CHICAGO – Garcia’s, a new 350-capacity venue and restaurant in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood, is the latest addition to Dayglo Presents’ portfolio of iconic music spaces—and the newest showcase for Meyer Sound’s precision audio systems.
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Inspired by the spirit of the Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia, Garcia’s opened in March 2025 to sold-out shows and immediate acclaim.
“From the start, our goal was to create the next generation of what a live music venue can be,” says Peter Shapiro, founder of Dayglo Presents, which also operates Brooklyn Bowl venues; The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York; and LOCKN’ Farm in Arrington, Virginia; as well as Relix magazine. “There was only one plan when it came to sound: Bring in Meyer Sound. We turn to Meyer Sound when we really want the best sound in the world.”
Dayglo’s Head of Production and Media Jesse Lauter, who was instrumental in shaping the sonic and creative vision of the venue, says the team set out to craft a space where every sonic detail was felt as much as heard. “There was a level of precision in the design that’s typically reserved for the most elite performance spaces,” he says. “And I can confidently say it’s one of the best-sounding rooms in the country.”
For the Dayglo team, that goal was personal: Lauter worked closely with the Garcia family to create a space that reflects Jerry Garcia’s eclectic tastes and values. “The first thing they said was this place would be a success in their eyes if you never heard Grateful Dead music in it or saw a dancing bear,” says Lauter. “We got the message. It was about building a room Jerry would actually like — one that can handle flamenco, hi-fi jazz, and a loud rock band with equal finesse.”
“We’ve worked with Meyer Sound for years and have a great relationship,” says Masque Sound’s Division Installation Manager Anthony Nittoli, who oversaw the installation. “When Jesse brought us in, it was clear this would be something special—and they already knew Meyer Sound was the right choice.”
Designed by Meyer Sound’s Director of System Optimization Bob McCarthy and installed by Masque Sound, the system delivers seamless coverage throughout the intimate, acoustically optimized space. The room’s wide layout and wraparound seating posed challenges that were solved with surgical precision using eight ULTRA-X40™ point source loudspeakers, two 900-LFC™ compact low-frequency control elements, one 750-LFC™ very compact low-frequency control element, and seven strategically placed ULTRA-X20™ fills and delays. Six MJF-208™ high-power stage monitors support artists onstage. Everything is controlled by a Galileo® GALAXY 816 Network Platform.
“The room has a high enough ceiling that you’re able to get good uniformity across the lower-level seats,” says McCarthy. “And the side and rear seating is lifted up, so everybody has sight lines.”
McCarthy’s system design took full advantage of the room’s height and layout, employing central sub placement for smooth, even low-end energy and yoke-mounted mains for optimal directionality. “It’s a really smart install,” says McCarthy. “Every speaker is doing exactly what it should, in a space that was clearly built to support great sound.”
“Coverage is stunning,” says Nittoli. “You can walk the entire room and it doesn’t vary more than a dB and a half. Every seat gets that same punch and clarity. When Peter heard it the first time, he literally ran up and hugged me. In my opinion, this is the best-sounding club by far that I have heard.”
Lauter also credits acoustician Tom Ryan for the room’s sonic signature. “Tom did a really fantastic job,” he says. “It feels like a combination of a high-end performing arts center and a rock club—like a recording studio in a live venue.”
Garcia’s is the second venue in the Dayglo Presents portfolio to feature a Meyer Sound system, following the 2024 revitalization of Bearsville Theater in Woodstock, New York. With more venues in the pipeline—including another Garcia’s location in New York City—the partnership continues to push boundaries in venue design and live sound.
Opening weekend at Garcia’s Chicago set the tone for what’s quickly becoming one of the city’s standout live music rooms. A sold-out run with Grahame Lesh & Friends, Daniel Donato, and Nicki Bluhm kicked things off, followed by performances by Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Grace Potter, and Benmont Tench. Across genres and audiences, every show has underscored Garcia’s defining strengths: a warm, inviting space for artists and powerful, pristine sound in every seat.
“Garcia’s Chicago sounds and feels like both an intimate club and a venue many times its size,” says Lesh. “The fantastic sound system lets the band play with the full range of dynamics, from the full power of our eight-piece rock band laying into ‘I Know You Rider’ or ‘St. Stephen’ to the delicate beauty of Daniel Donato singing us ‘Sing Me Back Home’ or Nicki Bluhm bringing us to tears with ‘Morning Dew.’ I’m so excited for everyone to experience the full gamut of that sound system and the musicians who will bring it to life.”
“This is a room that makes artists and audiences feel something,” says Shapiro. “It’s intimate, it’s vibey, and it sounds absolutely extraordinary. I think we built the best-sounding room in Chicago right now.”
