The metro was a lot of fun when I was a kid, I have several top notch memories that involve that place....hand jobs in the bathroom, crowd surfing for the first time...all that....I can't even tell you what the last show I saw there was...Sonic Youth a few years ago I guess....
I enjoyed playing at the Metro the few times I did it, we got paid what they said they would pay us and they helped move our shit and didn't yell at us for not sounding at all like the CD they heard when booking us and us making horrible noise instead. Most places get pissed, they didn't care.
The Empty Bottle....hmmm....
The people who worked there were always real nice, but there was always some bullshit at some point in the night. That Bruce dude, from my dealings with him just seemed like your run of the mill douchebag who owns a bar, no better or worse than any other asshole bar owner dude.
am i alone in hating the metro?
62For what it's worth, here's my take on the various clubs in Chicago:
Metro: Books some great bands, but you are better off seeing them at Schubas before they make it to Metro. The sound at Metro has always been horrible and just seems to get worse. Is it me or is the sound guy continually adding bass and volume throughout the show? My ears are always fatigued after seeing anything there and I always plug up.
Empty Bottle: OK venue to see bands provided you can get a decent angle. Sound there is generally awful, but the bartenders are nicer than Metro's. The patrons, however, tend to be cooler than thou.
Double Door: Unless you can get a spot up front, this is a terrible place to see a band. Too many posts block my view. What, is this Wrigley Field? Who puts a stage behind posts?
The Abbey: They used to book some interesting acts, but their booking these days is hit or miss. Sound is pretty good unless you are upstairs. The Guiness is even better.
Schubas: The room does not look like a rock club, but the sound is generally better than most of its competitors. I like that the yuppies can talk in the other room. Same with other clubs that have music in a separate room (like Beat Kitchen, Gunther Murphy's).
Martyrs: Best room in the city. Too bad they almost never book any bands I am interested in seeing.
Subterranean: Interesting room. But the douchebag that ran sound in 2004 really cheesed me off. He soundchecked some two-bit punk covers band with a chick and her accordion and a dude who switched between his Tele and a banjo or something. They were dreck. He didn't bother soundchecking our (4-piece) band or Devin Davis, who was backed by a full band. He gave us 2 minutes to get our "tones." He screwed up the first 4-6 songs of Devin Davis and gave us horrible sound. Then, afterward, he had some BS recommendation about practicing with the bass and guitars at the same volume. Really? And what was the purpose of arriving hours early and not soundchecking? I usually don't go there because of this.
Hideout: Haven't been there in a while. The room is cozy and the sound generally good. I should go there more often.
Lounge Ax (RIP): I spent my 20s there. A real shithole, but the bands and the sound were always top-notch. I miss the flies in the bathroom--Crocket and Tubbs.
Logan Square Auditorium: Every band sounds like they're playing in a gym.
Metro: Books some great bands, but you are better off seeing them at Schubas before they make it to Metro. The sound at Metro has always been horrible and just seems to get worse. Is it me or is the sound guy continually adding bass and volume throughout the show? My ears are always fatigued after seeing anything there and I always plug up.
Empty Bottle: OK venue to see bands provided you can get a decent angle. Sound there is generally awful, but the bartenders are nicer than Metro's. The patrons, however, tend to be cooler than thou.
Double Door: Unless you can get a spot up front, this is a terrible place to see a band. Too many posts block my view. What, is this Wrigley Field? Who puts a stage behind posts?
The Abbey: They used to book some interesting acts, but their booking these days is hit or miss. Sound is pretty good unless you are upstairs. The Guiness is even better.
Schubas: The room does not look like a rock club, but the sound is generally better than most of its competitors. I like that the yuppies can talk in the other room. Same with other clubs that have music in a separate room (like Beat Kitchen, Gunther Murphy's).
Martyrs: Best room in the city. Too bad they almost never book any bands I am interested in seeing.
Subterranean: Interesting room. But the douchebag that ran sound in 2004 really cheesed me off. He soundchecked some two-bit punk covers band with a chick and her accordion and a dude who switched between his Tele and a banjo or something. They were dreck. He didn't bother soundchecking our (4-piece) band or Devin Davis, who was backed by a full band. He gave us 2 minutes to get our "tones." He screwed up the first 4-6 songs of Devin Davis and gave us horrible sound. Then, afterward, he had some BS recommendation about practicing with the bass and guitars at the same volume. Really? And what was the purpose of arriving hours early and not soundchecking? I usually don't go there because of this.
Hideout: Haven't been there in a while. The room is cozy and the sound generally good. I should go there more often.
Lounge Ax (RIP): I spent my 20s there. A real shithole, but the bands and the sound were always top-notch. I miss the flies in the bathroom--Crocket and Tubbs.
Logan Square Auditorium: Every band sounds like they're playing in a gym.