If you are the type of person that is turned off by the occassional wobbly bar stool, a table so slim that it can only hold a line of single paper plates that your food is served on, and having to go to the rear of the bar to order and pick up said food....please stop reading this and never go to this place. You will be severly disappointed.
HOWEVER, if you are a blues lover that understands that these things add character to a place...you definitely need to go to The Kingston Mines Blues Bar when in Chicago. This place is fantastic. It has everything you need in a blues bar: Good food, cheap beer, and GREAT live music!
I can understand why I read some negative reviews of this place before I ventured in. Snobby types that expect a quaint evening with classy dining are idiots if they expect that in a real American joint like this...and screw them for it! Kingston Mines was everything I wanted to believe a real deal Chicago blues bar was and more!
On Monday night, my girlfriend and I arrived at 8:30 and got a bucket of beer...like 15 bucks for a bucket of 6. The place is divided by a wall in the middle, with the bar lining either side. At the front of each "room," is a stage. The first band, J.W. Williams, went on at 9:30 at which time we moved to the rightside room to watch/hear. J.W. Williams was a four part band...lead singer/bassist, two guitars, and drums. They kicked major ass to say the least. The vocals went from bassy to high screams...a range that fit perfectly with there Paul Butterfield style blues. They played everything from Eric Clapton covers to goosebump raising originals.
