Best venue to see a concert

[bluesXwinXtheXcup]

What's the best place you've seen a concert and what made it great?

[bluesXwinXtheXcup]

I just saw a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado and it was amazing.

The natural beauty of the amphitheater being placed in between massive red rocks is impressive to see.

[DJ Davis]

I’ll cast my vote for Red Rocks as well, especially in terms of the visual aesthetics.

Sound-wise, Bridgestone Arena in Nashville had the cleanest audio I’ve ever heard at a show.

The Sphere in Vegas is definitely on my list, and hopefully soon. Some of the pictures coming out of those shows are unbelievable.

[Pink Freud]

When I was 18 I bought Neil Diamond's live album "Love at the Greek", then in Los Angeles I saw his 40th anniversary concert, at the same Greek Theater. Just a week earlier at the same venue I saw Huey Lewis & the News opening for Joe Cocker. I also saw Cocker circa 2002 at the Pageant in St. Louis. Those are both terrific concert venues.

But nothing will ever compare to the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles, right across the street from the Metro Hollywood & Vine subway station, where we saw the jukebox musical "Beautiful", the Carole King bio.

[DJ Davis]

When I was 18 I bought Neil Diamond's live album "Love at the Greek", then in Los Angeles I saw his 40th anniversary concert, at the same Greek Theater. Just a week earlier at the same venue I saw Huey Lewis & the News opening for Joe Cocker. I also saw Cocker circa 2002 at the Pageant in St. Louis. Those are both terrific concert venues.

But nothing will ever compare to the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles, right across the street from the Metro Hollywood & Vine subway station, where we saw the jukebox musical "Beautiful", the Carole King bio.

I saw Daft Punk in the Greek Theatre at UC Berkeley. I am assuming the two venues are not related. But that was another cool spot, constructed in an arc like a Greek theatre would be.

I’ll also give a mention to the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA. The scene around the show (Coachella) with the mountains and palm trees is awesome.

[Pink Freud]

I saw Daft Punk in the Greek Theatre at UC Berkeley. I am assuming the two venues are not related. But that was another cool spot, constructed in an arc like a Greek theatre would be.

You are correct. The Greek Theater in L. A. is in Griffith Park, down a very steep, very scenic dirt trail from the Griffith Observatory that takes about a half hour to descend.

Fact is, I had no idea there was a concert at the Greek Theater, or even where it was, when I happened to visit the Observatory and heard the Huey Lewis sound check from far below. I walked the long trail down and, with only $20 on me, knew I couldn't buy a ticket --- if any were even available --- so I planned to watch and listen from just outside the venue's rear fence high in the woods.....until I saw a mountain lion-size pawprint in the dirt and realized I'd soon be in total darkness in those woods.

Luckily, a very desperate scalper was out front just as the first song started, and I got in for that $20 to see Huey Lewis and Joe Cocker.

[12xu]

Haven't seen a concert there since the early 70's, but the Fox Theatre in St. Louis is still #1 for me. Currently, the Stifel, formerly known as the Peabody and of course the Kiel Opera House, is the best venue today in St. Louis. The Ambassador was great while it lasted.

Smaller venues I like are the Pageant, and the Delmar Hall.

[rob'em]

Haven't seen a concert there since the early 70's, but the Fox Theatre in St. Louis is still #1 for me. Currently, the Stifel, formerly known as the Peabody and of course the Kiel Opera House, is the best venue today in St. Louis. The Ambassador was great while it lasted.

Smaller venues I like are the Pageant, and the Delmar Hall.

The Fox and Opera House are both excellent but The Sheldon really is the best in town. It has perfect acoustics and I've literally seen performers like Doc Watson and Vassar Clements back away from their microphones and let their unamplified guitar and fiddle carry their sound throughout the auditorium. Marvelous venue.
Honorable mention to The Wildey Theatre in Edwardsville, also marvelous.

[Uncle John]

Love seeing shows at the Chesterfield Amphitheater. The venue is so much better than seeing a show at Riverport. Free shows at the Chesterfield Amphitheater are BYOB. They allow everything into the venue except glass bottles.

[12xu]

Haven't seen a concert there since the early 70's, but the Fox Theatre in St. Louis is still #1 for me. Currently, the Stifel, formerly known as the Peabody and of course the Kiel Opera House, is the best venue today in St. Louis. The Ambassador was great while it lasted.

Smaller venues I like are the Pageant, and the Delmar Hall.

The Fox and Opera House are both excellent but The Sheldon really is the best in town. It has perfect acoustics and I've literally seen performers like Doc Watson and Vassar Clements back away from their microphones and let their unamplified guitar and fiddle carry their sound throughout the auditorium. Marvelous venue.
Honorable mention to The Wildey Theatre in Edwardsville, also marvelous.

I have seen one show each at the Sheldon and the Wildey, and they are both great. KInd of forgot about them for some reason, and you are correct - they have excellent acoustics and sightlines.

[marlu]

Maybe influenced by who I saw at the venue:

(in order)

• MRF Edwardsville Illinois

• Fox Theatre - St Louis

• Passage du Nord Ouest - Paris

• Ebbet's Field - Denver

• Red Rocks

• Salle Pleyel - Paris

• Opera House - St Louis

and an honourable mention to

• Tarro's Coliseum Ballroom - Benld, Illinois - if I'd been older - Ike & Tina, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Count Basie, etc...played there. The Guild was in residence in the early 70s on Sat nights.

Disappointing:

• Royal Albert Hall - London

[George Zipp]

The Sphere in Vegas has now ruined concerts for me. I've had the pleasure of seeing a show at the Sphere in early June and then I just saw the Stones up at Soldier Field last weekend. First, gotta digress and say for a man that is 8 months younger than Joe Biden (and this is not a political comment at all, it's a comment on ageing and the human condition) Mick Jagger spent two hours, minus a ten minute break in the middle where they let Keith sing, running around like a madman, dancing, and entertaining the hell out of 70k people.

Anyway, after the visual orgy at the Sphere the visuals at non sphere shows will now always suck. They attempted to put on a display behind the stage at the Stones and it was like watching a 4th grade art project compared to the Sphere. Still great tunes and a fun show.

Oh, and Red Rocks is phenomenal.

[somni]

The Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington.

The setting is incredible. You can camp there until the day after the concert. Went to the Sasquatch Festival back in 2011 (I think). Saw Phish recently and Rush a long time ago among others. The drive there is fun. The background and sunsets can be amazing, especially if the band is sensing it.

[George Zipp]

The Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington.

The setting is incredible. You can camp there until the day after the concert. Went to the Sasquatch Festival back in 2011 (I think). Saw Phish recently and Rush a long time ago among others. The drive there is fun. The background and sunsets can be amazing, especially if the band is sensing it.

Great call. I saw a show there a couple of years ago. Unreal.

I'll be curious to see the new place outside of Branson, the one the Stones are opening in a couple of weeks. I'm trying to get tix but right now the (bleep) resale tix are 700 plus. Pass for now.

[Uncle John]

The Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington.

The setting is incredible. You can camp there until the day after the concert. Went to the Sasquatch Festival back in 2011 (I think). Saw Phish recently and Rush a long time ago among others. The drive there is fun. The background and sunsets can be amazing, especially if the band is sensing it.

Great call. I saw a show there a couple of years ago. Unreal.

I'll be curious to see the new place outside of Branson, the one the Stones are opening in a couple of weeks. I'm trying to get tix but right now the (bleep) resale tix are 700 plus. Pass for now.

I heard the traffic is a nightmare getting in and out of the new outdoor venue in Branson.

[George Zipp]

The Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington.

The setting is incredible. You can camp there until the day after the concert. Went to the Sasquatch Festival back in 2011 (I think). Saw Phish recently and Rush a long time ago among others. The drive there is fun. The background and sunsets can be amazing, especially if the band is sensing it.

Great call. I saw a show there a couple of years ago. Unreal.

I'll be curious to see the new place outside of Branson, the one the Stones are opening in a couple of weeks. I'm trying to get tix but right now the (bleep) resale tix are 700 plus. Pass for now.

I heard the traffic is a nightmare getting in and out of the new outdoor venue in Branson.

I believe it. Just like riverport and the factory.