house DJs. There's something for everyone.
There's inexpensive parking across the street at Wrigleyville Dog (usually $10-15) and once I bought a ticket from the parking dude. He saved me $5 over the door price.
I'll say it again, Metro is my favorite and I enjoy all the shows I attend here. I also like to hit The Gingerman before and after shows, the beer is much cheaper there!
One of the few concert venues in the city where my short little 5'4" self can actually see the stage. The second floor (actually third because you have to go upstairs just to get to the main floor) is amazing - still super close but easy to see AND there are seats!!
I feel like they never overcrowd this venue so even the main floor is alright. Love the blue walls, place is kept up pretty well (unlike congress and the riv and the vic), not too big in here, and there's never a line at the bar. Just don't forget to get your wristband downstairs.
My only beef - those bathrooms. I am sort and my knees were hitting the door in front of me. Unacceptable. But at least they had TP so I shouldn't be complaining too much.
The Metro is my favorite place on earth to see a live show. I've literally been to 100s of concerts here. I've seen every genre of music played here and always had a great time. There's magic here. It's probably the single thing I miss about living in Chicago the most.
The sound is always great, the bar lines are not too bad and I love the architecture of the place. It's also the perfect size- big enough to get a good crowd, but now so big that you can't have a great view of the stage from anywhere you are.
Went to shows here from age 15-30!!!! Really can't wait to stop in and see a show on my next Chicago visit.
Shittiest venue in the city. If you want to see some shitty bands while enjoying the company of supreme douche bags, go here.
Dear Metro,
I shall love you forever and always. Even when I go to a little ole rock show and am among the oldest people in the place.
I've seen some pretty rockin shows here and though I do feel slightly robbed when I get a beer here, but the staff is so friendly that I almost don't mind.
Great, intimate rock venue. Not a bad place to sit or stand in the entire house. I love that this place spotlights new bands, but also brings in established acts that don't feel like playing an ampitheatre. Drinks are pricey and not much of a variety, so pregame or hit the bars later.
Metro, how I love thee. Let me count the ways!
* Small & intimate - Even from the shittiest seats in the house, you can see the facial expressions of the drummer.
* Big ole plastic cups of beer - Yep. Draft beer in plastic cups is pretty inexpensive. A happy wallet equals a happy Angie M.
* Dancability - Is that even a word? Probably not, but what you need to know is that if you're seeing a band that has some rockin' tunes and you want do shake your groove thang, you can do so pretty easily at Metro.
* Ample public transit - Being located in Wrigleyville has its perks. Being right off the Clark bus and super close to the red line means no excuses as to why you couldn't make the show.
* Close proximity to Smart Bar - So you can keep getting your drink and dance on long after your concert ends.
* It's all hot and sweaty up in there - Maybe a con for some folks, but I came of age in the "sweat your ass off at concerts" era, so I dig it.
Sure the big names have played Metro, but it's fun to go to the smaller shows, too, to check out local acts and bands on the rise. Metro has a special place in my heart for being the host to some of the best shows I've seen in Chicago. Keep up the good work!
Yes, it's small and can be "intimate"--if you're one of the dedicated few who get there early enough--but I found the Metro to be more irksome than enjoyable.
Sometimes small isn't the best attribute, especially when they sell too many tickets, so that by the time the main act starts, there are people standing crammed into every open piece of floor space, obscuring the views of the patrons behind them, blocking the passage of the poor waitresses, and just generally making everyone feel like sardines. I always have to stand at the Park West, but I always can see the stage and I always have elbow room.
And Jesus Mary and Joseph was it ever HOT in there. When I entered it was a lovely low-70's summer evening, but inside it was so hot that I was dripping sweat by halfway through the show. When I exited, it had rained and cooled the air by several degrees, making me even more astonished. How could it have been so hot in there?! Seriously, it was brutal.
The sound was fine, the staff were fine. I don't drink at these venues, so I couldn't vouch for the booze. I like that they have a separate room downstairs for merchandise so you don't end up with a big show-ending egress snafu.
I was actually supposed to go back within a week to see another show, but that fell through. I was looking forward to getting a second crack at liking this place since it has such a great reputation. I'll return if one of my favorite bands plays here again, but for now Metro definitely misses my informal list of great music venues in Chicago.
It's not like the Metro is lacking in reviews, but I have to chime in with some love for this venue. From the perspective of someone who has been in and played at a boatload of bars, the Metro seems to be a pretty solid venue from both sides.
I've seen some tops shows here, and the sound has always been quite good. Beer on tap is usually a bit flat, drinks are pretty pricey, and the "cash only" thing is a little bit of a surprise for a venue so (relatively) big, but hey - the bartenders probably get mobbed, and the cover charges are low/reasonable, so no hard feelings.
From the perspective of someone behind the scenes, the staff were all extraordinarily friendly and cool, from load-in until the end of the night. Even the security staff were pretty good-natured, a trait which can't be easy to maintain when being vigilant/doing your job with so many people trying to see what they can get away with...
And whoa! They've redone the backstage area, which now feels so brand new I kept forgetting I was in a rock club. But in a totally good way, though... there is a startling lack of penis graffiti, which I had come to think existed on every single greenroom wall throughout the midwest!
They have a nice lil' area with a mini-fridge with water, comfy (non-stinky... yet?) couches, and even a tea-kettle for folks suffering with scratchy throats. Tea may sound like the antithesis of rock and roll, but after 4-5 days of singing in smoky clubs, sometimes it's a lifesaver!
Don't understanfd the popularity of this place over the years. It may be because of the neighborhood and it caters to no name bands and the teenager fans and twentysomethings who still want to be teenagers. I went to this place in the Eighties and it was a dive then. Most of the bands that polay here are un heard of anjd that is for a reason. Why no developer has re developed this building and end this places run I will never know. It won't be there forever so enjoy this place white it lasts. Enjoy the extreme heat and crowded venue of these bad bands and over priced drinks just so you can in your mind feel hip.
I've only been to the Metro once and that was simply because I won free tickets to see Billy Talent perform.
I thought the staff was nice enough, but upon entering the building I did witness them all pile-diving on top of a guy who'd been accused of punching one of the bouncers in the face. The last I saw of him, they were dragging the poor guy into the alley.
I didn't expect to be impressed by the decor and my low expectations were met. Just looked like your typical music venue with a couple of flyers on the wall. The place where the bands played was a decent size, but I did regret wearing two shirts because the place was humid as hell and people were packed in like sardines near the front.
The show was all-ages so cue the obnoxious, thirteen year old kids whose parents let them stay out past curfew that night. Still I was excited about seeing the band so I felt I could endure it. By the end of the night I had a headache from the light show and my toes were throbbing from being stomped on by moshers. They kept flinging themselves all over the place, crashing into any poor person who was unfortunate enough to be within what at any other concert would be a SAFE distance away from the pit. One boy in particular (he was wearing a Tool shirt...hmm...how fitting) kept ramming into me and some other girls nearby.
Maybe I'll return to the Metro for another show, but it would have to be at least 18+ because being almost trampled to death by children who have yet to grow any facial hair isn't exactly my idea of a good time. I guess an establishment can't really control who frequents their place, but I don't have to put myself through the torture (and danger of mangled feet) of dealing with their rude clientele. I'd much rather go to the Lucky Gator anyway...
I have been coming here for years and generally never been let down. Only the other concert goes have let me down but I can't really do anything about it.
The most recent time I have been in here was the Gogol Bordello concert Aug 1, 2008. I loved it. Aside from being very small the rails that block stage are very close to the stage and that help me get some kick ass pictures of Eugene and Pamela :D
I will head back sometime soon, keep on keepin on.
I've been going to The Metro for shows since 1993. The first concert I ever went to was at Metro. I've seen almost every single one of my favorite bands at Metro. I lost my friggin' virginity in the bathroom at a Filter show in 1995...at Metro. If this venue & I could tell stories, we'd have a Grammy winning comedy album with a companion book.
When I look for shows, I always check the listings for Metro first...then I check everywhere else. This place is a freakin' Chicago institution and if you haven't seen a show there...I highly recommend it.
I've seen a lot of shows here. I like that they'll release a bunch of comps, if a show isn't selling. I've seen some new/good stuff, I'd otherwise passed on.
Kind of an odd configuration, but the sound is good; and it's rather intimate. And, it's in a great neighborhood, with plenty of pre/post options, steps away.
One of the better, Chicago venues.
The Metro is great -- in theory. I found that for the first-time participant, it can be a bit of a drag. I will undoubtedly return and when I do, I will be equipped with the following tips:
1) Get a seat. I don't mind standing and the bulk of this venue is built for standing room only so it is what I expected. However, there is no denying that the seats are the place to be. It is in the very limited number of table and chair setups that you distance yourself from the hot, sticky, overcrowded mess that is the standing room.
2) Get there early. You will never get a seat unless you get there really early. Otherwise, it doesn't matter what time you get there. You will be mushed into a corner.
3) Wear the lightest clothes possible and order an ice cold drink. It was easily 100 degrees in there on a day when the outside temps were in the 70s.
4) Once the show has ended, do not rush out the doors. You will stand in a big sweaty crowd of people to get out. Might as well relax while everyone else battles to leave the venue through the same stairwell.
Metro is the CBGB of Chicago
And unlike CBGB, I hope it NEVER closes down! Otherwise I will weep for an eternity.
Every single artist I've seen here: L7, Peter Murphy, Mindless Self Indulgence, Type O Negative, KMFDM, Covenant, Sisters of Mercy, Peaches, The Presets, My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult, Front Line Assembly, Fear Factory.
Highlights of my concert experiences at Metro: Meeting band members right outside near the hot dog place, showing up early and getting right up front before the crowd swarms in, watching annoying little hipster kids get thrown out for underage drinking, being harassed by drunk ass Wrigleyville douchebags while walking back to my old apartment.
Don't ever change Metro!
Honestly, I cannot think of a venue that I dislike more than the Metro. I came here to see Ladytron and The Faint and it was so unbearable that I ended up leaving while Ladytron was still setting up.
It was cold outside, I was wearing my winter coat. Yet inside the Metro, I was drenched with sweat even after having taken my winter coat off and wearing a tiny little tee shirt. I honestly felt like I was going to pass out and I rarely even get hot.
I don't know if it was the fans that Ladytron attracted, but the crowd was one of the most irritating crowds that I can recall having to deal with.
I saw The Faint just a few months prior at The Southgate House in Newport, KY and it was an amazing show, at the Metro, however, they did not play as well and needless to say my experience at the Metro was horrible.
Just recently my boyfriend and I were debating as to whether we should make a weekend trip to Chicago to see Ladyhawke just a couple weeks before we go off to New York to see Fever Ray, Brazilian Girls and Kid Koala.
First off we decided that we should save all of the money we can for New York. But one of the main deciding factors besides the fact that a bunch of seriously awful bands were playing with Ladyhawke was that the show was at the Metro.
As soon as I realized that we would be subjected to horribly painful music in a god awful venue just to see one good band, I decided it was not worth it.
Shit Venue
Shit Sound
Owner Is a self absorbed weasally dirtbag
Criminally overpriced drinks
Bathrooms will give you HPV
If you get lucky, and you're on the guest list, guess what...they lost it.
I've dealt with countless shows at this place, and the times that i haven't encountered any of the above...zero.
if you've actually given this place more than one star, you either have never heard a good sounding live show, or you enjoy being treated like dirt and pissing money away.
burn this place down, and salt the earth so nothing else may grow.
This intimate, small venue is an awesome place to see the bands you love. It's so easy to get close to the stage, you can probably feel them spitting on you! Getting drenched with the groupies not for you? Head on upstairs to the balcony, and play like your Leo D. Titanic while you enjoy the music.
The people that work here are not snotty bartenders or steroid toting bouncers. Everyone is pretty cool. Yes, the admission tickets are cheap, but they make up for that ten fold by gauging you in alcohol sales. Eh, no one is perfect, right?
Though this may be the first place I have gone to see music in Chicago, I must say...great venue! I went to see Ladytron for a sold out show...doors opened at 8pm and we got there around 9pm - I didn't think the lines were bad, seemed pretty organized. The bartenders pour stiff drinks ($7 vodka tonic) and I didn't have to wait for a cocktail at the upstairs bar. I am on the shorter side, so I have difficulty seeing at any show, but I wouldn't say there was a bad spot in this place. Upstairs if you are not next to the railing, it's a little tough to see, but go downstairs, and squeeze your way (with a smile) to the middle and ... great success!
I will never understand why 6'5" men think it's okay to stand in the front (c'mon man, you can see from anywhere in this venue...give the shorty's a break), but you can't win them all I guess.
I've been going to shows for a long time. I've always had a soft spot for the Metro, and have seen some really amazing shows here, as well as some really bad ones.
The sound is usually spot on, I understand we all can't be 100% all of the time.
The bartenders have a heavy hand. I love that. And during breaks between sets, they seem to have a system worked out in the bar to make sure that they get to everyone as efficiently as possible. I like that.
Back in my younger days I preferred the ground floor, but as I have gotten older, I prefer to watch upstairs, from a distance.
Or maybe that's because I got dropped on my head once during a Babes in Toylands show in the mid-90's.
This could easily be a five star review, with the exception of the check in staff.
I have been on the list to countless numbers of shows, and I find it hard to believe that they always manage to not receive the list from the record label.
This happens to me about once a year.
Surprisingly, after phone calls and texts are sent to the record label owner, who then contacts management at the Metro, does the list "magically" appear.
I don't know if they are just passing off a missing list to get their friends into shows or what, but it is crap. The dudes usually have some holier than thou attitude about it as well, and aren't even apologetic to you for being rude when the list *with your name on it* finally appears.
Dicks.
GREAT PLACE TO ROCK OUT AT.You can dance all night long from local funk to booty bumpin hip hop to you drop.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/6/2007
great venue to listen to all kind of music from hip hop to rock and heavy metal. Nice local place to… Read more »
Confession? I know little about music, and my typical weekend does not involve chasing some underground secretly hip band a la "Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist" (I only wish I were that cool)...
That being said, I do enjoy seeing live shows, and do have an appreciation for all sorts of music, being a former musician. (Alright, not really, I played the flute in the band. I have been a nerd my entire life, might as well 'fess up to it!)
I came here for the Lucky Boys Confusion "Songs from a Scene" show this year with my nice young man who happens to love music (he's way more "Nick and Nora" than I am). We saw a couple of other bands (of course, their names escape me) from the balcony, which, save for the ginormous dude in front of me, was a great place to take in the action. You could see the whole stage and the crowd semi-grooving to the opening acts.
We moved down to the floor for the main act, and it was terrific. We stood a bit off to the side, and had a great view of the stage. Drinks were expensive ($6 for a beer, I think), but we weren't there to drink, we were there to see the band, right? The sound was great, the views were terrific, and it seemed to be an all-around great place to take in a show.
LBC put on a great show, and this gal had a blast. For a non-music-knowing, ex-flute-playing nerd, that is.
Oh my dear Metro, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways
1. You're so small that I feel like I'm right next to the band from any vantage point in the place
2. I've been to a gazillion shows and rarely find the audio quality to be anything less than stellar
3. You employ hot bartenders so that I don't get too pissed off about paying $7 for a brew
4. Ticket prices are dirt cheap
5. The bathrooms are so stinky already that people welcome the smell of my cigarette smoke in there (j/k I would NEVER break the law)
6. I damn near touched Anthony Green at the Circa Survive show *swoon*
7. Tshirts cost the same as tshirts in Walmart instead of $40 stinking bucks
8. Because I'm taller than the *puke* high school kids that seem to infest the shows I'm at, I can elbow my way to the stage without much hassle.
9. The Smart Bar is awesome and in the building
10. If I'm not feeling Smart Bar, the Gingerman is right next door and they have the best beer list and juke box. EVER!
Went here for Leftover Crack, 10 for 10 tour and it was awesome. the tickets are cheap since you can buy them from there website and not get killed by fee's from ticketmaster. The pits are fun even though the room is shaped weird. easy to to get to just take the red line down to Addison
I love small music venues in Chicago: Schubas, Empty Bottle, Double Door, Bottom Lounge. But the Metro is set apart from all these places as just absolutely terrible.
The Metro oversells its shows. This means that people are crammed as far back as the hallway leading to the bathrooms. And not only can you not see there, but you can't hear well once you have passed the bar.
And when this place is packed full of sweaty people, and the temps reach in to the triple digits, do you think the Metro will leave any of its fans on? Of course not. I'm not sure why, but I think they want people to buy more over-priced water and drinks.
It takes forever to get inside. If you have will call tickets, the only free option, they make you line up according to what online venue you bought your tickets from. Of course many don't remember so there is chaos around the will call window that can hold you up a long time.
Even if you do get there the minute the doors open, there is a great chance they reserved all the balcony seats for fans who never show up (but I dare you to try to sit in an empty seat.)
Do other places sell out? Hell yes. But I have still been able to hear and see everywhere else. And most places in Chicago don't have the money hungry attitude the Metro has. Everyone else keeps their fans on. If you can avoid going here, I would. There are much better venues.
I like this venue purely because of the size. Its small and intimate and easy to see the stage. Every time I've gone early I always get an amazing spot up front or right on the balcony. There is plently of bars to ensure you get an over priced drink in every area you are. There is even waitresses that surf the crowd to serve you a drink without losing your spot up front.
The music is usually really really loud and not too great but you get what you pay for. Tickets are NOT over priced like the ticketmaster crap.
Never again. Except this Wednedsday. Then... never again.
Last night's audio quality caused me to walk out on a highly anticipated show. It's unfortunate that a lot of excellent acts play here on such a frequent basis.
When I moved to Chicago, I was initially excited that it'd be easy for me to see any band that comes around because they'll more than likely stop in Chicago. Last night I was thinking that maybe I need to either make sure to see bands before they're popular enough to fill the Metro, or, consider driving to another city where I can see them in a better venue.
Sure, you can get close to the stage, but I'm not out to try and fantasize about the bulge in some musicians skinny jeans. If you've been to any smaller venues, then you'll find that "intimate" isn't really the word you'd use when there are about 1000 other people crammed in the room. By my standards, this place is large. The layout is terrible. The sound is usually as awful. It's in Wrigleyville, my least favorite neighborhood to visit.
My advice is that if you do head to a show here and the line is ridiculous, grab a couple drinks at the Gingerman, and then start wondering how many children you'll have to beat your way through to manage and find a decent view at the Metro.
I have very fond memories of the Metro. Driving my '82 Volkswagon Scirocco, that was almost as old as me, wondering if it would even survive the trip from Grand Rapids to Chicago on a school night to see bands like Echo & The Bunnymen, Kula Shaker, Pavement, Girls Against Boys, Guided by Voices, Afghan Whigs and the Charlatans. To more recent years seeing acts like the Decemberists, Low, and Okkervil River.
The more venues I go to, the more I realize that the Metro is nowhere near my favorite. I have read in reviews that "there isn't a bad seat in the house." I fully disagree with statements like these. If the show is sold out and you're not either right up front, have a reserved table, standing directly against the mezzanine edge or in front of the speakers, there really aren't many good seats in the house at all. Even for someone like me, who isn't short by any means.
Bad views aside,especially now that I reside in the city, I will probably continue going to shows at the Metro well into my future years as a cougar.
Metro is one of the better places to see live music in chicago. sight lines are good all around on the floor, but i would suggest staying out of the balcony unless you are leaning against it in the front. drink prices compare favorably to places like Aragon and The Riv, and the waitresses are easy to get to. Metro also gets kudos for a good sound system and great bookings. major bonus points for having their own ticket system that avoids all things ticketmaster-related.
the negative: the metro store. seriously, the employees at the metro store make you feel like the biggest asshole in the world when you ask them for anything (especially tickets, which is their main reason for existing). i must admit that i'm amused by the perverse look of delight on their faces when they tell some kid that the show they want a ticket for is sold out. that's the kind of dickheaded-ness that i can relate to, so maybe they're not so bad after all.
The Metro is an institution. The stage setting is unparalleled in Chicago, giving the feeling that the room is actually much longer than it is. It's so cool I'm surprised Cameron Crowe hasn't made a movie with the Metro as the protagonist. "Hey Gingerman, how's it hangin'?"
The sound is good, sometimes loud. The doormen may bark a lot, but they're really nice guys. I've been to countless shows here, some important (Zwan debut, Nada Surf, the Frames, BRMC) some not; but all have that electricity that something is about to happen!
It's hard to say anything bad about something you've known and enjoyed times with for so many years...
But I do have one single complaint. They oversell, BIGTIME! I won't go to shows here anymore if it's sold out. Not worth it. Too many times I've paid 20+ for a show only to "hear" it from back behind the wall or soundboard. If you're one of the lucky 800 ppl or so to actually get onto the main floor or a spot right up against the railing upstairs, then it'll be a great show. However, if your like me and not into having to push your way through the crowd, you'll end up hearing more of it than you'll see.
Aside from that, on a regular night with a lighter crowd, it's enjoyable, sounds is excellent, location is great.
Also, you get into smart-bar downstairs for free after the Metro show, so it's always fun to go dancing afterward!
Jeff: Obviously a great club. It's been there for who knows how long. I love how intimate the room feels. Good place.
Chris: Thumbs up all the way around. Nice staff. The backstage has been renovated since the last time we were there and it is very nice. The guy in charge of merch was very nice and friendly. One of our best crowds for this tour. Rakim played after our show but we missed it.
Ryan: I like Chicago and I like the Metro. I had my crew (ex-wife, ex-girlfriend, current girlfriend and daughter) there and we did it up. It's a real fun place to play and watch shows.
Amy: (still sleeping) zzzzzzzz
Yeah, how could I ever forget Metro. I've seen U2 here, INXS, an unknown band called the Smashing Pumpkins, heard Candlebox play Chitty Chitty Bang Bang during sound check, drank with Echo and the Bunnymen @ the secret bar upstairs called Joe's and watched Poi Dog Pondering blow the roof off the dump last night.
Not a bad seat in the house. Great sound. Awesome staff. My favorite place for live music, hands down.
At one point I was so close to the stage I could have touched Arno Kammermeier's drumstick. Sounds dirty, but the only thing dirty about it was their brand of electrohouse. No, the Metro isn't a perfect venue, but being up close and intimate with world-class acts such as Booka Shade is always 5-stars in my book. The room is wide, but not deep... and Chicagoans make wading to the front child's play.
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9/14/2008
With a 140 reviews under Metro's belt, I don't have anything new to add. But, because I talk a lot I… Read more »
I'm in love with this place for nostalgic reasons.
This was the best place ever when I was in High School. We came here almost every weekend for a show and it was awesome. Shows were cheap and we couldn't drink, so we didn't waste our money on booze. The venue itself is small and very intimate. Standing room only guarantees you're pretty close to the stage (relative to other bars/clubs). There's also an upstairs area with a few seating choices and more standing room. It's a dingy little dive of a place, but it's great.
I guess now I'm not as enthusiastic about it as I used to be, just because there are better shows at other clubs (Schuba's, Empty Bottle, etc.). However, the Metro is one of the only places you could go when you were under 18 or 21 to see a show. Places like Schuba's or Beat Kitchen are 21+ 90% of the time. Nowadays, I am concerned with drink prices, and those places usually have way cheaper beer than the Metro (Metro charges $5 or $6 for Miller and other generic beer products - it's like a ball game or something).
Still a great place to go to see a show. They also have a crazy downstairs bar area that I know nothing about, so maybe I'll check it out one day.
I saw a show at Metro last night for only the second time and all I could do (beyond enjoy the show, of course) was ask myself, "How have I only been here twice??"
Metro is a great place to see any show, because their floor is wide and shallow, which means there isn't bad a "seat" in the house. The sound here is great and the staff are friendly.
Also, the wristband gets you into Smartbar for free after the show.
