House of Blues Chicago

Upon finally getting the first glimpse of the House of Blues sign as I was walking down the sidewalk, I could begin sense the history that is associated with it. The excitement inside me was overwhelming because at last I was about to enter into the venue in which I had heard so much about on television and in film. My expectations were not let down. The building exuded 'cool.' There were incredible decorations on the walls, ceilings and even in the restrooms! My friend and I ended up taking pictures against the bathroom walls because the colors were so vivid and designed so artistically. The concert venue was set up in a way that allowed the audience to be in close proximity to the performers. During the concert, I was close enough to the stage that I was able to get some incredibly focused close up shots. This setup allowed me to feel connected to the performers and also with the audience around me. The sound was great and there were video screens available for those who were more towards the back, though for this concert they weren't necessary since it was a smaller crowd and everyone was close to the stage. The only difficulty I encountered was finding the entrance because I had to walk around and go up a few stair cases to finally get there. It was such an unforgettable experience to be in such a personal setting given the smaller venue and crowd size. I never felt so connected to the performers as I did at the House of Blues. I recommend to anyone to go at least once to get that type of memorable experience and to be a part of a historical concert venue.

I had a chance to check out one of my favorite bands for a North Coast Music Festival after party and... OH MY! It was such an experience! Located right downtown in the hustle and bustle of all that is glorious in Chicago, it is a beautiful venue surrounded by hotels and shops. I partied with some of EDM's biggest names and danced until 3 a.m. It offered local beers, great drinks, friendly people, and best of all... some of the best bands and artists in the world. The House of Blues is a staple in the Chicago nightlife. if you have never been, check a listing of upcoming shows and plan for an amazing night of entertainment. You will not be let down. I ended up making some really great friends, it was a night I could never forget. What more could you ask for? The memory couldn't fade, all the rest is history.

THe House of Blues is one of my favorite places to see amazing performances by top artists. I have been to the Rebelution, Jake Owen, and Dirty Heads performances. They were all spectacular because they were so personal and intimate. The House of Blues is in a great location. There is shopping and restaurants available before any concert. The atmosphere is fun and exciting with a pretty great crowd. I would definitely advise anyone to attend an event at the House of Blues while visiting Chicago.

The House of Blues quickly became a place of relatively high regard for me soon after I moved to Chicago to attend Northwestern University. Eclectic music samplings and excellent acoustics are my most basic requirements for a successful venue which the HOB fulfills with stride. What makes it truly special, is the character and aesthetics. The suave architectural design of the balconies will catch your interest even if the detailed, trippy, aztec like paintings on some of the walls aren't exactly your thing. The gem for me though is the "Unity In Diversity: All Is One" shrine above the stage, where we also see symbols and icons from major religions and spiritualities. The transcendental aura truly makes every night out at the House of Blues Chicago a memorable experience, expedited by the great, friendly staff and fantastic location in the middle of downtown Chicago.

House of Blues Chicago is more than just a landmark in the middle of the city— it’s an experience. From the majestic blue neon sign on Dearborn Street right on the north bank of the Chicago River to the vibrating hydraulics in the floor of the music hall, every part of the House of Blues has a story and a piece of history in it. After you valet your car at the famous corncob shaped Marina Towers, you begin your adventure as you walk through the front doors of endless amounts of music and folk art history. In the ceilings of the first floor of HoB, are portrait tiles of an array of Blues and Rock ‘n Roll artists, from Muddy Waters to Eric Clapton to Jimi Hendrix. While you wait for your friends for dinner at the Crossroads Restaurant, you can stroll into the gift shop, which is filled with an assortment of House of Blues branded clothes and accessories for men, women, and children as well as the infamous Crossroads cornbread. As you are seated for dinner, you are graced by the sounds of local musicians performing on the “Back Porch” stage. This is the more intimate and smaller-scale live music performances that you can experience at HoB. Before you venture into the music hall for your concert, you can take the shiny gold elevator up to the 4th floor. Once the elevator doors open, you have arrived in the Foundation Room – a dimly lit ultra sleek lounge designed for an upscale dining and nightlife experience. You can grab drinks with some friends in one of the private rooms, such as “Buddha” or “Divinity”, where the wall linens are imported from India and the soft sultry beats circulating through the lounge blended with the faint smell of incense, create a perfectly sexy ambiance. As you leave the Foundation Room, you walk out onto the 3rd floor balcony where you can look down onto the entire music hall and stage. Since the House of Blues was designed after an opera style theater, there is not one bad seat in the house; although, there are some especially good ones. You have the option of renting an opera box, filled with couches, comfortable velvet chairs and a private cocktail waitress, for a more exclusive experience. Artists performing at the House of Blues range from Prince to STS9. No matter the day or time, there is always a good chance that there is a concert going on for all audiences, whether it’s an early show filled with cowboy boots for Jake Owen or hip hop fans there for Public Enemy, all the way to Break Science starting at midnight for some late night Electronic beats. The House of Blues never seems to disappoint and can always provide a musical journey filled night.

I recently attended a Timeflies concert at the House of Blues. It was the first concert I'd attended since moving to Chicago for school. Take into consideration that this was my first time experiencing both the venue and the artist live. The venue itself is very beautiful on the outside and the inside. It is the perfect size for such a venue. It isn't too small, and it isn't too big; it's just right. Although I purchased my tickets fair enough ahead of time, all that remained were side balcony/box seats, which is understandable. I was a bit pumped to be able to be out of the crazy crowd for once and have a good view of the artist. When I arrived, however, I was unpleasantly surprised at what I had purchased. Now, If i had been in the centered balcony looking straight at the stage, I'm sure the experience would have been a tad bit better. To start off, when I arrived the box was practically already filled up. There were only four legitimate seats that I should mention were already taken. The tiny "private" area was surely overbooked if you asked me. One cool thing is the bar available in each box with the choice to have a bartender come right to you. If you are over 21, it's a great deal. Back to the view. The view of the show was terrible. The balconies are built in an interesting, yet unreasonable way. They are kind of slanted, making it almost impossible to see the artist/band if you are pushed up against one of the walls, as I was. If there are already four people sitting in the seats directly in front of your view, it's pointless. When the artists got on stage, there was no hope. My genius decision to sit on top of the bar to see well failed when the rude security lady screamed at me (worth a try, right?). To sum it all up, the venue is a beautiful place to go to and get a look at, but if you want a good look at the stage your best bet is to push the crowd and get to the front, or get lucky enough to get a centered balcony spot. Good luck!

I recently attended a concert at the House of Blues. Thanks to LiveNation my friend and I were able to get pretty cool suite seats. This venue made my concert experience better than I anticipated. After walking in you're escorted to the stairs that get you closest to your seats. There's a general admission/floor seats which allow you to get up close and personal to the artist, while the balcony allow you to hear the acoustic bounce off the very high ceilings. Ultimately, a concert at the House of Blues is an experience in itself, but if you ever get to sit in the suites with friends, you have your own room and you can enjoy the performance with a smaller crowd. Of course, I'd take any seat that was given to me at the House of Blues considering what I'd be going there is already worth while. But the food, crowd, and cocktails are just an extra plus. Definitely a venue I recommend for a great music/concert experience.

I recently saw a multi-artist show here and was pleasantly surprised by my experience. House of Blues is a lot more of an intimate venue than I anticipated. The artists were also able to use the stage and its surrounding balconies to add to their acts. I was in the standing room area and did not feel overwhelmed by the surrounding crowd. In addition to some great music, one can check out the varied art and interior design, with cascading floor levels. Overall, I recommend the venue.

I've been here twice because of work (one of the perks of the conference I went to). Great place to unwind and enjoy some music. I love the balcony area. I watched the musical performances comfortably from the top and ended up talking for awhile to a guy I just met. Perfect ambience. We ended up going downstairs and danced the night away. I would definitely check the venue out again if I were in town.

The Chicago House of Blues is a nearly perfect live music venue. It’s size allows for intimacy without a feeling of crowding. The acoustics are phenomenal, and the floor/stage setup, combined with ample balcony space, allow everyone in the house to experience the show. The upstairs Foundation Room is a hidden gem which hosts VIP entourages an in exclusive, velvet rope setting. The HOB draws a consistently cool, trending, eclectic, and vibrant Chicago crowd. Adding your favorite Artist to the mix guarantees an epic live music experience.

The House of Blues is located in an awesome part of Chicago, situated right on the river just inside River North. The outside is hard to miss with its Gaudi-esque architecture among all the skyscrapers. The inside of the venue is equally as cool with its fairly small and intimate main floor with three levels piled on top of it. I've never watched a show from the top level but I'd imagine it'd be a pretty different experience. The balcony system is nice though because you can be two stories above the stage and still be pretty close to the performance simply because the main floor is that small. There are plenty of small, semi secluded areas on all the levels that provide a good break from the show to just hang out and have a drink. Plus, either for before or after the show there are plenty of good places to eat and go out within close walking-distance of the theater.