AMP Rock Lounge

I’ve seen a friends band here a few times, and I’ve always enjoyed it.
Drink prices are relatively high, but the atmosphere is fun. I’m not sure if I would necessarily go to AMP just for the hell of it, but if there’s an event here count me in!
The décor is awesome. I won’t bore you with additional details, considering everyone else has already described it, but I had to atleast say they rock (no pun intended).

This place has character, if you care for more of a high class establishment, don’t come. This is not a top 40 bar. The purpose of this place is to listen to great Indie/​Classic Rock music and chill out until the late night hours with your friends. I love how intimate it is (though if you’re taller than 6′ 7″ you’re outta luck) and the décor is amazing. All the great fundamentalists of Rock are showcased on the walls, (Jimmy Hendrix, Steven Tyler to name a few). Clash and Aerosmith song lyrics written on the walls. Love it.

Went back again to see the same cover band with the same $ 25 wristband deal. It was a lot of fun, although not very crowded at all this time. We stayed until ~1 a.m. and even still there weren’t a ton of people there. Bar staff was friendly and fast once again. I wish their cocktail glasses were a bit larger though.

I’ve been there a few times, and I would never go back again. I went there last night and I ordered a Vodka cranberry and a glass of water. I was charged 9 dollars. Chicago bars are expensive, so I didn’t think anything of it. Ordered another vodka cranberry and a glass of water later, was charged 5 dollars, so I asked the bartender about it and he said that ‘No, it’s only 5 dollars and water is free.’ So I asked the original bartender who had overcharged me, and she would not return my money. Even talked to the owner who would not return my money. Charging someone 4 dollars for something when you’re not supposed to charge, and then not returning their money is a crappy thing to do. For a bar that is ALWAYS empty you don’t want to piss off the few people that actually go to it. With that kind of service I won’t be surprised when they close down in a few months.

I’d give it 4 stars, but the ceilings are between 6’6″ and 6’8.5″ and I’m 6’7″. It was tough trying not to hit my head and enjoy the open bar.
That said, the music was fun… a mix of current hits and crazy old stuff from the 70s and 80s that got everybody pretty happy. The music was quiet enough to talk without burning out my voice.
We had a birthday open bar package and since its a 4am bar it ran from 11pm until 2am which was incredible. Usually those packages only happen early in the night, but we had a blast. The drinks were a bit soft, but… its open bar.
The vibe of the place is really cool and the bartenders were great. My only complaint is the ceiling height, but if you’re not a ridiculously tall giant like me… you’ll probably be fine.

5 years ago Catacombs was one of my late night stomping grounds. Those were the days when I didn’t turn into a pumpkin after midnight. And apparently they just couldn’t survive without my business because they closed their doors and recently reopened as AMP Rock Lounge.
AMP Rock isn’t the type of place I“d normally hang out, but I planned a bachelorette party this past weekend and was in need of a few cheesy/​sketchy places to end the night. I thought AMP might fit the bill. And it did… same dark sketchy atmosphere as Catacomb’s. The only noticeable change is that they replaced the bars with very sparkly bars, which adds to the «cheese» factor.
It was near empty when we arrived at 12:30am…so much for reserving an area ahead of time! I made my way to the bar and ordered a Long Island Iced Tea (so 2001). After a few sips I found myself wondering why I ever stopped drinking these delicious drinks? I remembered why when my head started pounding the next morning. And the complimentary shots from the bartenders here probably didn’t help either.
We didn’t end up staying long because our rowdy group of girls preferred the crowd at Jbar, where we had just come from. But if AMP Rock is anything like my Catacomb’s I have a feeling it would have filled up with drunk early 20 something boys and girls sometime around 2am.

Will not go back. I think this space is just not meant for a bar.

Wow, where do I start. First off this place is in a bunker almost. You walk in and the ceiling looks like it is part of a cave and it is pretty much right on top of your head. If you are looking to have a drink, you are much better off going to bricks next door as this place has almost no choice. If you are looking for a methed out bartender, then this place has the girl for you!

Not fun. I felt like I was in somebody’s crappy basement that their parents allowed them to paint on the walls of.
The cover charge was baffling. I paid $ 5 and was one of 30 people in the place. The staff is nice and that’s why it gets 2 stars. Without the very cordial, competent staff, this place is worse than just drinking out of a paper bag in your car.

I’m so stoked this place is literally about 200 feet from my front door. I went in there on black Wednesday after spotting it while I was driving down Lincoln. I knew it was there, I just didn’t know that it changed names (used to be Catacomb, which I was never at). Got there a little before 9pm, bouncer said they weren’t open yet and that he’d let us in but the bartender wasn’t there. He was very cool without that typical bouncer attitude. Huge plus. He said to go into Bricks (which is attached to the bar BTW), have a beer, come back and he won’t charge us a cover. Cool.
After our beer at Bricks we entered Amp to find black walls with white lyrics, a huge portrait of Steven Tyler, a green-​yellow VERY glittery bar and an extremely laid back staff. The bartender introduced herself and asked us our names. She suggested a few things and spoke to us like she was an old friend. Refreshing change.
The bar is small but cozy with couches that give it that «partying in your buds basement» feel. So I’m kicked back on the couch listening to some awesome old school (and new school, if there is such a thing) rock n’ roll when all of the sudden I hear «Hey Kel!» I think I must be hearing things. «Kelli!» So I turn to see our bartender motioning from behind the bar. «Need another one?!» while tipping her invisible glass to signify a drink. I look down, «Why yes, yes I do». Over she comes with another drink.
This continued on through the night, the bartender coming out from behind the bar giving us the «VIP service» (as she called it) delivering our drinks to us.
We left a little after 2am so I can’t say how busy this 4am bar gets. While we were in there it wasn’t crowded, just a nice comfortable group of people.
Great rock and roll, good drinks ($ 2 PBRs btw), comfy couch, excellent service and Steven Tyler. Dangerous place… very dangerous. And to think… it’s like… in my back yard! Rock on Amp, keep up the good work!

I went kinda early last night and only stayed for one drink. There weren’t that many people there but since it’s a 4 am bar I’m sure it picks up later on. My drink was delicious. just the right amount of whiskey and mixin’s (usually it’s either all whiskey or all mix) and it was only $ 5. Pretty good for a Friday night in Lincoln Park!
The place is gorgeous. The ceiling was made to look like a cave, the walls are black with white song lyrics all over them. I’m hesitant to give this place 5 stars only because I’d like to see what it’s like past 2 am. ok AND they played Motley Crue and Quiet Riot. I was expecting some old school Black Sabbath or maybe even KIss when I went in.
Bottom line — Amp is definitely worth checking out

I went to Amp on Thursday for their «soft» opening. It still has the low ceilings from its former days as Katacomb, but everything else seems brand new. Rock n Roll lyrics are written all over the walls. Drums serve as end tables, and the bottles are arranged in what appear to be hollowed out amplifiers.
They didn’t seem to advertise the opening much (I’d heard of it through the bar industry grapevine), so I really can’t comment on what the crowd will be like once they are fully open. I do know that I had a great time there.