Formerly:

photo courtesy of South Union Arts

Think alternative art and music are dead in Chicago? If so, you haven't been to the South Union Arts Center, located a short walk from the Roosevelt Red Line stop. Inside this old church building, kids of all ages (it's open even to 18-year-old rock stars!) pile in to see music shows on varying nights of the week. A rotating art gallery, installations and occasional movie nights also happen, but the space does close for a short time during the winter to "hibernate."

The giant neon cross hanging behind the stage is something everyone remembers whether they like it or not, and a short history of the building is posted at the front of the space, so you'll have some history to think about while chilling out. Here, you'll hear performances by lesser-known groups like LEBANON (from Israel), whose artsy instrumental rock fits right in with the surroundings. The same goes for artists like Cristy C. Road, whose visual work is influenced by "the woodwork of Miami, romantic perversions and early '90s punk rock," and illustrates the "existence of social principles, sexual curiosity, mental inadequacies and dirty thoughts." All-woman bands like Condenada, who express their mission with short, to-the-point statements on singing in Spanish and English, having different sexual orientations, being active in their communities and being feminists, are welcome at this experimental space. mP Productions, a company that books music shows around the city, recently started sharing this indie space.

Centerstage Reviewer: Alicia Eler