Concord Music Hall — Attraction in West Chicago Township

Wife and I saw K. Flay here and overall it was pretty good. Bought the VIP package which included early entry for a meet & greet and photo with K. Flay as well as a live acoustic performance and early access to the merch. Pretty sure that was organized by her tour and had nothing to do with the venue and it was really cool.

What was not so cool was we showed up at the check-in time of 5pm for the VIP experience and we were kept waiting in line outside for 20 to 30 minutes. Outside in Chicago in the evening with temps in the teens and the wind blowing. But again, I'm not sure if that had something to do with the venue or the tour organization of the VIP experience. However, regardless of who was responsible for the delay I felt the venue could have let the VIP purchasers in to wait so we weren't left in the cold.

I have noticed on the web some people complaining about the security being strict here but I had no problems. They have the standard no outside food or drink rule and they wristbanded all 21+ patrons while we waited in line which was a nice way to speed things up. One drawback was while we waited to meet K. Flay the only public bathrooms available were in the actual concert room where they were still setting up. A few people had to be escorted in to use the bathroom or use the employees only one.

The actual concert hall is really nice, small, but nice. I like how everything is located in the hall. The bathrooms, the bar and the merch table are all in the hall so you don't have to leave the concert and go far for any of those amenities.

This was a sold out show so the place was packed and maybe I'm just getting older but it seemed like sold out capacity was almost too packed. You're pretty much butt cheek to butt cheek with the person next to you with almost no room to dance or move. They have a balcony and also a seating area behind the bar but it too was full. I know being packed in on the floor is standard practice at a concert venue, but most places are spacious enough that you can go to the back where there are less people and still see the artist performing. Due to the layout and small size of the room here that's not really possible so you are kind of forced to be squeezed in. So to be honest it would be a better experience if they reduced their sell out number. Also, it got super hot in there with all those people. And it was really uncomfortably hot for a good 30 minutes before I felt the a/c turn on. Drink prices are the same as most other places. And like most other places the coat check is a madhouse after the show.

I know it sounds like I complained a lot in this review but overall it was a good experience. If they just cranked the a/c sooner and maybe didn't jam so many people in a space that is a smaller, more constricted space than other venues it would have been an excellent experience. K. Flay rocked the show and was awesome and I would definitely see another show here. Just know to get there early so you get the spot on the floor or in the balcony or seating area that you will be...

I really do enjoy this venue! Concord gets a lot of good edm artists and I've seen a lot of shows here! Good location and I love the size of the venue!

HOWEVER.. the security here is HORRIBLE! I've had so many issues with them! About a year ago we took a party bus there..the bus parked right in front of the venue and everyone got out! My brother and his girlfriend were under 21 but still wanted to join us on the bus and obviously see the artist that was playing that night.. but because security saw them walk off the bus they accused them of drinking and told them they weren't allowed into the venue! They also told my friend that he had a look in his eyes and he wasn't allowed in either! Total BS!

It gets A LOT WORSE though....

Last weekend we were there for a show with a bunch of people and at the end of the night we decided it was time to go! My friends were waiting by the car for me and as they were waiting security went up to my friend and asked him to leave because they couldn't wait there.. my friend told him that he was just waiting for me to come out and I was almost there.. the guard said it was okay and walked away! Couple minutes later 8 security guard come up to my friend who was waiting outside the car and told him he had to leave right now and before he could even say that i was on my way, the one guard took him and threw him into the side of the car! His nose started bleeding right away and the guards started making fun of him and called him names because his eyes were watering from the impact of the hit! Well my friend ended up in an ambulance and his NOSE WAS BROKEN AND NEEDED SURGERY!! My friend is one of the nicest guys I know and is definitely NOT a fighter! That is what upsets me so much! He goes to these shows for the love of edm music and then this happens.. it just bothers me so much. Security is supposed to be there to make us feel safe and take care of us but instead they are putting us in danger and causing harm!

From previous reviews I have read that security has not only been an issue for me but for plenty of other people! I really hope Concord reads all of them and makes a change! THIS IS NOT OKAY AND IT NEEDS TO STOP! Obviously these guards are getting away with what they do and keep doing it! I would hate to see another innocent person get abused by these security guards! It's a shame too because I really do enjoy the venue but I honestly don't think I will come here again for a show until something is done about this...

I really wish I got the name of the individual staff who helped me out on Friday while we were at the show Pigeons Playing Ping Pong.

Two staff were incredibly helpful and nice that night and it honestly made me so appreciative of the service.

My girlfriend got sick during the concert, definitely from partying a little too hard. We went off to the side and it was clear she needed to sit down for a bit. All the seating areas on the first floor were taken. so we found a wall and popped a squat. For security reasons you cant sit on the floor. I knew pretty quickly we were going to get approached by staff. But the first time I made eye contact with the staff he instantly realized we needed to give her at least a minute or two before asking us to stand up. So he generously did another patrol round before coming over to us. Instead of being forceful and rude, which I experienced at a lot of different venues he politely asked us to stand up and even directed us to a spot on the balcony that had seating. So we went up there and rested. A staff member, I really wish I asked him his name because he deserves to be recognized, came over and made sure we were okay and then came back with a water bottle for my girlfriend. That may be a small gesture to some people but when your girlfriend is sick you cant just leave her to get water, I didn't even know the closest bar in the venue and I would have to wait. In the moment, that act of kindness meant so much to us as customers. On top of making sure everyone was safe at the concert he took the extra 2 minutes to get her water. At a different venue/club they would have just kicked us out. I couldn't thank him enough. I don't usually write reviews, but that guy is a five star man. In my mind, he went completely above and beyond what was needed.

Whoever is reading this from the Concord music hall, the guy managing the balcony on the right side of the venue, if you're facing the stage on Friday during the show "Pigeons Playing Ping Pong". That dude deserves recognition. ...