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Anyone who drives down Clark Street early in the evening will witness throngs of eager concertgoers waiting for the doors of the Metro to open; this is the only place in Wrigleyville where people donning fishnet stockings and creatively placed body piercings outnumber those dressed in Cubs paraphernalia. A glance up at the black and white marquee reveals what has drawn such a motley crowd -- a stacked lineup of local, national or even international talent will play that evening.

Since 1982, this mostly all-ages venue -- some late night shows are 18 and older -- has showcased a variety of musical genres all the while gaining a reputation as being one of the best alternative rock clubs in the city. Rock greats Ministry and the Smashing Pumpkins both got their start here, and the list of prominent bands the Metro has hosted is long and intimidating, including Moby, The White Stripes, Liz Phair, The Violent Femmes, Interpol, Steven Malkmus, and Mos Def to name a few.

The bi-level space -- the top level has VIP seating and the general admission crowd fights their way closer to the stage at the lower level -- has seen its fair share of rowdy fans and late nights. But while some would call the Metro shabby and beer-soaked, others find it charming or, at the very least, deserving of respect for consistently being at the forefront of the Chicago music scene. And if none of the raucous alt-country outfits, infectious hip-hop MCs or blistering rock bands on stage command attention, then head downstairs to Smart Bar where some of the best deejays in the city spin dance music well into the morning hours.