Came out on a Friday night to see Yonder Mountain String Band. Overall one of the best shows I've seen in years.
The sound system and acoustics inside are excellent; plenty of clean sound bouncing from all directions. The lighting system is also surprisingly awesome for a small club, adding theatrical grandeur with an impressive array of effects, colors, spots, backlight etc. Heck, they even had wind blowing the fiddler's hair back on her blistering solos.
We paid a bit extra for the "VIP" experience. This means you get to view the show from upstairs, and even get seating if you show up early enough. The space upstairs is divided into a series of fenced off "pens," each with a semi-cicular booth with table, and a couple of high, round tables with stools.
We came extra early and nabbed a booth with a good view of the stage. When the headlining act came on, some people stood in front of us. To me, a bit of jostling for the best view is part of the concert experience and it was expected. Some people may feel differently. I only bring this up as a way of saying that a VIP ticket does not guarantee a seat or a great view, it only buys a better opportunity for such. You'll always have to negotiate with fellow concert goers since it's all "VIP" upstairs and in my mind, an early arrival doesn't infer the right to an unobstructed seated view.
In any case, "private VIP" booths are also available which are actually roped off. These cost even more. After having been there, these seem designed for groups of maybe 8-16 people. If interested, I'd call the venue directly for pricing instead of relying on the email address on the website which didn't respond to me.
Seats upstairs come with table service which was a great luxury. The waitress came often, and prices are on the affordable side for a concert venue. Food is not available but you can order delivery and have it brought up! Woah! Draft beers were not available and the bottled/can selection was pretty poor IMO. Think major market crap like Bud and PBR and you won't be disappointed. Same goes for mixed drinks. My Long Island Iced Tea (a bar staple) was easy to get, but my neighbors had a heckuva time trying to get margaritas, bloody marys, White Russians and so forth.
Atmosphere and decor was fresh and cool. They've done a good job making the interior feel inviting. The space is well-arranged, a giant rectangle with the stage laid out on the long side. This meant a crowd that was never more than 30-40 feet from the stage; the vibe was intimate and the performer/crowd dynamic thus enhanced!
There is free (FREE!) public parking a block away. read more