If there were ever an “official” punk rock bar of Chicago, it would be Delilah’s. For one, the bar plays punk rock music exclusively—the more obscure, the better. Second, it has a disproportionate number of patrons that sport tattoos or are looking to form new bands (this is a common meeting place for respondents to punk-oriented “Musicians Wanted” ads in the Reader). Third, it has a rep (thanks to the first two points) as a post-show watering hole for punk acts touring through Chicago (including some big names that have dropped by). Nevertheless, the best part of Delilah’s is that no one really cares whether you’re “punk” or not—you go in, you drink, you chill. If you know or recognize other people from the “music” scene, you can say hi (and more importantly, offer to buy them a drink) if you’re a fan. Otherwise, if you don’t bother anyone, no one will bother you. The worst thing you could do here is stick out like a sore thumb by being obnoxious or a poser (or both). It’s the perfect anti-social bar, where you go to drink with friends rather than be seen, and if you have ever been a fan of punk rock, you will soak up Delilah’s atmosphere without incident.
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