WEBSITE:Subterranean
DATE OF REVIEW: 2/28/2007
COAT CHECK: $2 on the third floor.
CAMERA FRIENDLY: Too camera friendly. Cameras freely allowed. They don’t seem that upset if people are using flash either. Get prepared for dudes with blogs taking blink-flash pictures every three seconds.
BATHROOMS: On the third floor. By the time I had to pee it was so crowded I just held it, so no first hand accounts of its cleanliness.
SECURITY: Laid back dudes who will “X” the shit out of your hands with this huge permanent marker if you’re underage. Light bag checks. Don’t treat you like a potential terrorist. Good service.
HOW TO GET THERE: The address is 2011 North Ave. Chicago. I’d recommend RTA‘ing this, but here’s how I do it: Take the Purple Line (preferably the express to Belmont) to the North stop on the Red Line. Bus 72 is right in the area. Get off around Damen, Subterranean is just past it.
BOOZE/FOOD: I didn’t see anybody eating food, but they have a pretty extensive menu on their website. Apparently their specialty is jambalaya (!!!), which I will be sure to try next time I’m there. Subterranean has lots of alcohol.
DESCRIPTION: Subterranean is what you might call an intimate venue, and by that, I mean it’s pretty small. Sure, it’s bigger than Bill’s Blues, but it also gets bigger acts and it’s in Chicago. As far as mood goes, Subterranean scores well. Painted mostly red and gloomily lit, it feels somewhat illicit, like an opium den or an oubliette. The sound system is loud and the balcony area is great for getting a better view of the band, especially if you’re short. The main crowd area on the second floor is dominated by a mutant chandelier that gives everything a full glow. Smoking ban or not, Subterranean is rough on the lungs and no one seems to mind. Since it’s a small venue, it can sell out fast if it’s a moderately well-known act, so get your tickets early. And selling out the Subterranean really means packing them in. Basically every square foot of the venue is going to be filled with people. That said, it’s probably not a venue you’re going to do too much dancing or moshing in. When Subterranean is an all-ages venue, the shows start pretty early and they kick anyone under 21 out at 10:30 due to curfew for the non-voting crowd, which means you can take public transport back, but also makes me feel like I’m in high school. If you want to get a good view, get there early to either snag a balcony spot (they even have stools!) or up close to the stage, because the stage isn’t lofted that much. You can literally get on top of the stage, unlike the Metro. There’s also another area somewhere in the venue called “the Lounge” which the website describes as “swanky”. Apparently it’s open for DJ sets. It’s a little more of a trek than some of the other venues I’ve reviewed so far, but Wicker Park is an awesome part of Chicago, and Subterranean is undoubtedly cool. It’s worth the trip.
