The Metro is a 1,100-capacity concert hall located at 3730 N Clark Street in Chicago's Wrigleyville neighborhood, opened in 1982 by owner Joe Shanahan. Originally called Stages Music Hall, the venue helped launch alternative rock, grunge, and industrial music in the 1980s and 1990s by booking early shows from R.E.M., The Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and New Order. The Metro remains active in 2026, continuing its mission of hosting independent and emerging live music.
History
In the late 1970s, Joe Shanahan returned to Chicago after experiencing the art, music, and dance culture of New York City. He opened Smart Bar in July 1982 as a dance club on the fourth floor of the Northside Auditorium Building, a structure built in 1927 as a Swedish Community Center. DJ Frankie Knuckles performed regularly, and DJ Joe Smooth held prime Thursday and Saturday slots until 1985.
On July 25, 1982, Shanahan booked and promoted an R.E.M. concert through his production company, Latest Creations. The show was a success, and Shanahan gradually took over the main floor, renaming it Stages Music Hall and eventually Metro. Smart Bar moved to the basement, where it still operates as a separate dance music venue.
In its first year, Metro hosted local bands like Naked Raygun and Big Black alongside national acts including Sonic Youth, the Ramones, Metallica, X, and The Replacements. New Order, Depeche Mode, Killing Joke, Billy Idol, and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark all played within the first 12 months. The venue also booked early industrial acts like Cabaret Voltaire, KMFDM, and Einstuerzende Neubauten.
The 1990s brought grunge and alternative rock. Material Issue, Smashing Pumpkins, Liz Phair, and Veruca Salt all started their careers at Metro. The original lineup of the Smashing Pumpkins played both their first and last gigs at the venue. Pearl Jam recorded a live album at Metro on March 28, 1992. Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Mudhoney all played there. British acts like Oasis and the Manic Street Preachers played early US gigs at the club.
Bob Dylan performed two shows to celebrate the venue's 15th anniversary. On July 22, 2007, Metro celebrated its 25th anniversary with a free public concert at Millennium Park's Jay Pritzker Pavilion featuring the Decemberists backed by the Grant Park Orchestra.
Notable Performances
Beyond the artists already mentioned, the Metro stage has hosted James Brown, Iggy Pop, George Clinton, Joe Strummer, Prince, The White Stripes, The Killers, No Doubt, Phish, Disturbed, Chevelle, Interpol, The Strokes, Jack Johnson, Kanye West, Chance the Rapper, Green Day, Fall Out Boy, Arctic Monkeys, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
Jeff Buckley filmed "Live in Chicago" at the Metro, his only concert DVD before his death. Blind Melon's last show with Shannon Hoon was filmed there on September 27, 1995, less than a month before his death. Alkaline Trio have played over 30 sold-out shows at the venue.
The Venue Space
The Metro holds 1,100 people across a main floor and balcony. The building also houses Smart Bar in the basement, a dedicated electronic dance music venue that has operated since 1982. The two venues operate independently but share the same building. Metro has a long-standing booking relationship with Chicago's Jam Productions.
Local bands can still get booked at Metro by sending a demo, the same method used since the club's earliest days.
Quick Facts
- Capacity: 1,100 (main floor and balcony)
- Address: 3730 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60613
- Nearest Transit: Belmont (Red Line), a 10-minute walk
- Year Opened: 1982
- Building: Northside Auditorium Building (built 1927 as a Swedish Community Center)
- Companion Venue: Smart Bar (basement dance music venue, separate operation)
Notable Shows Here
The Metro stage has hosted hundreds of memorable performances since 1982. These are among the most widely documented:
- R.E.M. (July 25, 1982): The show that started it all. Joe Shanahan booked and promoted this concert through his production company, and its success led him to take over the venue full-time.
- The Smashing Pumpkins (October 5, 1988): The band's first gig at Metro. They would go on to play both their first and last shows at the venue. A recording of this early performance was later shared by the band as a free download.
Here is The Smashing Pumpkins performing "There It Goes" from their first show at Cabaret Metro on October 5, 1988:
- Pearl Jam (March 28, 1992): Recorded a live album at Metro weeks before "Ten" made them global stars. Billy Corgan and D'Arcy Wretzky of The Smashing Pumpkins joined Pearl Jam for the last two songs.
- Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Mudhoney (early 1990s): All played the venue during the grunge explosion, cementing Metro's role as a hub for alternative rock.
- Jeff Buckley (May 13, 1995): Filmed "Live in Chicago" at Cabaret Metro, his only concert DVD before his death. The performance was originally broadcast on Chicago music video program JBTV.
Here is Jeff Buckley performing "Dream Brother" live at Cabaret Metro in Chicago, from the official "Live in Chicago" DVD release:
- Bob Dylan (1997): Performed two shows to celebrate the venue's 15th anniversary.
- The Smashing Pumpkins (August 12 to 13, 1993): Played two career-defining shows at the height of the "Siamese Dream" era, with recordings widely circulated among fans.
Here is The Smashing Pumpkins performing "Drown" live at Metro in 1993:
Similar and Nearby Venues
The Metro is part of a network of mid-sized American venues that function as career launchpads:
- First Avenue - Minneapolis 1,550-capacity nightclub with a similar role in the Midwest
- The Vic Theatre - Chicago 1,400-capacity venue, another important room in the city's live music circuit
- Bowery Ballroom - New York 550-capacity venue serving the same tier of touring acts on the East Coast
- 9:30 Club - Washington DC's 1,200-capacity venue, the closest East Coast equivalent in terms of cultural reputation
- The Fillmore - San Francisco's 1,200-capacity historic venue with a similar legacy of artist discovery
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
Metro is one of the best examples in the United States of a mid-sized venue that functioned as a career launchpad. The Smashing Pumpkins went from playing their first gig on the Metro stage to headlining arenas. Pearl Jam recorded a live album there weeks before "Ten" made them global stars. For independent artists, Metro represents the tier of venue where a strong local following can translate into national attention.
The venue's continued openness to demo submissions is rare in an era where most clubs of this size work exclusively through booking agents. This makes Metro a realistic target for independent artists building a touring circuit through the Midwest.
Use our Tour Revenue Calculator to model how venues like Metro fit into a touring route. Read our guide on how to book your first tour for a framework on progressing from small clubs to 1,000-capacity rooms. The complete guide to making money as a musician in 2026 covers live revenue at every scale.
Related Resources
- Tour Revenue Calculator - Estimate earnings from live shows
- How to Book Your First Tour: Step-by-Step Guide
- Complete Guide to Making Money as a Musician in 2026
- Metro Chicago Official Website
