I've lived in outside Chicago for a long time and never explored the blues bars of Chicago. This must change. Due diligence, web research... out of many four are candidates for a start for the slumming it that is blues bar-going:
(chicagostudioclub) Harlem Avenue Lounge: Everyone seems to like this place, though I have to laugh about the directions "next to the White Castle". It has its devoted fans. And it really does seem to be a dive, which actually goes well with its location near the head of Route 66.
(chibarproject) Kingston Mines. Sounds fun: "rough around the edges", 2 stages, crowded main crowded room, a smaller room with screen of the big stage act(!). Open to 4am.
(centerstagechicago) Buddy Guy's Legends: "The crowd consists mainly of tourists, suburbanites and blues aficionados." two of which aren't ringing endorsement, though we'd be part of the suburbanite class. Whatever it takes to keep alive. Still, two locals have pointed out its absence in the original list, and it is Buddy Guy, so in it goes. The inside looks the least divey of all of these bars, actually.
(wineandleisure) B.l.u.e.s. (on Halsted), seems to feature local bands, and I always love places with big long bars (the Comstock in SF, the J&M cafe/dive in Seattle). Intimate seems to be the catchphrase, probably because Kingston Mines is bigger and is across the street.
Blue Chicago on Clark: this one attracts me because I love female singers and this bar prides itself in booking female blues singers. Vintage, intimate, the inside seems set up in a funky way, narrow with tables along both sides. And Blues Chicago has a good blues station streaming.
