I went to see "She and Him" @ the Park West last night. It was my first time at the venue and I was very impressed. There are booths which you can reserve. There are stairs from where you can watch the show and no one will kick you off. Unless you're standing right in front and there's a tall person in front of all..there is no bad viewing area. The acoustics are nothing to complain about and I didn't feel like my ear drums were being blown out while standing close to the stage. There is a bathroom attendant to keep the bathroom clean and I never had to stand in line. The water is not cheap..but they didn't check bags so I'm guessing you can bring your own. I am taking one star off only because of its location. It's almost a mile away from the closest el stop. read more

This is my favorite small concert venue as evident by the cinco stars I awarded it. The employees are pretty cool. It's easy to get a drink without waiting in long lines. Like wise goes for the bathroom when it's time to return those expensive beers. But most important & the reason why I'm here is the music. There is no more approachable stage in my opinion. They also have some private seating with tables that are kind of lounge like. I have never arrived early enough to sit in them but usually I prefer to stand anyway. There was one show that my dogs were barking and I really wanted to sit but oh well. read more

I wasn't expecting much from how it looks on the inside, but wow. This is a beautiful venue, so far my favorite in Chicago. It was the perfect mix for me. It's a nice intimate setting, a good space for a decent crowd, but not jam-packed either. I haven't been able to find a similar venue in the city that achieves this same effect. I saw Jimmy Eat World here and it was great. However; I couldn't imagine going to see a high-energy show here. Even when Jimmy Eat World performed here, their song choices matched up with the atmosphere, not too many fast-paced songs, like 80% were their slower ballads. But I liked that it was chill. Definitely catch a show at this venue sometime. It's a nice change from some of the typical venues around the city. read more

First of all, WTF. No in/out smoking is complete crap, especially when you're overpaying for tickets and drinks. This venue is complete shit. Don't waste your time. read more

So mysteriously, my rant about Park West's horrible management gets taken down, after I finally get to speak to a manager about the Goo Goo Dolls ticket fiasco. Instead of taking care of the paying ticket holders by simply assigning reserved seats that were PAID for, I was offered a seat in THE BACK OF THE ROOM! Are you kidding me? Why not seat me in the lobby, in the name of your so-called good customer service?! Your claim that seats can't be assigned, your hanging up on me twice and your blatantly lying to others that no PW shows get reserved seats show you couldn't care less about customer service. I'll see you April 22nd, inept Park West management, and I'll be in the front row seat I paid for. Believe that. read more

I came here for a Lollapalooza after show. The entryway is small and becomes very crowded. The bathroom line is long, but it only took my friend about 10 minutes to get in and out. When you step into the venue, I feel like you have been transported to a ballroom. The high ceilings and chandeliers add to the decor and make the venue feel special. I would expect a venue like this to get hot, but it stayed cool the entire time. I was in a crop top and shorts and I never got cold. There are tables in the back half of the first level. There are also spots upstairs where you can sit and stand if you want to watch the band from up above. My friends and I were in the pit to see the show. The crowd that goes here is pretty relaxed and laid back. No one is too sloppy with his/her drink. The sound quality is superb and I would definitely go see another show back at Park West. read more

I went to Park West for the first time nearly a month ago when I went to see Parachute and The Script. The doors didn't open on time, which wasn't the venue's fault. It was easy to get my Will Call/Reserved tickets once I got through the first set of doors. (I was a little surprised they were simple raffle ticket-type tickets, though.) The seating arrangements were nice - chairs, tables, and booths for comfortable seating. The drink prices were a complete rip-off - I think it was $5 for a water, and $7-8 for small sized alcoholic drinks. I guess that's typical of venues and clubs, though. The bar/beverage areas were within decent reach, but they shut down immediately after the show without skipping a beat. I was definitely parched, but thankfully our group was able to score some bottled water during the "Meet and Greet" after the concert. Some of the staff workers were rude to my group and kept on telling us to get out right after the concert, when we had clearance to be there for said "Meet and Greet" with the headlining band and the band's tour manager. We explained that several times over and were treated rudely anyway. NOT cool. Other staff workers were fine and didn't give us any trouble. One of the security guards/door workers spent some time chatting with us before we left at the end of the evening - he was very nice and personable. In all it was a good experience and a nice atmosphere, but some of the staff workers could be nicer. read more

I've been here for concerts and parties. I like the space. It's very classy and almost elegant looking. The seating is a little weird. I feel like I need a compass or something to navigate my way. The cocktail servers are usually pretty nice. My biggest problem with this place are the drinks. They need to fire all the bartenders. I'm not sure what the rule is over there but all of the drinks are super weak! I would suggest sticking with beer or wine because the mixed drinks are a total waste of money! read more

Great place to see a show! I recommend getting there early so you snag a cafe table and seats up front. As Ferris says, it's so choice. The waitresses bring the drinks pretty quickly. They offer coat check, which is always a plus. There's also a bathroom attendant....fyi. It's always been super easy to get a cab after a show. read more

If you can get to sit down, this is one of the best places to see music in the city. p.s. I'm old. read more

It's a really unique venue. I really liked how some people had booths and chairs, despite there being reserved seating at some of the booths. I like how the waiters can come and serve drinks to you. It's a very comfortable spot, and I like how it makes you feel closer to the performer. Any place standing or sitting is a good spot. You only have to deal with those people who stand or move in front of you a lot. I'd make sure you get in line early if you want a seat, and don't want to stand. I wouldn't mind coming here for any other future performances. read more

What an absolutely fantastic venue for live music. The only draw back was I had to open my own wine because the waitress couldn't do it.

I was there for Jimmy Eat World's concert. One of the best venue I've ever been to. Love the lighting, the service, the set up, and everything. You have to go there enable to experience true atmosphere of Park West. By the way, the venue is very clean and they got tables in the back where you can just chill with your buddies or girlfriends (you do have to RSVP for the tables). read more

Very clean, intimate venue with decent seating. If you're a wino, don't wait to have your drinks until you get here as all they have is Mondavi. Friendly staff, good service, and great sound. read more

I am surprised I never reviewed this place before. It's an amazing venue, one of my favorites anywhere in this country. It feels like you are watching a show in a living room, the space is so intimate. Acoustics are great and the artists always seem to thrive in the environment. Pretty much every vantage point is good. Show prices usually pretty reasonable. Love this place! read more

An inefficient use of space. You are either crammed into standing area, get lucky with a reserved table, or are relegated to the balcony to sit on stools. From up on the balcony, there is a WIDE swath of aisle (seriously, like 2 regular aisles-wide) where people are not allowed to sit or stand, right in the middle of the floor. I had to pop some Ibuprofen after my concert I was so uncomfortable on those stools. It smells like socks. When will businesses learn that you can't carpet public spaces unless you clean them religiously? The sound system was awful at my event. There was a serious echo and a lot of feedback in the sound system. I was struggling to understand what the performer was even saying a lot of times. Skip this place, unless you know that your act isn't going to be playing another theater any time soon. read more

Solid venue. I went for a comedy show, so I can't talk to the acoustics for a concert, but I was impressed. It is general admission so it helps to get there early. You have a choice between sitting at a table (booth set up) or in chairs lined up facing the stage. They reserved all of the booth tables which was kind of annoying, but when we asked if we could sit at one, they let us..not sure what that is about but we were happy. I would have been fine either way though because the venue is pretty small with no "bad" seats. The only negative was that they really shuttle you out after the show since they book more than 1 show a night. My advice is to not get a drink at the end (like we all did) because you either have to leave it behind or down it on your way out. But I will definitely make my way back there for a future show! read more

Reviewed the An Horse/Kaki King show. It looks like a good place to see shows... Until you check your bank account. That 10 oz. watered down Jack + Diet you got MAY cost you $100.00. Beware of bitchy bartenders. read more

I went to see Marc Broussard here. It was my first time here, and I can't wait to go back. This venue is soooo nice. The lighting, the atmosphere itself ,the layout...tres chic! It's not your typical dingy, dirty venue (though don't get me wrong, for certain hardcore concerts, that's EXACTLY what you need!). It's clean! Yay, sanitary! Also...this place is big enough so that people aren't on top of you all the time, but small enough so that you can see the stage, CLEARLY, from any angle in the venue. The only problem with this area is parking. It's tough to find street parking, so if you're going to a concert here, be sure to allow yourself at LEAST 20 minutes to drive around the block, looking for something to open up. They might have a lot right over there, but...well...if you're cheap, you'll force yourself to find a meter somewhere. :) Oh...and the lady who helped me at the box office was super friendly. Always a plus. :) read more

Next to the House of Blues, I think this venue is one of the best in Chicago. When I saw zero-7 here a few months back I was blown away by how nice the place was, and how great the acoustics were. If there is a band that you like that is going to play at Park West, definitely do whatever you can to see them there. Oh yeah, parking sucks down there, so don't bother trying to drive. read more

Great place to see a show. I was there last night for Josh Ritter and the crowd, venue and band were terrific. For one, the sound was technically perfect to my ears and everyone was so respectful and didn't talk too much during the set. Love an awesome audience like that. It's a very clean venue and that's such a refreshing change of pace. The waiters are on top of their game and if you get there early, you can take advantage of the booths they have available. I can't say this for certain, but it does kind of annoy me when the upper balcony area isn't open. I am a big fan of sitting up there, but really, I should shut up--the ticket prices and the quality of the acts here is more than worth it! Oh- and if anyone else was at this show, you should know I am a HUGE idiot. I never leave shows early, but I was feeling under the weather and left before the encore and missed "The River." I deserve a punch in the mouth! read more

This is hands-down one of the best venues in Chicago! While the seating arrangement has always confused me, if you're on the dance floor or the balcony you will love the sound and the views of the performance. This places is perfect for private parties (large ones) of all kinds and is one of my favorite places to see bands. Great lighting, sound, quick bar staff and always a good temp. inside. Hector who works there is the nicest person and he really understands how to take care of patrons. read more

I love this place. I have seen a few concerts here including Adele and Gavin DeGraw. It's a small venue but this makes for more of an intimate show. I had floor seats for Adele but actually they had us stand. I didn't mind this at all as it allowed for me to get super close to one of my favorite singers. Prices for drinks were a little high but this seems to be the norm these days for concets, sporting events, etc. I have also sat up in the balcony but you can still see the stage quite well. Can't wait to go to another concert there! read more

I went there one night to see Dj Shadow. He had visual effects to go along with the music he was playing. I definitely had great time. The sound quality was very good which is kind of hard to come by in the city. Definitely a great venue. read more

I wish this place had cheaper ticket prices so I could be here every weekend. It's SUCH a nice venue. The first time I came here I was a little freaked out by how clean it was. There is a lot of space so you never have to worry about a dude grinding on you or someone bumping into your drink. If you get here during the opening band then you're guaranteed to be able to find a place near the stage. I've stood right next to the amps/speakers before and the sound was beautiful. I mean.. that was probably cause the bands have been so great, but still. The audience members have also been the most polite people I've ever been around during a show. Which is so nice and refreshing. If you're trying to meet a band after their set then head on over to the side doors near Orleans street. They should be there loading/unloading their equipment. read more

I've been to Park West two times for smaller shows that weren't sold out. I couldn't even comment on the acoustics, because I was pretty much standing next to the musician on stage- just him, me and 200 of my fellow fans. It was an great, intimate concert setting, and I would be thrilled if any other band I love ended up playing here. My only complaint was how they do charges on credit cards. I used my check card which shows "anticipated charges" when you swipe it. Park West has the anticipated charge come through in some ridiculous amount like $100. So my $20 bar tab ended up holding up $100 in my account until it finally cleared and that took a while. So don't forget your cash when you to go Park West. read more

Thanks to waitress Ashley, my little party of 4 perched in an intimate, cozy booth for 4 while listening to the bluesy vocal stylings of Marc Broussard. Ashley never allowed us to sit without drinks in hand, which we appreciated. I may have to ask for a redo since my date promised cuddles and hair strokes and never delivered...but my disappointment certainly isn't due to Park West's booking of my favorite artists to play a venue with great accoustics, comfy seating, and not a bad vantage point in the house. read more

Sound is great!!! Big but super intimate. Make a res for a booth if you can. (if you like to sit during concerts) Staff was great but make sure you get there on time or early because they might chat you up. read more

Good things about Park West: - You can get a clear view of the stage from just about anywhere, standing or sitting. As a short person, this is so awesome I cannot even describe it. - The acoustics are really good, which was especially apparent when Kaki King was playing. Wow. - The atmosphere is club-like, in a good way - comfy seating, waiters, classy-looking lighting and decor and that cool ceiling thing. Really a very chill venue, and it's such a great size - big enough to get bands I've heard of, and small enough to feel intimate. Sweet. Bad things about Park West: - Transportation. If only the Lincoln bus ran after 8 p.m it'd be OK, but after a concert, the brown line is an awfully long walk away. - The hipsters. OH MAN. Maybe it was just the Mountain Goats concert attracting them all, but seriously this place was hipster central. And even worse - there must have been at least a dozen hipsters with mullets. Now, I get that the whole thing is trying to be different or whatever (which is why you all have those same too-tight pants, can we talk about that?), and thankfully mullets are not the norm here in 2008, but seriously, guys, MULLETS? Is that really necessary? Has it REALLY come to this?! read more

Went here to see the Augustana concert (was a phenomenal concert...a lot of new songs I wasn't familiar with that were great). I enjoyed the venue...there was standing room by the stage; there were seats downstairs; and there were seats upstairs away from the crowds. My friends and I went upstairs because the music downstairs was too loud (this is one of three minor reasons PW doesn't get 5 stars). It was enjoyable to watch the concert from upstairs, because it was still close enough to the stage to feel like you were at a concert and not at a sporting event in the nosebleeds. However, it got stiflingly hot upstairs in January due to the heat rising from the crowd downstairs (reason 2). Reason 3: Due to the heat, I wanted some ice water at the bar...and instead got slapped with a 4 dollar bottle of water. Overall though, a $20 ticket to see a great concert at a nice intimate venue was an excellent experience. read more

great acoustics in this very large place. You can sit at a table, elevated or floor level, or walk around in the enormous dance floor bathrooms are shabby, beware Tickets are reasonable, with an even better service charge read more

I have seen a few shows here- recently Neko Case and M. Ward (who said in a Pitchfork article that this was his favorite venue as of late). It is clean (smoke free) and has good sound- both useful for more intimate shows like these. Options for all levels of adventurousness: a balcony along with standing room in back, tables in the middle level and a floor section located directly under a mirror ball. I have seen people dance sans shoes and I didn't think it gross. Only complaint is that there could be more bike parking out front. read more

My bank account will never forget my visit to the Park West for a Dark Star Orchestra show in June 2006. My boyfriend started a tab at the bar before the show began. When we closed it out, our total was around $30. I was surprised, to put it mildly, when a $100 hold was put onto my account by the venue. Call me a country mouse, but I was not able to afford that hold. But I don't loathe the Park West. It's got a beautiful layout. The main floor is surrounded by tables and booths, which makes everything very calm and intimate. There's a great disco ball. It's too bad the hold happened - I would have been back in the meantime. read more

The music scene I am into would never play at Park West, but I do like this theatre. I've been here a few times for company sponsored events, and they were a lot of fun. The bummer is parking does not exist, so public transportation is pretty much your only hope. It's spacious, it's classy, its OK! read more

The Park West is my favorite venue to catch a concert in all of Chicagoland. It's a smaller venue but not too small. The sound is amazing and there isn't a bad seat in the house. There are servers to save you a trip to the bar and I've even been able to have them serve me if I wasn't at a table or in a booth - which is pretty nice. Bathrooms are clean and I've never had to wait a long time to get in this venue (or the restroom :)). I am not sure about the parking situation b/c I always cab it over from the train but I'm guessing it's probably a little sketchy. I've seen several shows here: David Gray, Pete Yorn, Kaiser Cheifs, Hotel Cafe Tour, Jose Gonzalez, etc etc....and I've been to one event - an Obama fundraiser when he was running for Senate (Robin Williams & Stevie Wonder performed and it was AMAZING). As i said there is plenty of seating in addition to the open floor in front of the stage so you never really feel cramped or closed in. Have I mentioned how much I love this venue? If you have never seen a show here - do it. I think any music lover would appreciate this venue. read more

Small and intimate venue w/ a few seats dispersed throughout the back half. A few booth tables divide the general standing room section from the seats, although I'm sure this might vary depending on the act. There is no balcony, at least not one that was open when I went. Ticket prices tend to be a bit more affordable. Staff was generally friendly. Don't bother driving, parking in the area is awful and there isn't a garage in the immediate vicinity. read more

Great venue, decent priced drinks and not a bad seat in the house. Sounds like a great spot to see a show? You would be correct. I was pleasantly surprised with Park West. The general admission seating is pretty sweet. First come, first served and you can get right up near the stage if you wish. Large booths are great if you roll with a few people. The top terrace is also a sweet view and the acoustics were damn good. I went to see Rob Bolin, Scars on 45 and Marc Broussard. My buddy, Rob Bolin, was the opening act. A more alternative rock show which was pretty low key. The place was packed and manageable to get around and the acoustics were spot on. Imported beers were $6, single mixed drinks were around $7 but for an extra 4 bucks you could get a double hiking it up to $11 total. I was expecting much worse but it didn't break the bank, major plus. Overall a pretty relaxed spot to see a show. I guess that all depends on who is playing and the crowd they attract. Park it, ladies gentlemen and and enjoy the show. read more

Maybe it was the artist and his penchant for good sound, but I will say without a doubt that the Park West has the best sound of any concert venue I've ever been to. I had never even heard of the place until the recent Steven Wilson show, but I hope that every show I see from here out is at this place. Incredible sound - powerfully loud, perfectly clear - imagine a rock concert where you can hear every instrument and understand every vocal, even if you don't know the music by heart, and that's what I experienced. Nothing is lost in the treble roar so common at every other venue I've gone to. Combine that with a small floor space for standing crowds, a lot of tables, and a balcony which looks to have excellent sight lines (I didn't go up, so I can't guarantee this). Really spectacular. I cannot wait to return. read more

Although I wasn't impressed by the band I saw at Park West (The Donnas), I was throughly impressed by the venue itself. It's very small and intimate, making you feel more like you're watching a concert at someone's giant mansion, rather than your usual concert hall. The acoustics are excellent, and the seating is all couches and lounge chairs; it's a very comfortable setting and a great way to spend a night listening to music. read more

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I'm always excited to see a show here. I am going through a phase right now where I don't feel like standing up for an entire show so I really like that I can order a drink here and sit down to watch. Saw The Mountain Goats here last night and had a great view the whole time without getting up. Bad news, the accoustics weren't great and I had a hard time hearing what was being said. read more