I’m a huge fan of live music, so much so that I have seen 105 different bands and artists in a live setting. Seeing one of your favorite artists live is exhilarating and being surrounded by hundreds of people who enjoy the same music that you do is amazing.
Attending as many shows as I have, I’ve been to a lot of different venues. Over the years, I’ve come to love certain venues more than others. Here’s a quick run-down on some of my favorite places to hear live music.
Vinyl, Las Vegas: This venue is new. I recently visited it for the first time earlier this year, and it has quickly become one of my favorites. This is a smaller venue located inside the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The atmosphere of the Hard Rock gives it such a rock feel because as you’re waiting to get in, you can look at all of the band memorabilia in the hotel. As far as the actual venue goes, it is a medium sized venue that provides room for larger bands, but is also intimate enough for you to get up close and personal with the bands.
AK-Chin Pavilion, Phoenix: This is my favorite large-sized venue. The outdoor amphitheatre provides a great atmosphere for concert goers that are looking to get up close and personal with the bands, but also for those fans that just want to relax and enjoy the music. The venue provides three tiers of seating that start right at the front of the stage, and it also has a large lawn area for people to sit and vibe to the music.
In The Venue, Salt Lake City: In the Venue is your typical grungy music venue. It is perfect for the fan who wants to get an authentic low-key concert experience. In the Venue has a larger room and a smaller room for different crowd sizes, even though both rooms are still quite small. The best thing about attending a concert here is there are usually no barriers in front of the stage, this allows fans to get as close as possible to the bands performing.
The Complex, Salt Lake City: The Complex is my all-time favorite concert venue. To start, the location of the venue is great. It is located right behind the Gateway mall in Salt Lake, so if you are in the city it’s not far out of your way. The next thing that is unique about The Complex is the fact that it is actually four different venues all located in the same place. Rockwell, The Grand, The Vibe and Vertigo are all stand-alone venues located within the warehouse, so on any given night it is possible to be hosting four different events. Each venue varies in size which allows The Complex to have well-known artists perform there as well as some smaller up-and-coming bands.
If you find yourself in the area of any of these places I highly recommend you find the time to catch a show and explore the venue.
Story by
Tia Wilson for SUU News
