Quintessential, jovial Chicago music heart Cole Brice stocked up enough courage and cash to ditch the cubes of his accounting job and live his band-and-a-bar dream. "Or hell, depending on what time of day or night it is," he kids, confiding in his band – The Splendid Ape – and roommates for a close-knit, three-man workforce.

A pretension-vacuous, garage-rock rooted balance falling not too far off the live music tree as the Hideout, the old pool hall space is a reflection of Cole's push for simple art and beer pleasures, stocking the tap with a handful of craft brews from local showcases (Metropolitan) to Californian stouts (Old No. 38). The walls are plastered with local painting talent and the weekly music and comedy shows are cover-free.

Centerstage Reviewer: Gavin Paul