# What's your favorite place to see a concert? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 11, 2003, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-place-to-see-a-concert/160561 "2003-03-11T15:12:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-place-to-see-a-concert/160561/1 "2003-03-11T15:12:05Z")
I don’t know that we’ve done this one before. My vote is for **Irving Plaza** in NYC. It’s got a good-size floor area, with no stupid sound board area in the middle of it (it’s on the balcony). But it’s not too big. The wooden floor can actually get bouncing with the right kind of crowd. Which is a little scary and quite fun. Definitely better than concrete though. And the audiences, in my experience, are really enthusiastic and into it. OTOH, it isn’t a place I would want to be stuck in if there was a fire. It’s on the second floor and everyone would head right toward the stairs where they came in. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Clawman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47c2d/32.png) [@The\_Clawman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Clawman)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-place-to-see-a-concert/160561/2 "2003-03-11T15:54:45Z")
Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow by a country mile. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Clawman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47c2d/32.png) [@The\_Clawman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Clawman)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-place-to-see-a-concert/160561/3 "2003-03-11T15:59:45Z")
How on earth did that happen? Anyway… Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow by a country mile. The stage is only about five foot high and the standing-only audience is right bang up against it. The roof is low and is gently curved, which seems to help the acoustics a great deal. The wooden floor is actually sprung! Just add 2000 refreshed Scottish people and you have the ultimate jumping up and down concert experience. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-place-to-see-a-concert/160561/4 "2003-03-11T16:04:11Z")
The Metro, George Street, Sydney. Great size, great layout. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-place-to-see-a-concert/160561/5 "2003-03-11T16:24:10Z")
Polo grounds in Indio, CA ---
**Author:** ![holnist\_army](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@holnist\_army](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/holnist_army)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-place-to-see-a-concert/160561/6 "2003-03-11T16:46:19Z")
excel energy center, minneapolis, MN great for concerts, and Minnesota Wild games too 😃 ---
**Author:** ![stolichnaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@stolichnaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolichnaya)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-place-to-see-a-concert/160561/7 "2003-03-11T16:46:28Z")
Jam Band: Alpine Valley, East Troy, WI Rock/HipHop: The Trocadero in Philly And now I must go to Glasgow. ---
**Author:** ![Bomzaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@Bomzaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bomzaway)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-place-to-see-a-concert/160561/8 "2003-03-11T16:54:12Z")
Large venue: Red Rocks ampitheater in Colorado. Small venue: The Greek Theater on the Berkely Campus ---
**Author:** ![beckwall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b487fb/32.png) [@beckwall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beckwall)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-place-to-see-a-concert/160561/9 "2003-03-11T17:02:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Yookeroo \* > \*\*Polo grounds in Indio, CA \*\* Hey, are you going to the Coachella Festival this year??? I live in Palm Springs, so I am very close. We are gonna try to make it for at least one day, particularly the day that Queens of the Stone Age play. I wish that Beck would play, but I believe he’s on tour overseas. Sigh. Last year, Mr. Beckwall went on Sunday, he saw Queens, Foo Fighters, surprise appearance by Tenacious D, Prodigy and some others that I forget. Bring your water and sunscreen! ---
**Author:** ![rsvp9146](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@rsvp9146](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsvp9146)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-place-to-see-a-concert/160561/10 "2003-03-11T17:12:55Z")
I have to second the Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow. (lived amongst the scots for a wee span of time) and the SECC to a lesser extent. As for So Cal, I’d have to say the Universal Ampitheather or the Hollywood Bowl. Bothe have incredible sound ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-place-to-see-a-concert/160561/11 "2003-03-11T17:51:45Z")
That would be in the butt, Bob. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Friendly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Mr\_Friendly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Friendly)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-place-to-see-a-concert/160561/12 "2003-03-11T17:54:16Z")
LA2, now called the ‘meanfiddler’ in london. Best with no barrier between stage, a punk band playing and people flying all over the place 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-place-to-see-a-concert/160561/13 "2003-03-11T18:14:48Z")
The Niteclub 9:30, Washington DC. Best club I’ve seen ever. And I’ve seen a zillion. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-place-to-see-a-concert/160561/14 "2003-03-11T18:27:40Z")
Old or new 9:30 Club? I loved the old one (930 F St., NW), but I never really felt like the new club lived up to its name or reputation after it moved (Somewhere on V St., NW). I think Wolftrap (northern Virginia) is a great place to see an outdoor show, and they book some great artists. Inside… I don’t know. Maybe the Beacon in NY. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-place-to-see-a-concert/160561/15 "2003-03-12T01:07:00Z")
It’s at 815 V Street now. I like the new one. But I also liked the old one. But it always had that _smell_. Ugh. ---
**Author:** ![Improvisor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/50afbb/32.png) [@Improvisor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improvisor)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-place-to-see-a-concert/160561/16 "2003-03-12T02:51:17Z")
I’ve always like the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. That whole faux-outdoor-North African vibe is very cool. Alot of good bands go through there as well. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-place-to-see-a-concert/160561/17 "2003-03-12T08:53:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by beckwall \* > \*\*Hey, are you going to the Coachella Festival this year??? I live in Palm Springs, so I am very close. We are gonna try to make it for at least one day, particularly the day that Queens of the Stone Age play. I wish that Beck would play, but I believe he’s on tour overseas. Sigh. > > Last year, Mr. Beckwall went on Sunday, he saw Queens, Foo Fighters, surprise appearance by Tenacious D, Prodigy and some others that I forget. > > Bring your water and sunscreen! \*\* I wouldn’t miss it. Going both days. I tend to spend most of my time in the dance tent. I’m gonna try to get a little bit more variety this year (gotta catch the Beasties!). ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-place-to-see-a-concert/160561/18 "2003-03-12T09:18:56Z")
The correct answer is Red Rocks. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-place-to-see-a-concert/160561/19 "2003-03-12T11:20:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by holnist\_army \* > \*\*excel energy center, minneapolis, MN > \*\* I just saw Tom Petty there. As for my favorite, I’m not sure, they’re so many good ones in Milwaukee, depends on the band you’re seeing. If the weather is nice, the Marcus Amphetheather is great, if the weather sucks, then there’s the Milwaukee auditorium/areana. And of course there’s always The Rave/Eagles Ballroom. ---
**Author:** ![mooka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@mooka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mooka)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-place-to-see-a-concert/160561/20 "2003-03-12T11:40:36Z")
My vote goes for Somerset House in London. Its this old historic building on the banks of the Thames, and quite interesting in its own right. Sometimes they put on gigs in the massive courtyard in the middle. I went to see Orbital there and it was amazing dancing to them while totally surrounded by this amazing old grand building on all sides. Kind of like a fusion of old england, with the imposing building, and new england, with the innovative electronic sounds and beats. Or thats how it felt at the time anyway! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-place-to-see-a-concert/160561.md?page=2)