One Shot, One Beer ... and a Kick in the Ass Before I Go

Ah, Cals … what can we say about this South Loop throwback to the days of ashtray floors, free-flowing swill beer and dirtbag rock 'n' roll? Many a wide-eyed, rag tag band has kicked out their first live jams at this grungy beer-and-shots room that caters to bike messengers, blue collar workers, and traders who lose their asses before lunch.

Calsfest, approximately 12 hours of balls-out, gutbusting rock per day this weekend, is a perfect celebration of this hallowed and hated shithole. Local up-and-comers Hot As Hell, Rabid Rabbits, Mannequin Men, The Dials, and Headache City will leave it all on the floor (literally, there’s no stage at Cals), along with the stale beer, cigarette butts, and (most likely) bodily fluids … but that’s part of the charm, right?

Calsfest kicks off at 3 p.m. tomorrow, at Cals, 400 S. Wells, $5.