Walking on the Beat
A Chicago Atlas
Chicago, or “the pulse of America” as it was described by Sarah Bernhardt, is a city of music. You can hear it in the heart of the city with traffic rumbling down the streets, the L roaring overhead, and people swarming around you, talking, crying, and laughing.You can hear it in the summer air as street performers stretch their talent, pounding on home made drums or their old saxophone. You can even hear it in the countless music venues Chicago has to offer. Music is what gives the city life.
Chicago is solely responsible for the great strides in blues, jazz, and house that gave distinct voices to the genres of music. “Chicago-Style” is a lasting phenomenon and has lead to further musical developments in gospel, rock, and hip-hop. It is home to such legends as Nat King Cole, Michael Jackson, Styx, Kanye West, Cheap Trick, and Chance the Rapper. Festivals such as the alternative-indie safe haven Lollapalooza, the country round up Windy City Lake Shake, and the angry rock scene Riot Fest, all of which bring in hundreds of thousands of music lovers to the city each year.
In fact, on any given day of the year, one can find a live music act. Chicago has it all, from tiny starter up bands making trying to get their foot in the industry to huge headliners like Chance the Rapper, who sold a record amount of 44,000 tickets for his show at the U.S. Cellular Field last September. Hundreds of theaters, concert halls, and bars with stages call Chicago their home. This atlas of the city consists of the music venues, the pulses of the city that radiate good vibes outwards, that I, a lowly collegiate with insufficient funds have been able to attend.
The Chicago Theater
The Chicago Theatre is located in down town Chicago on State Street. It is a landmark and tourist attraction for many, as the sign often draws on the grandeur of the city as a whole, rather than just the theater it refers to. In fact, the Chicago Theatre marquee sign is the Snapchat filter of Chicago, making it the unofficial banner of the city. The Chicago Theatre was built in 1921,as the very first grand movie palace in America. The theater was adorned with crystal chandeliers, grand staircases, and red, gold, and marble ornaments. Chicagoans would feel like royalty when setting out to see a motion picture accompanied by a fifty piece orchestra, and the theater served as the embodiment of Chicago’s elegance. Although the custom of these elaborate movies fell out of style, the theater remained and was remodeled and refurbished into a live performance music venue. The name of the Chicago Theatre has become as legendary as the names of those who have played there, including Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, and Prince.
When I passed the Chicago Theatre during immersion week, I felt the same sense of grandeur and majesty. It was my first time in the Loop since starting school and I was surrounded by breath-taking sky scrapers. There were huge stores and beautiful buildings on every corner. State Street seemed to be the place to go, as it was crowded with people from all walks. People wore business clothes or casual clothes. City-slickers and tourists alike. I could hear conversations from multiple languages. The huge Chicago sign was eye catching even in the daylight and underneath the marquee, hundreds of little bulbs were lit up, creating the sensation of the dazzle of the night. On the windows were posters of upcoming shows and through the window I could see the splendor of the architecture inside.
The Chicago Theatre earned its spot on the map because of it’s history and glamour. The Chicago Theatre is the hallmark of Chicago’s music entertainment, and it holds a high standard for other music venues in the city.
Aragon Ballroom
The Aragon Ballroom originated as a huge Spanish styled ballroom in 1926. The beautiful building is decorated as a Spanish plaza, with mock romantic buildings and balconies looking out and a starry night painted on the ceiling. As ballroom dancing faded, the ballroom almost faded with it, however the building had been converted for a variety of other uses including a roller-skating rink, a boxing venue, a disco. When the venue was finally converted to a concert hall in the 1970’s, it housed a variety of rock and punk rock shows. Filled with a rough crowd, the venue earned the nickname “the Brawlroom.” For frequent “L line” riders, one can see the massive and mysterious Aragon marquee sign from the Lawrence stop on the red line.
On my trip to the Aragon, the street was filled with people. People crowding the sidewalk, filling the street, and shuffling into the vacant lot next door. The Aragon seemed to be a haven for night life. Young people dressed to the nines smoked cigarettes as they waited to be let in. Once inside, the crowd danced and sang with the main act, The Head and the Heart, letting go of their daily worries and joining in with the freedom of the music. I was awed by the sheer amount of people filling the standing room only floor, the magical appeal of the painted ceiling and romantic balconies, and the power of the music being played.
The Aragon became another point on my map due to the fact that the ballroom reflected the needs of the people. The Aragon Ballroom grew with Chicago, embodying fads and moods of the time. However, throughout its history, the ballroom remained a place for night life and entertainment. In fact, Chicago is a city that does not sleep and is a city that knows how to have a good time.
Bottom Lounge
Bottom Lounge is a newer establishment, having opened its doors and its stage in 2003. Originally the lounge was located off the red line Belmont stop, but, forced to relocate it now resides just off the pink line/ green line Ashland stop. Although not a huge venue, Bottom Lounge has hosted several notable artists including Bruno Mars.
On my visit to Bottom Lounge to see Saint Motel, I was put off by the area. Ashland seemed more like a back road, with not much around besides a glowing McDonald’s. However, when I stepped inside, I realized that here was where everyone was hiding. Bottom Lounge appeared to have been more of a bar that happened to have a stage in the back than a music venue. The back room was mostly bare and the small stage was simply decorated with metallic tinsel. Besides the simple setting, the lounge was filled with life. People were crammed into every space, drinking and laughing, dancing and singing. In fact the Saint Motel concert was the most lively concert I have ever been to, with the crowd going wild for the whole set.
Bottom Lounge proved to be a marker of resilience in the Chicago people. Chicagoans can make a good time anywhere at anytime and in fact a good time is truly a great time at Chicago. And so, Bottom Lounge made the map not because of its extensive history or because of its elaborate architecture, but rather because of the soul it houses and extenuates to the people of Chicago.
Thalia Hall
Thalia Hall, which is located in Pilsen, is a neighborhood establishment created by John Dusek, a local family man, tavern owner, and facilitator of the arts. Dusek succeeded in his goal in 1892 as Thalia Hall works as a means to bring the community together. Besides functioning as a concert hall, Thalia Hall also houses a restaurant, cocktail bar, and town hall.
When I visited Thalia Hall, I walked through the neighborhood of Pilsen to get there. My company and I commented on the variety of Halloween decorations adorning the houses. We also encountered families, pets roaming free with no leashes, and the occasional mural art. When I got in the venue to see the Strumbellas show, the people inside were friendly and casual. No one was crowding or pushing. Instead everyone seemed happy, relaxed, and involved in a casual conversation. It seemed to me that everyone must know each other or must be extremely friendly because everyone was engaging everyone.
To me, Thalia Hall was a symbol of community. The building and the music brought people together. It built up the community with a celebration of the arts and functioned as a means to serve and give back to the community. And so, Thalia Hall secured its spot on my map, showing the unifying power of music.
The Map
My map, “Walking on the Beat” serves as an argument that Chicago is alive with its night life music scene. The inclusion of historical sites shows that the city has been built on music. The grandeur of the architecture displays the magic and beauty of entertainment. Chicago has kept its class through the decades. And the entertainment industry, especially that of the music industry has adapted with the people, always fresh and exciting. And even so, music venues and live performances will not ever die out. The venues, like the people of Chicago, have resilience and like to party. Music is a staple in the lifestyle of fun and excitement in the city. And music venues bring the city together. From neighborhood to neighborhood and from genre to genre, people come out and enjoy each other and enjoy their lives. My map doesn’t include streets, rather it just includes the four music venues mentioned in their geographical locations with circles radiating outwards. This is reflective of Sarah Bernhardt’s quote in that Chicago is the “pulse.” The music venues represent the individual pulses of life in the city. Furthermore, the venues are not divided by streets because we are all united as one community with one song.
Works Cited
