| San Jose Live Music Venue Review (For your everyday band trying to tour California) CLUBBY CLUBS: in these places, you need proper promotion. The venues are prepared with in-house sound, bigger stages, and usually charge a cover at the door. Larger than “Bar Atmosphere” venues, you will have a better chance sounding good and selling more merchandise. The day of the week makes a huge impact at these places. Voodoo Lounge - San Jose (most music types) rating:***** This place has all sorts of bands come through, smaller acts on weekdays, nice stage, good sound; customers are everyone from clubbers to rockers, one of my favorite places to play, and pretty nice location. www.voodooloungesj.com 14 S. 2nd St. San Jose, CA 95113 Blank Club - San Jose (Rock, Metal, Ska/ Reggae, anything Retro) rating:***** This place is one of the more “well-known” places to play in the South Bay, has medium to bigger caliber acts playing there, more of a rocker/ rockabilly atmosphere, pricy cover, but good stage, sound, and good connections. www.theblankclub.com 44 S. Almaden Ave. San Jose, CA 95113 Agenda Lounge - San Jose (Hip-Hop, Reggae, etc) rating:*** This place has multiple areas to play at, two levels, patio area, small stages, decent sound, more of an urban/ rap atmosphere, the management can be a bit difficult, but pay well. www.agendalounge.com 399 S. 1st St. San Jose, CA 95113 Angel’s - San Jose (Hip-Hop, Reggae, etc) rating:*** This place has a very “nightclub” atmosphere, play a lot of club and Hip-Hop music during weekends, but has decent MCs come through from time to time, but not really catering to Rock bands or anything like that. www.sjangels.com 400 S. 1st St. San Jose, CA 95113 Avalon - Santa Clara (most music types) rating:***** This place is huge, great stage, good sound, expensive drinks, made for big-time performers, a little out of the way, but worth it if you can pull a big crowd. www.nightclubavalon.com 777 Lawrence Expressway Santa Clara, CA 95051 BAR ATMOSPHERE: depending on the night, there are usually your average drinkers out having a good time, which may or may not be paying much attention to your music. They usually don’t charge a cover at the door, and pay a moderate percentage of the bar tab. Promotion is not as necessary as “Clubby Clubs” since there will always be drunks trying to get laid at a bar. Pick and choose your nights accordingly. Mission Ale House - San Jose (Reggae, Rock, Acoustic) rating:*** This place is for smaller/ quieter bands, in the back patio or inside, cramped conditions, but pay pretty well, and they take care of the band. www.missionalehouse.com 97 E. Santa Clara St. San Jose, CA 95113 Tres Gringos - San Jose (Reggae, Rock) rating:**** This place is usually pretty busy, especially a little later in the night, they have a good band bar tab, nice lights, college kids, their stage is a little awkward, but it’s a bar and that’ s the way bars are. www.tresgringossj.com 83 S. 2nd St. San Jose, CA 95113 Britannia Arms: (3 locations) www.britanniaarms.com - Downtown San Jose (most music types) rating:*** This place is Hockey territory, good people sipping drinks, nice patio, no real lighting system, but fun and good location. 173 W. Santa Clara St. San Jose, CA 95113 - Cupertino (most music types) rating:*** This place is a little off the beaten path, but has lights, elevated stage, pub atmosphere, outdoor area, and decent sound. 1087 De Anza Blvd. Cupertino, CA 95129 - Almaden (mostly cover bands) rating:** This place is much like the first two, a little ways south of downtown San Jose; plays mostly cover bands, but a fun atmosphere. 5027 Almaden Expressway San Jose, CA 95118 Johnny V’s - San Jose (most music types) rating:*** This place is a smaller bar, more of a rocker hangout, small stage, usually charges a cover, surprisingly talented sound guy, fun drunk atmosphere. www.myspace.com/johnnyvs 31 E. Santa Clara St. San Jose, CA 95113 Smoke Tiki Lounge - San Jose (Reggae, Rock) rating:*** This place is fairly large, with a nice big patio to play on, medium stage, bring your own sound, but has lights, pay pretty well, good looking girls, but must play kind of early. www.smoketiki.com 153 Post St. San Jose, CA 95113 The Caravan - San Jose (Rock, Metal, anything Retro, Ska/ Reggae) rating:*** This place is another rocker-type hangout, a small to medium size place, no stage area, no lights, but great for punk bands and anything with energy. www.myspace.com/thecaravan 98 S. Almaden Av. San Jose, CA 95113 SOUTH BAY MUSIC FESTIVALS: at least the ones I know about. Music in the Park - San Jose Music in the Other Park - San Jose San Jose Jazz Festival - San Jose If you want to add to this page, or comment on these reviews, don’t. I don’t care! Written by: Stefan Meissner Roof Rock Records 2007 |
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