Has Anyone Been to: The Venues Thread

[mountmccabe]

Somebody (Drinkey?) mentioned such a thing in the Upcoming Shows thread and I think it's a good idea, too.

So: post reviews of venues. How was the sound? what was the crowd like? Parking tips? How is the bar? Do shows start early? Which seats are the best deal? Where is a good place to stand? Whatever, eh.

I am going to leave this post reviewless in case this thread gets a good response and then I might do an index of sorts here.

[mountmccabe]

Mercury Lounge, NY, NY. Lower East Side.
Capacity: 250. Run by the Bowery Presents.

My first time to the Mercury Lounge was last night, seeing Heartless Bastards.

You walk in through the full bar. The bar leaves space for only a couple people across, it is not a wide room.

You go through a door to the performance area. The room is rectangular but well balanced, only a reasonable amount longer than it is wide (4 x 3?) The side walls are brick and the ceiling is covered in dark cloth/foam and unobtrusive. The stage is raised a couple feet and runs the entire width of the room with good depth as well.

The sound was clear and loud.

Beer selection was a little weak (drafts included some big name domestics, Sierra Nevada, Goose Island (yay!) IPA and Guinness); I did not get a good look at the hard alcohol.

Merch was in a little nook by the door.

Security did ask a few people to stop taking video but I don't know who's policy that is.

Basically it struck me as better than any remotely comparable venue in Phoenix. The physical seperation between the bar and performance spaces (plus ins and outs) means few if any talkers during the opening bands. The raised stage, good room shape and great sound means nothing in Phoenix is comparable.

[hawkingvsreeve]

It would be cool to have then grouped by city, so that we can pop into the first post and go from there. I'll do some San Diego venues.

[Gribbz]

Someone do the Crystal Ballroom in Portland.

[Courtney]

Good idea for a thread.

My favorite part about the Mercury Lounge is that they will often cord off the coat room and use it as an impromptu backstage/dressing room for the band, which then means that bands need to walk through the audience to get onto the stage. I also like that one table that's between the front window and the bar, behind the door entrance. And the fact that the stage is hollow so you can shove your bag and coat and stuff underneath it. And that the subway stop is basically right outside its door, so you don't have to walk too far on the sketchy Bowery late at night after shows get out.

It's a 21+ venue, and I remember trying to sneak in when I was younger and failing miserably. And then being so, so excited when I finally did turn 21.

[sonofhal]

Looking forward to checking out the Mercury Lounge for the Male Bonding show at the end of Aug.

[chunk]

I want to know how to avoid stacked parking at the Greek theatre (LA). Its a gorgeous place to spend an evening, but getting home is such an ordeal. Almost makes it not worth it.

[Courtney]

Can anyone speak to shows at the Williamsburg Waterfront? I haven't been to any of the free outdoor concerts since they stopped using McCarren Pool. I'm planning to go to the Sonic Youth/Kurt Vile/WILD FLAG show in a couple weeks, and am wondering what it's like.

[Courtney]

I want to know how to avoid stacked parking at the Greek theatre (LA). Its a gorgeous place to spend an evening, but getting home is such an ordeal. Almost makes it not worth it.

I agree, parking at the Greek is enough of a pain that it always made me think twice about going to shows there. If I remember correctly, there are several alternatives to the stacked parking:

1. Show up super early and pay a few extra dollars for the non-stacked parking

2. Pay A LOT more money for valet

3. Park in Los Feliz and walk up

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

I agree, parking at the Greek is enough of a pain that it always made me think twice about going to shows there. If I remember correctly, there are several alternatives to the stacked parking:

3. Park in Los Feliz and walk up

This is what I normally do! It's a bit of a walk, all uphill, but if you're up for it it's not that bad. Plus, it's free! And if the weather's right, it's a really pretty walk up through those neighborhoods and all the parks on the way.

[Aurgasm]

Red Rocks
Date Opened: June 15, 1941
Amphitheatre Seating Capacity: 9,450
Elevation: 6,450 ft
Red Rocks Mountain Park size: 640 acres

Random Red Rocks trivia

The monoliths flanking Red Rocks are "Ship Rock" to the south, "Creation Rock" to the north and "Stage Rock" to the east, behind the stage.
Thirty-two different Native American tribes consider Red Rocks a sacred venue.
All the red sandstone used in developing Red Rocks was quarried from the same geologic formation in Lyons.
Every performer who plays Red Rocks gets a mounted chunk of that Lyons sandstone. (The "Piece of the Rock" collectibles are coveted by many performers, including Gregg Almann, who was once miffed when his rock was etched with only two "g's" in Gregg.
Longtime Red Rocks marketing chief Erik Dyce has never-before-seen video of the famous 1964 performance by The Beatles.
The only recent Red Rocks performance with no known photographs, according to Dyce, is the Sept. 1, 1968 concert by Jimi Hendrix and Vanilla Fudge.
The backstage area of Red Rocks was once a bunker filled with non-perishable food for Denver's leaders during the height of the bomb-fearing Cold War.
The Civilian Conservation Corps, which finished the federally sponsored, hand-hewed construction of the city-owned venue in 1947, built giant barn-door entrances backstage to accommodate a rider atop a horse.
Red Rocks saw its average of 55 events a year plummet to 21 in 1988, the year the 18,000-seat Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre opened in Greenwood Village.
In 1988, Denver paid $80,000 to blast a giant rock that had tumbled from the eastern wall into the venue. The rubble served as a base for the north entrance stairs. (Every year an engineering firm inspects the rocks surrounding the venue.)
Red Rocks hosts 1.5 million non-concert-going visitors every year, almost three times the number of concert goers.
John Denver, who played several concerts at Red Rocks including a rare four-night stand in 1974, would jog, incognito, up-and-down the 69-row arena several times before each concert.
The 30,000 square-foot visitor center opened in 2003 featuring $29 million in improvements, including the Ship Rock Grille.

It's open daily. They also have work outs and film nights. Parking is plentiful. If you can't afford a ticket you can always hike up behind it and enjoy the show for free. 8^)

[Aurgasm]

Lake Constance
Bregenz, Austria



















Be sure to go during Bregenz Festival.

[Thisismyname]

I'm sorry... WHAT?

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

THE MUSIC BOX (formerly The Henry Fonda Theatre; The Music Box At the Henry Fonda Theatre)
Capacity: 1300 combined GA floor and balcony

OUTSIDE:

STAGE AREA:


REAR FLOOR:

THE LOBBY:

BLUE PALMS:



Usually an all ages club, but this can change depending on the show.

There is an ATM in the lobby, on the right side around the corner from the restrooms. Merch is usually set up right in the front lobby as you enter.

This is a GA venue - sometimes it's a single GA ticket that allows you access to both the floor and balcony, sometimes there are separate tickets for each - depends on the show. Balcony is typically first-com-first served for seats. The floor is nicely laid out as a large, wide floor, and as such even from the very back it doesn't feel particularly far from the stage.

The balcony is pushed deep towards the back of the room, so the majority of the floor area has very high ceilings with unobstructed view and sound. The sound is generally very good - crisp and loud!

With each subsequent renovation, this place just looks better and better. It's a very classic old-fashioned looking theater with a lot of very ornate decorations, and just looks gorgeous.

The entire roof is giant smoking patio - very roomy, very relaxed, with lots of seating. Sometimes there are one or two bars upstairs, depending on the show, and they also have a large screen upon which they project the opening acts, complete with sound, so you can check them out from under the stars if you wish!

Venue is connected to the Blue Palms, which is one of the best beer bars in Los Angeles! It's a gastropub with a great food menu that continues to grow and get better, and has a daily-updated, impeccably curated craft brew tap list! They also have a full bar. This is an excellent pre-show hang out, and they also have a door open into the club so you can go in and out from inside the venue throughout the night. Unfortunately you cannot take beverages from BP inside the venue.

The venue itself has several full bars with typically expensive prices - expect around $7 for a can of beer (tpyical selection - bud light, heinekin, newcastle) or at least $9 for a well cocktail.

Another good option for pre-show eating/drinking is Dillon's irish pub down the street on the corner of Hollywood & Vine - a remarkably large tap beer selection for mostly $3/pint (although they have begun charging $5 for more specialty beers, but $5 for a pint of 8%abv scotch ale Old Chub is a good deal) and really good pub grub.

PARKING: There are lots of lots adjacent to the venue, that also play host to the Pantages and the Avalon. Prices can vary pretty wildly through the week and different times of the night. There are lots of side streets to park on though. Unfortunately the city became keen on this and extended parking restrictions up to 8PM, and the streets will be 1 hour or 2 hour parking up until that time. The meters around there are $2/hour, but even if you get there at 6pm, $4 parking for the night isn't so bad. You can park for free after 8pm. Another option is early night valet parking at Dillon's for $3, but you'll need to have a drink inside and get your parking validated.

If you MUST park for free, you can travel further east or north of Franklin and find unrestricted street parking, if you don't mind a walk.

[Gribbz]

Mercury Lounge, NY, NY. Lower East Side.
Capacity: 250. Run by the Bowery Presents.

My first time to the Mercury Lounge was last night, seeing Heartless Bastards.

You walk in through the full bar. The bar leaves space for only a couple people across, it is not a wide room.

You go through a door to the performance area. The room is rectangular but well balanced, only a reasonable amount longer than it is wide (4 x 3?) The side walls are brick and the ceiling is covered in dark cloth/foam and unobtrusive. The stage is raised a couple feet and runs the entire width of the room with good depth as well.

The sound was clear and loud.

Beer selection was a little weak (drafts included some big name domestics, Sierra Nevada, Goose Island (yay!) IPA and Guinness); I did not get a good look at the hard alcohol.

Merch was in a little nook by the door.

Security did ask a few people to stop taking video but I don't know who's policy that is.

Basically it struck me as better than any remotely comparable venue in Phoenix. The physical seperation between the bar and performance spaces (plus ins and outs) means few if any talkers during the opening bands. The raised stage, good room shape and great sound means nothing in Phoenix is comparable.

THE MUSIC BOX (formerly The Henry Fonda Theatre; The Music Box At the Henry Fonda Theatre)
Capacity: 1300 combined GA floor and balcony

Usually an all ages club, but this can change depending on the show.

There is an ATM in the lobby, on the right side around the corner from the restrooms. Merch is usually set up right in the front lobby as you enter.

This is a GA venue - sometimes it's a single GA ticket that allows you access to both the floor and balcony, sometimes there are separate tickets for each - depends on the show. Balcony is typically first-com-first served for seats. The floor is nicely laid out as a large, wide floor, and as such even from the very back it doesn't feel particularly far from the stage.

The balcony is pushed deep towards the back of the room, so the majority of the floor area has very high ceilings with unobstructed view and sound. The sound is generally very good - crisp and loud!

With each subsequent renovation, this place just looks better and better. It's a very classic old-fashioned looking theater with a lot of very ornate decorations, and just looks gorgeous.

The entire roof is giant smoking patio - very roomy, very relaxed, with lots of seating. Sometimes there are one or two bars upstairs, depending on the show, and they also have a large screen upon which they project the opening acts, complete with sound, so you can check them out from under the stars if you wish!

Venue is connected to the Blue Palms, which is one of the best beer bars in Los Angeles! It's a gastropub with a great food menu that continues to grow and get better, and has a daily-updated, impeccably curated craft brew tap list! They also have a full bar. This is an excellent pre-show hang out, and they also have a door open into the club so you can go in and out from inside the venue throughout the night. Unfortunately you cannot take beverages from BP inside the venue.

The venue itself has several full bars with typically expensive prices - expect around $7 for a can of beer (tpyical selection - bud light, heinekin, newcastle) or at least $9 for a well cocktail.

Another good option for pre-show eating/drinking is Dillon's irish pub down the street on the corner of Hollywood & Vine - a remarkably large tap beer selection for mostly $3/pint (although they have begun charging $5 for more specialty beers, but $5 for a pint of 8%abv scotch ale Old Chub is a good deal) and really good pub grub.

PARKING: There are lots of lots adjacent to the venue, that also play host to the Pantages and the Avalon. Prices can vary pretty wildly through the week and different times of the night. There are lots of side streets to park on though. Unfortunately the city became keen on this and extended parking restrictions up to 8PM, and the streets will be 1 hour or 2 hour parking up until that time. The meters around there are $2/hour, but even if you get there at 6pm, $4 parking for the night isn't so bad. You can park for free after 8pm. Another option is early night valet parking at Dillon's for $3, but you'll need to have a drink inside and get your parking validated.

If you MUST park for free, you can travel further east or north of Franklin and find unrestricted street parking, if you don't mind a walk.

Should add pictures when you get the chance.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

Should add pictures when you get the chance.

Good call! I always wish i could find better photos of music venues, but whatever.

[swhite423]

Lake Constance
Bregenz, Austria



















Be sure to go during Bregenz Festival.

WHAT IS THIS PLACE?

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

While I appreciate the photos, Aurgasm is not understanding the point of this thread haha

[chunk]

I agree, parking at the Greek is enough of a pain that it always made me think twice about going to shows there. If I remember correctly, there are several alternatives to the stacked parking:

1. Show up super early and pay a few extra dollars for the non-stacked parking

2. Pay A LOT more money for valet

3. Park in Los Feliz and walk up

This is what I normally do! It's a bit of a walk, all uphill, but if you're up for it it's not that bad. Plus, it's free! And if the weather's right, it's a really pretty walk up through those neighborhoods and all the parks on the way.

Ill try Los Feliz next time. I didnt know about the unstacked lot either. I probably showed up too late. Thanks for the info.

[Aurgasm]

Sorry, I find absolutely nothing interesting about the music box and the bowery. BORING

trying to add some spice to this shit.

And Lake Constance is in Bergenz, Austria...well the lake straddles three states, but the main stage (at least the platform--it always changes) is located right off the lakeshore. The sound is great, parking is plentiful, you don't have to get there on time because most seats are assigned. Blahblahblahblah. The pictures tell you everything you need to know. Don't worry about pre gaming or after partying-- options are plentiful. As for red rocks, what else is there to say- just bring a cooler and lose your fucking mind.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

Well, I was taking this thread as a place to put informative guides for people that are planning on going to said venues. This is basically going to be a catalog for people to come and check out when they;re going somewhere they've never been.

[Aurgasm]

for people to come and check out when they;re going somewhere they've never been.

People do travel outside of New York City and Los Angeles. And I've been to these venues... so... please explain what I'm not understanding. I can post mundane information about regional theaters, but that's boring, isn't it? How can people visit venues they've never seen or heard of before?

edit: I'll sit back and try and see what kind of dorky board member format you want your thread to be published in and will edit my posts as I see fit.

[Courtney]

so... please explain what I'm not understanding.

post reviews of venues. How was the sound? what was the crowd like? Parking tips? How is the bar? Do shows start early? Which seats are the best deal? Where is a good place to stand?

...

[SoulDischarge]

I think the point is to post useful information about a venue, regardless of location and/or general familiarity, not just post cool pictures of out of the way venues.

So: post reviews of venues. How was the sound? what was the crowd like? Parking tips? How is the bar? Do shows start early? Which seats are the best deal? Where is a good place to stand? Whatever, eh.

Kind of a boring yet useful information type thread a la Upcoming Shows or the leak thread.

[Gribbz]

I think the point is to post useful information about a venue, regardless of location and/or general familiarity, not just post cool pictures of out of the way venues.

Pictures should still be included.

[Courtney]

I would contribute to this thread, but the venues that are freshest in my mind are all local Honolulu venues. So until that information serves some purpose to you all through visits or otherwise, I'll just provide completely useless commentary.

[Aurgasm]

Whatever, eh.

I guess I focused more on this aspect, courtney.

I hope you all get the chance to go to Lake Constance and Red Rocks. No review can fully describe the experience. Photos, however, give you an idea.

[cutterbutter]

Fox Theater Pomona request.

[Courtney]

Any of the Hopscotch Fest venues in Raleigh request. Ahem paging Daxton ahem.

[mmsk123]

Just as an FYI for the Fonda, the line for most shows starts on the east side, past the bar and the parking gate. So if you exit the theatre and make a right, you will pass the bar on your right, and there will be a fence that rolls open for a parking lot. You can just sit down where the fence starts. I only say this because I lined up on the other side once and wasn't paying attention and had to move over to the right line and lost like 40 spots.

Parking in Los Feliz to get to the Greek is a must. It's residential and usually pretty easy to find parking, but sometimes it will take upwards of 20 minutes. If you are completely out of shape the hike can be a bit tough. Note that there is only parking south of Los Feliz blvd. Everything north is permit-only.

One other thing for the Hollywood Bowl if there is no show or anything scheduled the venue is open to the public. You can run up the stairs or do whatever you want. More info here: http://laist.com/2009/04/23/stair_ru...ywood_bowl.php