Discover New Music at Double Door
Double Door has a revered place in the Chicago music scene, and rightly so. I can remember back in the late ‘90s when the Rolling Stones made a surprise appearance there--at a place that holds probably no more than 500 standing fans. In the heart of the Wicker Park neighborhood, Double Door hosts lots of incredible bands--and many of them eventually get too big for this more intimate setting. This is where I discovered a band called the Killers in April of 2004, opening for the band Stellastarr*.
The Double Door has been around since just 1994, but since then it has featured local favorites like Cheap Trick and Liz Phair, along with national and international rock groups from St. Etienne to Kid Rock. It's your basic raised stage, long open area setup with a full, well-stocked bar that spans one wall. Every show is general admission, and there's a basement with pool tables, TV and booth seating. Some seating is available near the stage, along the bar and downstairs, with a few tables here and there, but don't expect to snag a seat if you come late.
The Double Door isn't a perfect venue; the woman's restroom, for example, is right along the wall not far from the right side of the stage, and is therefore not particularly private or easy to get to. But the main fault of the Double Door is the noise. The venue is in a bustling, hip neighborhood and attracts a lot of people just wanting a night out. As a result, you get a lot of chatting in the back of the room, which can be extremely annoying if you're actually there just to listen to the band. If you are a die-hard fan of the music, my recommendation is that you shimmy to the front. You'll get less noise and all the other die-hard fans will be there. Plus the stage is low enough and small enough that you can really experience the band close up-maybe even score a set list when the show is done, or an autograph or two. That can make being here really special.
You can get tickets through Ticketmaster but since most shows run between $5-$20 it's hardly worth it to pay the extra charges. If you're not worried about the show selling out, just stop by on performance night. There are a lot of stores and restaurants in the area, so get here early if you'd like to grab a bite and check out Myopic Books or Reckless Records, two of my favorite neighborhood haunts.
The Double Door is located at 1572 N. Milwaukee Ave., reachable by car via I90/94 at the North Avenue exit (street parking only and it can be challenging), or by CTA at the Damen stop on the Blue Line. Check www.doubledoor.com for directions and concert dates.
