Whats better to see rock live - Arena or Club
 

Whats better to see a rock show - a big arena with 40k people or a club like house of blues that's an intimate setting?

Never been to a big arena rock show. Club prices are certainly better.

i personally prefer clubs and small venues, seems like the artists work harder at those shows for some reason

Club - by an order of magnitude.

Especially if you're seeing the kind of band that can fill a 1000-1500 person venue. You'll walk out feeling like you had a much more intimate performance than whatever you'd have with 10 times as many people crowded into an arena.

You're also far more likely to experience spontaneous / random stuff at a club show than in an arena. Arena shows a 'serious business' there's lot of money involved in organizing and orchestrating the show. There's little to no room to deviate from the plan that was laid out in the contract. That's not to say club shows are unprofessional, far from it, but in a club you're more likely to experience a band that's either relaxing from its typical arena style and enjoying themselves on stage or an up and comer trying to prove itself.

Ultimately it really depends on what you like. If you enjoy the idea of watching a disconnected but technically brilliantly executed performance you'll probably like the arena. If you prefer a little more intimacy in your live shows then most definitely head for the club (and stand close to the sound guy booth if you can - usually has a clear view to the stage and the BEST sound in the venue).

Definitely club. The only negative about a club that I can think of is sometimes you can get your view blocked by the massive crowd. Luckily, I'm tall and never have that problem. At the arenas, that's not as likely to happen, considering the seats are stadium style.

What about a theater? I recently attended a show at a small, old school (built in the 20's) theater - the Majestic in Dallas - and it was great. I was at the front of the balcony and my view was amazing. I was practically right on top of the stage.

I'd be shocked if anyone votes arena since they're just the necessary evil you have to put up with if you want to see a really popular band. Clubs offer a better experience in every possible way. For one thing, they're obviously more intimate and you can actually see on what's going on on stage. They're also a hell of a lot cheaper and not just the ticket price, but the price of alcohol is generally cheaper than at an arena. On the subject of alcohol, clubs generally have full bars, unlike arenas, so you get more selection too. Clubs are also easier: lines are shorter, you're more likely to be able to get there by public transportation, and there's no massive wait in the parking lot when everyone's coming or going at the same time. Additionally, clubs have an open floor plan without assigned seating which means you're not stuck standing between between rows of fixed seating and can actually go watch the show from where ever you want, including right in front of the stage, at no extra charge. Lastly, the crowd is usually better at clubs, as it's generally people who are really, really into the band, unlike arena shows, which tend to be more of a mixed bag.

I agree with the^above also. I think a lot of the major bands and artist prefer the club scene as well. At least in the sense, as being a breakaway from the constant touring of the arenas anyway. It seems like it would be more up close and personal.

Both have good merits. I saw Baroness, Lamb of God and Metallica at Acer Arena, which was awesome, in fact it was as good as I could possibly imagine it being. However I saw The Chariot play in a pub in my town which was AMAZING, so much stage diving and whatever. I think that what kind of band it is will depend on what venue and how popular they are as well. It can be said that both are 1000x better than outdoor concerts.

I've seen great shows in both settings. The thing about arena shows is that I always get excellent seats - if I'm going to one, I'm sure to be right up there near the stage. This has probably aided my enjoyment of the shows. Phish shows are wonderful arena shows because they're an improvisation heavy band by nature, so you're not necessarily losing spontaneity in the large arena setting. They don't make setlists before the show. System of a Down were just an experience, so I was down with the arena setting. Smaller shows I've seen though, including Gov't Mule, Dark Star Orchestra, The Queers, Lemuria, Bomb! The Music Industry, etc. have been fantastic.

I seriously like both. I just like the experience, the people I meet there, the haze of smoke and smell of booze and sweat. Ahh concerts.

I've been to both kinds of venues and I've always found myself enjoying sweaty club shows more. Most importantly, as Janz has already pointed out, the booze is more plentiful and more reasonably priced ($7 for a cup of Budwiser? Fuck off). A smaller venue creates a far more intimate feeling that one cannot replicate at an arena. I've found this especially true with hip hop shows (the only shows I've been to this year), if you get into the right groove the audience almost becomes this amorphous mass that moves as one to the beat. Both of the major arena shows I've been to (Green Day and The Police) left me... unsatisfied. In fact the night before I saw the Police a friend and I went to this little crappy club in the industrial district of San Francisco to see Danko Jones and a two no-name acts and it was one best shows I've ever been too, and it only cost me $15, as opposed to the arm and a leg (someone elses mind you) for The Police.

I voted club, but sometimes it depends on the band and the band's gear. I saw Opeth in a club last year, and it was way too small for the sound they were pumping out. I moved from the front of the floor to the seats and it helped, but they were just too loud and their sound was just too big for the club setting, and I love Opeth.

Conversely, I saw Rush last year at MSG, and I was literally in the second row from the back... it was too far away, it didn't even seem that live.

Yeah, the Vic is a good spot. I always like wide layouts like that where you have a good view of the stage pretty much where ever you stand. Martyrs is good like that too.

i voted club, mainly cos you're really up-close to the musicians

i only went once or twice to an arena, and being a cheapskate, i bought cheap seats, and seeing them on a big vid-screen just ain't the same

it's mostly an economic thing

Wow, I'm surprised that nobody else has voted for the "arena" yet. Gotta love a giant moshpit...am I the only one that thinks so?

you can mosh in a club as well - it's more intimate moshing, anyway, and you can pick and choose who you can slamdance with

Also, a lot of arena-style venues don't even have a place for a pit. The closer spots are usually filled with seats.

^^yeah, that too

unless it's an all-standing venue

Not any arena I ever been to. Around here big shows tend to be at ballparks and are pretty spacious. I just don't like clubs because it's so enclosed

How do ya figure? Start a pit in a club and people will feel it on the other end of the crowd. What do ya rock with like four people? Come on now, get in a pit of 50-100 while a band rocks loud enough to be heard across town-THAT is partying.

I'm not gonna say I don't go to an occasional "in-house" show. Ya go for the band not the venue. Being in a beautiful part of FLA most of our shows are outside even when a club or bar is hosting. Almost right in the middle of our town is a hotspot called Patio de Leon which is surrounded by four of the best clubs/bars in town and a bangin pizza place, only place better than the ballpark for a show

Club shows, by a mile, for all of the reasons stated above. It's usually shit bands playing arena shows anyway. ;)

i dunno what kind of clubs you go to, but there're at least 30 people in most clubs i go to, and at least 8-10 will mosh

the moshers will usually be in the front row

I'm starting to suspect you haven't been to many clubs. A lot of shows at clubs end up with pits that are the size you're describing and the music is generally a hell of a lot louder in a club than in an arena. But are those really the things that make for a good show anyway? What about being able to, you know, actually see the band? What about not having to walk half a mile to go take a piss?

not to mention that you can get quite near to the bass amp and get all sorts of weird sexual vibrations

You are correct, I don't both going to clubs much-don't like cigarette smoke. Keeps me out of alot of bars and clubs. There's no way the music is louder when a show is indoors AND on smaller speakers. Never had a problom seeing the band, I guess if you are one of those that likes to be in the back and out of the crowd that might be an issue.

I DO agree with what you said about having to walk halfway across the world to piss, or at least that's how it seems when you've been holding back for a whole set...that does suck.

I'm just not one for an indoor show, I don't even bother with it if it's an indoor arena either-except an amphitheatre.

Dude, are you kidding? Ever noticed how much louder music sounds inside of a car than outside of it? Loud music in an enclosed space, where you're also a lot closer to the speakers, can be deafeningly loud. I don't think I've ever been to an arena show where my ears were ringing the next day. At club shows that's pretty much par for the course.

Most arena shows you have to buy the most expensive tickets to be anywhere near the stage. I think I've only ever been to one that was general admission.

That sucks for you man lol ALL the shows where I'm at are general admission. Well, except Germain Arena-but that place is a sh*thole.

If your ears are ringing won't that ruin your listening experience? Just a thought. I'm not saying big shows are better just because they're louder-they're better because they're BIGGER.

In my town it's usually just local shows in clubs and I'm not paying $20+ to see some backyard rockstar that's in love with himself and feedback. **** that.

I don't think I've ever been to an arena show where the sound was any way decent. Arenas usually have terrible acoustics and a muddy sound as a result, as well as being completely soulless. I saw Iron Maiden and The Smashing Pumpkins in two separate arenas and I could just about make out which songs they were actually playing because the sound was that muddy.

Big shows are not necessarily louder. The loudest gig I've ever been to was in a very small room with a band playing out of their socks. Shows are not necessarily better because they are bigger, that's all down to the concert-goer and what the concert-goer prefers. In my perspective I prefer club shows.

Truth, that's usually indoors though-and one of the reasons I don't like clubs.

Further truth

Is there only one venue you ever go to or something?

Er... what? Ringing ears come after the show (and are why you should wear earplugs). But the whole reason loudness even came up was because you were saying how great it is to hear a band that "rocks loud enough to be heard across town".

Sounds like it's high time to get out of your town and go to a real show at a real club. Most shows at a club, including well-known non-local bands, are less than $20.

If you want the best sound at an arena, stand right next to the sound guy's setup, because he's deciding what sounds best based on his location.

Also: Eugh, pits.

Yeah, I think the last time I was excited about a pit was sometime in the mid-90s.

i think the only way i would enjoy an arena show is at a festival

Clubs much better because u are much closer to the band and experience their music much better