Livekick Blog

The gig. It means different things to different groups of people. In my traveling sound dude former life, I’ve been in a zillion concert venues ranging from small wooden shacks with hippie/farmers in folding chairs to hipper-than-god nightclubs in the world’s great cities filled with sweating fabulous people to outside in the weather with 50,000 of my closest friends. Each concert has its charms, challenges, and ups and downs. Funny but I remember every gig I’ve ever done by what kind of food they fed the crew backstage. I kid you not, free food is important when you’re on the road — quiz me sometime.

I have favorites fer sher and thought I’d point out a couple to you to let you know what the perspective of the musicians / crew are about some wildly varying levels of venue; juke joint to city night club to venerable theater. I could write about a hundred venues, but I’ll keep it to three tonight (with a lifetime achievement award winner as a wrap up) as that’s all I’ve got the beer to sustain me through.

Cateory 1. All-time favorite for historical purposes and the bone chilling vibes you get when you walk on the stage for the first time.

The Filmore in San Francisco

Yep it’s been graced by everyone from Jimi, to Janis to Led Zep, to Sugar ray, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Afro Celt sound system and the ghosts backstage and as you climb up on the stage make your heart beat fast. You realize as you gain the stage that this is the real magilla, rehearsal is over and it’s time to play like you mean it.

It’s also a great sounding room if you keep the volume at the right level and the sprung dance floor totally rocks and keeps people energized all night. The Filmore is a place you must see a show at least once in your life. I pretty much grew up in this place, opened in the dawn of rock by a young and ambitious Bill Graham.

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Category 2. Hip, perfectly done urban nightclubs with a wide variety of music

Slim’s on 11th and Folsom in SF. I’ve spent so much time mixing shows at Slims that I had my own presets saved in th digital effects racks. pwN! This is Boz Scaggs’ joint and done just the way he always wanted a club to be. A great sounding room, a big dance floor (watch out for the pillars when you’re really dancing hard), a giant bar staffed by exceptional bartenders and man, the blackened chicken and hot rice served to the crew just can’t be beat. A clean back stage too. Special bonus points for an easy load out at 3am, Slim’s started out being mainly an R&B and blues club but for years now has had great music from every possible genre. This is a world-class club, baby.

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Category 3. venerable concert venue

The Beacon theater, NYC

I love this place. Best house crew of the century the last time I came through, great sound system and dang, did I mention that it’s in NYC, the best place in the world to see music, or find incredible sushi at 4am!!

The Beacon theater just oozes class and technically it’s a spot on place with great sound, great lights, the whole package.

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Last but not least, maybe the greatest club of all time, Tipitina’s in New Orleans, everything a nightclub should aspire to be. A Life Tme Club Achievement winner in all categories: roots vibe, great music, championship red beans and rice, coldest beer, prettiest grrls. Once you’ve played or danced or got comfortable watching a show at Tipitina’s you’ll end up comparing every other joint in the world to it.

yes, i left out plenty of good places, there’s just too much for one nights writing or reading. That’s a great thing for all of us. You have a favorite juke joint or concert experience, excellent. Leave a comment and share your secret with all of us.

Oh, and by the way, at the next concert you go to, if you can go up to the sound guy and tell him or her they’re doing a great job. They’re likely working 19 hour days and doing all they can to make the show rock. Don’t tell them you can’t hear the background singers. There may be a perfectly good reason he’s keeping them turned down in the mix.!