My Favorite Concert Venues- Number 3
With the summer music season in full swing, I was discussing with my friends what our favorite venues were. Our discussion ran the gamut from stadiums to amphitheaters to small clubs, with everyone chiming in on what they liked and why.
I figured that I would share a few of my favorites and have you share a few of yours. To give this some sort of build up I decided to do it top five style here were the previous four:
5) The House of Blues (Hollywood)
4) Wiltern Theatre
and now for number 3..
My Favorite Bar Venue- Water Street Music Hall (Rochester, NY)
Water Street Music Hall is a small venue that holds less than 1,000 people in Rochester, NY. National and local acts play here and it was the first venue that I really fell in love with, I saw Matthew Sweet here in high school and have been back to a lot of shows since.
A long bar on the left hand side makes it easy to get drinks, the sound is good, and the venue can get jammed packed with passionate fans. My favorite thing to do is get there early and get on the balcony which overlooks the stage. I wouldn’t even call it a balcony really, it is like an expanded cat walk, set back from the main stage by less than a few car lengths. If you can get up there and just sit looking down on the stage you are guaranteed an amazing viewing experience.
The crowds always seem much more lively than the various LA clubs and bars I have been to in the last few years. The only thing I really don’t like about the experience is that parking can be a major pain the ass, especially during the winter.
As far as acts go the club varies from national acts, up and coming bands, and local artists, to get a run down of their upcoming events click here.
What is your favorite bar to see a band in?
4 Comments
Tough one as I like different bars for different
genres. Mama Rosas lounge in Chicago is my
favorite Blues bar.Mama and her son Tony came
from Italy 30 years ago and have built “Chicagos
friendliest Blues bar”. Another outstanding place
is The Little Bear in Evergreen Colorado. Beautiful
setting and the y say “If you can’t laid there on a Sunday,you ain’t tryin’”
I actually think I have heard of the Little Bear for some reason…
I like the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom in Hampton Beach, NH. I don’t know why they call it a ballroom, because it looks like a big saloon, complete with wooden floors and a bar-like atmosphere. Be prepared to pay $6 for a bottle of Bud though. It would be easier to drink before you get there. Great blues shows though.
Toronto has two main music institutions that are great places to check out music virtually any night of the week.
The Horseshoe Tavern is a legendary Toronto landmark. Originally, a country music haven, the ‘Shoe’ began to attract artists and fans of other musical tastes. With a pristine sound system and 350-person capacity in the live music back room, the Horseshoe continues to draw important international acts. The Horseshoe has featured acts such as The Rolling Stones, The Band, The Police and it currently a favorite venue for bands on the brink.
The Cameron House on Queen West in Toronto is another gem. Always intimate, but never claustrophobic, the Cameron House inspires. It has been a spring board for many Toronto acts that of gone on to international acclaim. The House features a different house band most nights of the week and they are always the most entertaining acts in the city. It is common to spot big celebrities enjoying a show as they film in Toronto or are passing through. Although not many big touring acts play the Cam House anymore, you will find them before they’re a household name.
Cheers.