Drawbar Posted October 29, 2003 Report Share Posted October 29, 2003 OK let's hear it... Which are the best 10 venues for bands to play in Toronto? Capacity, Sound, looks, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CyberHippie Posted October 29, 2003 Report Share Posted October 29, 2003 1 - Massey Hall 2 - Danforth Music Hall 3 - Orbit Room 4 - Chicago's 5 - El Mocambo 6 - Lee's Palace 7 - Reverb 8 - Rancho Relaxo 9 - C'est What 10 - Holy Joe's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcO Posted October 29, 2003 Report Share Posted October 29, 2003 Favorites: The Opera House The Church at Berkeley Massey Hall Hummingbird Centre Palais Royale Harbourfront Least Favorites: Lee's Palace The Guvernment The Horseshoe I don't mind the Reverb apart from the stifling heat of the place when it's packed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Musicface Posted October 29, 2003 Report Share Posted October 29, 2003 Yo! I think I agree with all the ones on CyberHippie's list, except that I'd probably replace Rancho with Free Times or maybe even Oasis. Rancho is actually probably my least favorite on that strip, it's often too hot or too cold, and the bowling-alley shape makes it hard to see the stage except from the front. I'd also throw in The Phoenix, and for the record I'd like to say I still miss the old Ontario Place Forum, althought the Amp is okay as outdoor venues go. Peace, Mr. M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CyberHippie Posted October 29, 2003 Report Share Posted October 29, 2003 Jay - That's fair, I actually don't know any of those venues. I do admit Rancho is waaay to hot usually. That venue is only good for a small occasion. No more than 50 people. MarcO - Good call on The Church, I can't believe I forgot about that one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Musicface Posted October 29, 2003 Report Share Posted October 29, 2003 Oh yeh, and The 360 is quite nice since they cleaned it up - it used to be a little sketchy IMHO but the last few times I've been there it's been a lot better. - M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcO Posted October 29, 2003 Report Share Posted October 29, 2003 quote: Originally posted by CyberHippie: MarcO - Good call on The Church, I can't believe I forgot about that one! Why can't it be utilized more??? It's great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Low Roller Posted October 29, 2003 Report Share Posted October 29, 2003 I'm shocked that the SkyDump didn't make the list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuleMomma Posted October 29, 2003 Report Share Posted October 29, 2003 I found the management at the Church @ Berkeley difficult to deal with - pleasant folks, but not terribly reasonable when it came to renting their space. Firstly, the place costs at least $2000+ to rent for the night, then you have to bring in all your own PA and lighting, and sometimes even get your own liquor licence and staffing. In addition, they've painted the ceiling silver, so that tweeking the room for sound becomes a nightmare. I love the room too, but by the time you pay all the extras, it's difficult to even break even on the show. And, top ten - Palais Royale Massey Hall Church @ Berkeley Danforth Music Hall Harbourfront Opera House Trinity St. Paul Bathurst Street Theatre 360 Lee's Palace Actually, I prefer being able to have a beverage while taking in a show, but it's awfully nice to have great sightlines and acoustics to boot! (and kind security of course) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
\/\/illy Posted October 29, 2003 Report Share Posted October 29, 2003 I'm not sure I can think of 10 but... Roy Thompon Hall The Hummingbird Center Massey Hall Convocation Hall @ U of T Orbit Room Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swifty Posted October 29, 2003 Report Share Posted October 29, 2003 What's the phoenix like??? Capacity?? KInd sercurity??? Just wondering! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
questcequecest? Posted October 29, 2003 Report Share Posted October 29, 2003 phoenix is a big square room. the stage is up high enough to see... probably holds 1000+ i was there a couple weeks ago, security turned a blind eye to my doobie. the bandshell at the Ex is OK. reverb is good. i like them all except skydome and the warehouse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paisley Posted October 29, 2003 Report Share Posted October 29, 2003 I had a friend play a few times at the Free Times (which is kinda nice for a songwriter type venue) and one night we were there early and wandered down the street looking for something to do ended up in a place called the "Cloak and Dagger"... little hole in the wall joint, smoky, dark, full of barfly's... I liked it alot, try to get back there when I can (clean cut buddy was playing some 90s pop songs on the guitar and kinda jokin I yelled out "hows bouts some Grateful Dead?"... buddy responded, "wow, there's still a deadhead in the world?" and proceeded to play 2 straight hours of obscure Dead and Jerry songs... nice) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaimoe Posted October 29, 2003 Report Share Posted October 29, 2003 The Opera House is hit-and-miss as a good concert venue. The sound is often muddy. I saw Galactic there twice and the sound really sucked. The shows weren't strong as a result. Beware of bands with dynamc set-ups booked for the Opera House - the sound will always be suspect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CyberHippie Posted October 29, 2003 Report Share Posted October 29, 2003 Yeah, I really do like the Opera House as a room, but the sound almost always sucks there! It's a pretty cool place, with all the balcony's and whatnot, it must just be a really hard room to work properly. It's always good for tND, and it was good one time for Mule. Other than that it's usuall worse than lousy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaimoe Posted October 29, 2003 Report Share Posted October 29, 2003 I think simple rock bands get the best sound at the Opera House. The Mule always sound good there and The Soundtrack Of Our Lives sounded almost perfect when they played last February ( my #1 concert of 2003 ). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaimoe Posted October 29, 2003 Report Share Posted October 29, 2003 Sneaky Dee's ( upstairs ) is a good smaller venue. Holds around 200-250. It gets a little crowded, but the atmosphere is good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevO Posted October 29, 2003 Report Share Posted October 29, 2003 I don't know if anyone's mentioned the Tequila Lounge yet, but I thought that was a pretty nice place when I was there for Nero back in the Spring. The one with the wavy lookin' bar in the middle of the room.. Good sound if I recall! However it did seem a little sterile/clubby to me.. I don't know how you can combine those 2 adjectives but I'm doing it damnit! Trev, The Orbit Room eh? I found it to be a nice little room but the stage is so tiny, and you're liable to get decked in the face by Kevin Breit's guitar if you go to the bathroom at the wrong time! hehe. What about the backroom of the Cameron House?? I dig that room! Its intimate, good sightlines (like a small theatre set up), and good sound too. Any thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaimoe Posted October 29, 2003 Report Share Posted October 29, 2003 The Silver Dollar Saloon is good for acoustics and atmosphere, but the layout is strange. A small dance floor between the stage and the bar, with tables, couches and chairs off to either side of the stage. Still, a good venue, but a weird layout none-the-less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drawbar Posted October 29, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2003 What's the new elmo like? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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