You may need to be hosed off after an evening at this one-time home of the Big Bands in the '40s. The 5,000-capacity Aragon of the '90s is a funky place, where the creature comforts are few, the smell of stale beer permeates the air, the acoustics range from bad to worse and the few tattered seats are in the small balcony. Let's just say that if you're into the dulcet tones of Megadeth or Slayer, the Aragon's your kind of place. Despite a recent makeover, the sound is still suspect at this 4,000-seat mistake on the lake. The Arie Crown has long been one of the city's least inspiring venues.
Parking is expensive and a hassle, and the place has all the character of a hotel lobby.
Luckily, concerts are relatively few and far between here these days. This magnificent holdover from the golden days of theater design is one of the city's showcases. From the grand lobby with its crystal chandelier to the concert hall itself with its glittering appointments and various balconies and private boxes, the Chicago Theatre is worth a visit just to gawk. Musical acts are appropriately classy, ranging from jazz guitarist Pat Metheny to chanteuse k.d. lang. Don't expect to find much actual blues music as the garish concert hall cum nightclub in the busy River North district.