I went to see Kokoroko back in October and had a great time. We got in line early so we got into the auditorium among the first few people and snagged two seats on the side, near the front. They were a bit elevated, so we saw the stage very well while standing (except when a tall dude stood in front of us for awhile, but c'est la vie). There was a bar and the line seemed to move pretty fast. We didn't use the restrooms, but they were clearly marked. My only complaint would be that there's a long staircase you need to climb to get to the concert space. Not the most friendly for those with disabilities or difficulty climbing steps. Also feels like it could be a bit of a hazard in the wrong conditions. Otherwise, great place! read more

Beautiful area inside. However entrance is not intuitive as it's not really marked so it's hard to find.

We saw Empire Strips Back, a burlesque Star Wars show. So, with that in mind, this theater is 5 stars. However, this is not a comfortable theater. Red Bulls are 8.00 a piece (I cant imagine how expensive the canned beers were). The location is old, but not as charming as the Aragon. Located in the heart of Logan Square, there are lots of restaurants in a very close proximity. Would definitely come to a show here again, but the level of expectations have been set. read more

The venue was fine overall. The seating is all on one level (if you get someone tall In front of you, viewing the stage is a challenge) and difficult to walk in and out of. With enough drinks, people seemed to mind less and less. The employees were friendly and helpful. The bar was ok... was just happy there was one there! And there were more choices than I expected. I would go again. It was a fun date night! read more

Logan Square Auditorium - a stage with a red curtain and a circular chandelier - Music Venues Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Went here recently for a concert with a friend and to my surprise it was a nice nostalgic feel the minute you walk into the venue. It almost assimilated the feel of a dorm room hall honestly! All that aside, the acoustics were phenomenal all throughout the hall. Overall, it's a nice venue but may not be everyone's style depending on the event you're hosting. Bonus: the auditorium is located in a great area filled with amazing local restaurants that dazzled. You certainly don't want to miss them! read more

Logan Square Auditorium - Outside the auditorium - Music Venues Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Enjoyed the show there but man it was hot inside. The small ceiling fans weren't on but may have helped. Aside from that service was great and an easy location to get to read more

Attended The Empire Strips Back here a couple months ago. It's a charming older venue, however, they set up folding chairs for the seating which were spaced in a way that was tighter than sitting in a L train. Everyone had to sit diagonally in their seats or were literally on top of the person next to you. Additionally, there was a festival across the street and when the music started you could hear it clearly in the auditorium which distracted from the performance. read more

Staff was great and show was great as well. Quick and fast service. It was a chill vibe and everyone enjoyed their time.

One of my new favorite spaces to see music! A cool random mix of people keep the vibes flowing. Remember it's CASH ONLY! The bar and bathrooms are to the point. Don't come here until expecting a mixologist. You came here for music and dancing with cool people read more

Smaller venue but feels larger in a good way. It gives off historic vibes inside (again, in a good way). Went to see a show, staff was efficient even with literal check-in off their pre-printed sheet of paper and we got in pretty quickly. Sound system was not good at all but I'm not sure if the venue is to blame for that. From other reviews, seems like a popular wedding venue. I can definitely see that but can't speak to that. 3.5 stars. Above average venue but not great. read more

Bonus Points for being in my neighborhood, negative points for the sound quality, this ballroom is a beautiful room. The booking is handled by Empty Bottle and shows are pretty cheap and tix can be bought directly through their website. They have indie rock, all ages punk shows and the like and the booking is consistently good. I've seen OK GO, Rogue Wave, the Grates, Andrew Bird (where I actually played in opening band Occidental Brothers). If a show sells out it will be crowded with nowhere to sit but the sidelines and you won't be able to see the show. The Balcony fills up quickly, if you want a seat, better head there immediately. If you're over 21, the beer is overpriced. I see this as being a great location for a wedding if they had foodservice facilities; and it would be great for concerts if they put in sound improvements. read more

Security is extremely rude here. I went to the Windy City Soul Club NYE party and was waiting in the middle of the line with my friend (patiently and sober) so she could get her coat from coat check. I was already holding mine, as well as a bottle of water I had purchased inside moments ago. Some asshole security guard grabs the bottle of water from my hands, yelling "we don't know if there's liquor in that" and throws it in the trash can in front of me. It was a little after 12am and I wasn't leaving yet... Seconds later I witness another person (with a ticket) enter and the guy turns her away... the party goes until 2am and she was a paid customer. I frequent Empty Bottle (who hosted this party) and have been to LSA several times with no issue. I'm pissed I paid good money to be treated like shit when I could have gone anywhere else. Shame on you to treat patrons like this. read more

I took them quite a while to fix this place up and get a license for live concerts. The sound does need work and it is like a gym. The thing is though they are starting to get some pretty big names as well as rockin' local bands. Alterbridge played here! I hope they make some improvements and this place sticks around. It's not a very attractive place, especially on the outside. read more

Logan Square Auditorium - Logan Square Auditorium - Music Venues Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I can honestly say that I never knew this place existed until I attended the Company of Thieves concert last night. I thought the sound was good considering I do not think the place was designed to hold rock concerts. The beer was better than I had read considering they had bottles and they were only $5 bucks. I would have expected more especially after viewing some of the reviews before I went. I thought the price of $14 for 4 bands was great even though the first two bands combined for 7 songs. I think some of the bad sound can be attributed to the sound guy and not the acoustics of the venue. For instance it seemed The Annuals last night turned up all their instruments so high that it overpowered their voices and you could not understand what they were saying. I will definitely attend other shows at this venue. read more

It's a lovely space, vintage in feel and historical. I went to a wedding here, and it was very nice, and the venue even allowed the bride/groom to go in the night before to set up a few things (which was a fantastic touch on their end). On the day of the wedding space worked out very well and the wedding went off without a hitch. Just a few suggestions to the venue owners as they embark into more of a 'traditional wedding' venue. 1) If the ceremony is taking place at this location, please be respectful and stop moving! While the wedding ceremony was taking place, we could hear the employees walking around in the background. And hey, I get it, it's a historic building with character, and that means squeaky floors. I would just hate to have been recording the ceremony and have had to hear the noise in the video. 2) Get a better AC system. It seemed a bit warm (not hot, just warm) on the wedding day. And since a big part of weddings is dancing it could have been cooler. 3) An elevator for ADA accessibility (and for grandparents or people who can't go up two flights of stairs). 4) If weddings are a thing you want more of, you NEED to hire a wedding coordinator. Might be expensive, and another person to pay but hiring a coordinator will make or break your future in the wedding venue business. My friend, the bride, did mention it was difficult getting a hold of the manager. 5) The entrance should be better marked (it's on the Kedzie side sandwiched between Lula Cafe and the diner). I think taking into account the historic nature of the building; some reorganization of the bar and bathroom area, and an overall clean / paint facelift to the auditorium this can be an even better space with more Chicago couples getting married here. read more

DO NOT RENT FROM HERE!! We had a horrible experience with the owner. The venue inside was so hot that we asked the owner about the AC. He assured me all the five units were running and that it would cool off soon. It never did. Later that evening I found out from patrons that they overheard the owner tell his staff that he only had two units on and didn't want to turn the others on. We had over 200 people and it was 90 degrees inside and outside!! It was awful!! My staff asked for a cup of water while setting up for the event and they were refused!! They told us to buy a bottle of water for $3.. My caterers had spilled some sauce in the hallway and the owner refused to provide cleaning supplies to clean up the mess. He told my caterers to go buy their own paper towels and cleaning supplies because he didn't want us to ruin his mop. The owner and staff just stood and watched my caterers clean up the sauce from the floor. When I was informed of what was happening I went to the owner and told him this was unacceptable and asked for some cleaning supplies but he refused. It was a horrible mistake holding my event here! Stay away, there are so many better places in the area.. read more

"This song reminds me of my childhood," she said. I looked at her searchingly then quickly averted my eyes. For a few seconds there was a silence. I broke it, "Yeah? Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Many venues (cough cough The Metro) are a concession of our city from modern metropolitan corruption. The Logan Square Auditorium (LSA) despite being somewhere in between a high school gym and a ballroom--leaning closer on the banister of a HS gym side of things--embodies an atmosphere that could be found in a small college town, or in the LSA's case a liberal side of town that has vintage appeal. There is always a large age gap at LSA, so depending on what kind of crowd you dig, expect a wide and diverse one. Standing behind a 39 yr old (who lyke, had to hire a babysitter) yet in front of the hippest kid in town, leads to an interesting dancehall venue. I like the music they play in between sets. Also, most of the shows at LSA are cheap, you gotta dig. Shows I have seen here: The Black Lips - raucous and rampant rock, there is something special about seeing a band before they break it big and go on to play venues like the Metro. Luckily, Black Lips haven't reached that point yet and I was glad to see them although they didn't quite give it all their might (long tour...) Yann Tiersen - known for being the guy behind the Amelie soundtrack, the French musician (who has been compared to Frédéric Chopin, Erik Satie, Philip Glass and Michael Nyman) and his band impressed me so. It's always interesting seeing a group without ever having heard their music beforehand. This is always a risk, but this time it payed off as the female vocalist, awesome toy piano and incredible violin solo's by Yann really did it for me. PS Never wear TOMS shoes to a concert! Comparisons: Eugene, OR - The McDonald Theatre Los Angeles, CA - a less modern Avalon San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore West London, UK - Café Paris read more

I know venues will charge more for alcohol, but $5 for a PBR is just madness. Acoustics are decent and the place on occasion draws good enough bands to warrant a trip out here now and then. For all you fixie owners out there, it's good to know it's a short walk from the Logan Square blue line stop because the bike racks seems to always be overloaded. read more

Logan Square Auditorium is an average music venue. Not the best and not the worst. It is a bit difficult to find. The entrance is a small, nondescript door next to Lula Cafe. Ascend the staircase and...welcome back to high school! Seriously, in some half-nostalgic, half-uncanny way, the layout and architecture of this place reminds me of my high school auditorium. There's no coat check, but a rack to hang up your clothes. And even the merch is sold on the side of the stage...kind of like a high school bake sale. I like how large this space is. Even though it's not fancy, I appreciate that I could see the stage pretty well even when the place was crowded. But unfortunately, the sound is not great and the bathroom here is cramped and always kinda grotty. Bartenders are not friendly. There's a tendency to be ignored whether there is a line or not. Overall, Logan Square Auditorium is a decent place to see a show, but it could use some improvements. read more

I like the Logan Square Auditorium. What a great place to have an event. They have a bar, vintage bathrooms and a lot of stairs. Conveniently located in Logan Square, hence the name, this venue is easily accessible by car, bus and the Blue Line. This place hosts all sorts of events from plays, weddings to hardcore shows. I have been to Logan for a wedding, a play and for an Earth Crisis show. All were different events, but each one was executed very well. The wedding was classy (although I was pushed down the stairs by the groom), the play was entertaining and Earth Crisis brought me back 15 years. The show actually sounded great. Logan Square Auditorium is a great place to have an event. Whether it is a wedding, concert, rock show or a play, they have got you covered. Until I see you again Logan. read more

This place is weird. The first time I entered it I felt like I was walking into a high school dance. This place probably was actually a school at some point. The stage area looks like a high school gym with a stage. They do have a bar set up in back (no taps) but even that is small. They don't have a large selection of beer or liquor. With that said, it is one of the only remaining places that will have all-ages shows in Chicago. It is big and can draw good crowds. They used to have a lot of good shows - both local and smaller national acts but not so much anymore. I have a feeling the promoter that used to book there isn't doing so anymore. It's a shame. It's not my favorite place to go but I will if there is a band I really want to see. Plus what 30-something girl doesn't want to relive her high school years? Oh wait - ME! read more

This is basically a high school gym with a stage on one end. The building itself is nice to look at, but really isn't suited for rock or amplified shows because of the high ceilings and no muffling materials whatsoever. It's just a wash of sound. The bar was ok, the bathroom was cool. I'm sure that finding the entrance can be tricky for those who don't know the area. Street parking is ok, though you might have to park a little walk away. Take the blue line to Logan Square instead. read more

I hate this place. It's friggin' huge and the sound sucks and usually the people suck too. The drinks are expensive (thats why I bring my own). And so are the tickets - considering what a shitty experience you are gonna have. Maybe I'm bitter because the timing of the opening of this venue was aligned with the closing of the Fireside and it seemed this monolith was expected to take the place of an institution. Sorely disappointed. read more

Acoustics suck here! Apparently you can rent the space for your community church, your civic group, or your wedding, if you are so inclined. It is actually a lovely space for that sort of thing...but for rock shows? Way too much bounce. read more

I came here last night to witness a performance by Thee A Silver Mount Zion/ Tra-La-La Band with Joshua Abrams opening up. Honestly, I wouldn't want to see those two bands elsewhere. The venue itself bends you over with no reach around. 6 bucks for a 312? 5 bucks for a PBR? Soda water for 3 bucks? The sound may suck, but I don't know enough about it to give you any sort of technical definition. But what I do know is that it was quite pleasant to see a band rock out with enough room to shake for about 200 people. That and essentially feeling every footstep on the floor is an interesting dynamic. Another gripe about this place is that contacting their phone number is hit or miss. There is a voicemail service, but no call backs. Will I come back, yes. It's a nice venue to catch up on a band and run into them, cos, well, they have no where else to go when they get done. But I'll bring a flask with me. read more

Feel like standing? You're in luck!! The room gets packed because it's about the size of a high school gymnasium. It gets HOT too. Great sound everywhere though. It's a bit of a struggle to worm your way up front so it's up to you if it's worth it. I've been here twice. Once for a comedy show with five stand ups and secondly for MuM. It didn't really matter for me where we were for the stand up because it was equally hilarious everywhere you were. For Mum we squeezed in the middle of the crowd though and it enhanced the experience. Wristbands if you're drinking, drinks sold in the back. It's kind of a hole in the wall but worth it if you're going to see something you enjoy there. read more

I've been hyped on this venue running wrestling shows for the last few years and would have given them a five star revue. But I have to give them a lower rating now. This is a great spot for shows and other events, but having the "help" tell you to keep your drink off the floor because of not wanting their floor wet if the drink is spilled? If your so worried about that, then don't sell drinks? Not at the high prices they charge, ($5 for a 12oz can of pbr!! read more

After the end of a crazy, busy week last week it is safe to say that I was not exactly champing at the bit to brave Logan Square. I cabbed it over to Logan Square Auditorium on a brisk Friday evening (snow would have been the deal-breaker) to attend Open Books' 2014 Make the Case for Kids, a bookcase-decorating competition and fundraiser. When the cab pulled up to the building, I had to check the numbers as I was not certain I was even in the right spot, thanks to the location being sandwiched between two other buildings. Even as I climbed the stairs I still was feeling twinges of uncertainty, right up until the time I hit the second floor and began to hear noises coming from the auditorium and spied the Open Books signage. There wasn't a coat check - merely racks - so I ended up carrying my coat, which turned out to be a-ok since the space itself was chilly. Perhaps it was not the temperature so much as the eerie vibes - for some reason, the high-ceilinged sace, with Rococco plasterwork and a few burned out bulbs, recalled something out of The Shining or that ever-popular Lifetime series The Haunting Of... Since I'd paid for my ticket ahead of time, I didn't have to face the exorbitant drink prices that other reviewers mentioned. The bar setup was not what I was used to, nor was the space itself, mainly owing to the obvious lack of seating. This is one instance where I'm glad I wore comfortable shoes. The event itself was entertaining, and I enjoyed the performance/emcee stylings of Chicago comedian Kelsie Huff, who is hilarious. The acoustics could have been better, especially during the portion when the raffle prizes were being announced. When I exited the venue, I noticed the sign stating that there would be no tolerance for ins and outs, even if patrons had their tickets with them. This to me seems a draconian policy, as it doesn't account for emergencies (or even cigarette breaks, which to some might fall under the urgent category). Once is probably enough for me to come here, and I am glad that I was able to nab a cab before late night hours descended onto Logan Square. read more

I would give the Logan four stars if their beer were cheaper. But it does come in its can and not a crappy plastic cup, so maybe I'll give them 3.5 stars. I saw CocoRosie here last weekend and was prepared to be disappointed. I was the opposite!! I was worried the sound would be reminiscent of dodge-ball day in elementary gym class, and it was not! The decor is much nicer than anticipated, the entry is quick and simple, the sound really solid for such a venue. CocoRosie also was way fucking more awesome live that I'd have hoped. Sweet. read more

It's official...I hate this place. Why, oh why can't they shell out some bucks and get a better set up! The sound sucks SO bad. I don't mind the venue, in fact I dig it. But like Yelper Grace L. said, "Too bad good bands sound like bad bands when they play here". Also, if you like your music with booze, you need to either get lit before you come or smuggle in booze like I do (shhhh), because it ain't cheap, kid. read more

I had the luxury of attending a Metal/Amatuer Wrestling Event sponsored by PBR here. I know that this venue is now apart of the storied "Empty Bottle" entity that rules Chicago's awesomeness scene, and I was glad I got to see it when I was there. The acoustics were excellent, and I felt that this was a great midsized venue. Lots of places to stand and lean. Big, Organized bar area, getting a drink was quick and easy.Speaking of acoustics, they were Probably too great, as my ears started to bleed. Metal Health can drive one mad. It reminds me of an old school gymnasium, and I like that it is being used for good instead of evil. Bonus: it is in my favorite area in all of Chicago. read more

I was here for The Yelp Burger Kick-off. First things first this place is not ADA compliant. It is on the second floor and there are no elevators and is also SRO capacity. The different restaurants that participated provided some very good bites and the money raised went to a good cause for JDRF. read more

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My first time here and hopefully my last. "Doors at 7" became 745pm with zero info to any of us outside in the cold. Then when the doors open, everyone lines up - on a staircase. At the top of the stairs there are. Couple of different lines with zero info on what line is for what. Will call? Wristbands for drinking? No one knew. After that, the sound was awful for the show and the tiny bar obviously couldn't serve the huge crowd that was there. At the end, they opened a tiny little door to get back out to the stairwell so took about 30 minutes to even get out. Just awful overall. read more

Logan Square Auditorium gets two stars because, and only because, they know how to book good shows- although for the most part the Empty Bottle is to thank for that. But, in spite of that, I'll think twice about going to see an act that I want to go see live here if I know it's going to be a crowded show, because A) the acoustics are awful because of the high ceilings and B) unless you're up front or 6 foot 10 inches, chances are you will not have a few good view of the stage. Even though everything isn't the greatest sound/show wise, it's an alright looking place, and I have had fun there seeing anyone from Andrew Bird to the absolute loudest show I've ever heard in Kevin Drumm/Boris/Sunn0))). Oh, and you better hope that a fire doesn't happen when you're watching a show here- there's a couple semi-narrow stairwells on the way to the stage+floor. Wouldn't want to be caught in there. read more

Beautiful venue. What most reviewers don't seem to realize is that no matter the sound system, it will always sound fairly crappy because it's in a ballroom... an old one at that, not acoustically built for big rock shows. Shows also tend to be very warm here... even with the large windows open, it can turn into a sauna rather quickly at a sold-out show. That being said, I've seen several great shows here - Feist & British Sea Power, Andrew Bird, and the Comedians of Comedy tour (no sound problems on that last one, and boy did you miss out if you weren't there...). As far as drink prices - drink locally beforehand! The Whirlaway is only a couple of blocks away. read more

I think I saw Sunset Rubdown here, but without going into that.... I liked the venue. Sure the acoustics weren't top notch and the stage was rather low, but how great is it to see rock show in what looks like your grade school gym. It was dark, but I swear I saw a FITNESS IS FUN sign on the wall. read more

The first time I came here I was 13 and then I stayed away for 7 years. I was going to come see Ty Segall here in August, but I couldn't find any parking for 20 minutes and I got so pissed off I just went home. I swore to never come to this place again no matter who was performing!! But then Fuzz announced a show and I mean.. I can't skip out on Fuzz... I read the reviews here and I was DREADING coming. I circled around the venue about 3 times looking for parking and was ready to go home again until I saw someone pulling outta a spot that was right in front. I was so stoked. Sorry, but I have to brag about this. I mean.. granted I haven't been here in ever so I can't really say "oh parking is always SO horrible!" but man.. that was some good luck since parking is always SO horrible! Okay but really. I don't understand the complaints about the sound. Okay, maybe I do. If you're not seeing a band that already plays super loud then the sound is probably going to be less than great, but if you're seeing a loud ass band then it's going to be great. Your ears will be ringing for at least a couple hours after the show and your insides will be shaking. The loud sound will also act as a shield against the douchebags who insist on talking loudly while a band is playing. Honestly.. I wish more venues got this loud. The views are pretty good too unless some rude tall ass dudes decide it's okay to stand in front of you. In my opinion it's pretty much like every other venue when it comes to that. The interior was also kinda.. weird. Just doesn't seem like it'd be a place bands come to play. If it wasn't for the parking situation I'd be excited to come here again, but until then I'm going to try to avoid this place just cause of that. read more

Did I miss the AA meeting? Is a church service being held tomorrow? Bingo night? This place feels like a local community center and the meeting place for the protagonist and antagonist in a Todd Solondz film. It is that bizarre. This place could be converted into anything kitschy... unfortunately sometimes bands just have no idea what kind of venue they are getting themselves into and because of this I have seen a couple great shows here. But I really don't like this place and would certainly not want to come here if I can help it. read more

The sound quality isn't great. It's just one big floor, so if you get stuck standing behind a really tall guy and his really tall girlfriend, and they love to make out during concerts, you're going to be shifting around a lot trying to see the band. However, what this place loses in those categories, it makes up for with the fact that the drinks aren't that expensive (at least, I don't remember them being expensive) and, more importantly, it's basically a high school auditorium. I would love to rent this place out and have a prom party. An attractive list of artists performing there and something like a bit of nostalgia forbids me from giving it lower than a three star rating. I'm not a huge fan of Logan Square in general (sorry Logan Square-rs!), so your after-show drink options seem kind of limited. I usually just head back to my neighborhood and drink there. Or go home, since a lot of shows here are on weekdays. read more

NYE with the Windy City Soul Club was a let down at this venue. The first issue was the mandatory, free coat check that created a line which wrapped all the way around the building. If it weren't for some friends in the area who let us stash our coats at their place we wouldn't have made it inside before midnight. Next problem: The very slow TWO bartenders serving mixed drinks. The wait was atrocious. A third of the bar that was sectioned off for "VIP" which not only was a huge waste of space but an idiotic establishment of hierarchy for who - the event promoters' friends? Dumb. The balcony area was VIP as well - equally stupid as there was NO ONE up there except for the poor sap assigned to the task of turning people away once they got to the top of the stairs. Third and worst of all, as my previous reviewers have stated: THE SOUND, dear lord the sound. I couldn't take it. My entire group of about 20 people left at 12:30 because our ears were bleeding. There was also nowhere to get away from the music to sit down and take a break. It was a mess. read more