House of Blues and the Foundation Room Offer Music, Art and Style
I don't actually spend a lot of time at the House of Blues--every year or so they have a show I'd like to see, and at one point my husband and I contemplated becoming members of the Foundation Room. I find the groups that play there to be eclectic and mostly interesting for nostalgia reasons. The last show I saw there was Asia, with the original lineup (I know, don't say it!). This month the schedule includes Toto, Deep Purple, Pat Benatar, Musiq Soulchild, The Cranberries, Chris Isaak and the Neville Brothers--see what I mean?
But whenever I do go, I like looking around. The House of Blues was retrofitted into a space that wasn't really meant for concerts, but I have no idea what it was before. Something whale-shaped in front, apparently. The religious and folk art (like masks made out of bottlecaps, for example) that covers every inch of space is visually arresting and the opera boxes have a baroque appeal that's dimly gilded to within an inch of its life. There's room for 1,500 people here, with drinks and decent food (fries, pizza, catfish bites) available at the bar. The Back Porch restaurant is also located inside, featuring Southern and Cajun-style foods, steaks, pizzas and salads. We like to eat there if we have time before a show--it's pretty good food and heck, you're right there already.
The sound at the House of Blues is not perfect, but it's not bad. At the back end of the venue it can get loud, so if you're listening to an acoustic set stay in front. I always walk in and think the floor is smaller than I remembered--but rather than just a big undefined open space the floor features seating in the back areas separated by railings and stairs, and bars are open along the sides to provide food and drink. I find the balconies here to be a little too disconcertingly vertical. When viewing from the Foundation Room I felt more like an eavesdropper rather than a paying customer because the angle from my seat to the stage was so steep. Still, the place is small enough to feel intimate no matter where you are, and I don't think I've ever had a problem seeing the stage from where I was. And I'd be exaggerating just slightly if I said I was five feet tall, so this is a big deal.
As for the Foundation Room--think of it as an urban-style country club for people who like music. The Foundation Room itself is actually one large common room with a long bar, attached to three smaller "prayer" rooms, a dining room and access to a balcony area where you can see the stage. It's reachable only by private elevator. The main lounge is decorated with mostly eastern religious motifs in the form of statues, wall art and décor. It's full of atmosphere and Mediterranean elegance, including silks, velvet, mahogany, intricate artwork and a rosewood bar from an 18th century Indian palace. It's a nice place to relax and impress your friends.
To be a member you pay a minimum of $2,250 per year. For that price you get advance notification of concerts and ticket purchasing privileges, quarterly member events, monthly special events, live entertainment and band showcases, and access to the Foundation Rooms around the country (Atlantic City, Cleveland, Las Vegas, L.A., New Orleans, with Dallas and Philadelphia opening this year) for you and three guests at any given time. You can also get discounts on the balcony seating, hotel and parking, plus concierge service to plan events. Add four tickets per year to the vaunted House of Blues Gospel Brunch and it's actually a pretty sweet package if you like entertaining in the city.
The House of Blues is in Marina City, which features those two very distinctive circular apartment buildings that reach high into the sky; you can't miss them if you're downtown. You can pay for valet parking there if you're coming by car. To drive, take I90/94 to the Ohio exit and go east. Turn right on State Street. The Marina City Complex is located at 33 N. State. It's also easily reachable by Red Line CTA. For more information on the Chicago House of Blues, go to the Web site. For more information on the Foundation Room, try here.
