Angels & Kings: City of Chicago—so distinguished because there’s one in NYC as well—is the latest province of Wentz’s expansionist, Diddy-esque pop empire, joining his Clandestine Industries apparel brand, his new MTV show, FNMTV, and his infuriating Decaydence vanity label, which brings you such beacons of puerility as Panic at the Disco and Gym Class Heroes. As such, Angels and Kings (AK for short) is pretty much what you’d expect: expensively dressed patrons, pseudo-celebrity DJs, a swanky VIP section, exposed brick, intentionally-crowded dance floor, and bartenders who are more attractive than you are. It’s the kind of bar that would look cool in US Weekly.
The source of AK’s cachet derives from Wentz’s well-publicized backing. Mug shots of famous people line the walls: Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Cash, Pete and Ashlee Simpson. Perhaps the most distinguishing aspect of the décor, however, is a collection of Gucci-customized AK-47s, set behind glass along one of the walls. The astonishing contradiction of linking a revolutionary symbol with a hallmark brand of the consumptionist paradigm is oddly fitting. The clientele, however, was a bit of a surprise. I went fully expecting American apparel V-Necks as far as the eye could see, and instead found a sea of vertical-striped button-downs and “sexy” sequin miniskirts. AK deserves credit for drawing neither insufferably hipster post-adolescents nor bleach-blond Cubs fans, thus undermining the usual dichotomy of the Chicago bar scene. AK press agent Markie Price described the typical AK scene as "inclusive, eclectic and fun– there are no velvet ropes, and no judgments at the bar." The crowd enjoys drinks that would be expensive even outside of the Midwest: $6 domestic drafts are as cheap as it gets, and the menu expands to $16 champagne cocktails, fancy flute and all. Not very punk rawk, but quite delicious nonetheless.
