Last night a couple of friends and I went to Sluggers dueling piano bar in Wrigleyville for a drink or two. Word on the street was that Billy Joel, who played last night at Wrigley Field with Elton John, was going there late-night. I didn’t have much faith in our chances of a Joel sighting, but I wanted to check out the place anyway.
I didn’t realize that piano bars are a culture unto themselves. We entered the bar on the ground level and were directed upstairs for the piano room. The party was already well underway, as a crowd encircled an elevated stage in the center of the room, on which sat two musicians pounding away on two facing pianos.
The atmosphere was lively and energetic; in fact, it was one of the most content and happy crowds I have ever seen. There was a sense of camaraderie that I have never experienced at any other bar, as patrons pooled together dollar bills in an attempt to bribe the pianists to play their requests.
How the musicians know both the chords and words to so many songs is truly beyond me. They played everything from CCR to Kelly Clarkson, and never missed a beat.
As added entertainment, extending from the center of the pianos was a dancing pole, which more than once was put to (not necessarily good) use.
Billy never showed up—to be honest, we probably just didn’t stay late enough—but I got to see a unique strain of Chicago nightlife. I’m not saying I’ll make it a weekly outing, but for special occasions, guests in town, or on a night when I’m feeling a particular craving for a wild sing-along, I’ll be hitting up Sluggers or one of the other famous Chi-town piano bars.
As a side note, Sluggers is truly an impressive establishment (though again, not a place I'll become a regular). In addition to the piano set-up it also has indoor batting cages and Chucky-Cheese-esque games. Disneyland for adults?
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