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C L O S E D
Name:OFF THE ALLEY
Web:
Email:
Phone:708-798-2252? 708-798-0222?
Fax:
Address:18061 Dixie Highway
City, ST, Zip:Homewood, IL 60430-1745
Country:US
Hours:Fri 8:00pm- 2:00am; Sat 7:00pm- 2:00am
Capacity:
Pay:
Average Take-Home First-Time Artists		US $
Openness To New Talent:??
Genres: Metal
Punk
Ska
Production:
Sound: Yes No
Lights: Yes No
Technicians: Yes No
Talent Buyer
First Name:John
Last Name:Laurie, Booker
Web:
Email:
Phone:
Fax:
Address:
City, ST, Zip:,
Country:
Hours:

Notes: All ages, all alternative/punk Located behind Record Swap. Saturdays only. JL works at Swap.

I suspect this is closed...

But I at least have an actual address now to start digging.

Ah, love those city council notes. In 2000, an application was made for a dog kennel to have a variance in zoning laws at this address.

Then in 2002 the martial arts academy wanted a variance for their signage.

And, finally, the wedding and baby accessories place (I'm not making this up!) was listed in a national roster of place you could buy the Simply Charming product line.

Something tells me the record swap and its related music events are no more. Sigh.

Still, I'm leaving it open for now, and hoping for the best... I've emailed the martial arts academy, which actually has a web-site, begging for info.

Opened in 1991.

Wow. Still listed on CitySearch. There's hope.

Draco Academy, the martial arts place, was kind enough to email me back and let me know that they now occupy both the former Alley and Record Swap spaces.

Freshness: 2003/OCT/24 Member Gig
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You: Performed here | Saw Show[s] here
Rating: Star (5 == Good)
Comments:
Jamie K Rating: ***** Jan 16 2006 11:01 am

I use to love going to see the Arrivals here! I'm glad they are still around!!!

Jim K. --- Ex Alley Rat Rating: ***** Nov 29 2005 06:11 am

I loved going to OTA for shows. Every time The Tossers played, we'd go. They did Wednesday shows every now and again too.
I was mostly there for their Friday night underage dance thingy. I remember the DJs being DJ Zaius and whatever John Murphy's DJ name was. They played anything from Erasure to Siouxsie and the Banshees. Barry Manilow to The Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack. Enigma to Violent Fems ... and a whole bunch more New Wave and stuff like that. It was good times back in the day.

Jim K. --- Ex Alley Rat Rating: ***** Nov 29 2005 06:11 am

I loved going to OTA for shows. Every time The Tossers played, we'd go. They did Wednesday shows every now and again too.
I was mostly there for their Friday night underage dance thingy. I remember the DJs being DJ Zaius and whatever John Murphy's DJ name was. They played anything from Erasure to Siouxsie and the Banshees. Barry Manilow to The Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack. Enigma to Violent Fems ... and a whole bunch more New Wave and stuff like that. It was good times back in the day.

ashley m. Rating: ***** Oct 12 2005 08:10 pm

off the alley was the best place to see shows. hands down. I think back at how amazing it was to see so many great bands there (jawbreaker, mr t experience, the mushuganas..hell, even the dolemites)
I miss it more and more everytime i drive past the corner of Ridge and Dixie. 8 years and hundreds of shows later, i still think that i saw some of best goddamn bands around at OTA. i even miss that damn pole covered in stickers right next to the entrance...

former swap worker bee Rating: *** Aug 19 2005 01:08 am

They were lucky to have great shows: good ska shows early on, pansy division, mushuganas, etc. etc. and last but not least jawbreaker. And who could forget wesley willis threatening the owner! The Swap ain't coming back and neither is OTA. John Laurie was the guy who made both work and he's long since opened Laurie's Planet of Sound on Lawrence(?). Unfortunately, from what I last saw of h'wood and the surrounding 'burbs, as well as the changing music scene, there is no room anymore for a place like that there. Tear.

Justin Rating: ***** Aug 09 2004 08:08 am

I may be biased in giving it a 5. i grew up in homewood, so this was always my fav place. I just drove by there the other day, and unfortunatly, it doesnt look like ota is coming back.

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