1. The Hollywood Palladium
Having opened in 1940 with a performance from a young up-and-comer named Frank Sinatra, the Palladium has an Old Hollywood past that makes it a rarity. Of course, it went on to become an infamous rock staple in the 70s and has since become firmly entrenched in the trendy hipsterdom of the present day, but the place still has its magic. The room is surprisingly large and roomy with plenty of standing room, so if you like small venues but don’t like the feeling of being crushed between the bodies of sweaty strangers, this is the place for you. See — that’s the magic I was talking about.
2. The Greek
How an amphitheater capable of seating 5,700 could ever be described as “intimate” was a mystery to me, at least until I saw Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes at the Greek. The colosseum-style outdoor structure is inexplicably free of that feeling of remoteness that prevents me from enjoying most concert venues of this size. So don’t think of it as a stadium show — think of it as a small show that just happened to draw a weirdly large crowd. Also, it is literally deposited in the midst of Griffith Park, so the live mu- sic experience is framed by pine trees and fresh air, and the stars are so bright you’ll forget you’re in LA.
3. The Troubadour
All too often, something that has taken on a legendary status falls short of its rumored awesomeness and is revealed to be little more than an average thing irrevocably fixed with the label of “cool.” The Troubadour, however, is not one of those things. It has acquired its reputation because it truly is that awesome. It is the most intimate venue I have ever been to — beyond simply being small, its design makes it practically impossible to have a bad view of the stage. For hardcore music enthusiasts, the West Hollywood nightclub’s rich history of notable performers and attendants will make it doubly attractive. You can even stand upon the pavement on which John Lennon and Harry Nilsson were unceremoniously tossed after a night of excess. If that’s not real rock ‘n’ roll history, I don’t know what is.
4. The Echo
The decaying interior design of this place says “90s grunge.” The disco balls say “70s dance party” — in Kurt Cobain’s basement. The bands I saw there seemed to say, “I really, really want to be the Smiths.” Fortunately, if you turn your undoubtedly confused expression to your fellow concert-goers, you’ll find no shortage of flannel-clad kids jerking around arrhythmically to the music — that’s right, you’re still in the here-and-now. An important thing to remember when venturing to the Echo is that you’re not there for the venue — you’re there for the music. This place has gained a word-of-mouth reputation among music fans for booking talent before they make it big. Beck has per- formed here, as have The Decemberists. So get into that densely packed room and take in what just might be unrealized greatness — or, if all else fails, just step outside and listen to the homeless man who sings Paula Abdul tunes.
