What music venues are a must?
 

Just curious on people's opinions of music venues out there (preferably U.S.). What essential places should I see a show at if I'm ever in a particular city (and like the band playing of course)? The only two that I've heard about that seem very unique are Red Rocks and Jones Beach.

Thoughts?

Max's Kansas City in NYC
The Metro Cabaret in Chicago
Electric Factory in Philly (I like it, because it's near me)

I can tell you some to avoid in Houston:

Woodlands Pavilion
Fitzgeralds (shithole)
Tototya Center (highest prices in town, they charge more than Ticketmaster for fees...for selling tix to their own venue. WTF!)

Also, San Antonio's large outdoor pavilion (not sure what it's called) is horrible. Perhaps the worst layout I have ever seen. Sight lines are horrible.



The places I like most are:
Aerial Theater in Houston
Numbers in Houston
Bronco Bowl in Dallas (I think it may have closed)
Stubb's in Austin

Best concert venue to impress a date...

The Hollywood Bowl

It helps to be open to classical music though since they seldom book rock concerts.

Damn, you beat me to it! Big :up: to the Factory.

The Gorge in WA (perhaps even more breathtaking than Red Rocks)
The Fillmore in SF
The Wiltern in LA
Radio City Music Hall in NYC
Red Rocks
Stubb's BBQ in Austin

WorkPlay--Birmingham
Ryman Auditorium--Nashville

Where the hell is Max's?

There is CBGB's
Forget Metro (although not terrible) - if you can get to a show at Park West in Chicago absolutely go - one of the best sound you will ever get period.
Absolutely Red Rocks
Hollywood Bowl is awful.

9:30 club in DC is my favorite, but then again my experience is limited to the Baltimore/DC area with respect to music.

I worked security at the Montreal Spectrum (small-medium sized venue) for a couple of years and tourists frequently remarked how much they loved the place.

It's not too big, not too small, and the sound is great.

First Avenue in Minneapolis

Portland Oregon:

Roseland Theater
Crystal Ballroom
Alladin Theater
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall

First Ave & 7th St Entry in Mpls
CBGB's in NYC (where it all started!)
Casbah, San Diego
Al's Bar or Raji's in LA (both are gone now, I think; That makes the Troubadour the only club in LA with a real underground rock history.)
The Palace in Hollywood (lots of famous shows/recordings there. Last Ramones show was there.)

Tipitina's in New Orleans
The Fabulous Fox in St. Louis
Blueberry Hill in St. Louis, if it's a night that Chuck Berry is playing.

Al's or Rajis ???? These are not required places to see a show for the place.

If that...then go to Roseland's in NYC...lots of history and what ever Studio 54/Ritz/???? across the street from Roseland. Great views and sound.

And Jones beach is a joke...where did you hear that? The only thing unique about Jones Beach is you can fish from backstage.

Where the hell is Max's ?????

If you where there where the hell is it??? I can't find it.

Great places to see a show (based on the venue/atmosphere -- not necessarily seating):
Humphrey's By The Bay - San Diego
James L. Knight Center - Miami

The worst that I have been to:
Sound Advice Ampitheatre - West Palm Beach, FL
Inglewood Forum - Inglewood, CA
Cox Arena - San Diego

I have to disagree with you there. I've seen a few shows there and they were awesome. Radiohead most recently. Plus the fact that you can bring in dinner and drinks and a blanket makes it great for dates.

I much enjoyed the "bouncy" floor there. :D

Well, I've been to the Casbah! :)

I will stand by this statement also. Hollywood Bowl is beyond great. Had box seats at a radiohead show there and was blown away.

the only downside to the place is the parking.

Air w/ full orcastra in september is going to be awsome.

Another vote for The Gorge in WA, should you feel compelled to visit the middle of f-ing nowhere.

Other than that, my personal Seattle favorites are:
The Paramount - Really nice theater, though they don't get shows I'm interested in very often.
The Showbox - Kinda sleazy, but in a cool way. Lots of great bands play here when they aren't big enough to play The Paramount or The Moore (my most hated venue in the city).
The Graceland - More of a guilty pleasure, as this is where I see most of my shows. Not the greatest venue in the world, but far from the worst.

<a href = "http://www.clevelandagora.com/"><font size = 4>Cleveland Agora</a></font>

Whoops :o.

It seems it closed in the 80s and I assumed it was still open. Never went there or anything, just heard a lot about it.

The Village Vanguard - NYC