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When you head out for a drink, throw a little blues into the destination.

Wednesday Apr 02, 2008.     By Centerstage Chicago Staff

Music Feed

It's one of the most frequently heard Q&As: "So, uh, what are you going to do this weekend?" Answer: "Oh, you know, hit the bars." Try a new response that's sure to wow friends and neighbors this time around: Slip "blues" in front of "bars." Chicago is replete with tourist-free spots that pair that much needed drink with some uncanned tunes. Here are a few of our top picks:

Lee's Unleaded Blues
You're just as likely to see men topping off their suspender-and-fur-coat regalia with fedoras as you are to spot clubgoers sporting White Sox caps at this South Side blues club. Ranging from R&B to reggae to pure blues, the sounds get bigger throughout the night as unexpected guest musicians are invited to "sit in" for a few numbers. Slide into the free parking lot directly behind the club, roll your fine self in by 8:30 p.m., and you're assured cushy seating and a good view of the stage with no cover charge to speak of (though there's an easy-to-fulfill two-drink minimum).

While there's a good amount of swank and sass ricocheting between the black-painted and mirror-adorned walls and deep red carpeting, there's a sense of down-home familiarity wafting in the air. The crowd, which ranges from University of Chicago students to retired folk, shows its appreciation with hip shaking and shimmying, especially when the singers mingle on the floor mid-performance. About 30 years old (including the days the club was know as Queen Bee's) and going strong, Lee's Unleaded is no secret to well-informed international travelers and music-loving Chicagoans; the entryway boasts a showcase of framed articles that feature Lee's, including "National Geographic" and "Men's Journal."

Kingston Mines
There's something to be said for doing one thing and simply doing it well. That maxim certainly applies to Kingston Mines, one of Chicago's most notable blues clubs. The no-frills music house has two modest stages, both of which are large enough to accommodate a full band but small enough to keep the musicians connected to the audience. Concerts play on the two stages simultaneously, with a bar separating the blues bands dueling nightly. The artists are ordinarily old hands, and five-decade blues veterans are not uncommon.

The atmosphere is far more social than at the average music house. The audience, which amounts to no more than a few hundred in either hall, sits around community-style tables rather than in assigned seats, the lights are only slightly dimmed, and the music is not so loud that you can't hear your neighbor. Arrive early to sidestep lines; tickets are bought at the door, typically $12 during the week and $15 on weekends. The food is brought to you by Doc's Rib Joint, located under the same roof as the music itself.

Frankie's Blue Room
The Chicago blues scene tends to neatly confine itself within city limits, which is why Frankie's Blue Room is such a find. Step through the entrance of this heart-of-downtown Naperville club and you'll discover a hazy atmosphere, dim and moody, where '40s style decor invokes the spirit of a bygone era. The stage, graced in the past by acts such as Poi Dog Pondering and the Mighty Blue Kings, is conveniently tucked at the back of the room, leaving plenty of space for the tables that surround an elevated dance floor.

This raised platform plays a vital role any given night at Frankie's. Its surface is regularly covered with the feet of those enjoying a free dance lesson, from swing on Wednesday to salsa on Thursday. The rest of the week it's cluttered with a variety of music lovers, enjoying Frankie's wide range of blues, jazz and rockabilly offerings. Liquor-wise, martinis are the drink of choice, strong enough to cure the claustrophobia that results from standing amid Frankie's frequently healthy crowd. And if that doesn't do it, you can always walk back to the open air deck, where a cool breeze and a view of the DuPage River supplies a serenity not found within the walls of this raucous club.

Buddy Guy's Legends
Chicago's foremost blues club is owned by the blues legend himself. A formidable array of visiting talent and Chicago bluesmen play here, including Buddy Guy (about 10 shows a year). Eric Clapton played here for three dates in one November; other nationally known blues artists like Taj Mahal, Dr. John, Johnny Adams & the Dirty Dozen Brass Band are regular visitors, as well as locals Sugar Blue and Koko Taylor. Though the cover and the drinks are usually pricey enough to be called excessive, the music is rarely anything short of superb. Crowd is a mix of yuppies, tourists and real blues stalwarts, and it's very hard to get a seat on weekends.

Jackets, T-shirts, caps, and other Buddy Guy paraphernalia are available, and some very cool memorabilia (portraits, a green-sequined dress which Koko Taylor wore in the '50s, a Muddy Waters tour jacket, as well as guitars owned by Clapton and other blues deities) can be found on the walls. There are a couple of pool tables, and the kitchen serves hot sandwiches, simple bar food and some unusual specials during the evening.

Rosa's Lounge
The friendliest blues bar in Chicago is a joyous melting pot of cultures. It's owned by an Italian, in a Latino neighborhood, clientele is black and white, so are the musicians. The best of local talent plays here in this intimate space, which has given back to the blues community with birthday parties for elder statesmen and a classes about various blues-related topics.

As a youngster in Italy, Tony Mangiullo collected blues 45s and dreamt of being in a blues band. Eventually, with his mother ("Mama Rosa"), he moved to Chicago and set up shop. Occasionally, Tony breaks out the drum sticks and gives the bands' drummer a night off. The mostly local performers include Grammy-award winner Sugar Blue and guitarist Melvin Taylor. There's also a pool table, and lots of interesting graffiti and photographs on the walls.