Venue Bucket List / Favorite Venues

EL91640 · March 19

I am currently putting together a concert venue bucket list. What are your favorite concert venues? I've only been to a handful of shows outside of Colorado, but would like to start traveling for shows to visit some iconic venues. I am fortunate to live about 30 minutes from Red Rocks, which is legendary.

pledgeagrievance · March 19

My favorite venue is . . . Red Rocks! Congrats living right there. Very jealous. I’ve been to 100+ venues and nothing comes close to RR.

tempo_n_groove · March 19

Bucket Lists are The Met, Hollywood Bowl, Red Rocks, Gorge, Stone Pony and now the Sphere.

Favs are Warsaw in Brooklyn, Mercury Lounge and Pier 17.

I've been to the cap, Beacon, MSG, Roxy in LA, Santa Barbara Natural Amphitheatre, Apollo, various HOB's, and a bunch of the Bowerys here in NY.

Since they changed MSG it's off my list and I hate Brooklyn Steel.

EL91640 · March 19

tempo_n_groove said:

Bucket Lists are The Met, Hollywood Bowl, Red Rocks, Gorge, Stone Pony and now the Sphere.

Favs are Warsaw in Brooklyn, Mercury Lounge and Pier 17.

I've been to the cap, Beacon, MSG, Roxy in LA, Santa Barbara Natural Amphitheatre, Apollo, various HOB's, and a bunch of the Bowerys here in NY.

Since they changed MSG it's off my list and I hate Brooklyn Steel.

Have you done Jones Beach?

tempo_n_groove · March 19

EL91640 said:

tempo_n_groove said:

Bucket Lists are The Met, Hollywood Bowl, Red Rocks, Gorge, Stone Pony and now the Sphere.

Favs are Warsaw in Brooklyn, Mercury Lounge and Pier 17.

I've been to the cap, Beacon, MSG, Roxy in LA, Santa Barbara Natural Amphitheatre, Apollo, various HOB's, and a bunch of the Bowerys here in NY.

Since they changed MSG it's off my list and I hate Brooklyn Steel.

Have you done Jones Beach?

Yes and that 's meh to me too. If u are up high and the wind is breezy the sound suxxx. If you are in GA then there is no worries. The tailgating for JB is killer, I will say that.

JeBurkhardt · March 19

My favorite venue I have ever been to was The Boathouse in Norfolk, VA. I saw The Ramones there in the summer of 91 while I was stationed at the Naval base. Just a big old boathouse on the river. Wooden columns and beams, the crowd practically on top of the stage. It was amazing!

ComeToTX · March 19

Red Rocks, The Ryman, Capital Theatre and The Hollywood Bowl are my favorites. Going to Dillon for the first time in July.

LukinFan · March 19

I went to Red Rocks last summer for the first time. That place was my number 1 venue, and it didn't disappoint.

GB281198 · March 20

JeBurkhardt said:

My favorite venue I have ever been to was The Boathouse in Norfolk, VA. I saw The Ramones there in the summer of 91 while I was stationed at the Naval base. Just a big old boathouse on the river. Wooden columns and beams, the crowd practically on top of the stage. It was amazing!

Sadly it was damaged by a hurricane in 2003 and eventually demolished.

JeBurkhardt · March 20

GB281198 said:

JeBurkhardt said:

My favorite venue I have ever been to was The Boathouse in Norfolk, VA. I saw The Ramones there in the summer of 91 while I was stationed at the Naval base. Just a big old boathouse on the river. Wooden columns and beams, the crowd practically on top of the stage. It was amazing!

Sadly it was damaged by a hurricane in 2003 and eventually demolished.

That sucks to hear, the place was so cool.

JOEJOEJOE · March 20

I've been to most of the venues in Los Angeles, except for the new ones that have popped-up downtown.

My favorite international venues to see a show are the O2 in London, the Brixton Academy in London & The Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam.

josevolution · March 20

Bucket list venues
Sidney opera house
Gorge but I don’t think this will happen def not into camping for shows anymore!

Red Rocks this I can def do just have to be the correct band!

brianlux · March 20

I'd need a time machine to see these:

NYC:

Birdland
The Village Vanguard
The Cotton Club
Apollo Theater
CBGC

Max's Kansas City
Fillmore East

L.A.:

Whiskey a Go Go
Raji's

San Francisco:

Old Waldorf (I can't believe I missed that one!)

Zod · March 21

I really want to go to Red Rocks. Been to the Gorge a number of times because of it's proximity to where I live. I know RR is right up there with the Gorge with being one of the best venues in N.A. Need a band to play there that gives me the drive to make the trip.

DissidentRival74 · March 21

My favorite venues:
Ryman Auditorium (my favorite of all)
Crystal Ballroom @ McMenamin's in Portland
Bluesville @ Horshoe Casino in Tunica
Bogart's in Cincy
Newport Music Hall in Columbus
The Orpheum in Memphis

Bucket List:
Red Rocks
MSG
The Gorge

tempo_n_groove · March 21

brianlux said:

I'd need a time machine to see these:
NYC:
Birdland
The Village Vanguard
The Cotton Club
Apollo Theater
CBGC
Max's Kansas City
Fillmore East

L.A.:
Whiskey a Go Go
Raji's

San Francisco:
Old Waldorf (I can't believe I missed that one!)

oooo old time ones?

Give me both Fillmores east and west.
Max's Kansas City
ABC no Rio
Limelight
Roseland Ballroom
Wetlands
CBGB
Cafe Wha
Whiskey a gogo

a5pj · March 21

I'm finally hitting Red Rocks this summer with the Revivalists and SPOON!!! 2 night run, camping, going to be amazing.

eeriepadave · March 21

Bucket list- Definitely Red Rocks. Gorge looks cool as well.

Favorite venue- Union transfer in philly. Mostly been to all the ones in philly and a few in NYC. So haven't ventured much outside those areas.

JOEJOEJOE · March 21

brianlux said:

I'd need a time machine to see these:
NYC:
Birdland
The Village Vanguard
The Cotton Club
Apollo Theater
CBGC
Max's Kansas City
Fillmore East

L.A.:
Whiskey a Go Go
Raji's

San Francisco:
Old Waldorf (I can't believe I missed that one!)

Raji's was the last real survivor of the L.A. punk clubs. My favorite show there was Thelonious Monster with Flea on bass.

tino_11 · March 21

If PJ were ever to play the Gorge or Red Rocks again I’d pull out all the stops to try to be there.

In terms of venues I’ve been to Royal Albert Hall is really amazing. Leeds Arena is easily the best of that kind of venue I’ve been in, and we have a venue in my home town (Gateshead, UK) now called the Glass House which is more set up for classical music but when other acts play there it still sounds incredible.

EL91640 · March 22

tino_11 said:

If PJ were ever to play the Gorge or Red Rocks again I’d pull out all the stops to try to be there.

In terms of venues I’ve been to Royal Albert Hall is really amazing. Leeds Arena is easily the best of that kind of venue I’ve been in, and we have a venue in my home town (Gateshead, UK) now called the Glass House which is more set up for classical music but when other acts play there it still sounds incredible.

When they played Denver in 2022, Eddie mentioned wanting to play Red Rocks again. It would be awesome, though I am skeptical with it only holding about 9,500.

tempo_n_groove · March 22

EL91640 said:

tino_11 said:

If PJ were ever to play the Gorge or Red Rocks again I’d pull out all the stops to try to be there.

In terms of venues I’ve been to Royal Albert Hall is really amazing. Leeds Arena is easily the best of that kind of venue I’ve been in, and we have a venue in my home town (Gateshead, UK) now called the Glass House which is more set up for classical music but when other acts play there it still sounds incredible.

When they played Denver in 2022, Eddie mentioned wanting to play Red Rocks again. It would be awesome, though I am skeptical with it only holding about 9,500.

DMB still plays there no?

EL91640 · March 22

tempo_n_groove said:

EL91640 said:

tino_11 said:

If PJ were ever to play the Gorge or Red Rocks again I’d pull out all the stops to try to be there.

In terms of venues I’ve been to Royal Albert Hall is really amazing. Leeds Arena is easily the best of that kind of venue I’ve been in, and we have a venue in my home town (Gateshead, UK) now called the Glass House which is more set up for classical music but when other acts play there it still sounds incredible.

When they played Denver in 2022, Eddie mentioned wanting to play Red Rocks again. It would be awesome, though I am skeptical with it only holding about 9,500.

DMB still plays there no?

Unfortunately, DMB hasn't played there since 2005. They usually play two nights every September in Denver at Fiddler's Green which is a lot larger (17k vs. 9.5k).

brianlux · March 22

tempo_n_groove said:

brianlux said:

I'd need a time machine to see these:
NYC:
Birdland
The Village Vanguard
The Cotton Club
Apollo Theater
CBGC
Max's Kansas City
Fillmore East

L.A.:
Whiskey a Go Go
Raji's

San Francisco:
Old Waldorf (I can't believe I missed that one!)

oooo old time ones?

Give me both Fillmores east and west.
Max's Kansas City
ABC no Rio
Limelight
Roseland Ballroom
Wetlands
CBGB
Cafe Wha
Whiskey a gogo

Oooh! Cafe Wha, you bet!

helplessdancer · March 23

red rocks is like a church

this place is super high on my list

https://www.thecaverns.com/

ComeToTX · March 23

Ahhh. Same!

ceska · March 23

My favorites:

The Music Hall, Tarrytown NY (hometown venue, 1880s Queen Anne brick architecture and awesome old interior)
Bowery Ballroom, New York City (I saw so many great shows there in the 2000s, my formative concert-going decade)

ceska · March 23

tempo_n_groove said:

Bucket Lists are The Met, Hollywood Bowl, Red Rocks, Gorge, Stone Pony and now the Sphere.

Favs are Warsaw in Brooklyn, Mercury Lounge and Pier 17.

I've been to the cap, Beacon, MSG, Roxy in LA, Santa Barbara Natural Amphitheatre, Apollo, various HOB's, and a bunch of the Bowerys here in NY.

Since they changed MSG it's off my list and I hate Brooklyn Steel.

MSG's sound system has vastly improved since the renovations. It used to be so muddy in there and now it is so clear no matter where you sit.

Mercury Lounge is nice. But when I went to shows there in the 2000s, there were 3 or 4 opening acts and the bands I wanted to see went on so late. I had to miss the last half of Jay Bennett & Edward Burch's one show in order to catch the last metro North train home. Brooklyn Steel is pretty easy to get to and I can find street parking so it is high on my list!

tempo_n_groove · March 25

ceska said:

tempo_n_groove said:

Bucket Lists are The Met, Hollywood Bowl, Red Rocks, Gorge, Stone Pony and now the Sphere.

Favs are Warsaw in Brooklyn, Mercury Lounge and Pier 17.

I've been to the cap, Beacon, MSG, Roxy in LA, Santa Barbara Natural Amphitheatre, Apollo, various HOB's, and a bunch of the Bowerys here in NY.

Since they changed MSG it's off my list and I hate Brooklyn Steel.

MSG's sound system has vastly improved since the renovations. It used to be so muddy in there and now it is so clear no matter where you sit.

Mercury Lounge is nice. But when I went to shows there in the 2000s, there were 3 or 4 opening acts and the bands I wanted to see went on so late. I had to miss the last half of Jay Bennett & Edward Burch's one show in order to catch the last metro North train home. Brooklyn Steel is pretty easy to get to and I can find street parking so it is high on my list!

MSG lost he charm when they removed the circle around the building. That was a cool part of it.

Mercury Lounge holds like 150 people so I love the packed room for a band.

Brooklyn Steel I have dealt on numerous occasions, dumb drunk older privileged white people. It has soured me going there and they now made the upper deck VIP. Up top was a cool place to watch a show but they made it elitist now.

Give it a go and report back when you do. It got rated as one of the top 5 places to see a show now.

ceska · March 26

Right on. I agree that it was easier to get around MSG with the interior walkways. And you could also sneak down from a really bad seat and maybe watch the rest of the show from one of the tunnels to those rings. NYC used to have so many great small venues - Brownies, Tramps, Knitting Factory, Fez. Early 2000s was an amazing time for rock shows and bands were who on the cusp of breaking out. Then those venues all got priced out by landlords in the mid-late 2000s. Mercury Lounge is a survivor indeed. I've been to a few shows at Brooklyn Steel, but I'm always on the rail or in the first five "rows" at least. So I have no idea what's going on behind me or up top. Bell House may be a better, comparable, and more laid back, venue but it was trickier for me to get there and I haven't been back in a few years.

tempo_n_groove · March 26

ceska said:

Right on. I agree that it was easier to get around MSG with the interior walkways. And you could also sneak down from a really bad seat and maybe watch the rest of the show from one of the tunnels to those rings. NYC used to have so many great small venues - Brownies, Tramps, Knitting Factory, Fez. Early 2000s was an amazing time for rock shows and bands were who on the cusp of breaking out. Then those venues all got priced out by landlords in the mid-late 2000s. Mercury Lounge is a survivor indeed. I've been to a few shows at Brooklyn Steel, but I'm always on the rail or in the first five "rows" at least. So I have no idea what's going on behind me or up top. Bell House may be a better, comparable, and more laid back, venue but it was trickier for me to get there and I haven't been back in a few years.

Quick story about Brooklyn Steel. On rail to see LCD. Having a great time, made friends w our neighbors. Halfway through the set 40something Karen is bombed and wants rail. She goes to push my neighbor gal on my left out of the way to get said rail. Gal on rail is having none of this and hip checks her, drinks go flying a few more hips were thrown...

Drunk Karens "friend" grabs her and whisks her away never to be seen again.

This is typical behavior when I go to Brooklyn Steel the first few times. For Mr Bungle and Brian Joenstown Massacre the crowd were saints.

Venue Bucket List / Favorite Venues

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