(Photo by Damien Dennis, 2013)
A couple of weeks ago I began taking a look at some great music venues in different cities around the country and today I’d like to continue what I started. I don’t claim to speak for everybody, but when I visit a new city one of the first things I look into is somewhere to find great live music. That’s always something very important to me and gives you the opportunity to meet and interact with other music fans. So I’ll stop blabbing for now. Let’s see what Beantown has to offer
Boston
House of Blues:
Although this is a franchise venue and not one special to the city of Boston, the HOB in Boston is a great venue and many top acts come through these doors when visiting the city. Not too large or too small, HOB provides good sound quality, but sucrity does leave much to be desired.
The Paradise Lounge:
Built in the mid 70’s Paradise Lounge is my favorite Boston venue. A signature black marquee and buzzing neon sign greet patrons every night for music. The venue regularly books some of the best indie and up-and-coming bands in the country. But at soon as the bands start, every piles into the main floor. “A vast black-box and bare boned space featuring a couple of bars and a raised stage – where the night turns into a sweaty party as raucous fans dance and sway to the waves of sound”.
Wally’s Cafe:
Maybe you’re a fan of Jazz. Wally’s Cafe is one of the oldest family owned and operated live jazz clubs in the nation. Wally’s features live music 365 days a year, mainly students from local music institutions practicing and honing their craft for appreciative audiences. For this reason, Wally’s is often referred to as the “Training Ground”.
Denver
Bluebird Theater:
An intimate and “sweet” venue with a marquee that makes a signature spot in the Denver community. As one reviewer put it, Bluebird “Makes you feel 10 years younger. Maybe even 20… We rocked. We danced. We drank. Guinness on tap. (SWEET!) We made friends. We Danced. We had a blast.” I doubt I can put it any better.
Three Kings Tavern:
When is comes to grimy, but good rock bars in Denver, this is the place. Loud, but clear sound. Great bar and just the right amount of debauchery to go around. “This is just a grab ass good time folks. Saw a chick kung fu jump kick up off her stool and knocked a guy’s drink out of his hand. She didn’t get booted”. Looks like I’m late for my flight to Denver…
Hi-Dive:
This is a smaller, more laid-back venue with a good mix of people making their way through. It’s usually pretty packed and sometimes a real pain to navigate to the bar, the bartenders are always attentive, get to you as soon as they can, and pour up strong, cheap drinks. “Most of the musicians are available and around to hang out, share a drink” says one fan. “There aren’t many places for them to hide out here, so if your favorite person plays a date here, it’s the perfect place to stalk. Just a little”.
I’m not done yet! I’ve got one more part to this trifecta. I hope this is helpful to some when visiting these cities. Maybe you can let me know about some other venues I didn’t mention. I would absolutely love that.
