Concert Venue 27 Live Brings 'Cool' to Church Street

Local musicians are already bringing down the house at 27 Live, a new restaurant and concert hall on Church Street.

Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl cut the opening ribbon at a ceremony Thursday evening before 27 Live hosted an after party of menu tasting and live music from Billy Flynn, Robert Stroger and Felix Reyes.

“We’re going to bring excellent food, an urban experience in the heart of suburbia, a very classy whiskey lounge upstairs and a great large event hall for all types of live events,” said manager Charlie Athanas.

Owner John Tasiopoulos, who also owns Evanston’s Old Neighborhood Grill, began thinking of opening 27 Live when his friend, Louie Zagoras, came into Old Neighborhood Grill about two years ago.

Zagoras, a well-known musician, said he was depressed by the lack of music venues where he could play in the area.

Tasiopoulos suggested opening a club. Zagoras thought he was joking—until two weeks later, when Tasiopoulos had drawn up a plan. He told Zagoras that all he had to do was play.

“And as it turned out, now it’s dedicated to a lot of guys like that,” Tasiopoulos said.

Tasiopoulos got the permit for his space at 1012-1014 Church St. last July, and the concert hall has been open since January. Zagoras has already performed a few times.

When the restaurant and whiskey bar open this July, they’ll serve a menu of “fresh American fusion,” Tasiopoulos said, including American staples like apple pie and mac and cheese—each with a twist.

Tasiopoulos plans to use grass-fed beef, Amish free-range chicken and ingredients from Illinois farmers.

The venue will have all types of music from rock to blues to funk. Recent performers included Bernie Worrell of Parliament-Funkadelic and the Talking Heads.

“Evanston’s a different kind of town. It’s very cool. It has a lot of cool people, so we want to touch everybody somehow,” Tasiopoulos said.

27 Live will also host productions like Rocky Horror Picture Show and live reenactments of famous movies by local actors.