HW at Cubby Bear, Chicago IL

[John Majka]

All right, who's the knuckle head who booked Hawkwind at the Cubby Bear of
all places?  Of all the clubs in Chicago, this is the one that seems least
amenable to the Hawks.  The Cubby Bear, for those who don't know, is
basically a sports bar right across the street from Wrigley Field (home of
the Cubs, thus the name).  The stage is rather small and so is the venue
itself.  The primary focus is sports and alcohol.  True to nature, Cubby
Bear has done nothing to promote this show thus far.  In fact, the Chicago
Shows List, a list which faithfully reports every upcoming musical event in
the Chicago area, regardless of size, does not even have this show listed.
Tickets will not be available at ticketmaster.  There are no fliers.
Hawkwind played here in 1990 and I almost didn't see the show because it
wasn't advertised etc. and the only reason I found out was because a friend
of mine was in Chicago the day before and saw the Hawkwind name on the
marquee.  Now when the Hawks played Park West in 1995, for example, there
were newspaper adverts, the listing appeared on shows lists, there were
fliers everywhere and even full-color event posters available at record
stores around town.  The Park West is about 4 times the size of Cubby Bear
and I would say it was damn near filled to capacity.  If this Cubby Bear
show gets advertised it will certainly sell out, but it probably won't be
advertised so there's nothing to worry about.  Hawkwind should play a club
instead of a bar.  Plus the sound at Cubby Bear kind of sucks compared to a
good venue like, say, Metro or Lounge Ax or Double Door etc.
John Majka
flossbac at wcic.org