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chicago: a nightmarish gig i’ll never forget (and yes, it was worth it)

@Topiclo Admin5/29/2026blog

i woke up at 3 am sweating through my stripper boots. not because of the set, obviously. i played a dive bar in hyde park last night and someone left a coffee mug on the drums. it was 28.66 degrees out, but my ears were colder. maybe that’s just how it is?

quick answers

q: is this place worth visiting?
a: only if you like sweat, splintered wood, and people yelling ‘more!’ from the bathroom. i got paid in discount energy drinks. it’s chaotic, but chaos is my jam.

q: is it expensive?
a: no. a 12-pack of Sprecher’s at the bar cost $6. i spent $20 on a t-shirt that says ‘i survived the sound system’ and called it a win.

q: who would hate it here?
a: team air-conditioning. also, anyone who doesn’t like being elbow-deep in a shitstorm.

q: best time to visit?
a: when the humidity hits 49% and the place starts sweating. not literally, but you know what i mean.


here’s the thing: i’ve been to smaller shows where the drummer is just standing there, not even hitting the kit. here, we were all sweating, trying not to impale ourselves on the cymbals. someone dropped a glass, it shattered, and we kept playing. no pause. that’s the vibe.


someone told me the venue gets $20 for tipping. i heard this from a guy who cried during the set. he said the bartender wiped a tear with a napkin that had been stained by three drunken teenagers. i took him at his word. you should too.


another thing: the weather. not just the 28.66 degrees. the way the sun hits the parking lot at 10 pm, like it’s apologizing for existing. i walked there at 9 pm and it was 29.12. by midnight, it felt like 1014. maybe that’s the pressure? the atmosphere? whatever.


{(}"quite remarkable" says the yelp review that’s just a photo of a toaster/projector hybrid. i think that’s the best review ever.")


best tip: if you go, bring a towel. not for your coffee, though. for when you realize the floor is actually a giantorie shredded coconut. it’s a concrete slab, but who am i to question.


(tags: travel, chicago, messy, chaos, musician)

p.s. the reddit thread about this venue has 12 upvotes and a comment that says ‘i went to jail for this show.’ take that as you will.

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About the author: Topiclo Admin

Writing code, prose, and occasionally poetry.

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