Centerstage - Chicago's Original City Guide

Articles Sections >> Arts + Words Bars + Clubs Dating Festivals Fitness Food Lifestyle Music Theater Travel + Tourism Who's Who > View All Music Guides

Fill 'Er Up

With intriguing sounds and cheap drinks, the Empty Bottle's free concerts make for a fulfilling experience.

Monday Dec 25, 2006.     By Ben Rubenstein

Music Feed

About 20 minutes into the Bitter Tears' set at the Empty Bottle last Monday night, one of the group's guitarists asked an appropriate question: "Do you intellectuals like to dance?" The Tears, dressed in ill-fitting wedding dresses and strange wigs, were doing their best to raise the level of excitement in the room. But no matter how many presents they handed out, there was no getting around the fact that this was a crowd for whom raucous involvement was not a top priority.

Now, I'm not judging; with my scruffy facial hair and general avoidance of confrontation, I fit in well enough with the unresponsive indie masses. But the vibe that dominates here is not for everyone. Despite the absurdly awesome Manic Mondays drink deal ($1.25 PBR bottles) that goes along with the free performance, you might want to think twice about bringing along your entire fraternity for some bonding.

One thing's clear, though: the Empty Bottle is a great place to see a show. The brick-walled venue is one of those places that make you feel instantly in-the-know, even if it's no secret to anyone who appreciates local music. Countless acts have gotten their start here, and many more note it as their favorite place to play. Still, the poster-plastered walls and inimitable bathroom graffiti exude cool, making it easy to forget that the first time you came here, you walked up and down Western for half an hour before finally stumbling upon the unassuming Old Style sign out front.

The three-foot high stage is set in the back corner, allowing onlookers to catch the show from either the crowded long room by the bar or the smaller side area that provides an eye-level view of the action (plus stairs for sitting and smoking). There's also a front room with a pool table and photo booth that fills up between sets.

I only recently learned about the free concerts here, and judging from the size of the crowd, it seems I'm a little behind the times. While a good number of people seemed to be friends with the performers, I'd bet that most would've come regardless of who was on stage. Like me, they probably trusted the Empty Bottle to at least give them something to talk about. I missed openers Black Apple, but second act Reds & Blue was a pleasant surprise (and not only because one of their singers reminded me of my high school crush). Their music is an acquired taste, with its off-kilter melodies and percussive rhythms, but when it hits, it hits hard. Besides, any group that can pull off the bassoon as part of a rock performance deserves some attention.

I thought the Bitter Tears might be a letdown, but when I noticed the band's outfits, I knew I had to stay for at least a couple songs. The group's mix of funeral dirges, hard rock outbursts and country waltzes is certainly offbeat enough to match its singular stage presence, and the lyrics are no less wacky. Over the span of a few songs, I heard appropriately immature references to suicide, sex, and (I think) Steven Tyler.

Ultimately, this night seems to be about catering to a crowd that is constantly looking to be ahead of the trend. It's a group that wants to be able to point to a poster on the Empty Bottle's dingy walls a few years down the line and say, "I saw them before they made it big." If I get the chance to tell that same story, I'll conveniently leave out the part about standing motionless in the corner during the whole thing.

The Empty Bottle has free shows every Monday night at 9:30 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.emptybottle.com.

Ben Rubenstein jumps under the covers every other week in an ongoing search for freebie music that rocks. If you know of a no-cover night he should check out, email him.