MAKING HEADLINERS Ryan Rafferty, from left, Bruce Finkelman, Jeanine O’Toole, Peter Toalson and Morgan Krautstrunk plan to attract major talent at the Mansion.

Photo: Calbee Booth

TOP DOG LIVE NATION
RISING THREAT EMPTY BOTTLE PRODUCTIONS

In the Chicago promotions market, Live Nation is the 80,000-pound King Kong to Jam Productions’ 800-pound gorilla. Live Nation sure knows how to throw its considerable weight around, from its 360-degree deals with megastars to its plans to start forcing fans to buy tickets through its own exclusive service. What does this mean for Joe Concertgoer? Even though the company is successful at bringing decent big-headliner concerts to the Chicago market, such as the Kanye West and Jay-Z/Mary J. Blige shows at the United Center this spring, it also has been buying midsize venues (such as the House of Blues chain) and monopolizing others (like the poorly utilized Charter One Pavilion at Northerly Island), resulting in some consistently terrible gigs. It’s been especially frustrating to watch the House of Blues, a gorgeous venue with a great staff, have its bookings slip into the C-list.

The upshot? Burgeoning local promoters can stake their claim as taste makers with shows that are actually good. At the head of the pack is Empty Bottle Productions, which has expanded to multiple venues beyond its home base, the latest being a new space, the Mansion (2408 N Kedzie Ave), starting this spring. Bottle head honcho Bruce Finkelman even hinted yet another club may open in 2008. Finkelman and his staff have impeccable taste, and an Empty Bottle–promoted show means excellent music. That’s the kind of monopoly we’d be happy to live with.