Created April 13, 2001

1354 W. Wabansia
Chicago
(773) 227-4433

"Congratulations! You found us!"

The exterior of the Hideout is somewhat reminiscent of the house in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. At first glance, even the house in Texas appears more inviting compared to the Hideout, located smack dab in the middle of the Elston Avenue industrial district, running parallel to the Kennedy Expressway. However, step inside the Hideout and it's another story. The atmosphere is friendly, lacks any sense of pretension, and is amazingly conducive for listening to some of the best live alternative, rock and bluegrass music in the city.

The Hideout, along with Slow Down! Life's Too Short down the street on Elston, are the only two bars that I recommend driving to in Chicago. The Hideout is only accessible by coming down Elston turning east onto Wabansia. Cabs are not to be found in this grungy industrial area, unless one is pulling up with patrons coming in as you are walking out. Just look for the glowing Old Style sign at the end of the block, directly across from Chicago Department of Fleet Management where city snow plows and garbage trucks are kept and serviced. Parking is usually available right out front, but if there isn't, park creatively – you won't have to worry about getting a ticket as cops are busy doling those out in Lincoln Park and Wrigleyville. A needlepoint "Hideout" sign that looks like it belongs in your grandmother's kitchen is there to welcome you.

Step up the concrete steps, through the sticker-covered wooden door, and you're inside a badly-sided, glass block musical oasis. This orange and tan linoleum expanse offers a worn wooden bar on your left and table seating on your right. The bar does not have any taps, only bottles and cans, but does have a stuffed dear head below pink string lights. Whiskey is more the Hideout's speed. The bar doesn't serve food, but help yourself to the beer nuts and pretzels on the bar. If you grab a table, check out the beer can collection behind the glass case. Also, have a look at the giant chalkboard on the east wall, which promotes all upcoming shows for the current month.

The real story is the back room, where the stage is located, called the "Chinook Lounge." Just beyond the front room's tables is the counter where you'll pay between $3 and $8 cover charge and get your hand stamped. Occasionally, the Hideout will host a benefit concert for around $25. I heard of one benefit designed to help support a local guy going through a nasty divorce settlement, where his wife was getting everything. Such is the spirit at the Hideout. The back room looks more like a rec room, because that's probably what it was previously. The room features wood paneling, tables with folding chairs, small blue and green candle globes, high-perched windows covered with iron bars, a plush gray banquette along the wall, Japanese-like paper lights with colored light bulbs, and bad paintings hung with care. The stage is located at the far end of the room and offers a piano, oriental carpeting, flashy orange curtain, wooden plank with "Hideout" painted on it, and longhorns above it. The stage is also bookended by two stuffed fish (including a marlin). More stuffed fish can be seen along the east wall. The back room does not have a bar, but does have decent waitress service. In the summertime, head out for some air between sets into the beer garden located in front of the Hideout, which is reminiscent of the "dumpster baroque" patio at Weed's Tavern with its wooden benches, asphalt and white canopies..

The musical variety is impressive, focusing mainly on eclectic, alternative bands playing rock, punk, rockabilly, funk, and honky-tonk. I recently saw the Irish-tinged rock band, the Drovers, and alternative rock band, Light FM. Most of these bands are unknown local players, but like the aforementioned bands, the Hideout does attract some regionally and nationally known acts (for whom the upstairs offers four beds and a shower if they need a place to stay). Regular bands include Devil in a Woodpile on Tuesday nights (bluegrass) and Neko Case (female rock / country singer). A note about Devil in a Woodpile: it would be difficult to find a better bluegrass band in Chicago or anywhere else. If you like the soundtrack from the film, O Brother Where Art Thou?, you'll love these guys especially if they play my new favorite song, "When I Been Drinkin'" (a cover of Big Bill Broonzy's tune). Their shows are played acoustically in the front room, without any sound system or microphone, and with a revolving combination of harmonica, washboard (with a tiny cymbal at its base), guitar, stand-up bass, and a stringed instrument made from a hoe that is attached to the top quarter of a keg. In addition, the place gets totally hopping for the Devil so head over when you get itchy feet on a Tuesday night. Music is featured every night except Sunday, when the Hideout often has special family events complete with hot dogs and soda for the kids. For its efforts, the Hideout was named Best Live Rock Club in 2001 by New City, and was nominated by Citysearch: Chicago for Best Place to Hear Folk in 2000. On your way out, sign up for the Hideout's mailing list (on a clipboard on the table just to the right of the door).

The best thing I found about the Hideout, is that it's a relaxing place to have a drink and see some excellent local talent. There is no Lincoln Park air of pretension, Bucktown posers, or other form of irritation. The crowd consists of people that have sought out the Hideout specifically to experience good music. In this way, the Hideout is similar to the Green Mill, with a different genre of music and more of a casual tavern atmosphere that consists of a strangely good mix of blue collar workers, yuppies, bikers, suburbanites, punks, and all other types.

Artwork inspired by the Hideout

Having started life in 1934, the Hideout was purchased in 1996 by husband and wife team Tim Tutten and Katie Nicholson, and twins Mike and Jim Hinchsliff. These four have turned the Hideout from an after work, blue collar hangout into one of the best music venues in the city, joining the likes of Metro, the Empty Bottle, Double Door, Beat Kitchen, and the Underground Lounge. The Hideout was even called one of the best bars in Chicago by Rolling Stone magazine, and has been featured in numerous other publications including Spin and the New York Times. Tim and Katie's annual Hideout Barbecue has even become an honored tradition at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas.

Great music, no pretension, cheap cover. What more do you want? For upcoming shows, Hideout stories, and more information, check out the Hideout's website.

"Come once and you're a regular"

~Have a good story relating to this bar? E-mail it to me. ~

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– written by Sean "Keep on Drinkin'" Parnell