Great Music Venues

[troutman]

I'd like to hear about the great places you have seen bands (locally or around the world).

This blog got me thinking about it:

Behind First Avenue’s Stars: Hüsker Dü

http://blog.thecurrent.org/2015/01/b...ker-du/#/Enter

First Avenue in Minneapolis is where Prince filmed Purple Rain. It is where The Replacements and Husker Du got started. I'd love to go there soon. A lot of history there, and they continue to book great gigs.

2015 marks First Avenue’s 45th year of hosting stellar shows in the heart of Minneapolis. We are on a mission to tell the stories of performers whose names decorate the venue’s iconic Wall of Fame. Past features include Babes in Toyland, Har Mar Superstar, and OutKast. In the spirit of milestones, next up are Minnesota natives and punk rock legends Hüsker Dü. Bob Mould’s upcoming Jan. 30 concert falls on the 30th anniversary, to the day, of one of Hüsker Dü’s Mainroom shows—a show celebrating the release of New Day Rising.

http://first-avenue.com/

I bought this print:

[troutman]

The Best Music Venues in America: Readers' Choice

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/li...hoice-20130710

The 50 Best Concert Venues in America

http://ca.complex.com/pop-culture/20...es-in-america/

America's 7 best small rock clubs

http://www.thrillist.com/travel/nati...all-rock-clubs

[FlamesAddiction]

I am surprised the Gorge is rated that highly. I went there for a concert and it was great, but so many of the ones ranked below them look more historic and interesting.

[nfotiu]

The Gorge in George Washington is the best venue within a somewhat easy drive of Calgary.

The old Commodore pre-1996 in Vancouver was a mighty cool venue. The bouncing dance floor was pretty awesome, as was the art deco decor. I saw a lot of 90s alt bands there while going to Uvic.

[troutman]

I spent many nights at The Commodore in Vancouver in the early 1990s. Saw The Waterboys and Sugar there (twice). Loved the bouncy dance floor.

http://www.commodoreballroom.com/

Live at the Commodore

The Story of Vancouver's Historic Commodore Ballroom

http://www.arsenalpulp.com/bookinfo.php?index=404

Located in the heart of downtown Vancouver, the Commodore Ballroom is one of the best-loved music venues in Canada, if not the world; it's played host to a who's-who of music greats: The Police, The Clash, Blondie, Talking Heads, Nirvana, New York Dolls, U2, and, in more recent years, Lady Gaga, Tom Waits, and the White Stripes. But the Commodore's history extends back to 1930, when it was built in the splendor of art-deco style. It then became a magnet for Vancouver's decadent society set, who stashed their contraband liquor bottles beneath their tables. Through World War II and into the 1950s, the Commodore was where Vancouverites enjoyed a night out to hear swing orchestras and dance into the night.

Beginning in the 1970s, the Commodore became a full-on music club, a must-stop for breakout bands and other music acts before they became arena headliners. Vancouverites soon filled the place on a nightly basis, not only to hear the latest in punk, new wave, blues, heavy metal, and rock, but also to dance on its legendary bouncy sprung floor. It is now regarded as a music landmark, "the nightclub for all seasons" that continues to attract the hottest acts on tour, defying and outlasting other cultural venues that have gone the way of gentrification.

In Live at the Commodore, Aaron Chapman (author of Liquor, Lust, and the Law, a bestselling history of Vancouver's Penthouse Nightclub) delves into the Commodore's archives to reveal stories about the constellation of characters surrounding the club over the last 80-plus years, as well as startling, funny, and outrageous anecdotes about the legendary acts that have graced its stage. Filled with never-before-published photographs, posters, and paraphernalia, Live at the Commodore is a visceral, energetic portrait of one of the world's great rock venues.

[Coach]

I loved the Gorge at Sasquatch, but I don't think it would be the same for just a one-off show.

To be honest, I could be at Vern's or Wembley Stadium and the only thing that really affects my experience is the quality of the music.

[troutman]

http://thefillmore.com/

The Fillmore represented the pinnacle of creative music making in the late 1960s. From December 10, 1965, when Bill Graham produced a San Francisco Mime troupe benefit (Jefferson Airplane with Great Society and Mystery Trend; the Warlocks, later the Grateful Dead, kicked off the show), until July 4, 1968, The Fillmore audiences experienced a 2 1/2 year musical and cultural Renaissance that produced some of the most innovative, exciting music ever to come out of San Francisco. The careers of the Grateful Dead, the Jefferson Airplane, Santana, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Big Brother and the Holding Company, Moby Grape, the Butterfield Blues Band, and countless others were launched from The Fillmore stage. The most significant musical talent of the day has appeared there: Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding, Cream, Howlin’ Wolf, Captain Beefheart, Muddy Waters, The Who – well, you get the picture. Or you’ve heard the stories. If you’re lucky, you were there.

The Fillmore became a private neighborhood club for a time in the 1970s, and in the early 1980s, Paul Rat produced shows at the building (dubbed the Elite Club) with Black Flag, Bad Brains, The Dead Kennedys, T.S.O.L., Flipper, Public Image Ltd. and others. Bill Graham Presents produced a few events in the building in the 1980s, including the 20th anniversary party for the company, and filmed an HBO Fillmore music special there. In 1987, owners Bert and Regina Kortz hired Michael Bailey to begin producing shows in The Fillmore. The first show was Husker Du on April 29, 1987. But Bill always had a special place in his heart for the first place he ever did shows. On March 3, 1988, he returned to the original Fillmore with a show featuring African reggae act Alpha Blondy & The Solar System and Little Women.

The Fillmore reopened April 27, 1994 with The Smashing Pumpkins, Ry Cooder & David Lindley and American Music Club. Tickets for the show sold out in less than one minute. Linda Perry, formerly of 4 Non-Blondes, opened the show with a surprise set featuring a cover of Led Zeppelin’s ‘Whole Lotta Love.’

Los Lobos brings down the house annually in December (on my bucket list)

[nfotiu]

I'm pretty surprised to see the Norva ranked number 1 on that one list. It was a cool, above average venue, but not nearly as memorable as the 90s Commodore.

I think the Gorge is a pretty special place. I love how it is in middle of nowhere and pretty much everyone is staying over. The view behind the stage makes for such a spectacular backdrop at dusk.

[East Coast Flame]

Definitely the Gorge. Awesome place to spend a weekend.

I've been meaning to get down to Red Rocks in Colorado for a while, that seems like a hell of a place to see a show.

[opendoor]

The Fillmore in San Francisco is a pretty amazing venue; probably my favorite off the top of my head. Nice mixture of ambiance, sound and history. If you can get one of the few mezzanine spots it's a pretty great place to watch the show from.

First Avenue is pretty nice. It has a ton of history, though the actual venue is a little generic IMO. It's definitely an icon though. I guess a lot of places end up like that eventually once they're renovated. The Crocodile in Seattle is similar. It used to be a dump and they made it way nicer with the renovation, but it lost a lot of its charm. Still, it's good to see an independent venue thriving.

The New York venues I've been to kind of blend into each other. Terminal 5 was sort of trashy but the 3 levels thing is cool, it sort of feels like being in the Thunderstruck video. The Bowery Ballroom was OK, but I don't really get the hype (one of those links had it as the best venue in the US).

The outdoor venues in Austin (Mohawk, Stubb's, etc.) are definitely unique, but the sound suffers a little. That whole area along Red River St. has a nice atmosphere when there are shows going on.

It's really too bad how conglomerates are buying up a lot of places. It seems like Live Nation or AEG own half the major venues these days.

[habernac]

Mark Knopfler here at Jack singer was fantastic. Old blues guy John Hammond in Ft McMurray's Keyano Theatre was also great. Billy Idol at the Joint in the Hard Rock hotel in Vegas was a good time, too.

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by opendoor

It's really too bad how conglomerates are buying up a lot of places. It seems like Live Nation or AEG own half the major venues these days.

It's good and it's bad I guess. I know AEG has saved a few cool venues around here that would have otherwise gone under.

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

It's good and it's bad I guess. I know AEG has saved a few cool venues around here that would have otherwise gone under.

Yeah, that's definitely true. I guess there is a big benefit to having ownership with deep pockets who can ride out the slow periods and keep the doors open.

[troutman]

In Calgary my favorite is Republik:

http://www.therepublik.ca/

[troutman]

http://www.commonwealthbar.ca/



http://www.thepalomino.ca/

[troutman]

https://www.facebook.com/verns.bar

[Stranger]

I saw Willie Nelson at Red Rocks near Denver in 2003. If you get a chance make the trip.

[king_amonte]

The Gorge!!

[darockwilder]

I used to see some cool shows at the Night Gallery back when it was open.

T-Model Ford-awesome
Wesley Willis-was asked to leave prior to show started due to vomiting in that weird bathroom that was like a stall but open to the bar

Others I can't really remember, maybe Slow Fresh Oil? I guess that was a long time ago but I can remember the excitement going up those stairs.

[iggy_oi]

Red rocks amphitheater just outside of Denver is incredible