Neo

What else is there to be said… See you in Wicker Park, here’s to the good olé daze. A classic punk bar.

If you love 80’s music and dancing, then Thursday nights at Neo are for you! This place is always just a blast. where else can you get dressed up in full 80’s garb and rock out? (Dressing up is optional, by the way) But there is such a great mix of people there, young and old, guys and girls – everyone’s just there to have a good time. They are actually one of the more friendly neighborhood spots that I like to frequent. Bartenders and servers are super down to earth and get to know their regulars very quickly. There is a $ 5 cover on Thursday nights as well… but the experience is well worth the cover charge.
Jeff Moyer usually DJ’s and he is awesome. They take requests too! The cool thing about the music is that they always have the original music video on the projectors as the songs are playing. They play everything from Madonna to Billy Idol to the Human League. I love how this place stays open til 4am too, so the party lasts long. And you really never know who you’ll run into here, either. Always an interesting time. I have been here a handful of times and already have plenty of stories…
The only «cons» are that their bathroom setup is a bit jank-y.the women’s restroom has 3 stalls and they are usually messy and dark. Also, the stall doors barely shut. Their drinks can be a bit stronger too. They are a little watered down for my taste. But all in all, this is a place I will keep coming back to until they move…
Yes, they are moving. I hear that they are moving to Wicker Park in August. Better come here and get your dance on before then!

Look kids– if you’re afraid of alternative lifestyles and people who wear lots of black clothes then neo is not for you.
I started going in 1989 and this club (among others) has defined and shaped who I am.
Its dark and dingy and we like it that way. Its called character.
Great Industrial/​EBM nights and a rockin’ 80’s scene on Thursdays.
And the staff, when treated with respect– will give it back.
Rock on neo peeps!

I love Neo. I’ve been a regular here since 2007, and though my attendance has waned in the last two years (kids will do that to you), it’s still one of my favorite places to go when I get a night out. I think it’s the safest dance floor in the city for women who would like a night out without being «accidentally» groped by creepy strangers.
I think the staff here is great. The bouncers keep the atmosphere safe and fun, and the bartenders put actual alcohol in the drinks, like enough you can actually taste! The music is eclectic, and interesting. Lots of Industrial, EBM, Techno, remixes, and even some goth classics. If you’re looking for mainstream Top-​40 Tiesto, Skrillex, etc. techno, this is not the place for you.
Also, to the hot young things complaining about the patrons here trying to «recapture their youth», someday it’ll be you too sweetie. I’ve seen college kids here, and retirees tearing up the dance floor. I’m thankful to have a place to go to dance, have fun, and have a couple beers, even if it means being judged by know-​it-​all millennials. At least I’m out of the house.

80s night (Thursday) is the best night, it’s like walking into a dream of people you’ll never see in the day light. Interesting mix of people… everything from college students to older couples. It’s goth, funky, new wave, and all out a great escape from the real world. The downside is that Neo isn’t actually that cheap. Its cash only and the atm fee is around $ 3 — $ 4 I believe so make sure to get cash out beforehand! Also, coat check costs money and there’s usually always a cover at the door too. Drinks are moderate/​little pricey. Overall, a solid good place.

I really wanted to like this place. I stopped in while visiting Chicago last year. I enjoy goth/​industrial and I go to the clubs a lot in Denver. I was really looking forward to meeting the scene regulars in Chicago and I had no idea what to expect.
I don’t think this crowd is representative of the goth «scene». It seemed like a weirdo free-​for-​all as opposed to true goths. I will say that a handful of people were really cool, but many in the crowd were immature and rather obnoxious. To summarize the people that night for you: I sat down at one point in a corner and I had to move because a girl (who sat down near me) was giving her boyfriend (?) loud oral sex right next to me, in PLAIN view. I stayed a few hours and left confused and disoriented.
I came to check out the Chicago goth scene and meet cool people and make some new acqauintances but instead i felt very alienated and out of place (ironically, i felt like the only goth, at least the only sensible and mature one). This was definitely not the type of goth club (or people) I’m used too. Worlds removed. I was later informed that nobody in the scene actually goes to Neo anymore and that I should try to make it out to the Nocturna monthly instead. I’ll try that next time.
I give it two stars because I actually liked the dj (his name was Moyer or something like that). He played a good set and a number of remixes I had never heard before (which is kind of hard to do to me) and that I enjoyed. But I can’t recommend this club to anyone unfortunately.

More like neo NAZIS. I was forcibly removed without explanation by three muscle bound d– bags because a pajama bottom clad middle aged man thought I was trying to dance with his even less attractive fatter Elton John knock off boyfriend. I even had the cops called on me for refusing to leave the premises before getting my coat back. There is no reason to come here if you are an attractive well adjusted human.
Try Ravens down Clark street or alive one over on halsted instead!

When it’s time to get weird, it’s time for Neo.
I LOVE this place, been coming here for years and years and the music is always great, the drinks spot on and the crowd as weird and colorful and awesome as you’d expect them to be. All ages, all music preferences, all walks of life… love that you can come to this place be yourself, dance like a maniac, get weird, get drunk and go home saying «what the hell happened? that was awesome!» I’m a rare bird with affinity for all kinds of music and subcultures so I love that this place isnt totally elitist or non-​inclusive feeling. Always had a great time here and I’ll keep coming back!

Large dance floor + tables + bar w belgian beers + ledges + cool events/​themed nights + Lisa (greatest cocktail server! Thank you, you’re the best part of the night!) = a fair option if someone suggests it.
Consistently unpleasant bouncers and doorpersons + stuffy bathrooms + not-​so-​strong mixed drinks + frequent covers = may not be here super often.

For review #1200 I’m reviewing Neo, aka «the club down the alley», and specifically Thursday New Wave nights. Neo is a dark, stark, but welcoming club down an alley off of Clark St. in Lincoln Park. Neo has been in business for over 30 years, can you imagine what Lincoln Park used to be like 30 years ago?
Neo is Thursday nights. Underground dance night. New Wave night. You can wear black on the outside if black is how you feel on the inside. Halloween is Everyday. And nobody pays any mind. You can wear nothing different than your normal day to day wear, because the crowd on Thursday nights is super welcoming.
The music is great, and a lot of the goth and club anthems from the 80’s come with videos up on the big screen. Dance your ass off, because there’s no parking on the dance floor. Expect to hear these Goth 80’s Club anthems and more–
Ministry– Everyday is Halloween 12″ mix
Tones on Tail– Go!
Joy Division and New Order– Love Will Tear Us Apart and Blue Monday
The Cult– She Sells Sanctuary
Neo is Cash Only, and they have an ATM and a coat check. Open until 4am, the party can go all night, and you’ll meet some interesting people. So call in sick on Friday, and head to Neo.

Really disappointing. Maybe i came here on a bad night, but this place reeked. Sucky music and a bunch of old geezers around trying to chase their youth, and other half is a bunch of wannabees with dirty ass dreadlocks. Sorry neo but this isnt an alternative club. This is weenie hut jrs. Place was also a lot smaller than i expected. Not worth the $ 5 dollar entry fee, i might come here again just to give it a second chance because im not a complete asshole, but yeah. If any punks/​goths/​etcs are reading this and are expecting for this place to be the bomb. Go somewhere else. Poser city here.

Neo Survival 101
Respect the people around you — Be yourself, whatever that means, and don’t ridicule anyone else for doing the same. Dance like no one is watching, but remember that crazy concept of personal space. 98% of people come here to dance and not to get picked up, so don’t be too disappointed if you find that out the hard way. Similarly, folks here dance with themselves and most of us are used to concerts where moshing might be a thing. Unless specifically invited, don’t be shocked if people get upset when you try to grind with them. If you’re bumped into on the floor, roll with it. The regular patrons are not here for your personal entertainment. Have all the fun you want until it infringes on someone else’s fun. No, Ricardo doesn’t want to dance with you.
Respect the space — Don’t bring drinks on the dance floor because they almost always break and it ruins the floor faster. Put your phone away if you want to dance so you can watch where you’re going. All wall art is commissioned and was just fine before you added your autograph to it.
Respect the staff — They’re not your servants and they work hard so you can have safe fun while intoxicated. Please and thank you go a long way. The DJ will probably not derail the musical genre of the night because you want to hear Nicki Minaj right this second.
Regulars — Don’t immediately freak out about new stuff/​nights/​music/​people. We wouldn’t be the place we are if we didn’t take risks occasionally.
If you had a bad experience, you probably violated one of the above rules. It all comes down to one thing: you get what you put in. If you come here determined to stick out from the «freaks,» people will sense the disrespect and obviously not be happy about it. If people don’t warm up to you automatically, relax. It took most of us 6 months to talk to each other.
Yeah, we’re different. But I found the courage to dance here for the first time in my life years ago and I’ve met better friends here than anywhere else in the city. It’s not a lot of people’s cup of tea, but it’s everything to a lot of folks so they’re protective. Hang out, be cool, and you’ll do fine, kid.

Went here on a Saturday night w a group of friends. I gotta say that after I went to Exit, and came here, this place takes the prize.
Although we arrived a bit on the early side, the music was awesome, people were having drinks and having fun. Only one lady was on the dance floor when we arrived and was dancing away with no fucks given.
As the hours passed by we had Irish car bombs, the Rumchata Latte, the Green Meanie and other drinks. More people arrived and eventually we all hit the dance floor. The diversity of personalities that arrive to this place is great.
Overall I prefer this place over Exit.
The drinks could be better for the price though.
Come here, have a good time and don’t give a fuck =)

Neo really is «The One.» I can’t even tell you how many times I Kean-whoa’ed
to myself within a few hours of hanging out here.
On any given night the crowd can be completely different. You can see drag queens or DePaul Students. Hipsters or metal heads. Goths or goodie two shoes. It’s one of the few places in Chicago that truly is a melting pot of people and oddly placed smack dab in the middle of Lincoln Park.
So why the mad mix of folks all having an amazing time together? Well… between the awesome 80’s to 90’s to all across the board music they play, the who-​gives-​a-​shit-​what-​you-​look-​like vibe of the dance floor, and the positivity of everyone in the place it’s a Burning Man-​like Matrix of possibilities open till all hours of the night.

I am partial to this hole in the wall, as I was a frequent visitor when I was a kid but these days I’m glad to hear a new generation of outsiders still visits the joint. They have 80’s nights (to which I haven’t gone in a few years). It is one of those places that you got to visit at least once in your life to judge.

Even though I don’t boogie all that often, I actually do love to dance. One of the main reasons I don’t get out more simply has to do with the fact that I have like, three go to moves: the lawn mower, the worm, and routine yoga on the dance floor. If I ever went dancing more than a few times a year, the public would get more sick of seeing me than a Kardashian family member. But one of my rare dance floor appearances came at the hands of Neo, and I had an amazing time.
I’m a product of the ‘80s so I have a fondness for the decade’s goth/​emo/​industrial sounds of Depeche Mode, The Cure, Smiths, New Order, etc… and boy did the DJ last Thursday night bring the heat on that front. So much good music, amazing energy on the dance floor, and perfectly synced music videos to go along with it. One of the most fun nights I’ve had getting sweaty in recent memory.
It’s open until 4, so if you like to burn the midnight oil, you’ve found your place.

Lol, this place is a joke. I was in town for C20 and tagged along with my local native Chicago’n to this place.
I always thought of the goth/​industrial scene was a place where a gal can feel «safe». Well neo has them crawling from allllllll corners of the earth. Thankfully, my friend is a male so nothing much happened. Ladies — do go in a group!
Music was okay. They ran out of 312.: | Venue is odd too, you have to go thru a creepy alley to get inside and once you’re inside, there are a bunch of 3 – 4 step stairs everywhere to get to the bathroom and dance floor. It’s fine but if you’re drinking, be careful!
Oh, the bartender lady was awfully snooooty. Either she was on her rag and/​or she hates working there/​serving people. If you can get a guy bartender’s attention (they too, do not really care about the job), they will at least get you the drink w/​out dogging you.

Thursday new wave music :’)
One of the best dance clubs ever

If it was the early 90s, this $hithole might be passable. MAYBE. Now it’s just a time warp back to an era that’s long dead and never coming back. Complete with snotty attitudes and really stupidly dressed clique-​y patrons. It’s like high school in a bottle. YAY.
Oh, and I can load up Front 242 on my ipod and press play too, Neo «DJs.» This is Chicago. COME ON.
The plus side? Sometimes the female patrons wear pasties and very little else with their crappy synthetic dreads and their sneers. That’s cool I GUESS.

1. Judgement free zone
2. Gothic club
3. Not your typical Chicago party scene
4. Neon murals on the wall
5. Open late
6. CASH ONLY***
*** the alley entrance makes it even weirder