House of Blues, Anaheim

This is by far and away my favorite place to see a show. The sound is great. The lighting is great. The bars are well stocked. The staff is generally friendly and don't bother you as long as you're not punching the guy next to you. The lineups are also well-picked with good opening acts that fit in the same genre as the headliners. I can honestly say I haven't seen anybody totally horrible there yet and have never had the urge to walk out. My one major gripe with the place is they don't let you inside until one hour before show time. That means you end up standing in line outside until they open the doors. The only other drawback is that all the shows are standing room only unless you're handicapped or get a seat in the balcony. Sold out shows are very crowded and hot, so dress accordingly. The view is good from the front ... the sound isn't. I've found that halfway back the sound's a lot better. Of course that's where all the moshing goes on if you're at a show with a high probability of that happening.  To avoid the moshing while seeing the show, stand by one of the rails by the bar. You'll be elevated, so the sound and views are great, and you're on the other side of the railing from the pit. Drinks are moderately priced and you can order overpriced food from the bar if you're really that hungry. A better deal is to eat at the restaurant before the show which will usually also get you an earlier entrance inside. That isn't always the case, so check and make sure beforehand. Make sure you bring your ID. Also, bring your parking ticket as they will validate it for you after the show for three hours worth of parking. They will tag you on the way out if you've been in the area for more than three hours. Don't bring your camera, drinks, food, or spiked jewelry (unless it's hidden .. and they do use metal detectors) ... they'll take them all off of you. They will store items for you out front for a nominal fee in case you forget. Finally, if you don't like it loud, bring earplugs.

Latest news after seeing what feels like well over one hundred shows here: The place still rocks, the acts have gotten better and there's more of them. It is rare now that this place is not busy ... really rare. And the staff is still great as long as you're not being a dick. They don't break up the pit like they used to in the early days, so be forewarned if you venture on the floor. Unless you hit the floor or go surfing they're not coming for you. You will generally get one warning here before they kick you out the door. So if you're gonna go surfing, do it once and enjoy the rest of the show. Don't mess with alcohol or kiddies either. I've seen way too many people get kicked out for either letting a kid take a drink, buying them one, or some other stupid ass thing. They watch you like a hawk ... especially if they're at all suspicious about your age or intentions. You've been warned. 

The Latest in '05 ...
They got rid of Absolut vodka and replaced it with Skyy. Poor choice, the bastards. There are also fewer barkeeps tending bar these days so be prepared for a long wait at some shows. I guess nothing is like it was in the good old days eh? For their part the 'keeps still are some of the best around.

And in '06 ...
They brought some of the Absolut back, but not the Mandrin, unfortunately. Skyy is god-awful. The quality of the shows has also picked up somewhat after a long hiatus from the wilder younger-set shows. Some of my favorite barkeeps and security blokes are still around, but sadly most of the originals have since moved on to greener pastures. As for the rest, it's all pretty much the same.

House of Blues, Anaheim
Located in Downtown Disney
714-778-BLUE

www.hob.com