<p>I enjoy music, and some of my favorite bands have been going on tour. Many play casinos, which I can’t tolerate the smoke, and some have been coming to local festivals, where one has to stand up all day. These old knees can’t do that, either.</p>
<p>I’ve seen a couple acts coming to House of Blues, and other Live Nation/House of Blues type venues, and was wondering what those are like, as they do have some seated balcony areas.</p>
<p>Wouldn’t you know, a group I love is coming to my town, on the day we’re driving son back to college, but I can make a quick trip to either of two nearby cities at little cost other than the concert ticket, thanks to airline miles and free night certificates.</p>
<p>One choice is The Tabernacle, in Atlanta, and the other choice is The House of Blues in Dallas. </p>
<p>Anyone have experience at any of these or similar venues?</p>
<p>Also, recommendations for places to stay nearby would be most appreciated, too. I would probably just fly in, take an airport shuttle, and hopefully walk or cab it to the venue, depending on safety of the area.</p>
<p>Atlanta is a Friday night concert, but I’d have to get tickets through StubHub. I’m looking at the Glen Autograph, which I won’t be able to use a certificate on, but got a good rate. </p>
<p>Dallas, I could probably get a free hotel and good seats but it would be midweek and wouldn’t be able to talk hubby into going.</p>
<p>Since both are big cities, worried about safety, too.</p>
<p>My son did the music festival at Piedmont Park and stayed in the Midtown area, but The Tabernacle seems to be in another part of town.
Also, not looking forward to flying into Atlanta, as I wouldn’t be on a Southwest flight. I’d do AirTran, which I’ve never flown before, but could still use my Southwest account. Son drove with friends to campus, so he can’t help me out on the airport info.</p>
<p>Dallas is a strict “NO SMOKING” venue (I just called them). Flying into Dallas on Southwest is a breeze since Love Field is an in town airport. Get a limo or cab from the hotel to the venue.</p>
<p>^^^Thanks! That’s my thinking. I attended a seminar in Fort Worth a couple of summers ago and it was easy using SuperShuttle from airport. Nice nonstop flights, plenty of them to choose from, from hometown.</p>
<p>Now, the hotel is another question. Looking at the SpringHill Suites Downtown, but Tripadvisor has mixed reviews. I could probably use my free night certificate, if rooms still available, but willing to pay for a safer hotel close to the venue.</p>
<p>You will not want to walk from House of Blues to even the closest hotel. If you are reserving a cab to get you to the hotel after, you could stay closer to Love Field for easy access in the morning.
If you stay downton (any specials at the W?) visit the new Perot Museum. Absolutely wonderful science and natural history. Gem and mineral collection rivals the Smithsonian.
Walk North a block to Mesomaya for great fresh Mexican food on the patio.
Caveat: Dallas is NOT a vibrant downtown after hours. I would not walk alone even a block unless I were in the crowd heading in or out of a game or concert the size of Amerian Airlines center. Downtown Fort Worth seems like Manhatten compared to after hours Dallas.</p>
<p>^^^you’re sweet, jym. Thank you for the offer.</p>
<p>Looks like the timing may be bad for either city, but I am curious, for future reference, about seating at HOB Dallas and The Tabernacle in Atlanta, since I am interested in these smaller venues.</p>
<p>The HOB Nola supposedly has bar tables and some tables in the balcony. It is not theater seating with comfy chairs in rows, which is what I was looking for.</p>
<p>I’ve been to some concerts in the Saenger Theater here in NOLA, pre Katrina, where the seating was the same as it is for movies and plays, so wondering if HOB Dallas and The Tabernacle have that type of seating, rather than the supper club type seating that HOB NOLA has.</p>
<p>I do hope to take a family trip to both Dallas and Atlanta in the near future, and will definitely keep this thread as reference when planning those trips. Son will be applying for jobs/internships/grad schools in both those cities, and if we happen to be there when a good act is at those venues, would like to have an idea of both the area and the seating.</p>
<p>I’ve been to two private concert events at two different Houses of Blues. There was not enough seating to make it a comfortable experience. This summer, I was treated to preferential admission by my sales rep for an HOB concert in Las Vegas. Scored a bar table 10 feet from the stage and saw Huey Lewis and the News up close and personal. Not the greatest seating comfort wise – but the preferential admission made it worthwhile!</p>
<p>I was talking to a guy my age (63) the other day. He had just bought an original poster from a “gig” at the Avalon Ballroom back in the 1960s. We both had spent many an evening on the rugs (floor) of the Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin in the very early 1970s. He mentioned the humor in how he now rates a venue for seeing someone play. </p>
<p>I saw Chicago Transit Authority (before it was shortened to just Chicago) play in the gym at Emory University. Now that was up close and personal.</p>
<p>Looking at the venues in the different cities for the concerts and I think The Tabernacle is going to work best for me logistics wise, since the concert is on a Friday night, and I can actually fly nonstop to the city, both ways. I’ve got a very good rate on the hotel, and booked refundable flights both ways.</p>
<p>Now, I want to be sure about The Tabernacle. I’ve looked at the venues in other cities, and they did, indeed, have the high bar stools as seating for the upper balcony.</p>
<p>It looks like The Tabernacle actually has reserved, assigned seating in the balconies.</p>
<p>Has anyone attended a concert there, and how comfortable is the venue? Do you really get your own seat, or do you have to stand the whole time?</p>
<p>Thanks for any info. Haven’t sprung this on my husband yet, but since he’s been working every weekend, I think I will make this short trip myself to see a favorite band.</p>
<p>Here’s the seating charts for the Tabernacle. Looks like it can either be configured as General Admission, first come first served, standing on the floor, non-reserved seats in the balconies OR as reserved seats everywhere – depending on the show.</p>
<p>So excited, in that I’ve made the decision to take the long weekend and go to Atlanta. Since I’m on my own, I was able to get an excellent seat, first row, lower balcony, assigned seat. I’d actually been to a concert, Gordon Lightfoot, at the Saengar in New Orleans, about 25 years ago, and I’m hoping the Tabernacle will be a similar venue. So glad there is reserved balcony seating!</p>
<p>Hope to spend Saturday at the Georgia Aquarium. Whale sharks!</p>
<p>And a bonus, my hotel is across the street from The Tabernacle, and the aquarium is a couple of blocks away. I may walk there, but will probably cab it in the evening, as I will be there all day, for sure, and don’t want to be walking in Atlanta after dark.</p>
<p>Sounds fun! I am looking forward to two or perhaps three concerts in the next couple weeks. I have reserved seats, but I am seriously thinking about getting general admission so I can stand at the rail!
But my dilemma is, if I drink enough coffee to do so, how long can I last?</p>
<p>Great point, too! I always think about bathroom availability, especially for the festivals that frequent our city. I don’t drink coffee, but will be hitting the Diet Dr. Pepper to stay awake!</p>
<p>Just to update on my weekend. I saw Third Eye Blind at The Tabernacle, with opening act Hydra Melody. Awesome venue! I was so close to the stage, and so comfortable. This fat old lady was dancing and singing and having such a great time! I was able to walk to The Tabernacle from my hotel, The Glenn Autograph, a great hotel. I am so glad I did my research and got great tips from you guys about the best venue for an out of town concert. In fact, I will keep an eye out for The Tabernacle’s concert list, as it was really a great venue, and I’ve found a great place to stay. If any of your favorite groups tours there and you have to travel to see them, I would highly recommend this venue!</p>
<p>Edited to add: Balcony seating was seats, like in a movie theater. Very comfortable. I was on the first row, an end seat. Luckily, my neighbor’s date didn’t show, and I was able to move over one seat, as I really didn’t want to be on the end. I did stand and dance most of the show, but I was able to sit when needed, and also wanted to sit for the benefit of the nice little girl behind me. I was more able to dance being in the balcony, as the floor was jampacked. Concert was sold out. Great crowd, nice people. Lots of couples from out of town traveled to see the show. Reminded me a lot of when we traveled to Memphis to see the Foo Fighters and met people from all over the country. I think this is a great place for not just old folks, but youngsters, too, to enjoy a concert, as you really get up close and personal with the band. Felt like I was at a concert in college with an up and coming band, not someone internationally famous. Will keep an eye open for upcoming acts and be sure to catch Third Eye Blind AND Hydra Melody next time they tour.</p>
<p>Heart is playing at the Hard Rock Casino in husband’s hometown. We went over there to hear a local group play the Center Bar and found out about the concert too late, only general admission standing available at this point. </p>
<p>I need to get some kind of app or email notification of when groups are coming. I got an email that alerted me to Third Eye Blind coming to New Orleans, and from there, I found out about the other shows.</p>
<p>How does one find out what groups are touring when? There are literally thousands of bands out there. There must be someplace to easily find out this information.</p>
<p>Ticketmaster has a thing where you can get notifications, so does Live Nation and a whole load of other apps.
But my facebook friends and I closely follow PJ so we know what they are doing all the time.
It helps that they mostly live in Seattle too.
We try & get tickets through the fan club, it is one of the few ways you can get tickets on the floor and its nice to know you have tickets without going through Ticketmaster.</p>
<p>Thanks, I will check those apps. A CC parent friend got tickets early for The Killers, great seats, through the fan club. It is a concert my son would have loved to go to. I was tempted to fly him to Minnesota to catch them this summer, as the closer venues sold out right away. </p>
<p>That’s a great thing y’all are doing with the charities. My aunt lived in Olympia, and she loved the Mariners, particularly, Jamie Moyer, because they were always giving back to the community.</p>
<p>I am really hoping my son will go to grad school in a place with not only good employment opportunities, but also one with a vibrant music scene that he can enjoy while he’s still young and unencumbered.</p>
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