<p>Wow, so I was just looking on the Chicago Maroon website and learned that The Decemberists just played at U of C. I have tried to see them on a number of occasions and have always had some theatre engagement or a show of my own. I also saw that Andrew Bird has played in the past. I'm very impressed; is there anyone on this forum who attended either of the shows/would be willing to give a general insight on the music scene on/nearby campus? Obviously downtown is not far off, but does one have to travel to enjoy an evening at a show (gig)? I am the president of my local teen center, and have been habituated to spending my Friday nights watching bands that my fellow board members and myself have worked to book (though I tend to skip most of the scene/pop-punk shows). Hopefully I can find similar entertainment at U of C?
On another note, I have spent most of my life in bands working on original music, usually of the indie/pop/rock branding (which in itself is quite vague). What are the student bands like, if there are any really significant ones? Thanks so much.</p>
<p>Check out the WHPK website and the Chicago Weekly for some of that. (Unfortunately, the Weekly's extensive events calendar isn't online, though. The Maroon has a very abbreviated "Stuff To Do" slot that is.)</p>
<p>I'm a parent, so I haven't attended any of that stuff, but I have second-hand information relevant to your questions. Although there's some South Side activity -- more every day -- most of the indie music scene requires travelling a fair distance north. Chicago has a huge music scene with great clubs. Look at the web sites for Schuba's and the Empty Bottle for starters. The hip young neighborhoods are in areas like Pilsen, Ukranian Village, Logan Square (which isn't where the established clubs are, of course). Public transportation works perfectly well to get to most of those places, although a friend with car works even better. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, most shows are (a) expensive, and (b) 21+, although some venues allow 19-year-olds in. In contrast to where I live, where at least a majority of shows are either all-ages or at venues with separate non-drinking areas, Chicago is tough for sub-19s. </p>
<p>I haven't heard any great enthusiasm for University-associated bands, and the ones I've listened to (at move-in events) wouldn't merit it. They definitely exist, though, and they're turning over all the time, so the next Vampire Weekend may well be lurking in this year's admissions pool. (Not so likely.) The indie/pop/rock branding is popular, although student tastes run the full gamut (including plenty of classical fans -- there's a lot more classical and similar music around the University on a weekly basis than pop/rock, and the South Side in general has a surprising amount of jazz). The tastes of 20-something indie people in Chicago are available to the world as "Pitchfork", even though the editor moved to Brooklyn. But you will not feel lonely at the University of Chicago if you get excited by the possibility of seeing Andrew Bird or The Decemberists.</p>
<p>As for booking bands at the University, there are a few flashy events every quarter (such as Andrew Bird, The Decemberists, Talib Kweli, Jeff Tweedy solo, Cake, Spoon, The Roots), and a few more less flashy events (WHPK sponsors some, occasionally someone has promoted a show in the Shoreland ballroom which won't exist after this year), but nothing like a steady stream, and no steady stream of money to support it. Hip music kids leave campus for their fixes.</p>
<p>Haha true, I shouldn't worry about the availability of great music from the city that birthed pitchfork.</p>
<p>Hey, i asked a similar question a few weeks ago in this forum and got some pretty good responses. I think that i titled it "Local Music Scene" or something like that. I too have spent my high school years performing in local bands, more of a folk/blues/rock type thing, and am looking forward to possibly kicking it up a notch in college, hopefully in Chicago.</p>
<p>You can check out [url=<a href="http://www.barflood.com%5DBarFlood%5B/url">http://www.barflood.com]BarFlood[/url</a>] to find bands playing in your area - sometimes the bands themselves or the venue owners will post them there.</p>