For anyone who knows me, it is easy to say that the environment of a small venue concert is my happy place. For some, the thought of being in a small, enclosed space squished up against anywhere from 200-1000 people sounds like a step away from their worst nightmare. I, however, thrive off these moments. Most of the bands I listen to have a smaller following, so the shows I see tend to be at club venues like Metro, The Riv, Thalia Hall, etc.
One of the greatest advantages is the price that comes along with these shows. In May I was able to see Nothing But Thieves front row at Thalia Hall for $10, simply because general admission is the way to go if you want to be close. When you’re talking in terms of proximity, it is nearly impossible to have a bad spot at a club venue, you’re practically guaranteed to be within 100 feet of your favorite band.
Some of my greatest concert anecdotes are the result of the small venue experience. Specifically, there was the time that Glass Animals helped me sneak a pineapple into The Riviera, so that I could give it to them on stage (see the image below). Nothing beats the moment where Dave Bayley and I held a pineapple together. There was another time seeing Neon Trees, in which I was able to hug lead singer, Tyler Glenn. The up-close and personal experience is like no other, and most bands are extraordinarily active with fans when they are playing an intimate show.
The people around you are part of the fun too. Because the bands you see at these types of shows are less known, the fan base is more often people who are similar to you, so it is nearly impossible not to make new friends. Some of the greatest people I’ve met to date were fellow concert goers. Shockingly, I sometimes find that a group of 500 fans has the same energy, if not more, than an entire arena show. Being pressed up front-to-back and side-by-side with strangers is surprisingly comforting; it is in fact, the easiest way to make friends after all. The essence of rock music is not captured better in any situation than it is in the wild world of music halls. Crowd surfing, stage diving, drug sharing audiences are part of the fun when it comes to the experience (though not one for the faint of heart).
The bands themselves seem more courageous and entertaining too as there is no room for gimmicks. The artists you see have nothing but sound and stage presence to create the perfect show, which really makes a difference if you are a fan of live music. Unlike some bigger arena-sized artists who can get away by being only OK musically, but have enough smoke and mirrors to make up for it, small venue artists have pure talent. They pump up the crowd with organic, original techniques, and they have nowhere to hide. Their music speaks for itself, and that’s all I could ever ask of a band.
For those who have only ever experienced the somewhat far away, stadium sized concert, I recommend you buy some cheap tickets for a band playing nearby. Even if you only know one song by them, you will no doubt walk away a bigger fan than you imagined, and you won’t be disappointed by the experience that comes along with it.
