Checkerboard Lounge

does not particularly want this place to become more popular /​service the wider Hyde Park/​Chicago community.

It feels like whoever is running this– does not particularly want this place to become more popular /​service the wider Hyde Park/​Chicago community. Because with little effort– it would and could become again a blues institution!
Consequently most nights here feel like private parties, DJ, r&B, etc. That should be their right I guess since they own it– but in a sense, they have some responsibility to the community in which they are and who they service and to live up to their own name.
Sometimes they certainly throw in a night of jazz/​blues for the wider community./Hyde Park/​UofC/​Chicago… etc.
But it rarely anymore feels like an established jazz/​blues Chicago institution UNFORTUNATELY. its supposedly in Blues district… but where’s all the blues? No blues for Hyde Park, Chicago and wider community, UofC community.

This is a sad reincarnation of the REAL checkerboard lounge which was at 43^rd and MLK Drive. I went with friends last Thursday because Lee’s Unleaded was closed (closed for good?), and there were a bunch of old foggies playing cards and a DJ who was equally as old spinning weird R&B music. Really? This is the infamous checkerboard that claims to be an authentic blues place? Nope — not even close. Sorry guys, you’ve completely lost my respect.

Pros: extrememly strong drinks… my vodka cranberries were transparent; nice set-​up and layout of the place, only a $ 5 cover when we were expecting $ 10; excellent singer named Sandy
Con: we went on blues night (saturday), and there was nothing that even closely resembled the blues. it was pretty much watching a cover band of popular r&b songs with dance/​techno music in between sets. if you advertise live blues EVERY saturday, you should have live blues EVERY saturday.
Note: cash only and you can’t keep a running tab.

Excellent music, mostly jazz and blues. Reasonably priced drinks. Staff and atmosphere need to be revamped. Sundays here rock because of the amazing efforts of the Hyde Park Jazz Society to keep things going. Will keep going here, despite the criticism I bring up…

The first time I went a party was thrown by a promoter and no one attended. I only went to meet up with a friend and have a drink. The place is a nice size, they played live music for us, which was cool. The drinks were fine and the prices were reasonable. Since then they have scheduled weekly events and the place is jumping now. I hope the owners continue to be successful. My favorite is the live performances.

I really didn’t have a bad time here, honest. I just think it could use a lot of improvement or perhaps some better management or something.
Heard some EXCELLENT MUSIC here on Saturday night during the Chicago Blues Tour. I am not a fan of blues music myself, but was here with some friends. Saw Vance Kelly — who was awesome! A great musician. I would recommend Vance Kelly to anyone, especially those that think they might not like blues.
But the club itself could use some help. It doesn’t have enough charm to overcome some of its problems. I would have given 4 stars but I can’t honestly do that given these issues:
1) No credit cards — ugh, it is a LOT easier to spend more money when you aren’t keeping track of how much cash you have left in your pocket.
2) No tabs — ugh #2 — again, lot easier to blow your wad if you don’t have to shell out $ 5 – 8 cash each time for each drink.
3) Unknown/​random cover charge — ugh#3 — I had to pay $ 20, friends who came in later only paid $ 10. (the blues tour was going on, most people here were part of the tour, and didn’t have to deal with the cover)
So with this ‘all cash’ business, obviously someone (everyone?) is skimming off the top and probably shorting the musicians in some way. If they just got with the program (and the 21^st century) and took credit cards, kept tabs, and used a cash register at the door, I feel they would improve their business and probably make a ton more $$.
4) The layout of the stage is awkward. The lead singer faces directly into a post supporting the ceiling. The stage could have been put in the corner or against the wall opposite the door and make everything better. And track lights serve as your stage lighting? Seriously. This place is a cash cow. Spend a few bucks for a low end lighting rig.
5) Sound Reinforcement. Vance sounded like crap during his first set because there was a problem with his mic. This was fixed for the 2^nd set, and he sounded excellent after that. But really… spend 3 minutes and do a sound check, even if you are starting late! If you moved the stage to the proper side of the venue you could even have a small mixing table, which would really make the bands sound good. Also — If you can’t afford 2 – 3 brass instrument microphones, you have no business running BLUES MUSIC VENUE.
I really tried to like this place, but the only thing I liked was Vance Kelly.

I came here to celebrate a birthday after going out for a nice dinner. It was a Saturday and was a little bit expensive, maybe because I wasn’t expecting the prices or rules. It was $ 10 cover on a Saturday. The place was packed! We sat at a table, and there’s also a 2 drink minimum. That sucked. Drinks were about $ 5. They were also STRONG! I had a rum and coke, it was a very nice yellow color, and I didn’t taste the coke, so I ordered a diet cola for my second drink and mixed it in. It was exciting, and I’m not big on jazz, but there were a lot of people here who seemed to be enjoying themselves and dancing. If I were a jazz person I would go again.

We went to Checkerboard lounge last night and loved it. It’s got a really laid back feel and a crowd that seemed mostly local. Our waitress was friendly and fun, but she took a long time with the drinks. Cover was $ 10 on a Saturday and the cocktails we had were between $ 7 and $ 10. We did have to pay for peanuts. That was weird. I called ahead that day to find out when the music started. They told me 9:30, but it actually started around 10:15. The lead singers got progressively better. The first one was a 300 pound drummer that muttered into the microphone and had zero personality. But once he stuck to the drumming and a new front man came out it got much better. The rather large place was about half full. I think there were 15 tables occupied.