Empty Bottle
1035 N. Western Avenue, Chicago, Illinois
www.emptybottle.com
When The Bottle opened its doors in 1992 on a street lined with old man bars and Old Style Beer signs, a shady character brandishing a screwdriver tried to rob owner Bruce Finkelmen. He promptly hit him with a two-by-four and kept working. That focus and drive has earned this ratty venue -- perpetually plastered with show posters and reeking of cigarette smoke (and more than a bit of hipster entitlement) -- a world-class rep. The Bottle not only hosts the annual Adventures in Modern Music Festival, a boundary-busting showcase curated by the eclectic British music bible
The Wire, but also throws annual free jazz and psychedelic rock festivals. The staff even had a full-on foreign exchange with a bar in Oslo. Despite the worldly booking policy, Chicago artists still get plenty of love, especially during free Monday showcases and semi-regular jazz nights. It adds up to a potent mix of cutting-edge music.
Famous Alumni: The Fiery Furnaces, Bobby Conn, The Ponys
Bands to See Now: Lichens, Pit er Pat
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!!! playing at the 2002 Empty Bottle New Year's Eve party
Photo Credit: Bruce Finkelmen
