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Music Garage
Category: Local Services Recording & Rehearsal Studios Recording & Rehearsal Studios
345 N Loomis St(between Carroll Ave & Van Buren St)
Chicago, IL 60607
Neighborhoods: Near West Side, West Loop
(312) 997-1972
- Nearest Transit:
-
Ashland-Lake (Green Line, Pink Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 10 am - 12 am
Fri 10 am - 10 pm
Sat 10 am - 8 pm
Sun 11 am - 8 pm
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
17 reviews for Music Garage
17 reviews in English
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Review from Courtney C.
Chicago, IL
6/13/2011
ATTENTION MUSICIANS OF ALL LEVELS: YOU CAN LEAVE YOUR GARAGE NOW!!! There is a place where you can practice as loud as you want and not annoy your neighbors!
This place has everything for all types of musicians from Amateurs to Zepplin, Led! My band rented a room for two hours and it was truly a great experience. As 3 of the 4 of us are inexperienced amateurs, places like this can sometimes come off as intimidating. Not so here. The staff was extremely courteous and accomodating. They are all musicians in their own right and just enjoy talking music, guitars, etc. Jose, the tech couldn't have been nicer by giving us a tour and even fixing up the loose contact point in my guitar. Basically charged me for the part and had it done in an hour!! No where else can you get that level of service in Chicago for that price.
For bands looking for their own practice space on a regular basis, check out their monthly rates. We aren't quite at that level yet so I can't speak on the monthly rooms, but just know that they are available.
The recording/Showcase room is where you can lay down some tracks or conduct the dress rehearsal for your big gig with Paul, the engineer present. Nice as can be.
The rooms are clean and come fully equipped. You can work out with the staff any additional equipment that you may need for the room. You can purchase practically any type of gear or accessory, and they even sell some instruments at very reasonable prices.
So whether you are a professional, semi-pro, or amateur, check this place out. There's no question that it will help take you to the next level. -
Review from Adele n.
Chicago, IL
3/30/2011
This is the best place for hourly band rehearsals in the city of Chicago. The staff is friendly, smart and kind. The rooms are clean, heated and have refrigerators for your beer. The equipment is great, and in good condition. It's really fun to try out some of the boutique amps they've got. I am a fan of the Top Hat combo guitar amps and the Ashdown bass amps. I never would have even heard of this stuff otherwise; now I know what to save my pennies for. The staff will hook you up with anything you need for a great rehearsal. For $6/hour/a person this is cheaper than renting a monthly room almost anywhere, unless you practice more than three times a week. Also, it's much easier to not have to lug amps around every time you want to jam. I can't recommend these guys highly enough. They care about what they're doing, and deliver a consistently great experience.
This is the same place as: http://www.yelp.com/bi..., just so you know.Listed in: Formed a Band
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Review from Gabe L.
Chicago, IL
5/10/2011
A musician's paradise!
Just a great place. The staff is extremely friendly and knowledgeable. The place is immaculate and they are always doing something to improve it. They've gone to great lengths to sound-proof the rooms. Top Notch!!!
I just had my bass set-up by Jose. He was very thorough and followed up with me multiple times to make sure it was set just how I wanted it. I've been playing for over 15 years and have taken my instruments to multiple places for set-ups. From now on, Jose is the man for the job. -
Review from Lakshmi R.
Chicago, IL
1/30/2011
I'm not sure how you could give Music Garage anything less than 5 stars. My experience here has been limited to gathering with my bandmates in one of their practice spaces to take advantage of their equipment and cheap rates to write music and practice our songs. But the experience has always been stellar. You can book a room with amps and a drumkit for $5 an hour per person, which is a steal, and enjoy such amenities as...heating! And no rats! All major improvements from my old band's experience with renting a freezing, scary room in a warehouse in the West Side.
On top of that, the staff are extremely friendly, it's a great way to meet musicians (we ran into Michael Cera and his band once, though I didn't realize it when it actually happened) and located close to Bottom Lounge, which makes it easy (maybe too easy?) to throw back a couple beers after blowing your eardrums out. Love it. -
Review from Layne L.
Chicago, IL
7/27/2011
This is a great place to rehearse with band mates, the staff here is very professional and courteous (especially Jose, he is the man), and they make rehearsals go smoothly, and are generous with advice relating to instrument set up and repair.
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Review from Paul Z.
Justice, IL
6/21/2011
This place is top notch, secure parking, clean rooms with above average equipment, PA , drum kit, all for only $6 an hour per Musician so you will only have to lend the drummer $5 instead of a whole months rent.
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Review from Pauly D.
Chicago, IL
8/3/2010
What makes an excellent rehearsal space? Quiet, secure and comfortable rooms? There's a few places like that in Chicago. But what separates the Music Garage are the endless resources found right inside the building...
A repair shop with an amp/instrument genius (there's never been a question this dude can't answer), a music shop with everything from strings and sticks to guitars/basses, Fx pedals and mic rental. An ATM machine, free air hockey/foosball, vending machines with junk food & vegan flax seed energy bars. Recording studios, mixing engineers, community bbqs and large room rentals for record release parties/label showcases. Multiple carts for gear loading, two large elevators, room cleaning, detailed monthly newsletters. All topped off with friendly, professional service.
Simply put, there's no other rehearsal space that tops the Music Garage. You'll save time, money and frustrations rehearsing here. In your wildest dreams, you could not imagine the marvelous surprises that await you! -
Review from Derek S.
Chicago, IL
11/27/2010
Definitely a 5 star rating for rehearsal spaces in Chicago. We toured a bunch of places including probably the second best place, Superior Street, and none of them came close to the Music Garage. It is pricey but definitely worth it. The place is totally secure with each room including a heavy-duty dead bolt. The staff are in the building to help until midnight every day. There is an instrument and amplifier repair shop on premise. You can also buy guitars, basses, amps, strings, mics, drum heads, pics, cables etc on site.
The rooms are sound proofed to the point where you can record no problem even if the band next to you is playing. Plus it is in a safe area of town tucked in an industrial corridor so you have no issues parking or with safety. -
Review from Patrick M.
Chicago, IL
11/22/2010
I wont repeat whats but said in the other reviews, just that everything I read was true and in line with my experiences at Music Garage...
~STAFF~
The CPE crew always takes care of their customers.... Not only have I been a long time hourly renter at CPE, but my band recently moved into a monthly room. This has actually been a great way to cut down on the hassles of scheduling rehearsals, considering the hourly rooms can book out pretty far ahead of time, particularly for the prime slots. Recently though, they added online scheduling, this definitely makes booking the hourly rooms easier.
~REPAIR/MOD SHOP~
I've used Pete's services in the gear shop a handful of times.... Every time I feel like I'm getting quality service at SERIOUS value.... Just last week, a pod broke in the volume knob of my strat during rehearsal.... I walked it down stairs and got a new pod, bridge adjustment, and a truss rod adjustment for $20, and it was ready by the end of practice..... That is the kind of service I'm looking for.
~GEAR RENTALS~
My other band rented a PA for an out of town gig from CPE, and it worked great. It was also VERY simple to use, and affordable even considering a working bands tight budget.
Sooooo they clearly have it all, but if thats not enough, I recently heard they might be opening up a bar in the building..... kickass -
Review from Kelly Z.
Stillwater, NY
7/26/2011
The drum share is not a bad deal.
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Review from Mark G.
Lincoln Square, Chicago, IL
1/28/2010 13 Check-ins Here
Attention all musicians...this place flippin rules!
my last band used to practice by cicero/augusta in a nice warehouse (old chocolate factory). that place was cool, it was about $200 per month, we threw parties there and could jam 24/7 if we wanted to. but the power would go out, there was no heat, and well, it was in the fucking ghetto.
my new guitar player found this place and i gotta say it's a god send.
they have drums and amps and PA's available to play on. drummers, bring your cymbals if you'd like, but if you are an honest gentleman you can play their four piece Yamaha Stage Custom sets with THEIR two crashes and a ride.
each room i've been in has at least one Marshall half stack for my guitar players to plug into. the rooms are all (mostly) soundproofed and carptetted. you can buy drumsticks, heads, batteries, strings and other essentials on premises. most rooms also have a mini fridge for your libations.
the charges are reasonable. 3 people to jam in a room for three hours is $15/person. guys who run the place are all very laid back and cool.
parking on the street is easily available. like mentioned, they have a ramp on the loading dock for moving your gear to shows.
they rent monthly spots or like we do you can reserve rooms for hourly blocks. -
Review from Tate T.
Chicago, IL
5/11/2011
This is hands down the best overal music facility in the city - I say music facility because these guys are offering so much more than just a room to rehearse in. In addition to affordable hourly & monthly rooms for rent (I've been there since just after they opened in a monthly room); great location; 24/7 access and awesome security; there is the real icing on the cake - CPE sound, in particular Pete & Jose - I've searched for 15 years for guys like this, there is no problem they can't fix, and FAST - like a few other reviewers I've had last minute issues with guitars/amps and they not only fix quick, they fix it right.
Now after a number of visits, Jose knows my guitars personally and same with Pete and my amps, as well as those of my entire band - its awesome to be able to come to them with questions and never get that "you're an idiot" stare that so many other shop owners give you in town. John is also a whiz with the drums, got my drummers backup snare sounding better than his go to one,
I can't say enough good stuff about these guys - check the place out, and even if you rehearse at home/elsewhere, stop in the next time you need a guitar/bass/amp setup and talk to Pete & Jose - you'll see what I mean, -
Review from Joe R.
Chicago, IL
1/16/2011
The rolls royce of rehearsal spaces for rent. Clean rooms, central air, repair shop downstairs and supplies in their shop that never go above reasonable. Fireproofed and secure. I like this place.
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Review from Gopal B.
Chicago, IL
2/14/2011
This place is very professionally run. If you ask me, it's too professional. I toured the facility with a bandmate and we walked out of there thinking, "Wow, this place has everything, but it sure is expensive!"
Then we saw other spots and realized that, for less money, we could get a larger room for our band alone than we could get for a share room at the Music Garage. This place just has way too much stuff that a band doesn't need. What do I need in a practice space? Well, most importantly, I need space! Excessive soundproofing can be cool, but I'm not trying to start a recording studio. Just give me reasonably tall ceilings and 4 or more walls. That's it.
It's hard to describe, but I just feel like this place has no character, or should I say, it has the character of a mental asylum. Padded walls and fluorescent lights. There's nothing Chicago about this place. It just feels constricted and sterile.
If you have a six figure salary, then maybe this place would be feasible. For someone like me, it isn't. It lacks character. Value is subjective. In my opinion, the Music Garage presents a HORRIBLE value for the money you pay. I'm in a five piece band in which everyone plays an instrument. To get the type of space we need, we would need to pay $500+/month at the Music Garage, and we'd still be sharing the room with another band. We just found another spot (I won't say exactly where) where we got a large, clean room with windows, tall ceilings, and easy CTA access for $385/month. That's a significant saving.
It certainly can't hurt to check this place out. As I said, they're professionals and this place does have a lot to offer. You just might go broke in the process. -
Review from nikki c.
11/20/2007
from their website http://musicgarage.com :"The Music Garage is a state of the art, high tech, rehearsal studio, built to professional standards. "
Hell Yeah it is! ;-)
Just another step to taking your game even higher, music garage is THE place to set up shop and get your practice and rehearsals in.
Clean, sound proofed rooms, elevators that work, shiny metal-plating EVERYWHERE, security codes that are changed monthly, T1 internet access included in the rents that rival other spots.
Located perfectly close to downtown, the highway and tons of places to grab a quick bite or beer whether on Grand. Chicago or down Randolph.
This is it, the way it should be done and if you can afford to get out from your mom's basement or garage, RUN here today. -
Review from Steve J.
Chicago, IL
5/5/2009
This place blows away Superior St. All I have to say is: Elevators, 2 of them! They run 24/7! It's total BS that you have to either "reserve" an elevator in advance (when it's even working). But that's not the case here. There's a loading dock with ramps and room to pull your vehicles right up. Carts always available and in good working condition. It's the easiest load-in/out I've experienced yet. The days of carrying shit up 3 flights of stairs for me are over... It's about time I feel I'm getting what I'm paying for. Most of these others places make you feel like you should be kissing their asses for letting you rent their shitty room from them. This is a musicians spot, with proper amenities for musicians, not a storage space that gives you a place to plug your shit in.
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Review from Corbett L.
Chicago, IL
2/6/2009
We've had a studio in the Music Garage for over 2 years, and highly recommend it. We rehearse, record, and run a business out of the building (during the day, when the speed metal band next door isn't practicing). The people who built and run this place are awesome and friendly, the DSL is reliable, there are great lounge areas, coffee, and it's secluded in the West Loop, so you don't have to scramble for parking or sweat over security. On Friday nights it's a little loud, but it's overall a highly professional place, not at all your average musician hangout.
