Here’s one to get you talking. Paste solicited nominations for the country’s best music venues, taking their readers’ 500+ suggestions and whittling ‘em down to an unranked list of 40 “according to history, setting, sound, character, comfort, atmosphere, vibrancy, uniqueness and their roles in helping launch careers.” Here’s their list of the nation’s best listening rooms, ranging from the legendary (Fillmore) to the new(ish) kids (Allen Room at Lincoln Center). Pick your favorite region and enjoy.
NORTHWEST
Café Du Nord (San Francisco, CA)
Crocodile Café (Seattle WA)
Department of Safety (Anacortes, WA)
Doug Fir Lounge (Portland, OR)
The Fillmore (San Francisco, CA)
Tractor Tavern (Seattle, WA)
Gorge Ampitheatre (George, WA)
Great American Music Hall (San Francisco, CA)
SOUTHWEST
Continental Club (Austin, TX)
Red Rocks (Morrison, CO)
The Troubador (West Hollywood, CA)
Largo (Los Angeles, CA)
Stubb’s (Austin, TX)
Hotel Café (Hollywood, CA)MIDWEST
Cain’s Ballroom (Tulsa, OK)
Schubas (Chicago, IL)
Magic Stick (Detroit, MI)
Fox Theatre (Boulder, CO)
First Avenue (Minneapolis, MN)NORTHEAST
9:30 Club (Washington, D.C.)
Allen Room at Lincoln Center (New YOrk, NY)
Iron Horse Music Hall (Northampton, MA)
Club Passim (Cambridge, MA)
Bowery Ballroom (New York, NY)
Maxwell’s (Hoboken, NJ)
World Café Life (Philadelphia, PA)
The Living Room (New York, NY)
Space (Portland, ME)SOUTHEAST
40 Watt Club (Athens, GA)
Bluebird Café (Nashville, TN)
The Basement (Nashville, TN)
The Earl (Atlanta, GA)
Eddie’s Attic (Decatur, GA)
Jammin’ Java (Vienna, VA)
The Melting Point (Athens, GA)
The Orange Peel (Asheville, NC)
Southgate House (Newport, KY)
The Tabernacle (Atlanta, GA)
Tipitina’s (New Orleans, LA)
Workplay (Birmingham, AL)
Would like to see Mercury Lounge in there, but when you live six blocks away, bias is an issue. Additions, subtractions, expressions of frustrations? Have at it.
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Heck, Paste is better than Stereogum anyday. And besides, a list like this is obviously going to be argued over — it’s subjective, people. :shrug:
That said, I was thrilled to death to see one of my favorite local venues (WorkPlay, Birmingham, AL) included. And while I enjoy both the Variety Playhouse and the Tabernacle in ATL, I tend to prefer the latter.
Personally I’d go with Black Cat over 9:30 in DC Metro area, but that tends to be a minority opinion, so that’s fine.
Thrilled to see Iron Horse on the list for MA. Gorgeous space, wonderful shows. But Passim over Middle East/TT’s/The Dise? Nope.
I’m late to this party, but the Triple Rock in MPLS is second only to First Ave (though the flat screens they added a couple years back are kind of lame). The Fine Line? Please.
Empty Bottle and Grog Shop: yes.
US-
1.9:30
2.First Ave
3.Metro
4.Showbox
5.Cats Cradle
Intl.-
1. AB-Brussels
2. Paradiso- Amsterdam
3. Vera- Groningen
4. Barrowlands- Glasgow
5. Quattro- Osaka
I’m going to have to back up the Belly Up and Casbah in SD as well…as much live music as I’ve seen since moving to NYC, those places beat anywhere here, hands down.
Wow, the Troub and Largo are at the very top of my LA list, too. Not only does the Troubadour go way back, but you really can’t beat the combination of sound and relative intimacy. And Largo? Well, fuck, Andrew Bird’s best LA shows were there. Too bad he’s gotten too well-known to go back. I just can’t complain about the LA picks.
As for Toronto, I’d hafta go with Opera House or Lee’s Palace. The sightlines can suck if you’re not in the right spot @ OP, but the acoustics are the best in the city. Honourable mentions to the Horseshoe and the Phoenix.
Apparently, I’m not the only one surprised at the Cats Cradle omission (though, truthfully, the sound and environs leave a bit to be desired).
Black Cat > 9:30, though both are good.
Is Largo too small for this kind of a list? Don’t get me wrong – I’ve long wanted to go there, but it’s more like a locale for a series of intimate get-togethers with people you don’t know then a show venue.
bluesphee: you obviously weren’t at the pabst for the go! team set – the sound was horrendous. milwaukee’s best venue is the cactus club.
Good God, Doug Fir Lounge makes me want to move back to Portland. Doesn’t matter how random this list is, Doug Fir is fucking badass.
The Paradise in Boston for sure. The bands, the layout, the marquee… Who exactly are these Paste readers?
why is everyone hating on paste? it’s just a list of suggestions, people, not an order.
toronto: horseshoe tavern, lee’s palace
montreal: metropolis
cafe du nord in SF sucks so hard. and I can’t believe the rickshaw stop, bimbo’s, bottom of the hill, or the independent didn’t make that list. lame.
no echo, no spaceland…is the troubadour and club largo really a legitimate representation of the southland?
wow. what about the Trocadero in Philly and The Palace Theatre in Harlem???!!!!
I think One of the top Concert Venues in the World has to be the MTS CENTRE in Winnipeg Canada.
Great accoustics, awesome set up very comfortable seating.
I’ve been a music venue manager for the past six years and I’ve got to say that I am shocked that neither the Ryman Auditorium or the Grand Ole Opry are on this list. Both are internationally known and respected venues that have launched the careers of some of the biggest names in country music and beyond. So it seems pretty bizarre that neither are on the list and yet The Basement is on for Nashville. Does anyone else find this really weird?
No love for SPAC? it was number 1 on this guys list
http://www.jambandnews.com/my-favorite-concert-venues-number-1/