I went to Martyrs' at the end of February for the first time and I believe it'll definitely be my last unless they fix their security staff's attitude problem. First impression of the actual VENUE: nice wide open space. Dim lighting, very appropriate. A few tables in the corner, which were definitely being used. Clean bathrooms. Free water at the bar (LOVE it! Why don't more venues do this?). Nice, funny staff member taking tickets. So, again: the two stars for this review is for the security staff, NOT the venue as a whole. The show I went to on February 28 attracted primarily a crowd of teenagers, though not unruly kids. Apparently, Martyrs' is now enforcing a no-moshing rule. Okay, I understand that. A lot of local venues do this. However, to wait and let patrons know that only AFTER a pit starts is very wrong. Have clear signs. An acquaintance was suddenly kicked out because he arrived late and was not familiar with the rule that we had figured out. I went to talk to the two security guards, reassuring them that the acquaintance who got kicked out wouldn't be starting any problems. They then proceeded to lie to me and tell me that they warned him three times (there was only 1 previous pit). The acquaintance was stuck waiting out in the cold for HOURS. He is a high school student. I wanted to go back outside to give him my extra coat, but the staff had enforced the 'no re-entry' rule... of course. The whole interaction left me with a bitter taste. Please, Martyrs', educate your security team on how to better announce new rules and treat patrons of ALL ages with respect. Until then, I won't be coming back, and neither will many of my friends in local music. read more

Great intimate place to see musicians on the rise. Part of the intimacy of the place is that musicians that play here generally feel comfortable, or at home, so they tend to open up a bit more - talk with the crowd - you get the idea that kum-ba-yah would be magical here. Drinks prices were reasonable, and the bar staff was fantastic. We got here really close to the start of the show time and most seats were taken, so I would suggest getting here early to get a good seat. Dangerous that it is so close to mi casa, I will become a much more frequent visitor with such great ticket prices and the craving to learn about new artists. read more

Yes, I know this is a music venue, but my first outing to Martyrs' was for the Robert Burns Supper. This is an event where Scottish societies celebrate the works of the great poet, Robert Burns. I miss Edinburgh so very much and soon as I heard they were having Scottish festivities and Haggis, I made sure to mark my uneventful calendar. Even though I couldn't quite decipher the Scottish tongue at times, I thought the delivery of the poems, songs, and storytelling was amazing! I had a bit of a flashback when I went to see a Scottish comic at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh. Everyone in the auditorium was laughing their bums off, while was I scratching my head trying to figure out the joke. Speaking of jokes, I thought the toast to the lassies and the reply to the toast was just hilarious. Basically, it's a witty battle of the sexes where a representative of each gender roasts the other gender. The material and timing of the toasters was just impeccable. I would definitely go back to Martyrs' if an appealing artist rolls in, the only thing different I would do is keep my relationship strictly entertainment and not culinary. read more

This place started out as sort of a haven for hippie jam bands. It soon expanded its niche, becoming a great, intimate place to see bands. If you catch them before they're really popular, you can have some really experiences sitting at a table in front of the stage, chatting with the musicians before and after sets. I've seen Baaba Maal, Ed Harcourt and countless others. Later this week I'm going to see Girlschool, one of the original New Wave of British Heavy Metal bands from the early 80s who once did a split album with Motorhead! Additionally, Martyrs has great brunch. Nice prices, not too crowded, fun menu. It's been a few years, so I can't say much more specific about the food, but I'll update this when I come back. read more

This place is awful. I went to one of their tributasauras events and was amazed at how rude the staff is. They have a pretty good selection of beers but the bartender was way too cool to actually tell me what they served. The waitress acted like she was doing me a major favor when she FINALLY took a beer order and then was super rude to the people next to us when they tried to order as well. The guy at the door was nice and the tributasauras band was charming for about thirty minutes. Blow this place off. It sucks. read more

This is a solid place to catch a show. I saw the amazing Tyrone Wells here a couple months ago, and it was the perfect venue for his acoustic show. The stage is small, but not too small. There is plenty of seating, and plenty of room to stand and walk around. It got pretty packed for his show, but there wasn't a bad spot in the place. I love venues like this that are on the smaller side so it gives the show more of an intimate feeling. I can't speak for the drinks or food as I wasn't partaking in any of that on that fine evening, but I have heard good things and the bartender was very friendly and generous with the water I was drinking. read more

There's a nice feel to this place, although it has a somewhat unusual set-up. The placement of the stage makes the room seem wide rather than deep. It's not bad, just different than what I'm used to. + for the fact that the food I ordered (quesadillas) was actually good! another thing I tend not to expect while at a show. When I was there they had these tall tables that made it easy to share your food while standin' around. all in all a good spot. read more

Good bands, and i love the vibe here but they have Horrible tap beer. They obviously don't clean their taps very often as two different beers I had tasted like mildew and were undrinkable. It's pretty gross and pathetic especially when they are serving a disgusting version of daisy cutter just a few blocks from Half Acre. Take my advice, stick to bottles or cans here. read more

I love the ambiance of Martyrs'. It incorporates the chic design of upscale bars with the functionality and ruggedness of dives. The sound, as others have said, is tremendous. On an empty pocket, I saw a Aidan O'Toole play two sets. They were good, and the atmosphere was very warm. I can't wait to go back for Big C Jamboree. read more

Awesome, unknown (to me) venue/bar/restaurant that is further north than I'm used to being. We saw Paul Angotti and his band play "Band on the Run" and had a great view the entire time. There's a full stage for performers, a dance floor, and lots of room to sit at tables if you're not dancing. I loved everything about this place, especially the paintings of Jimi Hendrix, Lennon, Joplin, etc. on the back wall. The food wasn't on the top of my favorites list, though the homemade salsa for the quesadilla was seriously fresh and delicious. The menu is small, but functions well with the purpose of this bar. I loved being here! read more

It's the day before Halloween. I'm at the end of the bar. Fred Flintstone and a female high school football player are serving drinks and dropping off baskets of food. Behind me, a microphone is on the empty stage, waiting on a storyteller for the Moth's monthly event. The theme tonight is 'Haunted.' My first drink is a 312 and my second is a Gossamer. Both drafts. My meal is a burger made of black beans with a side of crispy, ruffled potato chips. The burger tastes fresh, authentic, and nostalgic. My friend arrives. I haven't seen her in years. She's traded photography for pastry school and shows me photos of lava-hot sugar being sculpted into a rose like a piece of clay- a project during her class that day. She said she needs a little risk in her art. At that point, the first storyteller took the stage... What followed were hilarious, real-life stories from everyday people - some sad, some dazzling, most funny. People were haunted by parents, infidelity, pedicab drivers, and baristas. You have five minutes on that stage in front of that microphone and audience. Risk in art. Apparently, the people on the stage felt the same way as my friend. Martyr's, see you next time. Yours, Mike read more

If it wasn't for Boban Markovic I don't think I would of stepped in here. My main problem were the drink prices....$4 for a bottle of Pabst-I think that pretty much says it all... I really enjoyed the show, but woulda preferred a different venue. I was out of town for the numerous free shows he played, which added to the frustration of paying $5.25 for a Leine's in a plastic cup. if your going I suggest drinking beforehand and then making it just in time for the music... My mistake to get there too early read more

Martyrs' rocks! Namely because they host the monthly Moth Story Slam: http://themoth.org/ An open mic where regular people share the most amazing, 5-minute stories centered around a theme. Martyrs' has a nice big space that the staff knows how to work to make sure people get a chance to eat even if patrons must stand to eat. I was fortunate to get one of the few bar stools for the event, and took advantage of the seating to order the Smoked Ham, Fig & Mozzarella specialty pizza. I have dreams about this pizza because I am partial to sweet and savory tastes. Who knew to put fig on a pizza, contrast it with rich ham, and have them not clash over light mozzarella. Hosting Moth Story Slams and thinking of innovative pizzas is a sign of creativity and brilliance. read more

My ears are still ringing from last night's kick ass TributoSaurus [ as Steely Dan ] show. Who woulda thought a Steely Dan tribute band could rock the house so hard!? Martyrs' is great for checking out below radar / up-and-coming bands for a decent/low price. You won't find huge headliners here, but you can still see great shows. (TributoSaurus, for example, played 3 hours, had a 15-piece band with saxes + horns, and went full-on 70s rock for the mixed crowd, complete with synthesizer - kudos for the enthusiasm and awesome set!) read more

Awesome place to see a show. Talented talent buyer. Lightening fast bartenders, pretty decent food. I've seen everyone from the Slugs to moog bands to Dark Star Orchestra here and have never been disappointed. Sound is great, sight lines unencumbered. Fair ticket prices. Intimate venue. read more

I am a person who loves a live show. With that said, while a resident of Chicago, I attended a lot of live shows from stadiums to cozy venues like Martyrs'. Hands down, the best performances that I have seen were here. The sound was top knotch, the viewing area was good without too many blind spots, and the ticket prices were relatively inexpensive. read more

I've been going here for years now, mainly to see various bands / music. It is a dark, cozy small-act venue, where you can be wherever you'd like in the bar and hear at least a pretty decent sound. There always is an eclectic mix of people here - which sometimes can be a bit overwhelming when your grandmother is here along with kids just turning 21. But to each their own, if they can appreciate good music, then I can appreciate them. Since so many people come here, it can be a bit crowded at times, but usually everyone is respectful of each other's space and aren't jumping all over everyone else. The food is about as good as you can get for a bar / pub, and the drinks, while a little on the pricey side, are good. I swear, the Blue Moon I had recently was the most delicious Blue Moon I've ever tasted - it came from heaven!! read more

This is my favorite music venue in all of Chicago. I've been here for many sold-out shows and this place just seems to make people nice. The sound is quality and the space is laid out really well for dancing or just sitting at the bar. It never feels overly packed. The stage leads right to the floor, creating a real connection between performers and concert-goers. I find the staff (from the door to the bar) to be uniquely kind and genuine, and performing musicians will attest to the same. No hassels, they just want things to run smoothly. Even the restrooms are not as particularly gross as most bars at the end of the night. My only gripe is that while they have a nice selection of draught beers, their prices for a pint are standard ($5-8) but they under-serve you in small plastic cups. Robbed at the tap! Martyrs', I already shelled out $20 at the door. Can you fix the beer problem and earn all five stars? read more

Ok, so this is based on an event held there for Story Week 2007, run by Columbia College. SO, this place is actually pretty cool, laid back but not a totally destroyed dive and the bartenders weren't super surly or overly friendly. BUT, 4 dollars for a PBR??????????? Are you serious? I mean PBR is not the finest beer, at all, but when you shovel a whole bunch of poor college students into a room, you expect that many of them will want PBR. I guess that logically charging 4 dollars for one is a way to exploit that. NICE. Other then that.. everything was cool.. cool.. cool.. read more

Decent place for music. Actual venue itself is adequate for the most part. Stage, equipment, and FOH are up to par as well. read more

I've had some really fun times here and heard a nice variety of music. The crowd is really chill and fun and I hear that they have some good eats here too. read more

Martyrs' - Music Venues Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I had occasion this week not only to experience this venue on a couple of occasions but also to work with them a little, which was cool, and let me say that Martyrs and I are off to a solid start. It's an interesting room for a variety of reasons, from the rock gods who pepper the walls and table decorations to the fact that room is laid out, well, sideways, more or less. The stage is both wide and deep, and in comparison to the room, that's noticeable. Conversely, the space itself outside the stage is significantly wider than it is deep, which tends to (in my opinion) create an intimacy with the acts performing onstage. If you're seeing something really cool, that's a great way to experience a show up close and personal. There's a nice selection of beers on tap, and the staff seemed to be quick with a pour even when the joint was hopping. Thanks Martys! 'Til next time. read more

So you're telling me that I've lived in Chicago for 5 years and have never been to Martyr's? Really? What is my f'in problem? I've heard from many that this venue has great sound quality and it does, hands down. It's so small! You could reach out and touch the band if you wanted to! We saw Back Door Slam on Sunday night (great show!). For these guys not even being 21 I was expecting a young crowd but nope--I would say the average age was 33 and I saw several gray heads in the crowd. And $12 a ticket? Sign me up. This was the first show that I remembered to take ear plugs (my poor hearing). And when we walked in there was a gumball machine full of ear plugs--way to go Martyr's for caring about your patrons! Saw some upcoming shows that I would love to see, can't wait to come back! So why haven't I been to Martyr's before.... read more

The only band I've seen here is Tributosauraus but considering that they are the reincarnation of just about every band under the sun, I've seen a lot. I think the greatness of Tributosaurus contributes to my opinion of the bar, but Martyr's is also a cool place in its own right. It's got enough room to dance but still feels cozy. The staff is very friendly, the food is good for bar food, and there's just something about it that I like - sort of a no-frills yet somehow still dark and sexy. William L said it right when he described it as a dive bar without the sticky floor. I look forward to many more concerts at Martyr's. read more

Meat Party USA. I only came way north to see my good friend sing in a Talking Heads Tribute band. The performance was excellent. The people at this bar made me want to puke. Just awfully bad. Overtly liquor bloated- 'fresh' testosterone fueled atmosphere. Middle aged rail thin matchstick women- ungodly tan. doused in designer perfume. It was hormonal. I didn't stay long. I swear i walked out of there with a thin, vile film of someone elses' sweat plastering my skin. I had to shower with a steel brush- read more

I dig Martyrs'. The venue is sort of like that wide-open coffeehouse that you remember from undergraduate...except darker and with beer. We caught Bryan Wright and Joe Firstman there for something ridiculous like $10. Add a couple of nice seasonal brews to the mix at $4 to $5 a pop, and you've got yourself a pretty nice little Tuesday night that doesn't break the bank. Food service isn't fast. Walk the two blocks up Lincoln Avenue to Burrito House, grab yourself a $2 empanada to sneak into the show, and watch the early boozers trip over themselves on the sidewalk in front of you on the way. Sort of like an added bonus. -1 for the waitresses who are too busy getting down with their bad selves to bother with you as a general rule of thumb. It'd be -2, because it took them close to a half hour to bring me a late evening Coke, but it was, after all...a Coke. My fault for going off and ordering something difficult. All in all, however, this is a nice venue. Not as crowded or expensive as Schuba's and with better acoustics. Check it out the next time your favorite up-and-coming folkie comes to Lakeview. read more

Checked out Martyrs' on Thursday night for the monthly Moth Story Slam. I have to say the whole night from start to finish was fantastic and would go back again (and bring friends) in a heartbeat. The theme of the night was "Busted" and over the course of two and a half hours ten audience members told their funny, cringworthy, touching, and overall engaging stories about getting caught. Brian Babylon was the host and he kept the night rolling with his own stories and anecdotes. We did have some food as we got there early and were hungry. We ordered the chicken quesadillas and the olive and artichoke pizza. Each were solid. Nothing I would write home about if it were just a restaurant, however, for a music/performance venue it was good. Decent beer selection and great service with a lot of seating and good sight lines to the stage. If you are looking for a fun night out that is relatively inexpensive but is worth every penny, check out Martyrs' for a show and especially the Moth. Side note: I was there recently for a show as well and thought the acoustics were solid, the beer was priced well, and the crowd was fun. read more

Like to go to shows at dive bars but don't want the sticky floor, bad service and poor food choices? I think you'll like Martyrs'. It's a great place to catch a show and the do pull some awesome bands (Patrick Sweany and AM Taxi to name a few). Their food is great, I highly recommend the smoked ham, fig, and mozzarella pizza. Their beer list is decent, but you'll be paying concert prices for those microbrews. Depending on the band, there is plenty of room on the dance floor to jerk around like Elaine when your favorite tune comes on. read more

If you're looking for a great place to see the latest rock-folk-jam bands, this is it. It's an intimate venue, but there isn't a bad seat in the place, and the cover is very reasonable, usually less than $10. Whomever books the talent must have a crystal ball on who the next best national acts are. Dark Star Orchestra got their start here and they now play the Vic and larger venues around the country. If you arrive early, they actually have a pretty good menu as well. Delicious hummus, goat cheese salad, and jerk chicken sandwiches to name a few of my favorites. I loved Bo and Toast, the bartenders who worked their tails off when I first started frequenting Matryrs. Since then, I feel like the service isn't always as vigilant and the diet coke tastes kinda funny. I'd also like to request the bathroom stall doors in the ladies' room be repaired. But these are my only complaints, and I appreciate that patrons are allowed to leave and come back during concerts, so I'll deal with keeping a hand on the stall door. Street parking is usually not a problem and the train is nearby, so keep an eye on the calendar and stop by for some great music! read more

If you are looking for a live music fix this is a great venue. I have walked by martyrs a hundred times and finally got the opportunity to see a show. Was not disappointed. They have a great open area to view the live shows. Not cramped in like many other bars (of similar size) They also have a great website that gives you details about all the upcoming shows. They also let you buy tickets on-line to avoid sell outs. If you have been in the mood to check out some live music but don't feel like dealing with the bigger venues......go to Martyrs. read more

I've been to Martyrs a few times for The Moth story slam events and found the venue to be a generally good fit to that, although I'd be more likely to return to that event if I knew there were more seating available as it usually turns into a pretty long night. I guess the idea for The Moth is to get there early enough to get a seat at one of the tables. If you're able to do that, you'll be able to take advantage of the snacks and things the kitchen provides. I was there a month ago for a concert though. Some Brazilian guy a friend of mine likes. I don't know how much of the fault lies with the venue or the artist but the sound was pretty bad. Bad enough that I'd think twice before attending another musical event there. read more

Intimate room with great sound (some say the best in the city). Musicians from all over the world and all across the board play here for a reasonable cover. Menu features handmade pizza and other great eats, i.e. homemade hummus. Drink prices comparable to any other bar, even though it's a music venue. Atmosphere is mellow. Staff is nice and down-to-earth. read more

I've been coming here for small concerts over the years and I really like this place. Most recently, I came to see the band Tributosaurus doing a very impressive cover of Yes in their prime mid-70s form. The bar area has a standing room only floor in front of the stage, though there are a few side tables. I've always been a floor person where I can see the stage in front of me and get up close if I can. I like the more eclectic choice of acts that a place like Martyrs puts on, compared to the mass-marketed venues like House of Blues that are part of the Ticketmaster machine. Without places like Martyrs, lesser national bands or locally-renown performers like Tributosaurus wouldn't have a place to call home. Over the years, I've been here to see other performers like Ditty Bops, Justin Roberts, Trey Gunn, or The Syn, just to name the ones I can recall. After the Tributosaurus Yes show, I left genuinely impressed, feeling the warm glow like after a real Yes concert, no less. They did it right and I got a bargain of a show for $20 to hear music played so well. Next month they'll become Billy Joel. The band's commentator said they will even try to find someone to fill in for (Joel's ex-wife/supermodel) Christie Brinkley at the show. And did I mention there's convenient (but not free) parking across the street? Always a good thing on the usually crowded Lincoln Ave. I know I'll be back to see Tributosaurus or another band here again in the not-too-distant future. read more

Martyr's is a great place to see live music. It's small but feels more spacious than it is, with good acoustics and sight lines to the stage. I was there for the sold-out Rebirth Brass Band show last weekend, and it was as comfortable and enjoyable as a concert can be. And even though there wasn't a coat check, there were some hooks on which to hang my coat while I was dancing the night away. (Why can't you Midwesterners just let loose and dance to a good band?) read more

Spare Parts always rocks their stage! I've seen several performers here....DSO, Bumpus, etc. The venue is roomy, yet just right for an intimate night of drunken swaying amongst other drunken swayers. I hear they have food, but I've never seen a menu nor a plate. Not to mention, I hardly see tables when I go. Maybe a few stools by the bars; they have 2, one at each end. Waiter service? I've seen bar maids a few times, I guess it depends on the show. Bottom line, Martyrs' is a great place for good show without any numbskulls bothering you. People are friendly which makes for an enjoyable night. So sway away! read more

I really like the stage at Martyrs. I went to see BCC here and the sound was great! They also have a special place in my heart because they were already decorated for Halloween! And they had Rogue Dead Guy on tap! Their menu has a few bar treats like chips and salsa, quesadillas and pizza. I didn't get a chance to eat but my friends dillas looked great! read more

I have been here too many times to count. I usually go once a month for the Big C Jamboree, but my band has played here and I have been here for other shows and occasions. FOOD: The food here is pretty delicious for how simple the menu is. I have had two different pizza's, burgers, chips and salsa, etc. typical bar food with a little more dedication than most bar food. DRINK: Ok, here's where we get into a pickle. This is the only place I have ever ordered a MGD from... that's because it is $2.50. All other beer is pretty pricey. $6 for a cocktail is pretty standard, but the beers get ridiculous. Upwards of $5-$6 for any tap and it $4.50 for a freaking High Life. I'm sure if the delivery guys in the commercial saw this they would strip them of High Life privileges. If you get a draft, you might as well get Rogue Dead Guy because its higher %APV is more "getting your money's worth." ATMOSPHERE: If you go to Big C it is like stepping into a scene you never thought was real. I have heard people say they thought it was similar to being at a dance in a 50's movie. Good times. The staff is usually pretty tolerable and they do serve you just standing anywhere in the room which helps if it gets crowded. Any other time I have been in here is like any other Chicago venue. Mediocre band with no crowd. If you play here, they have a green room with supplied beverages which is sweet. In all, I will be at this place again the first Thursday of next month, and the month after that and so on. I'll deal with MGD until I bring a flask or win the Lotto. Perhaps you will catch me playing or swinging with my woman. read more

I have been to Martyr's a handful of times and I can honestly say I have never had a bad experience. It's a great place to see some live music and there is always something going on. Drink prices are okay, but some of the bottled beers are a little overpriced. I have also eaten here a number of times when dropping by to see a live act and the food has always been satisfactory. A few things that I have tried are the cheese pizza, burger, chips & salsa, etc and they've all been pretty good. No complaints from me on the food level. There are two bars in this joint and also a waitress. I mainly go to Martyr's for Big C Jamboree which takes place the first Thursday of every month. It's a night of dancing and rockabilly/rock 'n' roll/honky tonk music. The night starts off with the emcee, Ken Mottet (also the host of the Otherside), spitting out a few stories and giving you a run down of how the night goes. There's a host band, which is different every month, who will play for a bit and then other acts that have signed up for the night play 3-4 songs for about an hour and then the host bands comes back on to play a few more and then repeat. The energy is great and the sound quality is always dead on. And did I mention that Big C has no cover! Even if you're not a fan of that type of music, it is definitely worth it to try it out once. If an act is playing on any other night that you are interested in, give Martyr's a try. You won't be disappointed. read more

Went there last night to celebrate NYE with a great show by Tributosaurus who was covering the Rolling Stones. My friends and I wanted a change from the "all you can drink" party madness and Martyr's delivered. I would definitely go back because there was room to dance, never a super long line for the bathrooms, and an overall laid back vibe. My only beef was that the show attendees skewed about 20 years older than me, but that's not the venues fault (the younger generation probably isn't as big on the Rolling Stones.) read more

I dig this place. A lot. It's got that dark, divey vibe but it's also a lot more spacious than it looks from the outside. I visited on a weekday night (week...day...night? What? Oh well) to see a friend's band play. There were a few local bands lined up for the night and I gotta mention that they were all ear candy. There was a $10 cover which I would normally grumble about but the bands Martyrs' books get paid so I ain't tryin' to hate on working artists making a living. We ordered a few beers, which were reasonably priced for a bar atmosphere with live music. I also got their artichoke, black olive and parm pizza. I'm not a big "bar food" eater (I'm a "bar drank" drinker), but I was starving and it sounded good. I was pretty blown away by how tasty it was. I was expecting something just thrown together and warmed up in the microwave, but this was legit food that I would have ordered and inhaled at a restaurant. It's not often that I go to a bar and order food, even less often that I would order that same dish again. But the pizza hit the spot, and I hadn't even started drinking yet. I was pretty impressed with the stage - it's fairly large and they have a full-out lighting/sound system set up, which I didn't expect. There's a large open space in the center of the venue for people to stand/dance/two-step/fist pump/swing their arms awkwardly, and a good amount of tables. I would definitely recommend Martyrs' for a place to enjoy live music while sippin' on a beer and maybe even munchin' on some good food. Although I've heard that the Moth Story Slam gets pretty crowded, it also gets rave reviews so it's on my to-do list. read more