Chicago
The Handsome, Chicago
The Handsome is on Wells Street in River North, a bar and lounge that also functions as a listening room with DJ sets and live performances. The name suggests a barbershop connection that doesn't fully pan out inside, but the space itself is a proper venue rather than an afterthought.
It draws a crowd that comes for the music as much as the drinks, which keeps the energy focused on the performance rather than competing with it.