The Forge on Whyte: A New Venue in a Familiar Setting

It would be difficult to deny that there is a bit of a buzz surrounding the opening of one of Edmonton's newest live music venues. Following the closure of The Pawnshop, disappointment was a common lament amongst local metalheads. The Forge plans on filling the empty space, both literally and figuratively, as it has moved into what was formerly known as the Pawnshop.

Although the grand opening hasn't officially occurred, The Forge has already hosted a few shows and has more booked. Although I haven't had the opportunity to check out the new venue myself, I'm excited for the changes that have been made, and the changes that are in the works. The venue features a re-built stage, allowing more space for the numerous bands that will surely play there. Considering the old venue hosted some great shows with some great metal bands, there is confidence that The Forge will be able to continue with this tradition. For metalheads, this is certainly welcome news. Many of the members of The Forge team are well known in the local metal scene for their support and promotion of metal within the city. With some improvements to a locally-loved venue, and a capable, committed management team, I'm excited for the future of this venue.

For more:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/edmonton/2016/12/07/promoter-forging-ahead-with-new-whyte-ave-music-venue.html
http://us7.campaign-archive1.com/?u=87105bdce2c5de528da3c6e49&id=a1eb7e5782

The Forge Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Theforgeyeg/

Losing The Pawn Shop

A Serious Blow To The Metal Community

Intimate music venues have dropping off the map at much too fast of a rate in Edmonton lately. The Pawnshop, my favorite venue in the city, has succumbed to the same fate. I’m actually saddened to see it go. The venue was a fantastic place to catch a metal band. It was the go-to place to see a metal show, supporting local talent and brining in international players. With the metal scene growing exponentially in the Edmonton area in the last several years, its disappointing to see a venue that continuously hosted some of the best close its doors.

The Pawnshop was located centrally. After several venues closing on the west end, it was one of the closest for those of us living west of the city to travel to. While I’m personally not a big fan of Whyte Avenue, especially on weekends, it was an easy location to access. The laid back atmosphere was welcomed. There were no questionable dress code reinforcements and everyone felt at home, yet staff were responsible in ejecting or denying re-entry to those who deserved it. The staff themselves were great, being attentive and yet not overbearing. The same cannot be said for other venues. It is a real shame that high rental fees forced The Pawnshop to close. I do take this explanation as a valid reason as the rent on Whyte Ave is ridiculously high. Even with its crooked toilets and bathroom stall doors that haven’t closed properly in the last five years, I will miss this venue. 

Some of the best, most intimate shows I have attended have been at the Pawnshop. While it was a small venue, it never felt claustrophobic. The ability to go outside, and be able to easily re-enter seems to be a growing rarity. The Pawnshop offered this. They didn’t try to wrangle people into ridiculously crowded smoke pits and they made it easy for those who wanted fresh air or a quick break from the excitement to do so. 

Shows scheduled for the Pawnshop are set to move to the Union Hall. Like many others, I have few good things to say about the Union. While the building may have worked as a nightclub, it fails to work well for live performances. Some serious renovations would have to take place to achieve this. Apparently the staff from the Pawnshop will also be relocating to the Union. Hopefully they can teach the current Union staff a few things about good service and building good relationships with concert-goers. The best I can say about the Union until this point is that shows have been “just okay”. I’ve had some downright awful experiences there, from it being impossible to find a good vantage point if you are unfortunate enough to not be one of the first through the doors, to some ridiculous and discriminatory dress code reinforcements, to a lot of warm beer and inattentive bartenders, to downright rude staff and total disorganization. Especially now that the Pawnshop has ceased to exist, I truly hope that the Union can make some serious improvements. 

In all honesty, the closure of the Pawnshop has cast a bit of gloom on the metal community surrounding this city. From my standpoint, if a show was at the Pawnshop that I wanted to see, I wouldn’t think twice about attending. If a show was at either Starlite Room or the Union Hall, I would have to seriously consider whether I wanted the accompanying hassles that always seem to come with either of those venues. At least Starlite provides an atmosphere were you can comfortably see the stage from almost anywhere in the room. And it still has a central location for those who travel from the outskirts of the city, or from outside the city. BUT we needed more venues (not less) like the Pawnshop; the attitude was superb and the support for the artists playing the venue was apparently excellent. It was a bit of a gem in this grimy city and it will definitely be missed. 

For another personal lament about the Pawnshop:

http://www.danazukphotography.com/blog/2015/6/29/saying-goodbye-to-the-pawn-shop

For a few news articles regarding the closure:

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Edmonton+loses+another+music+venue+with+closure+Pawn+Shop/11163560/story.html

http://www.gigcity.ca/2015/06/25/pawnshop-closing-gigs-move-to-union-hall/

Venue Reviews Part II

As a disclaimer, these reviews are based solely on first impressions, as I have really only visited each of the following venues a limited amount of times. (With the exception of the MacEwan Hall, which I have visited several times). 

Union Hall

Edmonton, AB.

While this a venue that I would likely stay far away from normally, it worked quite well for the show I attended. Why would I stay far away? Generally this a ‘dance’ club, filled with people who don’t even look old enough to be in a bar, wearing very little clothing and filled with desperate boys looking to capitalize on the female clientele. Which is not really the type of crowd that I choose to associate with on a regular basis. The Union Hall is located in a semi-industrial area of the city. It’s slightly out of the way, but easy to get to and has a large parking lot close to the venue, due to it being located basically behind a strip mall. Personally, I don’t think I would rely on public transit to get here, but taking a cab would be an option. 

Doors for the show opened on time and the line progressed relatively quickly for those who had hard copy tickets. A pat-down/bag search policy was in place, although it seems like this policy was more heavily enforced for males. Coat check was reasonably priced and quick, which was great for a cold winter evening. The inside of the Union has a set-up that I have not seen utilized to the same extent in any other venue. The floor/mosh pit area itself was quite small, as well as the stage. That being said, there were numerous vantage points on the first floor that would enable patrons to see the stage from nearly every angle. (The only exception to this being from directly behind the stage). A staircase led to a second floor running the perimeter of the building with narrow tables along the railing providing more good vantage points for those who did not feel like fighting through the crowds on the first floor, or for those who would rather watch the show than venture into a pit. It would have been nice if they would have had stools or chairs along this railing, but they were absent. Surprisingly, the sound was pretty good inside the Union, with few issues which might have been due to where I was located in the venue. Several bars are located throughout both the first and second floors. My biggest complaint regarding the bars themselves comes from the fact that the first two drinks I had were barely cooler than room temperature. You’d think that when you’re hosting a large event where there is a good chance that a majority of patrons will be drinking beer that you’d have plenty of beer pre-chilled before doors open. I’ve heard numerous complaints about weak drinks being served at this particular venue, but I cannot comment on that as the only things I drank were canned beer and water. Also, be aware that you will be paying a premium price for drinks. No cheap drink specials to be found here. 

This venue boasts a separate door leading to an enclosed, roofless smoking area with a suspended radiant heater. This is something that more venues could benefit from in a cold climate. While the area was small, have a separate entrance reduced much of the congestion that generally happens at bar entrances. As a bonus, the washrooms in the Union Hall were quite reasonable in comparison to many other venues in the city. Various, out of the way areas were utilized on the first floor to display band merchandise. This allowed for a fairly large display area and probably helped to reduce some of the congestion that can normally be found around the merch booths. (I did not get around to looking at merch until after the show while waiting for the crowd to clear out). From a musician’s standpoint, I can see the stage set-up being a bit of a concern. It seems that the musicians and the road crew actually had to maneuver through parts of the public area in order to access the stage. Other than that, I found the venue to be to my liking due to the numerous choices of vantage points, the numerous bars, the relative ease of accessing the smoking area and the general design and color scheme of the Union itself. 

Overall, the Union Hall gets a 4.5 out of 5. 

Studio Music Foundation 

(formerly The Mead Hall)

Edmonton, AB.

It is safe to say that the Studio Music Foundation qualifies as a so-called ‘hole-in-the-wall’ type of venue. Located in another industrial area of the city, it is an easy building to miss if you are not looking for it. It does have a small parking lot located directly beside it, and plenty of street parking in the evenings, both free and probably due to it’s location off a main road. While it does appear that transit busses do run through the area, I would rely on your own transportation or a cab to get to and from this venue. The Studio hosts mainly local bands, from all genres of music, and is capable of hosting all ages shows as well as licensed events. It does seem more like a place to hang out than a place strictly for music, having a few arcade games and a bunch of food court-style tables towards the back of the venue. The Studio seems to have a small kitchen where a variety of snack items, including burgers, hotdogs and salads can be ordered. Various non-alcoholic beverages not typically found at other bars can be purchased as well. Whether the kitchen is fully operational during all opening hours, I am not sure. 

Obviously a repurposed industrial building, the Studio is actually quite cold in the winter, so bringing a jacket or at least a hoodie inside is probably a safe bet. The stage itself is a decent size, but be aware that the floor is cement, so falling when moshing can be a painful experience. The bar counter is small and does not appear to be the best equipped, but seems adequate for a small venue. It might be difficult to get a drink on a busy night, but the venue was almost empty when I was there. Another downside to this venue is tiny washrooms, with the women’s washroom only having one toilet. Again, not really an issue on a slow night, but it might become an issue on a busy night. The atmosphere is laid back, and this building seems like a decent bet for catching an up-and-coming band looking to gain some local exposure.

Overall, the Studio Music Foundation gets a 3 out of 5. 

Rickshaw Theatre

Vancouver, BC. 

Situated near the confluence of China Town and East Hastings Street, in one of the worst neighbourhoods in Canada, the Rickshaw Theatre actually proved to be a surprising venue, full of character and friendly staff. Be aware when going to a show here that you will be in a tough, sketchy neighbourhood full of homeless people and drug addicts wandering the sidewalks. Taking a cab to the venue, and being able to easily flag one down after the show did not prove too difficult though. Originally built as a movie theatre, the set-up is perhaps not quite ideal, but owners and staff have certainly made the most out of it. Tickets are taken literally right at the door, and the entrance area itself seemed a bit crowded with people going in and out. 

The Rickshaw is another venue with sloping floors, obviously left over from its movie theatre days. There are several rows of seats at the back of the venue, and stairs lead through these seats to the main floor area. If I remember correctly, the floor itself is cement and all of the stairs can be a bit difficult to navigate in the relatively dim light inside if you are not familiar with the venue. There is a balcony with more seats upstairs, but I never did bother to explore this area. Being an old movie theatre, the venue is somewhat unique. While the Avenue Theatre in Edmonton was also a similar theatre, the Rickshaw has utilized it’s unique space much better. There is nothing fancy about the venue, but it does display character at every turn and the sound was pretty good at the show I attended there. It is kind of dingy, but did not strike me as being unclean. The Rickshaw also had some of the friendliest staff I have personally encountered at any venue and the patrons themselves were also friendly and quite courteous. The mosh pit at the Rickshaw was more reminiscent of ones in Europe, with people being reasonably careful and very few being outright idiots. There were no carefully placed elbows or punches to the back of the head, nor any crowd surfers or stage divers to be found. Perhaps this is more typical of a Vancouver crowd? Either way, it was nice to feel relatively safe from idiotic behaviour. 

The bars were pretty limited, with only a few different beers to choose from, but the staff were excellent. Plastic water containers with taps and plastic glasses, like one would take camping, were available so that those who wanted water were able to serve themselves and did not have to stand in line for the bar, or take up the bartender’s time. This was a nice touch that more venues should adopt. Merchandise was displayed along the walls on either side of the stage which kept it out of the way of the majority of traffic. Washrooms were located upstairs and besides the terrible neighbourhood, are the biggest complaint about this venue. They could use some upgrading as many of the doors did not close properly and there was water all over the floor. (At least the water appeared to be clean). Once inside, you forget about how sketchy the neighbourhood outside is and sit back, or find a spot on the floor, and enjoy the show. 

Overall, the Rickshaw Theatre gets a 4 out of 5. 

MacEwan Hall

Calgary, AB. 

The MacEwan Hall is located on the University of Calgary campus, and can be quite difficult to find. Having been there on four separate nights, I can safely say this is not one of my favorite venues. Arriving on the C-train is a relatively safe bet, unless you are coming from downtown and unsure of which track to take. That being said, it is a fairly long walk from the University C-train station to the venue itself, and the path is not well marked on the campus. Unless you are following someone who knows where they are going, you might find yourself wandering around until you find someone to ask for directions. Security has always seemed a bit over-zealous, and as far as I know, they have a strictly enforced ‘no spikes on anything’ (belts, shoes, jackets, gauntlets) and bullet belt policy. It’s probably best to leave these metal show staples at home, or in the hotel room. Security also seems to search concert-goers quite thoroughly, often requiring that you dump the contents of your pockets and purses out on a table to be inspected. Staff have never been overly friendly, and have sometimes been outright rude.

The biggest bonus to the MacEwan Hall is accessibility of the outside patio, which is to the side of the stage. This seems to be an often utilized space for smokers, or for anyone wanting to venture outside as MacEwan Hall also has a very strict no re-entry policy. Rarely can you experience good sound in this venue. It is obvious that this is more of a multi-purpose room, perhaps better suited to conferences than to live music. While it is spacious inside, it is disappointing that some of this space is not utilized for a few tables or chairs for those who might want to take a break between sets, or who would rather sit to watch a show. The beer gardens are also terrible, shoved into an alcove down the stairs from the main venue area. Identification must be checked upon each entry into the beer gardens and the tiny space is always so crowded that one can barely breathe. Honestly, between waiting in line to get into the beer gardens, waiting in line to get a drink and having to deal with a suffocatingly small area with no where to sit, it is barely worth consuming drinks at the MacEwan Hall. Unless there is a long change-over between band sets, it’s difficult to have a drink without having to chug it. The only reason I ever come to this venue is due to conflicting schedules that do not allow me to see shows in my hometown, or for special events such as Noctis. 

Overall, the MacEwan Hall gets a 2.5 out of 5. 

The front of the Rickshaw Theatre, Vancouver, BC.

Edmonton Venue Reviews

The venue itself plays a large factor in determining the experience that one will have at a concert. Unless you can completely ignore every external factor and focus solely on the music, but the truth is that most people are not like that. At all. Atmosphere has a determining hand in how enjoyable the concert is. A poor atmosphere with unruly, idiotic people and the experience of the show changes greatly. A great atmosphere in a venue with competent, friendly staff generally leaves a better impression, even if the live performance was not that great. 

Edmonton has numerous venues for live music. In fact, several more than I’ve even come close to visiting. Edmonton is also gaining the recognition it deserves as a hotbed for live metal performances. There are a core few venues that seem to host metal shows, and these are my thoughts regarding experiences in each venue:

Rexall Place

Perhaps better known as the home of the Edmonton Oilers hockey team. Which should be a clue right there that a hockey arena is not an ideal venue for live music. This fact doesn’t seem to matter, as Rexall Place hosts numerous large-drawing shows from every genre of music. Bigger metal acts such as Ozzy, Slayer, Iron Maiden and Metallica have all played at Rexall. Being an arena, the sound is not great unless you are on the floor or in the lower bowl of seating. While plenty of parking is available, it’s expensive. Public transit access is good, with the LRT running almost to the door, but the neighbourhood is known for attracting some unsavory characters to the LRT itself. So be cautious if you choose to use the transit. I’ve had issues with security being overzealous for no reason. If you’re looking to buy beverages, expect long line-ups, warm, overpriced, watered-down beer and a cut-off that happens before the headlining band takes the stage. Depending on the concert, the floor area can either be general admission or assigned seating. 

Overall, Rexall Place gets a 2.5 out of 5. 

Shaw Conference Centre 

Located downtown, parking is at a premium. The best bet is an underground parkade, which is expensive but relatively secure. Due to the concert hall being in a larger venue, access from inside is good, and allows for a warm area to wait for doors to open in the winter. LRT and bus access to this venue is also good, but the neighbourhood a few short blocks away is not, so make sure you know where you are going. Usually there is a zero re-entry policy in effect and pat-down searches upon arrival. If you’re a smoker, expect to wait to get outside and expect to be corralled into a tiny area. The stage opens up into a large, general admission floor area with limited areas of bleacher-style seating on each side. If you want a good view, get yourself on the floor somewhere. Beer gardens are located at the very back of the venue, and unless it’s a no-minors event, you won’t be allowed out of the beer gardens with a beverage. The view from the beer gardens is non-existent and the bar tenders are some of the slowest I have ever had the displeasure of coming across, with the result being ridiculously long lines, warm drinks and dissatisfied customers. The sound is okay, but not great. While smaller than Rexall Place, this is probably the second largest venue to see live music in the city.

Overall, the Shaw Conference Centre gets a 3 out of 5. 

Edmonton Expo Centre

Located near Rexall Place, the name should be a dead giveaway that this will not be an ideal set-up for live music. It is a conglomerate of different halls, which work well for expositions and similar events, but do not (in my opinion) work well for music. With the same parking and transit access as Rexall Place, getting to the venue is not an issue. The real issues begin once you get inside. There was no coat check anywhere. In a cold climate, you would expect some kind of coat check in a large venue. I held a general admission ticket to the show I attended at this venue. Upon arriving on the floor, I discovered that the beer gardens were a tiny area at the back of the floor, offering no view of the stage. The beer gardens smelled like a barn, likely due to the fact that they had just held a rodeo in the same venue a few days prior. While this didn’t bother me, it seemed to bother a lot of other patrons. Even more irritating, while those with general admission tickets were not allowed to leave the beer gardens and go onto the rest of the floor with beverages, those who had assigned seats could wander everywhere else around the venue with beverages. The amount of disorganization on the part of the staff was astounding, creating several very angry concert-goers. Through an incident which should have been simple to resolve, we were treated with extreme disrespect and outright rudeness from staff. The sound in the venue is echo-y, and myself and my friends were so exasperated by the staff, the inadequacy of the planning and the venue itself that we did not even stay to watch the headliner finish playing. I will not be back to this venue for live music.

Overall, the Edmonton Expo Centre gets a 1 out of 5, which feels somewhat  generous. 

Eds

(Eds Rec Room, Reds...) This venue is located inside West Edmonton Mall, and is currently closed while undergoing renovations. I am not entirely sure that it will re-open as a concert venue, but I have high hopes, as it is a pretty decent venue and draws good metal acts. Parking is fairly easy to find, as it doubles as mall parking with additional overflow parking across the street. Unlike some other venues, it’s also free. West Edmonton Mall is also a major transit hub for busses, so as long as you’re aware of what time the last busses run or you’re willing to take a cab (of which there are an abundance after shows), you won’t have a problem with transportation. Shows are general admission, but if you are under the age of eighteen, be aware that you will probably be corralled into a separate area from everyone else with a limited view of the stage. While I personally believe that there needs to be more disclosure about this fact to patrons before arriving at the venue, and perhaps discounted tickets for minors, this does not happen. The biggest complaint that emerges time after time about the venue is the fact that there are a few large, view obstructing pillars on the floor in front of the stage. (Perhaps something will be done to address this during renovations?) There is a bar area on the floor, and one behind the tiers of tables and chairs at the back of the floor. If one arrives early, you can secure a good seat at these tables with a good view of the stage. The merchandise area is somewhat out of the way, near the entrance and coat check area. The layout of the venue is quite unusual compared to anything else I have seen, but seems to work reasonably well. Often times, mandatory coat checks are in place, which are not disclosed until you are inside and which seem like a blatant money grab from management if it happens to be winter since patrons are forced to wait outside and doors are often late to open. This venue has had it’s share of issues with disorganized staff and security guards who have little or no security training. The issue with security guards has seemed to correct itself the last few times I attended shows at Eds due to the hiring of professionals. The venue has adopted a policy of no stage-diving or ridiculous moshing, which is appropriate if you have bore witness to some of the idiotic stunts that have taken place at past shows here. The sound is usually pretty good in this venue, and it seemed to have been improving in terms of policies and consistency in enforcing policies lately. 

Overall, Eds gets a 4 out of 5. 

Starlite Room

Starlite Room is located downtown, with relatively easy public transit access. There is a parking lot beside the venue, which is quite affordable if you arrive after six in the evening. It is also located beside an after-hours club, which, if you’re attending a weekend show, be prepared to deal with propositions to buy drugs from patrons of that particular club. Also be aware that being located downtown, you will likely have to deal with homeless people looking for change and cigarettes, although the security at the Starlite Room have done a reasonable job of cracking down on as of late. This is a ‘members only’ club. If you do not have a membership, be prepared to pay five dollars for a yearly membership card. On the upside, this membership is good to get yourself and a friend in the door and often a metal-head arriving on his or her own will be generous enough to let you in on their membership if you make friends before the show.  The Starlite Room used to draw a large number of medium-sized metal shows, but lately it seems to have focused on other genres of music. The venue itself is fairly well set up for live music, with a sloping floor that allows a good vantage point of the stage from almost anywhere in the room. I haven’t had too many complaints about sound in the Starlite Room and I have been to the venue too many times to count. There are several stairs to navigate to various points in the venue, but these provide some separation of the merchandise area, washrooms, various bars and the small seating area from the floor. It is easy to find a bar in this venue. There are two main bars and several small ones located throughout. This is another venue that fails from inconsistency of enforcement of policies and various other things. You never quite know which door will be used as entry for the main event, as the building is divided into a few smaller venues that may or may not be open, or may or may not be hosting a different event on the same night. The policy on re-entry can be quite lenient, or quite strict. Some shows you are allowed re-entry, allowing for merchandise to be dropped off at a car in the parking lot and easy access to the sidewalk for smokers or those looking to grab some fresh air. Fresh air is in short supply in this venue, as there does not seem to be any system for proper ventilation and the temperature inside often rises to sickening levels. During shows in which there is a no re-entrance policy in effect, smokers are funneled down a narrow set of stairs (which also lead to the washrooms), and into a tiny, fenced in alley, creating a backlog of annoyed patrons. While I can not comment on the state of the men’s washrooms in this building, the women’s washrooms offer the feeling of a slight death-trap with doors that don’t always close and toilets that seem to have been broken for years.  There used to be several security guards in this venue who let power go to their heads and seemed to enjoy making people miserable, but lately the security has been pretty reasonable. Just be aware that depending on the night, you never know what you’re going to get in terms of policies regarding re-entry, smoking areas and cameras. 

Overall, the Starlite Room gets 3.5 out of 5. 

The Pawnshop

The Pawnshop is located on Whyte Avenue, which is a hinderance in some ways and fantastic in others. Mostly fantastic if you are the type of person who enjoys being able to hop to another bar after the show, but a hinderance if you don’t particularly enjoy large crowds of young, very drunk, party-going types. That being said, attending a show at The Pawnshop on a weeknight is totally different from attending a show on a weekend, due to the sheer concentration of bars and clubs of every type along Whyte Avenue. Free, street parking is often difficult to find and public transit access is not that great, reliant on un-reliable busses that run limited routes in the evenings. There is a parking lot located a block away that offers cheap parking in the evenings. The Pawnshop is a small venue, located in the upstairs area of a building. The security guards here have always been friendly, reasonable and able to do their jobs properly when trouble arises. The venue is L-shaped, which allows for an area to stay hidden away from the stage with booths and tables, and an area directly in front of the stage that has a few long tables and stools to sit on at the back. While the floor area in front of the stage is quite small, this setup seems to work well for this venue. If you like being in close proximity to the stage, this is offered as you can literally stand right against it, close enough to have the performing musicians step on your fingers if you’re not careful. There is reasonable ventilation in the building, so unless you’re at the very front of the floor, you might not even feel the need to remove a jacket or hoodie. While the washrooms could use a little bit of fixing, this is my only real complaint about the Pawnshop. It seems to have become the premier venue for lesser-known metal bands (and other acts as well), hosting numerous shows each month in an intimate setting. It’s easy to meet band members both outside and mingling with the crowd and generally has a good atmosphere. 

Overall, The Pawnshop gets a 4.5 out of 5. 

Rendezvous Pub

Located on Stony Plain Road, the Rendezvous Pub is a small venue, located out of the way, that hosts a number of local metal shows. The charm of this bar is that some of the staff, and I believe one of the owners, are metal-heads themselves. It’s small and a bit of a dive, but a reasonable place to see smaller, local acts. The stage is small, but it allows for an intimate, pub atmosphere. Even during shows, one side of the bar seems to be taken up by neighborhood regulars, but they do not seem to mind that a metal act takes over for the night. Drinks are reasonably priced and there is a small parking lot out front. There are several tables available for those who would rather not be part of a pit, or who would rather have a conversation with friends. This is more of a place for metal-heads to hang out with acquaintances while catching a local show than anything else, but it works for what it is. Be aware that this venue is not in the greatest area of the city, evidenced by the number of adult-oriented stores mere blocks away. With the closure of a few other similar small venues in the city, it isn’t a bad option to see a local show.

Overall, the Rendezvous Pub gets a 3.5 out of 5. 

Avenue Theatre

While the Avenue Theatre’s website advertises it as being located in the ‘arts driven’ community along 118th Avenue, this seems like a stretch for those of us who remember 118th Ave before the city took massive steps to re-brand the area. In all honesty, this is still one of the worst areas of the city, and not a place that most people feel comfortable in after dark. There is no dedicated parking area for the venue, making street parking in the surrounding blocks the only real option. (And leaving some to wonder if they will come back to an intact vehicle). The entrance area to the venue is one big, confused, crowded mess with limited space in which to display merchandise, let patrons in and out, perform security checks and have bars set up. Located in a huge room that began life as a movie theatre in the 1950’s, it seems impossible that the stage and floor area can feel so crowded and unwelcoming. Cement floors are always somewhat scary in a venue, due to how slippery they become when covered in spilled alcohol and inevitable bruises they cause if one gets knocked down in the pit. Whether it was the neighbourhood, or the venue’s past as the Avenue Skatepark, I found the patrons to be some of the rudest, sketchiest people I have personally ever encountered at a metal show. Security is non-existent when they need to be, which is somewhat understandable when the security staff seem to be a crowd of volunteers without any real training. Perhaps it is saying something to the crowd and the venue itself when the ‘best’ beer offered for sale is Pabst Blue Ribbon. Unless a metal band plays here that I absolutely have to see, this is a venue that I am not likely to visit again. The layout just did not work for what they tried to set up at the show I attended. While there is merit in trying to create a good venue in an awful neighbourhood and draw good shows, the Avenue Theatre still has lot of work to do. 

Overall, the Avenue Theatre gets a 1.5 out of 5. 

For those of you in the local scene that may have read this and visited any of these venues, do you agree? Do you disagree? Anything pressingly urgent that has been left out?

Image from the Pawn Shop's website.