Off the Alley

Off the Alley was an all ages punk venue on the southeast side in Homewood that originated in 1989 that hosted shows in the 90s until it closed in 2000. Slapstick, Winepress, The Smoking Popes, The Bollweevils, among other bands, played there regularly, including The Queers, who often visited Chicago as Ben Weasel of Screeching Weasel often collaborated with Joe Queer.

Off the Alley and the bands it hosted were very much a part of shaping Chicago's 1990's punk sound. In 2010, an Off the Alley reunion show was held.