Music Venue

The Metro

Name: Tools 4 Music
Address: US
Price range: Free

1,100-capacity Chicago concert hall opened in 1982 by Joe Shanahan, where The Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and R.E.M. played early or career-defining shows. Still active and hosting independent live music in 2026.

Chicago, USA

1,100 capacity

Est. 1982

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Music Genres

alternativeindierockpunk

About The Metro

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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.

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.