What are your favorite venues to go see a rock, indie, or punk show? Why? For those who can answer, the flipside is appreciated as well: What venues are your favorite places to play a show? Why?

I'm trying to get a sense of some of the places people like to go see (and/or play) these kinds of shows, particularly in the US (but not exclusively so). I've included some hastily written examples...

Example: Northsix [in Brooklyn]. The room is big enough to book bands with a decent draw, but small enough that it still has a close-to-intimate feel. I always manage to get a good spot to see the band play, and the sound is usually well done. However, I don't like the bathroom set-up and paying for bottled water.

Example: It's not really at one place, but the shows that Todd P books are often in smaller venues [in Brooklyn]. There's nothing I enjoy more than seeing up-and-coming bands playing their hearts out in a small venue.

Example: I like to play Southpaw in Brooklyn. Good sound, nice room, friendly staff, and there's a curtain. It's all about the curtain.

Most closely related thread I could find from the archive.

Thanks.

Apologies for the cross-posting. I can't help but try to be inclusive. Perhaps to the detriment of pixels everywhere?

There's too many places that I like to patronize to name, but I can tell you I like/liked playing...

The Iron Horse in Northampton MA, because the stage has seen some of the most talented performers in the world, and because it's like playing in your living room.

TT The Bear's in Boston, because it's so fucken cool.

The Mercury Lounge in NYC, becuase the crowd is always sweet and enthusiastic.

Lupo's in RI, because it's hip and because the hot bartender always gave me lots of seriously excellent beer.

The Bossa Nova in Portland, because the space is fantastic, the crowds are fantastic, and they mix a gin and tonic strong enough to melt your teeth.

Also, I've only done one show at the Wonder Ballroom (and it was opening night so there were some wrinkles) but it seemed like a pretty good venue to play.

I like listening to music in my cluttered, tiny music/computer room in my apartment while drinking cheap beer. The window looks out over the room of the office dowstairs. If I've had enough to drink, I sometimes imagine the bands playing there. All other venues pale before this.

The old 9:30 club. Grump.

My first thought was SouthPaw, but you already mentioned that. It reminds me of the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, only with a different crowd (also nice for the right type of show).

I think the Knitting factory can be just right sometimes, but everyone else seems to hate it, I do like how they are well organized and still laid back. The balcony is a good place to sit for a long ambient show, or if you are taping.

Also, I miss Maxwell's in Hoboken sometimes, on the rare nights when they had the back bar, the A/C and the PA all working and the little risers in the back (to stand on).

Oh, and City Gardens in Trenton, but that's just too long ago to be helpful ... **sigh**

I posted to the askme thread.

I like bands in parks.

I also like peanuts and green olives with a lager.

Hey thanks, peeps. I'm trying to stay out of my own thread in the green because I like to let them take their own course and not try to steer things too much (unless absolutely necessary). But this one is pretty much driving itself anyway. The answers here and there have been great. Just what I was hoping for.

Although, I could use some more West Coast action like Portland, OR. I can't remember the venue in Portland where I saw Low, The Afgan Whigs, and the Jesus Lizard among others. It was the mid-nineties, and sometimes we'd drive down to P-town from Oly and see bands play there instead of driving up to Seattle. Of course, I really loved seeing shows at the Capitol Theater in Olympia. Fugazi, Built to Spill, The Jesus Lizard, even Soundgarden and the Melvins. When they'd have those shows as the "back stage" -- those were the best. Do they still do that?

Also, I'm on the prowl for more DC / and Baltimore area stuff. Someone mentioned the Black Cat, there's got to be more cool places around there, right? And, Philly...I saw a little Philly.

On preview: Hugh, it was your and Eth's answers in particular I looked forward to from the Metachat. Thanks!

Posted in askme.
May I ask why you've asked this question?
Not being accusatory, just curious.

Ahh, scody stole my answer in that thread. The Troubador is hnads-down the best small venue in LA. The green room is encased in glass (so you can spy on the opening act while the supporting bands warm up the crowd), it gets a lot of international bands and local talent, and you can stand *right in front of the stage*.

Wow, safetyfork. I feel I should elaborate.

I like being able to come and go as I please at a rock show. Sometimes it gets too loud/hot/smelly/rough in bars or clubs, and usually the band doesn't have much of a stage and has to cram into a thimble. If they aren't having fun, the show ain't fun.

When bands play in parks, they invariably set up a stage, and the crowd is more diverse. There is no bar to control what you drink (as long as you bag it and give The Man a wide berth), and if the crowd gets rough, there are plenty of other spots to move to.

You can hear both the music and any conversation you might choose to strike up with comely park-goers.

And outdoor shows are usually on nice days. And free.

Oh yeah, and it's fun to watch people who had no idea there was a show process the fact that there's a concert on their tai chi lawn.

May I ask why you've asked this question? Sure:

1. On the most basic level, my band will be booking shows outside of the nyc area in the near future* but I'm a west coast kid (with a little stop in your fair Chicago for school--loved that city btw) and so I really don't know the area beyond New York much. And while we won't have our choice of venues, getting a sense of where people like to go see shows in their area will help. That's why I specified, however loosely, the genre of music because we fall roughly into that realm and I wanted to get slightly targeted answers.

2. A little less functional of a reason: I love going to shows. Just love it. After many years of going to them I can't get enough. I'm likely to be one of those old dudes who stands out at shows (I couldn't comprehend it when I was 14, but I understand it now). So, I wanted to hear answers for that reason as well.

3. Open own venue? I've thougth about it, but figured it wasn't worth the hassle on so many fronts. Hearing what other people consider to be a good place to see bands is still interesting while keeping that aspect of the question in the hypothetical.

* we may already be playing two dates in the NW in October, but is yet unconfirmed and I'm trying not to jinx it.

The Birchmere Music Hall, in Northern Virginia. Great for small and intimate performances (Anyone having questionable mental images right now just settle down).

Also when they shut down a city block and put a stage at one end of the street; that's nice, too.

Especially when it's hot latin music and all the asses go shaky-shaky.

Hugh J.

I took the parks answer "part one" to heart. But thank you for the elaboration. It reminds me of a time I saw the Spinanes at a park in Olympia. We were those unsuspecting people actually. We were walking by the park and.... it was a great show, beautiful day, and FREE!

(WA liquor laws got in the way of drinks, I thinks).

If you get down to Georgia, the 40 Watt Club in Athens is one of my favorite hangouts. Here in Atlanta, the best "large-ish" venue is The Tabernacle, while the coolest (albeit tiny) club is The EARL.

Brown paper bags get in the way of liquor laws, wherever you may be.

heh. A braver man than I.

Ah, I think peep has my Portland venue mentioned (not by name) above, but it's now gone.

This past weekend there was a punk rock festival in Tompkins Square Park (East Village). Much fun, lots to look at, some phenomenally crappy bands, scores of brown-bagged 40s, and, get this:

Not a cop in sight.

I figured the NYPD would mobilize SWAT units. Maybe punk rock is dead.

Correction: when I said TT the Bear's, I actually meant the Middle East. They're next door.