Favorite Music Venues

I've hardly been to any music shows. So I wouldn't know a good one from a bad one. The best concert I went to was James Taylor at Tanglewood in Lennox, MA. Mostly because of who I was with.

After that would be Proctor's Theater in Schenectady, NY. There I saw Dave Mason, Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Phantom of the Opera.

And my all time favorite singer, Glen Campbell, performed at the Starlite in Latham, NY.

I think I'm too cheap to go to concerts. I'd rather buy the CD and listen at home, without distractions.

I haven't thought about those places in years.  So you must know the Albany area?  I lived there many years ago.

/EA

Hi Emily,

Interesting question. I’m biased to my own area. Not a huge venue, but having been to several concerts there… not many locations beat Red Rocks right outside Denver. I have not been there en-femme… yet!

XOXO
Karensa

Never been but well aware of Red Rocks reputation as a premier music venue.  One of the most beautiful settings in the world for a concert.

/EA

Lived most of my life in that area. Albany, Schenectady, Hyde Park to Saranac Lake, and Cobleskill to Pittsfield.

I miss the Adirondacks. And every Fall I wish I could return to Indian Ladder Farms near Altamont for apples, cider and donuts.  Washington is suppose to be famous for apples, but I can't find any MacIntosh.

Small world.  I bounced around the area some myself.  Albany, Troy, Colonie, Brunswick, Lake Placid, Plattsburgh.  Don't miss the bitter winters of the North Country.  I traded snow for sand in 1987.

That's how I ended up in eastern Washington. Mild winters and low humidity. Still have mountains close by, but they aren't the Adirondacks. Summer in the Adirondacks is a slice of heaven.

Concert venues :

Saratoga Performing Arts Center, NY - John Denver

Woodstock, Bethel, NY - Crosby, Stills and Nash; Leonard Skynard - a great place for a concert - the original Woodstock site - they put in an ampitheatre with seating but there is a large grass knoll to sit on and enjoy concerts - there is a museum and tailgating in the parking lot before concerts

Believe it or not West Point listening to the West Point band - they have an ampitheater that overlooks the Hudson River - spectacular view

XOXO
Suzanne

Unlikely to ever get to Red Rocks but I did catch the Dead South concert there on youtube.

Here in England we had the Rainbow in North London. Pete Townsend drunkenly stormed right past us outside before giving a fantastic show there, around 78/79

Fun question! Here goes...

Madison Square Garden - Lots of water under this bridge (Led Zepplin, Pink Floyd, Billy Joel...)
The Paramount (LI)
CBGBs - Ahhh youth...
Whisky a Go Go
House of Blues (few different ones)
Olympia (Paris)

I've seen a lot of live music over the years, still do but not yet back to pre pandemic levels. I eschew arena shows; the sound is usually terrible, the crowds unruly, and the hassle-factor too high. Concert halls and small clubs are more my speed, and almost all of these are local to the Seattle area.

• Paramount Theater, Seattle
• Moore Theater, Seattle
• Showbox, downtown (the SODO location totally sucks, though)0
• Neptune Theater
• Tractor Tavern
• Sunset Tavern
• Marymoor Park
• Woodland Park Zoo
• RKCNDY (closed for many years but still close to the heart)
• Limelight, NYC
• Crocodile Cafe, Seattle
• Little Red Hen, Seattle
• Broken Spoke, Austin

Those are the ones that spring to mind, and that I would not hesitate to return. The Paramount is an extraordinary room; worth a trip. Had a great time at a hardcore matinee at CBGB back in the day, but just the one time.

I live in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. we have amazing venus from the large rugby stadium, to a world leading "opera house", The Wales Millenium centre. A couple of large concert venues.
We also have some smaller venues and these are the ones that I prefer. Used by smaller bands, newer bands, or bands that were once quite big, but have toned down their touring these days.
Of all these venues is one called The Globe. It's small. It's about a 15 minute walk from my house. It's intimate. It can be loud. It can get rammed. I've seen many great bands there. Bands like Focus and Darts, to new bands and cover bands. Joanne Shaw Taylor has played there.... It's a great venue and dose a lot to get up and coming artists their first step on the ladder.
For all these great arenas and venues, don't forget the small gigs.
I've been to The Globe many times as Cerys. Never had an issue. I've met the bands afterwards, chatted with them, even had drinks with them. The Globe is by far my favourite venue. It will never host Iron Maiden or the Foo Fighters, but it will host hundreds of other bands with sensible ticket prices.
Support your small, local venues. That's where all the huge bands started!

Cerys

Hi Emily! Being from the Northeast Ohio area, my favorite place has to be Blossom Music Center, north of Akron. I’ve seen all the great ones there way back in the early 70s. The Who, Chicago, you name them, I’ve seen them. I had a friend that worked the sound there and he’d often call me to help him out at the board. Now I’m in Georgia, so I have to travel to see a good show. Our Civic Center is too small to draw the name artists.

I know of The Globe.  I think I saw video of The Fall playing there years ago.  Thanks!

/EA