Has Anyone Been to: The Venues Thread

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

Normally I would suggest parking on Los Feliz and walking up the hill. it only takes about 10-15 minutes, and it's very pretty. that might be challenging with a young one in tow though.

[algunz]

Izzy can handle it. "She's a rock."

So, I'm assuming Los Feliz is free parking too.

[WhyTheLongFace]

So for anyone who has been to the MGM Grand, which is the better seating arrangement?

205 Row E
201 Row K

[TomAz]

Comerica Theater (or is it Theatre? no matter)
Phoenix

Avoid this place if possible.

Newish downtown theater built in the corporate style, has all the charm and soul of your local Target. Better suited to traveling productions of the Lion King than rock and roll shows. Even the White Stripes and Arcade Fire seemed boring here.

Sound is remarkably poor given the newness of the venue. At AF earlier this year I was halfway up the lower level and the sound was dampened and muddy. It sounded like a home stereo with a pillow wedged in front of the speakers.

The poor sound plus the sterile architecture makes it difficult, for me at least, to connect with the band very well. The key is being up very very close; then it might be tolerable. (Beck, for example, was a pretty good show here, but I was like 4th row).

Bar service is slow; expect long, torpid lines on white lineoleum standing under the white glare of the overhead lights. Beer selection is mediocre. Staff throughout is largely AARP-eligible.

Parking is easy to find, with a parking garage right behind the place. Exiting after a show can be slow though.

In summary: I would only go to a show here if it were a band I was really dying to see. There are many superior venues in the Phx area.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

Izzy can handle it. "She's a rock."

So, I'm assuming Los Feliz is free parking too.

Yeah, it's a normal street with metered parking so you shouldn't have too much trouble finding a parking spot near the street you need to walk up in evening.

[PlayaDelWes]

Upstairs at the Wiltern questions:

1. Is there a significant difference between Mezzanine and Loge?
2. Is the last row in Loge incrementally that much better than the first or second row of Mezzanine?
3. Does Left / Center / Right matter that much up there?

It looks like I'm going to have to pay an arm and a leg for Jack White, so I might as well make informed decisions.

[blazin]

Upstairs at the Wiltern questions:
2. Is the last row in Loge incrementally that much better than the first or second row of Mezzanine?

Yes.
I had front row center Mezzanine seats for of Montreal and was seriously annoyed at the constant traffic blocking our view of the stage. Not only were people continuously coming and going to/from their seats up the center aisle of the Loge, but the fucking ushers were super obnoxious with their flashlights. One of them would shine the light at the seats she was leading people to, and then stick it under her arm facing backwards so that it kept shining in our faces as she walked back and forth across the aisle separating the Mezz & Loge sections. This continued for the entire show.

If I ever get seats upstairs at the Wiltern again, it will be Loge or at least 3rd row Mezz.

[cutterbutter]

Upstairs at the Wiltern questions:

1. Is there a significant difference between Mezzanine and Loge?
2. Is the last row in Loge incrementally that much better than the first or second row of Mezzanine?
3. Does Left / Center / Right matter that much up there?

It looks like I'm going to have to pay an arm and a leg for Jack White, so I might as well make informed decisions.

Its the difference between people walking behind you a bunch of walking in front of you a bunch.

It doesn't matter that much, but Jack is pretty fucking loud and so is the Wiltern sound system. I wouldn't want to be too close to a wall that is bouncing sound at you so I'd look up a detailed chart to see what seat it is if you are not in the center.

If you are going to pay a ton of money might as well go for floor, but that me and I love the floor at the wiltern.

[PlayaDelWes]

Great feedback. Right now I'm leaning Loge Center Row FF over Mezzanine Right Center Row B, but I think I'll wait for now. As for Floor, Stephanie is really short and I'm afraid unless we get there early, we wouldn't be able to get up against one of the walls on any of the levels to make it worth while.

Cutter, I've been tracking Stubhub prices for the last week and prices are just today starting to go down. If you are flexible and just need 1, I've seen 1 GA ticket randomnly pop up for <$150 a couple of times.

[eudaemonia]

Thanks for the bumps. I've been looking forever for this thread (Aurgasm's post has been haunting my mind as a bucket list item and I forgot where it was) -- it's no picnic entering "Venues" in the messageboard search, and worse, this never was a result.

[cutterbutter]

At this point I'm only gonna go last minute and hope the prices fall drastically the day of. I just have no interested in spending much money above face at the moment But I got to the mayan show so I'm not hard up for a ticket. Thanks for your info!

I've had good luck at the wiltern getting a spot on that first section rail before going down to the pit, but Jack has a pretty loyal fan base evident by the huge line before the doors even opened at the mayan. You'd just be surprised how many wait in line there forever and don't B line it to the main room let alone the best spots.

[Courtney]

There need to be music festivals at all of these.

[suprefan]

I think there was some random person who wanted to do that, because they thought the festival sub forum wasnt good enough. But, I dont know, we got it covered mostly.

[Gribbz]

The Hollywood Bowl but not the Gorge, huh?

EDIT* Not to say the Bowl isn't a good venue... but omitting the Gorge is just silly.

[bmack86]

The Hollywood Bowl but not the Gorge, huh?

The scenery there is gorgeous, but the architecture of the stage is pretty basic/not aesthetically pleasing. Especially compared with:



Plus, the bowl has the added benefit of being a natural amphitheater (they didn't even have the shell when it was first opened as a performance space, and apparently the sound was decent enough.)

[Gribbz]

Yeeeah. I disagree. Been to both venues a couple of times and and it's not even close in my opinion.

[bmack86]

Oh, it totally looks like a more gorgeous venue, but every outdoor theater in that link Courtney posted was chosen for its architectural beauty in addition to its natural setting. At least, that's what it seemed like. A large boxy skeleton stage just isn't as cool as an acoustic-enhancing dome.

[Gribbz]

I think it has to be structured like that due to potential high winds (and I don't blame them, especially after the recent stage collapses). I was trying to do some research regarding the history of the Gorge but didn't come up with much.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

Is the gorge actually a venue where they hold concerts on a regular basis, or does it just happen to be a beautiful location that the Sasquatch people chose to host an annual festival? Because that's the difference. The locations on that list are "outdoor theaters," which i do not believe the Gorge is.

[Gribbz]

They have shows at the Gorge year round.

EDIT* Well, not during the winter. Way too cold.

[SoulDischarge]

Red Rocks looks like it has a pretty unimaginative stage amongst all the natural wonder, and that's on the list. Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park should make the cut. It's not as staggering as some of those, but it's better than some of the others.

[bmack86]

Well, but Red Rocks also looks to have a natural rock formation used as the acoustic backstop. It looks more like they incorporated the landscape into the stage. Plus, the history as a public works development is pretty cool.

[getbetter]

Definitively checking out The High Line’s Urban Theater if I make it out to ATP.

[knytt]

Debating whether to see the Tallest Man on Earth at either the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre or at the Glass House in Pomona. Thoughts on both? Recommendations?

[casey]

Has anyone done VIP at the Greek (LA), and is it worth it? The price to see Amon Tobin is around $60, but VIP is only $25-$30 more.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

John Anson Ford is a tiny, beautiful outdoor amp in the hollywood hills and the glass house is a big square room in Pomona. The Ford amp show will be gorgeous.