During every concert, I try to learn as much as I can about the venue, in hopes that I can use such information and knowledge to help make better tapes down the road. I have compiled that information below. If you wish to contribute some of your own notes, please send me an e-mail. Obviously, my notes are largely SF Bay Area-biased.

Arlington Theatre
Santa Barbara, CA

Shows:
Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds 3.7.1999 - ~6th row stage left

Comments:
Beautifu venue, high ceilings, great acoustics. Very short balcony, so not much overhang or consequent acoustic reverb of major concern. Seats are fixed - comfortable, but not much room to work with in between rows. House lights are very dim, so you can't see what you are doing at all without a flashlight. Supposedly very anti-taping as venues go, but the security at the D&T show was pretty clueless.

Berkeley Community Theatre
Berkeley, CA

Shows:
Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds 3.13.1999 - 20th row far stage left
Bruce Hornsby 11.4.2000

Comments:
Big - place is huge. Someone said it's "cavernous," which suggest echo or long reverb times, but didn't notice any. Sound was really sharp. Big, deep balcony, but only last 20 rows of floor are covered since the room is so big. Beautiful place. BGP still wouldn't let stands go above head-level, but did let two stands be setup at the stage right stack, just inches away from the cones. No separate orchestra section - the seats go right up to the stage. Had problems with security at the Hornsby show - couldn't go above shoulder-height.

Blockbuster Pavillion
Charlotte, NC

Shows:

Comments:
Going south on I-85 you GOTTA hit the exit at Concord Mills Mall if you're early. You'll park right up front and get out within 30 minutes guaranteed. Otherwise, take the last one (first one from the south) and park as far back as you can. You'll get near an exit and be outta there in a jiffy... the sound's good in there near the stacks. Although there's some concrete near you on the sides. $7 to park Contributed by Henry Hart

Capitol Theatre
Port Chester, NY

Shows:
Strangefolk 12.27.1998 (GA)

Comments:
Lots of history. Very similar to the Warfield, though the increases in height between floor sections isn't as much as the Warfield. Balcony low over the floor (also similar to the State Theatre in Falls Church). Stage is about 20' wide, with SBD right underneath where balcony begins, maybe 17-20' from stage. Section was setup just in front of the board, which was nice since behind it would've been completely below the low balcony.

Chronicle Pavilion (formerly Concord Pavilion)
Concord, CA

Shows:
HORDE 8.29.1998
Alanis & Tori 9.19.1999

Comments:
Pretty standard ampitheatre. Big seated area - maybe 13000-15000 are seated, with a much smaller lawn and same total capacity of roughly 20000 as Shoreline. Covering is this big metal and tarp thing that covers virtually entire seated area - Hartford Meadows struck me as being similar. Second stage for HORDE was way back at the entrance, so had to leave 10 minutes to get there.

CoHo
See Stanford CoffeeHouse

Concord Pavilion
see Chronicle Pavilion

Coors Amphitheatre
Chula Vista, CA (San Diego)

Shows:
Dave Matthews Band 7.7.1999
Phish 10.4.2000

Comments:
Awesome venue. Very new and clean. Security is very competent, and not intrusive (they only bother people if they are smoking tobacco). It's an open air amphitheatre, so it doesn't get too dark that you wouldn't be able to tape. They do have a tapers section there, although, I am unsure if they enforce it or not. Seats are fixed, and there's tons of room to dance or put up a stand or do pretty much whatever. As far as DMB venues go, this one is one of the smaller ones: it only holds about 20,000 (in comparison to the huge Foxboro Stadium, Giants Stadium, and Devore Amphitheatres). Contributed by Mike Heath

Crest Theatre
10th & K St
Sacramento, CA

Shows:
Guster/Vertical Horizon/Stroke 9 1.21.2000 (GA)

Comments:
Looks like a movie theatre on steroids. Stadium seating. Open orchestra pit for dancing. Sounds like a big room - the PA seemed to have trouble filling the room, though I later heard that it was out of phase for some reason. The walls were not straight so not sure why there would be much interference/phase issues. Guster/VH show, we were allowed to set up stands just to the stage right of the SBD.

Cubberley Community Theatre
4000 Middlefield Rd
Palo Alto, CA

Shows:
Train 1.12.1999 (GA)

Comments:
Very small - 270 seats so I heard, but it seems like much less. It used to be an auditorium for a high school, though it must have been a small high school. 17 or 18 rows total in entire venue. Acoustics are okay, but Train was quite bassy and boomy.

The Edge
California Ave
Palo Alto, CA

Shows:
Chicken Coupe de Ville ???
Guster 1.20.2000 (GA)

Comments:
Venue closed sometime in Spring 2000. Small and boomy - really bad if soundman likes it loud. There are reinforcement speakers all along the walls on the sides and, occaisionally, the soundman uses them, making for some terrible sound. If only stage PA is used it can sound quite nice (re: Guster). Also see 2.6.2000 Smashing Pumpkins.

The Fillmore
Geary and Fillmore
San Francisco, CA

Shows:
Guster/Semisonic 10.28.1998
Funky Meters 5.15.1999
Guster 3.2.2000
moe. 10.14.2000

Comments:
Have actually been to venue several more times, but can't remember all shows. Decent-sized, nice, high ceilings. 2nd floor wraps around mostly along back and 1 side only. Usually setup with dance floor and some small tables only along the edges, though for Guster's first headlining show in 3/2000 they put out more tables because of lower ticket sales. Under disco ball is supposedly the sweet spot, though if open taping the section is all the way in the back, to the left of the board. There are overhead fans way up in the ceiling - wind noise from them might be a concern, but they are very helpful if you're getting hot while taping. I've never personally had any problems with the noise from the fans. They hand out posters if the show sells out at least 3 weeks prior (or something like that). There's also something about apples but I've never been lucky enough to experience them firsthand.

Foxboro Stadium
Foxboro, MA

Shows:

Comments:
$20 per car to park. Security is very bad in terms of getting in the venue and where they let you set up. Sound is weird. Sat in my car and didn't move for 2 hours after the show. Both nigts from completely different parking lots. Contributed by Henry Hart

Giants Stadium
Meadowlands Sports Complex
East Rutherford, NJ

Shows:

Comments:
You can park anywhere in a lot that surrounds this venue, but only enter the floor at entrance C. If you are running late it would be advised to get close to entrance C. Did a LOT of walking those three nights for DMB this summer. Security was pretty nice. They knew what we were there for and that we were allowed to do it. $10 to park. I find all enclosed/bowl-like stadium venues to sound close to the same. Contributed by Henry Hart

Great American Music Hall
O'Farrell Ave
San Francisco, CA

Shows:
Guster 11.12.1999
Derek Trucks Band 8.11.2000
Disco Biscuits 10.7.1999
Strangefolk 3.6.1999

Comments:
General admission only. Pretty place. Supposedly used to be a brothel. All taping equipment goes up to the 2nd floor, just behind the balcony facing the stage. Not bad for a balconly, but you're almost up against the ceiling at that point so there are obvious compromises in sound. Often bands will run cables up from board on the floor to the section. Bisco tape was made with mk4>brbox on the floor and is pretty good though levels are low. If you have the energy, best bet is to take a hat and go on the floor. Venue is next door to O'Farrel Theatre, an adult establishment...

Greek Theatre
Berkeley, CA

Shows:
Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals 10.8.1999 (GA)
String Cheese Incident 7.21.2000 (GA)
Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals 9.8.2000 (GA)

Comments:
Cool place, though not the best acoustically in my opinion. Open-air venue made entirely of concrete with incredibly steep seating behind the flat orchestra area. It's not really an orchestra pit - there is a half-circle in front of the stage that is all flat. Then it goes up about 5 steps to the walkway in front of the stadium seats. There are these stone "thrones" along the outer edge of the half-circle. The orchestra pit tends to be very unregulated for shows like Ben Harper & the IC, and is basically a mad-house. SCI had a section just behind the board in the stadium seats, though you are not usually forced to be in the section. The incredible concrete-ness of the venue can make for some boomy tapes from the section - such is the case for my SCI. 9.8.2000 Ben Harper and IC utilized a flown PA, which might be best I've heard it sound.

Last Day Saloon
Clement St.
San Francisco, CA

Shows:
PMB 12.11.2000

Comments:
Talk about hole-in-the-wall. Right in the middle of all these Chinese and asian restaurants is a bar that plays great music. Concerts are upstairs. Bar at the top of the stairs, small lounge area to the right, seating and stage to your left. Small dance floor right in front of stage that is filthy, to say the least. Pillars rise out of the floor all over the place - probably 3-4 within 20' of the stage. The PMB recording was made with a stand at the center pillar, dead center of the stage and 15' or so back. High midrange was somewhat muddled, not sure if was from cool signal to V2.

Madison Square Garden
New York City, NY

Shows:
Phish 12.29.1998
Phish 12.31.1998

Comments:
Sounds terrific for a place that wasn't designed as a music venue. Very large, but sounds good even from the last row of the highest section.

Mainstage Theatre
University of Buffalo Center for Arts
Buffalo, NY

Shows:
Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds 3.26.1999

Comments:
Has adjustable acoustic paneling on walls. It's designed to help facilitate best sound, but actually makes things sound very strange - there is almost no reverb at all. For an indoor, relatively small venue, the seats are quite raked and steep, so a mic stand in row 6 will be at head-height at row 25 or so. Security is abnormally anal - they wouldn't let me bring a 1.5" swiss army knife in. Student ushers were fine, though.

Maritime Hall
Harrison St
San Francisco, CA

Shows:
Little Feat ???
Ozomatli 4.1.2000

Comments:
Concert hall is at top of the "Sailor's Union." I drove around for about 20 minutes before figuring out where it was. Acoustics are pretty good - ceiling is very, very high. No room for mics on the floor other than way in the back. They will often put you upstairs if you have a stand. Room is pretty rectangular so dead center has destructive interference. Security and staff there are both clueless and supposedly rather careless - several bands have decided they will never play there again because of bad treatment.

Meadows Music Theatre
Hartford, CT

Shows:
Dave Matthews Band 8.6.1999

Comments:
Very authoritarian outside the venue. Have a Warehouse ticket and you won't have many hassles in terms of taping. If you don't have a WH ticket, you will have to be more creative. Inside the venue the security is much better. Venue can be a bit boomy, but they've put dampening stuff on the roof of the pavilion so it's much better. Park next to the Crowne Plaza then walk - this will save time. Very large seated area that can be enclosed during the winter and off-season. With contributions by Henry Hart

Memorial Auditorium
Stanford, CA

Shows:
Roots, 11.20.1999
Nine Days/Vertical Horizon 11.18.2000

Comments:
This is a great venue on campus at Stanford. 1750 or so seats, plush cushions, classic design with the balcony. There isn't really a bad seat in the house. Only major complaint is that the house PA has speakers only up at the top - almost 150' above the floor seats. This was alleviated at the VH show with PA speakers on the stage itself but the Roots show was lacking in PA volume if you were in the front rows.

Mystic Theatre
Petaluma, CA

Shows:
Guster 1.22.2000

Comments:
Not the nicest venue I've been to. It's a narrow, deep box of a room with old, fading and falling drapes along the sides and mostly bare-wood floors. Taping was from balcony only for Guster. Spoken word is a bit muffled, and the music was a bit boomy. It's got a "hole in the wall" kind of feel, and sounds that way.

Oakland Arena
off Interstate 101
Oakland, CA

Shows:
Dave Matthews Band 10.31.1998
Bruce Springstein and the E Street Band ???1999

Comments:
The Arena is the indoor venue, the Coliseum is the stadium. Surprisingly boomy. Supposedly, when they redesigned it a few years ago the way they put in the luxury boxes created some bad sonic effects. Taper section for DMB was on the first few steps off the floor - stands are rather exposed if they are left on the floor, though.

Pacific Bell Park
San Francisco, CA

Shows:
Dave Matthews Band, 5.18.2001-5.19.2001

Comments:
This is usually the home to the baseball San Francisco Giants. Stage was located in dead center field, the whole outfield was flooring with seats on top, then into the stands. Sound from the ground level was good to me - very clean, very little reverb from the stadium stands. However, as you moved closer to the stands, and then into them, you noticed increasing effects of the venue on the sound. Friends in the stands did not have nearly as good of a time. Tapers section was to stage left of FOH, and pretty damn far back from the stage. Sound was only okay from that location.

Palookaville
Pacific Ave
Santa Cruz, CA

Shows:
Medeski, Martin, and Wood 4.7.1999
Victor Wooten 2.7.2000
Karl Denson's Tiny Universe 4.15.2000

Comments:
Weird place, not very big. There really aren't any good taping spots other than in the middle of the floor. Board is off to the right in the back - sound is fine there, but sweet spot is pretty clearly in middle of the floor, which can be a hard place to be without support. Very back is food spots - very noisy and lots of people talking. Speakers are on top of some kind of structures on the sides of the stage - they are pretty high. There is a balcony with very little headroom that is 21+ only. To the right, along the wall is a seated area, raised maybe 3-4 steps from the main floor. I have seen people use this area, or the little alcoves formed by its border, as means of getting closer to the stage but remaining protected.

Paradise Rock Club
Commonwealth Ave
Boston, MA

Shows:
Vertical Horizon 7.25.1999

Comments:
Big floor, balcony that is really high. Your head is only about 2' from the ceiling, meaning a boom stand might be better than a standard Bogen/Manfrotto-style stand. There really wasn't anywhere else to tape from at the VH show, though, than the balcony. The board is in the balcony, in the center area. Sound from opening act was utterly horrible, but VH sounded fine. There was a Eurohaus dance thing going on afterwards - apparentlya regular thing, so might want to leave quickly. Someone suggested running a mic on either side of the soundboard area - might try if I ever go back.

Rimac Arena
UCSD Campus
San Diego, CA

Shows:
Ben Harper 2.25.2000

Comments:
It's really a basketball gym, like the SJ State Event Center. Wide, not exceedingly deep. Stage is to the back from where you enter. Entire place is GA - floor, then bleachers to the sides and back, then up to the ground level walkway. Seats are maybe 40-50 rows. Surprising reverb - tape was made right next to the flown PA stack on stage left. Not more than a dozen yards, clear line of sight. But you can really hear the reverb, especially on vocals. Crowd control is a joke, to say the least. They all seemed to be students so there wasn't any pat-down, but there also wasn't any control in the venue. Every set of stairs leading to the floor from the bleachers was full of people. Taping from floor would not be advised.

Riverbend Amphitheater
Cincinnati, OH

Shows:

Comments:
The sound sucks. The roof of the seating area slopes DOWN to the lawn and traps the sound. It bounces it back to you and you get a reverb effect if you're even REMOTELY turned to the side. Although it's VERY open on the sides it sounds awful. Security is very ignorant. Traffic can be very difficult - give yourself 30-45 minutes to start moving, but at least it's free parking at the venue. Contributed by Henry Hart

Sacramento Memorial Auditorium
15th & J
Sacramento, CA

Shows:
Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds 3.12.1999 (4th row)

Comments:
It's really an all-purpose venue - the web-site shows basketball games and concerts and meetings and all kinds of events going on there. Folding seats for the main floor, but they're connected so you can't really move them much. Balcony wraps around, but not over, the floor, so there really isn't any overhang. Quite large and the ceiling is very high. BGP wouldn't let standsd go above head height, which is 4.5' at the sitting D&T show or so. The "dress-circle" seats are the seats under the balcony, which face perpendicular to the front of the stage (imagine court-side seats at a basketball game).

San Jose Arena
San Jose, CA

Shows:
Dave Matthews Band 10.29.1998

Comments:
On floor centered, the sound is surprisingly good. Supposedly, along the sides up a level or two it sounds just horrible. Tapers section was just behind board, which was on floor, slight to stage left of center, about 45 rows back.

Shoreline Amphitheatre
Shoreline Blvd
Mountain View, CA

Shows:
Dave Matthews Band 5.17.1998
HORDE Festival 8.28.1998
Metallica 8.30.1998
Lilith Fair ??.1998
Bridge School Benefit 10.18.1998
Bridge School Benefit 10.30.1999
Phish 10.6.2000
Phish 10.7.2000
Guster/BNL 10.11.2000

Comments:
About 15 minutes from Stanford. Best access is through Rengstorff Ave., a.k.a Amphitheatre Parkway. As of 2000 season, parking has been included with ticket prices. Good venue, is primary BGP/SFX peninsula spot. About 7000-8000 reserved seats and a big lawn, total capacity is about 20000-25000. Tent is really only for stage and first 15-20 rows only - it's really high and scoops inward so isn't very effective against rain or anything. Lawn repeaters are very loud - it's louder on the lawn than it is just in front of it listening to only main PA. It's a landfill - you used to be able to set the lawn on fire with just the fumes. But that also means the entire place is pretty small and self-contained. Not like Concord Pavilion where the second stage is a 10 minute walk since the place is carved into existing land. Shoreline's not a bad place.

Smirnoff Music Center (formerly Starplex Amphitheatre)
MLK Blvd
Dallas, TX

Shows:
Dave Matthews Band 9.15.2000 (section 100, row D, seat 6)
Dave Matthews Band 9.16.2000 (section 102, row E, seat 8)

Comments:
Seats were very close so I really have no idea what the overall venue acoustics were like. Security was terrific - there were signs everywhere saying that taping was allowed from everywhere. No problem with stands being up all the way from beginning (which was a problem at the Houston shows and is a well-known issue with BGP shows)

Stanford CoffeeHouse
Tressider Memorial Union, First Floor
Stanford, CA

Shows:
Allette Brooks 1.27.2000
Rubberneck 2.3.2000
The Slip 2.24.2000
Owsley 1.29.2000
Brian Cline Band 9.28.2000

Comments:
Room is a rectangle but the "customer" area is in an L-shape, with the stage at the heel and the food/drink counter along the inside bend. The walls are straight. These combine to make for some weird acoustics. Completely gutted and remodeled during summer and fall of 1999, and looks kind of sterilized. Also lost all the little chairs and weird platforms along the wall that helped soften acoustics. Stage is very wide for such a small venue, but only half is usable or you end up firing the stage left PA speaker into the bend of the "L.". Ceilings are relatively low - maybe 10'. If using a stand, need to be only about 10'-15' from stage and then go up to 9' at least, but you'll still get crowd. Might consider clamping onto the ceiling, as there is a cage of metal that can easily be utilized.

Starplex Amphitheatre
see Smirnoff Music Center

State Theatre
Falls Churce, VA

Shows:
Pat McGee Band 12.26.1999

Comments:
Horrible acoustics. Place was recently redesigned, and I question whether they consider how it would sound at all during the process. I was located behind the SBD and I actually could not understand a word Pat was saying in between songs. The place is bassy, very boomy, and has weird upper range boost. Terrible. Supposedly it's better way up front in the mini-GA area (of course, standing 10' from a PA will avoid most venue-acoustics) and somewhat okay up in the balcony. I walked up to the balcony and thought it was okay but still not great.

Stubb's BBQ
8th and ?
Austin, TX

Shows:
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones 9.14.2000 (outdoor)

Comments:
Apparently most shows are inside, which is cramped and supposedly sounds pretty bad. This show was outdoors - they set up a stage with a tent. All GA, 11pm curfew (weeknight only? not sure). Really hot, very crowded. Dirt floor, dirt everywhere. Sound was fine as most outdoor venues will be. Stage is to the right and in the back as you enter. For some reason, they card everyone as they come in, so get there early if you want to avoid the rush of UT students.

Theatre of Living Arts (TLA)
South St
Philadelphia, PA

Shows:
Pat McGee Band 8.19.1999 (GA)
Pat McGee Band 12.27.1999 (GA)

Comments:
Nice place, lots of history and great acts tend to come through. Very much a "shoebox" venue, with a bar on the left as you enter and some stuff upstairs. Plain cement floor, metal overhands in the back. No mic stands are allowed inside, so you must bring clamps for the metal beam that is just in front of the board in the back. Not very high - about 9' from the ground so you pick up decent amounts of crowd noise. The PA wasn't too loud for PMB so this could be a problem but would need more references to confirm. Sound is pretty clear at the SBD despite overhang, and wasn't a great difference from rest of floor.

PA volume was apparently just a PMB thing. Can be very loud at TLA. Contributed by Jeff Pilcicki

Toyon Lounge
Toyon House
Stanford, CA

Shows:
Stanford Battle of the Bands 3.4.2000

Comments:
Terrible acoustics. Walls are all solid rock or cement. The monitors off the back wall was almost enough sound for the entire show. Redesigned as of Fall 2000, but only aestetically so inclination is that while it looks better, it'll sound the same.

Universal Amphitheatre
Universal City
Hollywood, CA

Shows:
Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals 2.26.2000 (GA Pit)

Comments:
Great sound, supposedly from everywhere. There are speakers located all around to help with the little nooks & crannies. Indoor amphitheatre, with the pit being GA and the rest ticketed. Tape was made from 6' from stage PA. Security is pretty tight - people in the pit get special wrist bands so they can't stub people down. Guards are all over the place, though they weren't necessarily any more intense than at other venues.

Warfield Theatre
Market St
San Francisco, CA

Shows:
Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds 2.21.1997 (balcony)
Ben Folds Five 6.13.1999 (drink rail)
David Grisman Quintet and Bela Fleck and the Flecktones 11.11.1999 (balcony 3rd row)

Comments:
GA floor, seated balcony. Board is up in the front rows of balcony, center. Floor is in 3-4 sections, each one being 5-6' taller than the previous one. Front drink rail is the place to be - the rail is along front of the section section, meaning it is about 6' or so taller than the front pit area and gives very clear lines of sight to stage. Get there early if you want a spot there, as everyone else wants to stand there as well. Acousts are uniformly great as far as I can tell. Stands in the balcony were allowed at 11.11.99 Grisman/Flecktones, but security was a pain.

Wetlands Preserve
Hudson St, off of Canal
New York, NY

Shows:
Agents of Good Roots 3.26.1999
Agents of Good Roots 7.15.1999
Guster 7.22.1999
God Street Wine 12.21-23.1999

Comments:
Small. Very small. Back is about 20' from front of stage, at most. Place is overall a rectangle, deep end away from door. But the bar is off to the left as you enter, and the stage area is only maybe the last 1/3 of entire room. Stage is to the right, and the board is to the left. So the entire stage and crowd area is maybe a 20' square (seems like that, anyway). Acoustics aren't bad if you are directly in front of stage, but are pretty terrible everywhere else. There is a railed-off section to the stage left of the SBD - first step is a good spot to put a stand, or you can clamp onto the metal pole that is sticking out of the SBD framework. Speakers are ceiling mounted. Prepare for a crowded show - the Wetlands is much more famous than its size allows. Bigger acts play there than should be in such a small place, I think. There were all kinds of PA problems at the 7/15/1999 AGR show. Be sure to check out all the activist newsletters and mailing lists to the right as you enter.

Yoshi's at Jack London Square
Oakland, CA

Shows:
McCoy Tyner Trio 2.5.2000? (back row of tables)

Comments:
Apparently this is a new Yoshi's, hence the "at Jack Lond Square" bit. Tremendous jazz club, gets great acts (MMW acoustic tour went through in June). Has some great sushi, too. Oh man, I'd go back just for that. :-) Room is basically brand new. Small with tables only. Maybe a few hundred capacity, and sounds terrific with very little need for PA (ie - can mic from a table up front no problem). Tables are all first-come, first-served and you can "reserve" it by showing up really early (4pm for an 8pm show or so) and putting your name on it and etc.

7th Note Showclub
Lombard & Columbus
San Francisco, CA

Shows:
Neil Finn 11.14.1998

Comments:
Small, standing room only. Some tables for meals but way up high - I could only see a little bit of each person from the floor. There are ceiling mounted speakers throughout the floor - might try just being under one of these.