Well I Think its about time i do a review about this place. Have been on the Palladium 3 times last year to see a few of my favorite bands: Sonata Arctica / Nightwish / DragonForce Lets start with the tickets. I always get a physical one, but if you have an e-ticket one or will call there`s already enough reviews about that (one described it as hard as getting a handgun in a foreign country). I never had problem with lines cause im always late for the show, doors open at 7pm i usually go by 8. On the security check you better have nothing on you, me and my Girlfriend always carry only money and ID`s along with her cigarettes and my inhaler (yes shes a smoker and i have asthma). So the first show was upstairs in front of the bar and she could go out in a little area to smoke, same think didnt happen on the 2 following shows which were upstairs and you cant smoke. As said before, no re-entry here. The bar is expensive, slow and staff is usually rude to all people. As a male that came from Brazil i know how bad bathrooms can be but the one in here gets a prize. Probably the nastiest bathroom i`ve ever been too. My Girlfriend told me her bathroom was a dump too. I wont complain here about the fact that they dont have either ac on hot days or heating on cold days cause i just dont care about that. If youre hungry you can get yourself a nasty microwavable slice of pizza for 4,50 or a equally nasty hot-dog for the same price. Or you can starve, your choice. Now about the show itself, the reason why we all came here. 1 - Im not a sound quality nazi, but im gonna tell you the sound here is awfull, drums are louder than the guitar, vocalists you cant even hear, if you dont know the songs, good luck trying to figure it out there. 2 - Ive seen the show from many different places and in all of them you have to be standing, if you move you lose your spot, and its usually too crowded, they sell more tickets than they should 3- Cant even take a picture of your favorite band without having a rude staff member telling you to put it down, meanwhile there are people smoking in the bathrooms but this seems to be a bigger problem for them. 4- The best spot i ever had was on a Sonata Arctica Show, Upstairs in the bar, i could almost touch them, that made me forget about the fact that i was standing 5 feet away from that nasty bathroom. Overall once youre in you feel like youve been watched, and youre presence there is unwanted, the staff is awfull, the whole place looks so old that could burn down in seconds with all of us inside, Food, drinks and everything else you buys just because you have to, otherwise you wouldnt. Go there if you favorite band is playing and theres no other location nearby you can see them. Otherwise, just dont go. read more

This place is fucking BUNK. The staff are rude and unprofessional in there attempt to fulfill their power trip. Then there is the ticket fellow. He sits there (miserable obviously) and rips your ticket and sends you on in. Then you get inside. The inside sucks. It's super small and muggy. You then make your way to the bar where you are denied a drink because the ticket boy was too lazy to ask for your ID so that he could sloppily slap a wrist band on you so that you could drink from their overpriced bar. Good thing I was drinking liquor because I found out that beers are just as expensive as a mixed drink. DAFUQ? I'm a smoker and I'm in my mid-twenties. With two hours left of the show, the security closed off the smoking area prohibiting anybody from going outside if they still wanted to come back in. This did not make any sense whatsoever. I understand that they were just doing their job but come on. You're not going to let me stand on a sidewalk in front of you to smoke a cigarette and then go back into a show at your venue that I payed money for? Get real. This place sucks. read more

Drive from out of state for an outdoor shoe and craft beer festival. It was well set up and staffed. Lines were quick to get in, but security was good. Food selection was good. The beer lines weren't long but were very slow moving. Parking was right across the street. Sound and stage set up were good. We would visit again for sure. read more

If I could them zero stars I would. They were totally unprepared for the crowd at suicide boys tonight. By the time I got in they were playing their 4th song... they are the main act. Meaning we missed all the openers read more

Would have been one star if not for the vantage point/good view of the stage. That's about the only positive. The negatives? As others have said, dank, expensive, and the overboard security. They practically have you on lockdown in here. You are frisked and searched before going in. She even opened my Altoids tin. I was told to dispose of my $3.50 small bottle of water (Thanks DCU center!) God forbid you try to send a text, they will swoop in on you and watch you like a hawk if you have your phone out. No re-entry, $4.50 for a Gansett, and shit stained toilet seats in the ladies room. No Thankee. read more

This is such a great venue to watch a show at! We saw Ministry here and it wasn't overpacked. The venue had many different vantage points and the interior looked like a fancy broadway theater. The sound was quite loud, but that's what you want at a concert. This venue is very nice and I would love to see more shows here. read more

They may have some amazing bands coming through, but this is the worst venue I've ever been to by far. The line for will call and the box office (one window) was around the building, hundreds of people, and I waited for 40 minutes. Missed the first two openers. This also happened twice. They basically make you use will call bc having an E ticket is an extra 15 bucks, on top of the 20 dollar bullshit service charges And in my opinion, the place sounds like shit. Some cool staff though read more

Don't be a jerk and you'll love this place. You can't go wrong here; see your underground favorites for a fair ticket price, mosh your face off, and appreciate the improved sound the Palladium has, recently! The people leaving negative reviews are likely too sensitive to enter a rock concert, deserved their treatment, or encountered a rare unprofessional employee that, they allowed to, ruin their night. read more

Aesthetically this a fantastic venue, the stage is simply breathtaking to look at and it has a very dark yet theatrical appeal to it that's quite charming. The bar is in a neat location so it's easy to spot from any vantage spot in the venue and from the short time I have seen of it you even have a few nice balcony sections if you wanna break away from the crowd and be a little more private yet still get a great view. It's easy to see why this is a gem for the people of Worcester and more I don't want to take too much from it away so why the 1 star you may ask? Management and their pitiful overzealous biased security. The night I was in town I was there to see HIM for their Farewell tour show, mind you I have been a huge fan of HIM since I was middle school HUGE as in every album I own is in CD form, vinyl form, have like 20 T-shirts stuffed in my wardrobe, and fanart tucked away in my old 2005 sketchbook from my personal archives as well as posters. I cut my hair and dyed it with a perm to look as dark as Ville's I went through tons of eyeliner to achieve those smoky eyes like Ville. I got through middle/highschool bullying because of their lyrics, I've lamented, loved and got through some of the toughest hurdles of being a teenager because of this band. So going to see them that night was like a lifelong dream coming true in the most cliche' of ways for me. If I had known that getting closer to the stage would have put my husband, my cousin and I right next to one of the most disgusting, vile, and hateful women I have ever met I would have just been content watching them from the entryway to spare myself the encounter as well as awful experience. This 5'4 hyena complained, heckled and swore at my husband and I the entire time we were beside her because the way he was kissing me and hugging me so often was 'bothering' her (I mean c'mon this is a HIM concert for fuck sakes, couples getting cozy with each other is like a given. Not to mention my husband and I have plenty of romantic memories with them ;). So being that my husband was already a few drinks in he didn't hold back on telling her to mind her business and that if it bothered her so much she could move further away from us. She wasn't having it, in a matter of minutes her friends and she was in our faces threatening for us to leave and telling us we were disgusting for being so affectionate in front of them and that if we didn't stopped we were going to get jumped outside, security was involved quickly and pulled us all to the side. To cover up her tracks and make herself even more pathetic she lied to the security portraying the victim and accused my husband of elbowing her in the chest and bruising her. Mind you, I had two other accounts from strangers as well as the two eyeballs in my skull that I was born with to testify that my husband never touched her once yet despite trying to plead with security, reason and explain our perspective we got kicked out in the end. I even resorted to begging, crying and apologizing when we had nothing to be sorry for when we didn't even start the problems and promised them that we'd move far away from her and her friends if we could just stay to watch the rest of the show(CKY wasn't even finished singing "Close yet Far" when this all went down) that they'd be more than welcome to personally escort me and watch us for the rest of the night if we made them uncomfortable that I was willing to do anything just to watch HIM. But like I said they sided with her despite us and various other people explaining that she started it all and told us fighting was not allowed. They even involved the Worcester police... It broke my heart and disappointed me that we had no say in the matter that I was cut off multiple times from the lead bouncer when I tried to explain our side of it and yet we were all involved in an argument yet we were the ones that had to leave and she got to stay. They treated us so unfairly and even as I walked away from the venue completely shocked that we were accused of something not true I spotted the manager outside and tried talking to him about what happened yet he did nothing for us nor gave a shit. I even asked if there was a way I could get my tickets refunded and he ignored me and just keep dismissing me saying "Have a goodnight lady" like I was pestering him. Apparently, this place has no toleration for even the smallest of arguments and I come from Chicago where it's rowdy and crazier than this place could ever get so just tread with caution when you're there or you may just get kicked out for the stupidest of crap if you're not careful. Even if I had not moved I wouldn't waste my money supporting this place despite how beautiful it is inside. read more

Convenient parking and ticket costs that doesnt totally break the bank. However the fact that there was no heat AT ALL on an evening that was 30 degrees outside is terrible. I kept my jacket and hoodie on and that still wasn't enough! Pretty bad when the bands make comment to the cold. Also the sound was terrible with the headlining band. It's a smaller venue, so the sound should be adjusted accordingly. First time ever I wanted the show to just end or leave early! read more

always had a great time going to shows here. The staff was awesome and the place was always great for concerts. I went to a show last month and one of their stage security guards decided that while he pulled me over the barricade it was a good time to help himself to a free grope apparently. He was incredibly rough with me and grabbed/squeezed me in just about every area that he should never have been touching in the first place. in a chat room with other concert goers I learned that two other women have had the same kind of experiences with the same guard. we contacted palladium management to inform them of the situation and our plans to go public. they pretended to care for all of about 5 minutes and then stopped contacting us. The worcester palladium would apparently rather let an absolute predator work there, then to do right by their patrons. I will never go back. I know about a dozen other women who stand with me now as well. if you do choose to attend events here, be careful. they apparently just let their staff get away with whatever they want. read more

The Palladium is a decent venue that gets some pretty good metal shows - in fact, I'd say the vast majority of bands I like actually end up playing at The Palladium on their tours. It's a small-medium size venue that can fit a couple thousand people, with a floor and some seats above. Everything there is general admission, so when you but a ticket you can go decide where you want to go. The sounds quality was alright, but it seemed like the vocals were too quiet for many of the shows I've seen there. Instrumentally, it was solid. Bathrooms are alright, but not great. Parking can be difficult as well; there's a lot relatively close if you don't mind walking a couple blocks, but it's your best bet unless you want to try parking on the streets or at a lot closer to the venue - though those fill up fast. In the end, though, The Palladium is a decent venue that I'll continue to go to thanks to the awesome tours they manage to book. read more

They turn the volume up way too loud at this place. Went to see Electric Wizard here back on Nov 22 and I now have permanent hearing loss and tinnitus as a result of the show. Double up on hearing protection or bring plugs at the very least. Their sound system is a monster and being a fairly small indoor venue, there's no escape and the wall of sound hits you from every direction. read more

I love this club immensenly. That and I saw Cradle of Filth there a few weeks back and had such a great time that I literally shit marble. I'm glad they're bringing back the cheap draft beer-the bartenders are mad cool and are quick to get your drink on. The are progressively improving the club, and have great employees. Right on. The only thing I wish were better was the ladies room. No one went in there the whole night to keep the place clean. I hate pissing over pissed on piss. Hahaha. read more

I don't know, I thought the venue was pretty good! I was surprised at how friendly the female security at the door was. I've kind of become accustomed to encountering generally miserable security staff at rock shows, so it was nice to have a little friendly banter as my purse got checked. As far as the other reviewers who have experienced overboard, aggressive behavior (which we all have at some point at a rock club), that was not the case for me. I liked the tiered layout of the club so that there were many places to stand and get a good view of the stage. There was a strong security presence which didn't prevent the kids from crowd surfing and having a good time, but did help keep those rambunctious rascals from getting hurt. The club is nice looking but could use an overhaul. It seems run down. There are only 4 toilets in the women's room- kind of unacceptable for a venue this size. The line was outrageous. Other things- $6 beers, $25 tickets, $15 parking lot. Good sound. Pizza slices for sale. If another band I like comes through here at some point, I'm sure I will enjoy returning. read more

Worst venue ever. Saw The String Cheese Incident there. The show was grossly oversold to the point of it being unsafe. No where to even stand without being pushed by people looking for a safe place to enjoy the concert. Leaving wasn't an option as the stairways out were completely filled with the oversold crowd. A total fire hazard to say the least. The sound in the place sucks. A dirty dingy shithole with a retarded staff uneducated in crowd management. A fire catastrophe waiting to happen. No enough negative words in the dictionary to describe attending a concert here. Might be okay for smaller no name metal shows. Any band with a draw, do not attend at this venue. read more

Oh, Palladium. AKA the Get-laid-ium. Almost everyone I know who's been here has been propositioned at one point or another. So rock on, I guess. I've seen a number of shows here, and it's a good venue for it. It's got kind of a dingy, run-down feel that just works, and is a good contrast to Boston venues like the Roxy or even the (RIP) Avalon. The sound is typically very good, and the staff pats people down on the way in, which, while inconvenient, does kind of make you feel a bit better that no one's going to shoot the place up or anything. The one thing that sucks is the beer- $4 for a PBR? Come on now. That's just not right. I know, when at a show I kind of expect to get ripped off for drinks, but $4. PBR. Does not compute. read more

Not a bad place. I've been here plenty of times to see tons of shows. Even played a show there once myself. Great sound, good cheap drinks, and it's pretty easy to get to(even if you dont drive) The staff are laid back and they dont get in your face about anything, another thing I enjoy about the staff is they pat people down. Not that it should happen often, but during metal shows and what not. And I feel a bit safer knowing the fat goth kid next to me isnt goin to try to cut me open like a can of Spaghetti-O's. Kudos Palladium staff. read more

Having had the opportunity to support, and, in some cases, actually MEET a number of my favorite bands at this place numerous times over the last few years, I really cannot say enough great things about it. My best friend and I always have the time of our lives here, no questions asked. True that the sound quality of the venue may be a bit outdated, but the awesome bands that we have had the pleasure of seeing, such as the following: Children of Bodom Within Temptation In Flames Rhapsody of Fire Epica Kamelot Finntroll Sonata Artica Devin Townshend / Animals As Leaders Nightwish I just got tickets to see OverKill with Symphony X in September, so that is sure to be a blast and a half \m/ It is very conveniently located close to not one, but two hotels, with the Hilton Garden Inn just a block across the street, and the Holiday Inn roughly twice the distance away (but still very close). If you are not looking to drive or struggle to get the last Commuter Rail train back to Boston, then I highly recommend booking a hotel room at either of these locations for convenience. There are only a few things that cost this place one star: 1) The staff - They just seem to hate everyone and everything, and treat the guests like terrorists. After 9/11, I could see some cause for concern, but confiscating a small, pocket-sized flashlight that cost me $10??? WTF??? I seriously wanted to give that security guy at least 20 broken bones for that! 2) Their anti-camera policy - When it comes to video-recording on cameras, they have a very Axl Rose-type mentality, even when the bands themselves don't care in the least bit. With the few times an a**hole staff member catches me harmlessly doing a short clip of the show, they're lucky to escape before I have the chance to put them in a 10-day coma! 3) Beverage prices - $3.00 for a single half liter bottle of water... I need not say more! All in all, this is a great place for great metal shows, and has provided my best friend and I with so many opportunities of a lifetime each and every time we've been here. Great shows performed by great bands, but horrible staff, pricing and camera policies. read more

This is the only venue I have ever been to that charges you for water. They are adamant in their refusal to give you tap water in a cup and insist you pay $3 for a bottle. They also made me walk several blocks back to my car because they wouldn't let me wear a wallet chain TO A PUNK SHOW!! These people are ridiculous. Their pit really sucks too. The standing area is small and the floor is slanted down, making it uncomfortable and awkward. read more

Been going here for about 6 years or more. Without me going into my usual long review style Im just going to cover the basics and not get too too detailed. The bands that get booked there is amazing! Every famouse metal band and other styles in between play here and I love it. I love the fact too how small the place is and how close you can get to your favorite artist up or down stairs. Nice thing as well is if you wait off to the side after the shows, its very easy to meet the bands. The inside is really old and use to be an theater and im not a huge fan of it. Its always hot, smelly and you feel gross when you get out of there. I always really dont like the fact they over crowd it. It always feels like you are fighting for a spot somewhere to stand. The one beef I have is the acoustics. They are horrible. I have stood everywhere in this place and not one place sounds good. I am an audio engineer, and this place wasn't designed to handle that kind of show or sound and unless you have nice custom ear plugs, its muddy and terrible sounding. Parking is great, tons of it! Not too expensive either and sometimes there is other little secret spots where you dont need to pay. Very easy to find too, you cant miss it at all. No food here, and I cant really comment on the alcohol other then they have your basics, beer, shots of liquor, etc. Overall this place is awesome for the Worcester area if you want to see your favorite big bands and be in the city. I always go here no matter what even if with the conditions I had mentioned above are not the greatest. You cant beat this place if you want to be close to a great venue. 4/5 Overall.. Go here and check out a show!! :) read more

Best venue I have been to! Hot points -Great view from every angle -Easy to meet bands and get close to artists -Cheap drinks -Staff have attitude but also really dont give a sh*t -Amazing mosh-pit -The best dive vibe Bad points -Always so freezing cold -Bathrooms are the worst even for a dive they are bad -Outside staff whine to much Great place to see a show. just prepare to be hit on by a bunch of young kids! read more

Fantastic venue for concerts. Architectural masterpiece. The staff were super friendly and helpful and I'm sure they are not paid enough for all they do, such as catching and protecting body surfers. I can not say enough good things about this place. We had an amazing time seeing some of our favorite bands. The people giving bad reviews should probably be playing miniature golf as opposed to going to rock concerts. read more

Ah, Worcester Palladium, we have shared some great times since I first met you at Summer Slaughter. Granted, I had to break things up a little early due to my buddy nearly having his head caved in by one of the more rowdy concert goers(who is now part of my crew, thankfully. He's great to have on your side!), but I have returned to you many times since for awesome Metal/Hardcore shows at quite reasonable prices. One of our best times had to be Rock'n'Shock, with a line-up of greats like Suffocation, Suicide Silence, The Faceless, and Through The Eyes Of The Dead. Wondrous, wondrous. Great sound quality, you have, my dear, every note comes out nicely. Your security can be a little bit overzealous at times, however. I mean really, worry more about the kids trying to kick people in the face for no reason rather than people getting pictures or a quick video! And what's with your 3 dollar Monster cans scarcely bigger than Frodo's thumb? In my good ol' hood I can get one the size of Lex Steele's bulging member for 2 dollars! Shame on you, Palladium, you're a bit high maintenance... but I still love how your upstairs venue allows for some great crowd action, and your downstairs seating is comfy. You're also not too far from Union Station, so my plebeian no-car-havin' ass can access your delights easily from the MBTA, so thank you for that, my darling. All in all, you're a great venue and I love to be inside you... damn that sounds dirty. Whatever, you get it by now. Go to the Palladium, see a great show there, and unless you're absolutely dying of hunger or thirst, DO NOT BUY A DRINK OR ANYTHING TO EAT. read more

Ahh, the Get-laid-ium. That nickname alone adds stars. I've seen a few concerts here over the years, and we used to hit this place up for dancing in my college days. It's not a bad place to see a concert, and we always had fun shaking it here. Sure, some of the folks on the dancefloor can be a bit skeevy, it has its nickname for a reason, but I have only good memories of this place. read more

Good sound system and decent staff. Quite a large lower room with several tiers that make watching a show easy from anywhere in the house, plus an upstairs area for smaller shows. Not too far from Boston and accessible via commuter train. There's also plenty of on-street parking nearby and reasonably priced pay lots nearby. read more

It's nicknamed the Get-Laid-ium for a reason. That being said, its a real great place to see a show up close. I saw Kanye West here, and it was awesome. Seeing as he's a huge star now, and I wouldn't even be able to see him, anywhere else I go. It's a bit sketchy, I've never been the metal or emo shows there, but I probably won't. Just because this is a scenester haven, and I'm staying away read more

If you go during the summer, expect it to be a sauna. I went to Summer Slaughter and I only stayed for two bands before having to leave due to how freakin' hot it was in there. I get not wanting to have A/C blaring, but ample fans circulating some air would've been nice. I've been to the Palladium *many* times over the past couple of years - the sound is terrible compared to some of the venues in Boston - but the quality (and quantity) of the bands they get is pretty impressive. I would probably rate the venue itself as 2 stars - but they get an extra star because of the quantity of great acts they get in. Also helping them is that the bathroom situation isn't that bad - most of the doors in the women's bathrooms work and they have a decent quantity. My guy friends don't have any huge complaints about the men's restroom. read more

Amazing venue for great shows! Upstairs for local and regional act has enough room in the balcony and flood to see some good acts. The main stage is amazing. Plent of room for a pit in the floor and some great seated areas with tables. Typical bar that offers a descent selection and you can grab chips and dogs at the snack bar. read more

My favorite band (I've seen them over 125 times live over 9 years, all over the country, just so we can get a good idea here) has played the Palladium numerous times over their career, and for whatever reason, three times on my actual birthday (December 27). Because I enjoy spending my birthday with my friends, and I met most of my friends through this band, you see where I'm going with this. Birthdays in Worcester don't sound like they're going to be a lot of fun (especially considering that my point of origin was Philadelphia at the time) but up we trekked, whining the whole way (but secretly excited - just didn't want to give any props to Worcester.. that's, you know, uncool). On one of my birthday excursions, the nicest thing happened. You have to understand that the kind of people this band attracts are not always the most desirable. It's not unheard of to have a heaping spoonful of hippie-raver-etards dance their way into the freakin' wall all night. (No, these are *not* my friends.) So most of the time, the venues are well aware of this fact, and besides tripling up on security measures, the staff are usually just downright rude to all of us.. even the ones who, like me, come to just listen to some kickass tunes and leave our partying for the hotel afterwards ;) Anyway, I make my way to one of the bars at the Palladium, and the bartender notices that it's my birthday that day. She gives me well-wishes and then gives me VERY stiff drinks. And continues to do so. And when she hands me my third Ketel One and grapefruit, she says, "I just want you to know that if at ANY time you need to use the bathroom, just let me know. I'll take you to the one in the back so you don't have to wait in those horrible lines. I am sure you're going to need it after all the birthday drinks we're giving you!" Seriously, that was the best birthday gift that year. And yes, the private bathroom was fantastic, thankyouverymuch. read more

Decent size venue. No free water which I believe is crucial to have at a venue. Hope they change that in future.

This place gets great metal shows and is one of the few venues in MA that i can count on when my favorite bands are on tour. Love the venue, love the bands, love worcester ... ok well maybe worcester could use a bit of work. read more

Caught my first show there - Jon Pardi and Midland. A rare country show at the palladium. Show was great. Getting in and out pretty easy. Staff were fine, we were short one ticket and one of outside staff helped me find someone needing to dump a ticket. Can take a little time to get a drink. Acoustics were pretty good. Upstairs was easy to find a seat. Downstairs was fun too - younger crowd down there. I will be back. Hopefully more country shows will be booked there read more

I wouldn't go to the Worcester Palladium if Jesus Christ said "the only way to enter heaven is if you attend a show here". I will take my chances in hell. My boyfriend suffers from severe PTSD and crowds tend to exasperate it. He is very sensitive at this time and I can usually navigate him thru the evening when we are in this situation. WE have attended many concerts around Massachusetts at the DCU Center, XFinity Center, House of Blues, and Gillette Stadium. WE HAVE never been treated so badly. He tends to nod off from the over stimulation of the crowd which makes me happy because we got there and he has settled in... and I am enjoying the show and he is happy to make me happy. BUT your staff came out of no where and startled him (first thing you should NEVER do with a combat vet asleep) they should of spoken to me first. He was jostled awake and spilled his beverage all over me and him and we had to sit in our wet pants the rest of the night. They insisted his drinking band be ripped off. DID it look like he was going to get a drink. I realize that severe PTSD looks like someone is drunk or worse...it is unfortunate but what is happening is they are overloaded with people and the events around them. As a flight attendant I have had sensitivity training something your staff needs. EVERYONE around us was staring at us and it was embarrassing. YOUR staff needs to google wounded combat vets, PTSD, crowds, and ADA guidelines to understand how to communicate with the handicapped...start by talking with the individual that is with them. The only reason I didn't make any more of a scene is that I wanted to see the show...otherwise I had plenty of choice words I had to suppress. Your staff should be ashamed of themselves. read more

This is by far one of the best clubs for concerts that I have been to. It may be small comapred to the DCU Center down the street, but is still so much better. And not to mention its always so much cheaper than regular venues. But there is one downside, the bathrooms don't seem to be takin' care of.... read more

The Palladium - The Palladium - Music Venues Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

You will never see a better venue. I've seen a ton of acts here and they just redid the inside. This place is a national treasure. Long live the Worcester palladium read more

I got kicked out for being too drunk on a night that I lost a crucial game of rock, paper, scissors and had to DD. Not one sip of alcohol passed through my lips. Note to the "bouncers" -- if you're going to be overly aggressive in your mission to rid the place of drunks, make an effort to target people who are drunk. I'm no professional doorman but it seems like good advice, right? Not winning. read more

I have seen a few metal shows here over the past few years when in the area. Most venues I've been to in the US operate under the "we will try our darndest to give all attendees the most accurate prison camp simulation that we can while looking like we're in a bar" school of customer service and management. Bearing that in mind, I give this place three stars. One for not torturing the attendees to an excessive degree, one for the quality of acts that it brings in, and one for the fact that you seldom have to walk more than a few blocks for parking. Stars are lost for the sheer level of physical discomfort involved in watching the show and the chaotic procedure of actually entering the venue. The atmosphere is about perfect for seeing a metal show with the shabby once fancy decor and funny graffiti in the restroom stalls. Ah, parking. The parking lot attendant for Sonata Arctica last week was a gem who loved life, let me tell you. "Hey, is this the regular ticket line?" No, it's over there. We go over there. "Hey, is this the regular ticket line?" No, it's the VIP line. "Hey, by the way, we went over there and that was the VIP line." Yes, that's what I said. "No, it wasn't. Thanks for your help. Jerk." The security at the entrance reminds me of being at the airport with a few minor differences. First, there is no metal detector nor stripper radiation machine. Second, you can fly with a pair of nail clippers. You can not enter the venue with nail clippers, so make sure you address any annoying hangnails before getting in line and double check to make sure you don't have a spare pair in your bag or pocket. We've always had physical tickets, but the process for electronic tickets, will call or just buying one looks as complicated as trying to buy a handgun using foreign traveler's checks would be. After you get inside, the security isn't bad. I've been to venues with far worse, both as far as being annoying and power tripping as well as completely absent. Want to sit down? Like most other venues, you have to do that on the toilet, but I guarantee you the sound is going to be much worse than it is on the floor. I like a venue where the sound is better outside of the toilet, so this place earns its full star on the sound quality area. You might want to consider going into the mosh pit to stretch and move around at the halfway point of the show. An added bonus is that the blows you'll receive might knock something back into place and alleviate some pain. Seriously, a well organized moshpit is a joy and a pleasure and I don't think enough people consider the benefits of this vigorous form of dance. If the show is in the main area, you'll have a much better experience. There are various tiers where you can elect to mosh, stand there, or drink. The view is decent in most places and the sound ranges from so-so to pretty decent, depending on where you are. The only caveat to that is, if it's insanely crowded and you have to go to the balcony upstairs, you will suffer if it's anything other than the dead of winter. There is no ventilation, no air conditioning, nothing but oppressive heat and humidity so your sweat doesn't even consider evaporating. If the show is in that little bar area and more than a few dozen people show up, it's going to suck. The sound isn't bad at all, but you will see nothing unless you are either super tall or you are able to both get to the rail on the upstairs balcony and can tolerate the extreme heat and humidity for the duration of the show. Need to pee or starting to feel some pain from standing in the same place for hours and need to walk around? If you move to gain relief, you'll lose your spot and the only glimpse of the stage you will see will be someone's hair as you hustle up the stairs on your way back. Do not tarry on the stairs, since that is in violation of the fire code. Look at the stage, but do not hesitate in your journey back to the balcony where you will now see nothing. Summary: This isn't a bad venue but only a true masochist would call it comfortable. read more

After spending several hundred dollars on tickets and a hotel room, driving four hours and waiting three hours I left this venue before the band I love even came on. Everyone was very rude, there are many pointless rules and the place is disgusting. My boyfriend went to use the restroom and there was human and mouse feces everywhere. The bartenders, staff and band employees were all very rude. No one was helpful at all. We waited three hours for the band to come on and all we got was terrible opening bands and then we left. This place is disgusting and a waste of money. I will not be coming back here ever again. read more

Only reason we travelled 4 hours to Worcester was because of free "all access" passes for the Testament show on Feb 16, 2013. From the beginning, it was bad. The ticket attendant claimed to have all the guest lists, but when confronted, she "found" Overkill's list, with our names on it. Then, we had to go stand in line to get in. They stopped admitting people until they opened the main stage, and the drunks were getting restless. The pat down process was possibly the lamest. Then the idiot ticket taker had apparently never seen an all access pass, because he had to call his supervisor over, who had to go back to the box office to confirm it was legit. Seriously. None of the staff would let us anywhere near backstage, even with the all access passes. They were a bunch of morons. Oh, and you can't go out for a smoke, because unlike EVERY OTHER venue, they don't have an outdoor smoking area. Which makes for Aggro drunks with nicotine withdrawal. The venue was in much disrepair, and cold as a meat locker! We could almost see our breath. Parking was insane...15 bucks for an unguarded lot?! I really wanted to like this place, because of the awesome shows they seem to get, but I can't. I'd rather go over to New York to see a show, and staff knows what they are doing. read more