The Empty Bottle

This place is pretty sweet. Not only do they had a ton of different music genres, but they have a good mix of up-and-coming bands, as well as established favorites. The space is intimate enough for interaction/banter between the artist and the crowd too. Overall, it has a great aesthetic and good sound. It's quickly becoming one of my favorite Chicago music venues.

It's easy to blow off the Empty Bottle as simply a dive bar with loud bands, but it's really the best dive bar with loud bands in Chicago. It's hard to find a venue that consistently books bands and music that you'll see or hear in a few years. And you can see almost anything here -- jazz, rock, noise, punk, metal, hip hop, and comedy. You just might not be able to see it anywhere again for a few more years. It's out of the way for some, but transportation to the Empty Bottle could cost as much as your night there. Shows are normally cheap (between $5 and $20) and the beer is cheaper. Start your night at the bar in back with a local microbrew and end up in the mosh pit with a $2 Hamm's or $2.50 PBR. While the hipster crowd might put some off, it's well worth your time and money to make it to this Ukranian Village dive. Cheap music, cheap beer and a great atmosphere are what keep the crowds comin

The Empty Bottle is a pretty rad place. The night that I went, I saw Mount Kimbie (openers Whoa-B and Magical Beautiful were completely unknown to me and I haven't listened to them since, but they rocked the place pretty well too), and they absolutely killed it. The Empty Bottle is incredible not only because of how cheap it is, but because of the quality of acts they are able to attract and also the capacity of the sound team to make music in a dingy dive sound so good. Also, I love the drinks list on the blackboard. It's just that kind of no nonsense attitude that endears The Empty Bottle so close to my heart.

Oh the Empty Bottle. How I love the Empty Bottle! (I once worked as an intern here, so I love it even more now.) It is an amazing venue with an amazing sound system, an awesome lineup, and cool people. It feels very much like a black box theatre, with floors, walls, and ceiling covered in that strange black “stuff” that you can never exactly determine what it is made out of. But it works out great for them, because even in such a small venue on the main floor of a dingy building, the acoustics here are excellent. I mostly love the Bottle because they feature a lot of local and small acts, and those tend to be the best concerts. So if you’re into local music, small venues, and cool people, you should come here. I don’t think it will let you down.

I have never paid more than $12 to see a show at The Empty Bottle and they have been some of the best indie shows of my life. Your mainstream friends in Lakeview probably have not heard of any of the bands playing here, hell, I haven't heard of most of them, but they are all about the music. This is a little surprising because it really is just a dive bar with a stage in the corner but they book some great acts. I have seen The Mountain Goats perform here several times and a few more shows with bands I can no longer remember. It is not hard to get front row here and you will literally be able to reach out and touch the band, or at least be audible if you make a request or have a comment. One show the lead singer announced that they were about to play their last song to which my friend said loudly "I'm incredulous." The lead singer smiled at him and said "That's awesome" and announced it to the crowd. PBRs are $2.50 and I don't think the price has changed in 5 years. You can get good beer also, but when I'm at the Empty Bottle I feel compelled to go PBR. They have a photo booth and pool in a side room that also holds the merch table after shows and the artists will usually hang out after the show. The Empty Bottle is a little out of the way unless you live in Ukie Village, and you'll have to take the Western bus to get there most likely, but it is worth it.