Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom is located just a few steps east of the Lawrence “L” stop on the CTA red line. With a capacity of 4,500 people, the Aragon is considered by most to be a mid-sized concert venue- bigger than venues like the Metro and the Riviera Theater, yet smaller than concert arenas like The United Center or outdoor giants like Millennium Park. The concert hall was built in 1926 and was designed on the inside to look like a Spanish village (The name Aragon was taken from a province in Spain). Ordinarily, the Aragon houses Spanish music concerts, but the ballroom has also featured prominent touring rock bands such as Umphreys McGee, The Mars Volta, Morrissey, and The Flaming Lips.
The Flaming Lips and their U.F.O. show invaded the Aragon Ballroom in September.
On the outside, the Aragon may look like an average concert hall or theater. However, the inner architecture of the ballroom is a different story. For a concert hall, the Aragon has a distinct and unique charm. Upon entering the ballroom, visitors are greeted by beautiful winding stairwells and glass chandeliers. Surrounding the stage, the Spanish village-themed balconies provide a unique visual experience. Attending a concert at the Aragon literally feels like walking through a small town or village in Spain.
The Overall Concert Experience:
The sound quality in the building is great, and while I still believe hearing live music outdoors is always best, the Spanish-village theme almost gives the concertgoer the illusion of being outside. My favorite part of going to shows at the Aragon is that, like most medium-sized venues in Chicago, all tickets are general admission. Essentially, this means that concertgoers can pick whether they want to grab a seat in the balcony or go for a location on the main floor in close proximity to the stage. If your seeing a show where you want to be up close, I recommend arriving at least an hour before the doors open; hardcore fans often line up around the corner in an attempt to get a good spot for the show.
My Final Grades:
Acoustics: B+
Seating: A
Location: A
Unique Concert Experience: A
Overall: A-
The sound quality in the building is great, and while I still believe hearing live music outdoors is always best, the Spanish-village theme almost gives the concertgoer the illusion of being outside. My favorite part of going to shows at the Aragon is that, like most medium-sized venues in Chicago, all tickets are general admission. Essentially, this means that concertgoers can pick whether they want to grab a seat in the balcony or go for a location on the main floor in close proximity to the stage. If your seeing a show where you want to be up close, I recommend arriving at least an hour before the doors open; hardcore fans often line up around the corner in an attempt to get a good spot for the show.
My Final Grades:
Acoustics: B+
Seating: A
Location: A
Unique Concert Experience: A
Overall: A-
4 comments:
I've only been to one show at the Aragon, and it was great. I like the ambience, too, although I thought the sound lacked some, especially nearer to the stage. That was a pretty accurate review, though.
I've only been to one show at the aragon, but it was one of the best i've ever been to. part of it was the fact that it was the flaming lips, but i definitely think the overall atmosphere contributed, and overall the aragon is definitely one of my favorite venues. nice review.
You should check out The Vic. Smaller venue but cozy. I saw the Dresden Dolls there in January and it was amazing. The Dolls caused a little bit of an on stage rush at the end of the show that the Vic staff wasn't too please about but nothing was broken and what a memory for all who attended that night.
The Aragon used to be an actual ballroom...a woman I know who is in her 80s used to go dancing there as a young woman. As a kid, we called it the BRAWLROOM. I've seen dozens of shows here, including standouts by Pixies, RHCP, Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, The Stones and White Stripes.
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