Tucked into the famed Six Corners in Wicker Park, the down-and-dirty Double Door is a Chicago institution. The mid-size venue holds nearly 500 people, but still manages to feel like an intimate underground spot, boasting excellent acoustics, dim lighting and direct views of the stage for anyone who wants them.

The main floor is where you'll find the dance floor and a large bar stretched down one wall serving beer, cocktails and wine for around $3-$5. The room tapers in toward the stage, and it's often packed to standing-room-only, so expect to be crammed in alongside fellow sweaty fans. If you need a breather, escape to the basement, where the bar lines are shorter and you might score an open booth or an empty pool table. You can also wander up to the mezzanine, which offers standout views of the stage and its own bar. Both the lower and upper levels broadcast the action onstage via closed-circuit TVs mounted on the ceiling, so feel free to stick around if fighting for face-time with the band isn't your thing.

Even though it feels like a neighborhood bar, the Double Door has serious booking cred and prides itself on a long history of awesome acts that includes The Smashing Pumpkins, Bush and even The Rolling Stones. Its lineup is heavy on rock, with a mostly-mainstream sound, but there's an ample indie presence as well. You can often see local bands and solid touring acts for $10, with tickets for major names rarely running higher than $20.

Centerstage Reviewer: Julia Steinberger