[thenightfish]

THE places to play in Chicago: HoB-size: The Vic. Bigger: the Riviera and Congress theatres. Smaller: Metro and Martyr's. Concerts: Louis Sullivan-designed Auditorium Theatre, Chicago Theatre. The architecture and atmosphere in those places are a better complement for a band with the Hip's kind of passion and apparent integrity.

Sorry you missed them orry you missed them at Martyr's back in 1998! I caught 3 out of the 4 shows---they were my introduction to the Hip live. No more need be said.

And I've seen the Hip at the Riv, Chicago Theatre, and HOB, and frankly I have enjoyed the HOB shows the most out of those venues. The Riv can have horrible sound sometimes. Also, HOB the main floor is not as deep as the Riv or the Vic; you can be at the back and not be that far from the stage. The Auditorium has great sound but the upper balcony there is truly a nosebleed section; it's much too high to see anything on the stage.