My favorite venues that I've been to:
- Starlight (KC): Easily the best venue in town and one of the best in the country. Sound system is amazing unless Jack White's crew is ******* it up (one of the most disappointing sounding shows I've seen).
- Fonda Theatre (LA): This place has amazing sound. Saw L'imperatrice and Inner Wave and both were bad ass.
- 7th St Entry (MPLS). Small room of First Ave. Technically it's nothing special but I like, that for a small room, you can easily see the stage. So many small venues **** this up.
- Ryman. The sound is really good and the balcony provides the best sound in the venue.
- Lincoln Hall (Chicago) - Someone mentioned it earlier but Lincoln Hall is great. Awesome sound and picking a spot in the balcony (along the railing is really good).
- Thalia Hall (Chicago) - Saw Roosevelt and Limperatrice. Great sound and a cool place to see a show.
- 930 Club (DC) - Great sightlines and sound no matter where you are,
- Union Transfer (Philly): Really cool place to see a show.
- Gothic Theatre (Denver) - If you can't tell I'm a big fan of 1200-1500 club venues with great sound and sightlines.
- Red Rocks - Need to see at least one show and I've picked some good ones. Tame Impala, Anderson Paak, and LCD Soundsystem probably had the best sound of the ones I've seen.
- MSG (NYC) - Most arenas aren't special but MSG is different. The location, the vibe, it even seems like the sound is so much better than other arenas.
-Armory (MPLS) - The Armory is a very unique venue, arguably there is nothing like it in the country. Great sound, mid-large indoor venue, with full lenght and staffed bars down the sides.
- Slowdown (Omaha) - I wish KC had a proper club venue of any size. The Recordbar is the closest thing we have but the Slowdown is bigger and a bit better as a pure venue.
- Kennedy Center (DC) - Saw Andrew Bird with the NSO there. Awesome show.
- Tipitinas (New Orleans) - Lots of history and I like the layout. Camped out at the balcony for North Mississippi Allstars.
Least Favorite venues:
- Sandstone (KC) - It's bad enough we have some of the shittiest promotion in the country but to be saddled with one of the shittiest outdoor amps is just a kick in the balls.
- Riviera (Chicago) - It has potential but the execution is poor. Saw The The there and wish I had went somewhere else.
- Roxy (LA) - Fans were rattling during the show and it's not like it was a bass thumping show either. What a POS.
- Sokol/Admiral (Omaha) - I guess it's been redone but it used to be a joke. Imagine having a concert in a dilapidated high school gym with a ****** soundsystem.
- Riot Room (closed KC): Nothing like being at a sold out show and not being able to see the band. This place also had the worst ventilation system I've seen in a venue (pass out city in the summer) and the men's room doors were permanently propped open. I mean, do the ladies (adjacent restroom) really want to look into our nasty ass bathroom? WTF
Favorite show:
David Byrne at the Kauffman in KC. Front row, dead center for the American Utopia tour. He is hands down the most innovative performer when it comes to the presentation of his music. Simply Amazing.
