04/02/08

Great Place!

by rspald1

I live in the South Loop and friends and I decided to check Reggie's out to hear some live music. We had SUCH a great time!! The bar area is quite large and the staff was super friendly! It was reasonably priced with $2 PBR high boys with a student ID! It's nice to have a place in the SoLo with live music and a great place to hang with friends. We will definitely be going back often!

• Pros: Live music every night, great service and convenient!
• Cons: none!

01/20/08

Cool roadhouse ambience

by MidwestAccent

We checked out the Joint half of the Reggie's complex on "Rockabilly Tursday." The ambience is Vintage Music Roadhouse, with high back-in-time authenticity. Brick walls are lined with old concert posters and other memorabilia, including an amusing row of old 8-tracks nailed up over the bathrooms. We didn't expect much of the food and drink since the "special" was $3 grilled cheese, so we were pleasantly surprised at an extensive and well-chosen beer selection, and a decent wine list. Later on we got to choose from 9 different bourbons, including rarely-seen Bulleit.

We had an intriguing chili, with a number of bean types, a thick chunk of spicy sausage plunked in the middle, and a smoky heat that crept up and warmed us without overpowering. Generous quesadillas came with a perky salsa. The base price was fair on food and brews. Service was top-rate. We were a little suprised, when the bill came, at upcharges for chicken in the quesadillas and $9 tags on the bourbon -- steep when half the room has to sit on wooden benches. Altogether, 2 dinners and 8 drinks was about $75 before tip. Then again, there was no cover.

Acoustics and sight lines were better than average. The music was outstanding. The Coal Men, out of Nashville, were way beyond rockabilly, presenting a stunning array of highly-crafted original ballads and rockers, with an unmistakable Tennessee twang, but suggesting Wilco, Van Morrison, or even Hank himself, a lot more than Rev. Horton Heat. Singer/songwriter/guitarist Dave Coleman shouldered both lead and rhythm with dexterity, making his Country Gent growl and sing; drummer Dave Ray's kit purrs more than pounds, and bassist Hitch lays down a seamless foundation. With fine harmonies and obvious passion for music, this looked and sounded like a band ready for much bigger things.

Second act Pearls Mahone and the One-Eyed Jacks, from Highland IN mainly played covers, with high energy. Mahone has great vocal command and her band rocks.