Excellent venue for live music. Acoustics in this place are amazing! If a band you like is playing there don’t doubt going!
It’s a small venue but for some odd reason they had restricted access to the balcony on the night we were here for a concert! I asked one of the staff and was told that the event is booked as a private event and that’s why they had closed odd the balcony seating. The sound quality is the music was also lacking. Add to the issues is the very shady area of the City with homeless tents near by which leaves makes one extremely sad.
Not the best sound system but not the worst either. The staff is always been friendly and they have a decent beer selection2022 Update - I stand by my previous post of the sound system is average. Ill add that the beer prices are reasonable for the city and that was surprising. The bathrooms are super clean. And the staff is still very friendly
The areas a Lil rough, but the venue is gorgeous. Sounds amazing inside. Staff was cool, beer was cold, they let you smoke outside. Overall I loved this place.
Great little spot for music. Excellent accoustics. Been to many shows here and I always had a great time. Small enough to feel intimate large enough to not be. I highly recomend you check it out if you love live music.
Took my son to a show here, and made sure to ask for ADA access ahead of time as the website advised. While theres no permanent area for ADA seating, we were given a few options and ended up with a great spot to watch the show from. The venue staff was great on 6/11/23, from the folks at the doors to security at the stage and everyone in between. The show itself was fantastic!
Music sounds great here! Not too big, the standing room is all wood— a perfect dance floor to shake out all your best moves. Bars upstairs and downstairs. Trombone players who perform here are reallllyyyy good. Bathrooms upstairs past the bar. Good vibe here lots of cherubs in the molding. Will be back! See you there!
Small, intimate venue that has a great interior design and plenty of space to dance with your special someone. Makes you feel like youre in the Old West. Theres a parking garage nearby. Be warned: if sitting to the side, a pillar will obstruct part of the stage. Nevertheless, Im interested in returning to this venue.
Came to see Bay Area Interthrashional band play and had a blast. Sound was good and loud. Beer was not typical beer it was the fancy stuff. Kidding , we tried the kolsch and the farmers light. Not my type of beer Im more of a lager guy but my travel companion liked the farmers. Had balcony too. Outside has a few people hanging around. Some homeless but they didnt bother me. Not far from a few hotels and delicious food places. Would for sure go back to see another show.
This was my first time there, upstairs seating is limited, there is some seating on the floor next to the wall. Good acoustics. We were there to see Michael Schenker and other bands. Someone said they remodeled the restrooms, gotta watch your step going in/out. The architecture is beautiful, no one has that kind of skill anymore.
Since 2010 the wife and I have attended the Hipsmas (The Mother Hips) Holiday show at Great American Music Hall. Its a beautiful historic building and a great music venue. Great sound, great lighting and a nice full bar to keep your whistle wet. Go see a show there. Youll definitely enjoy it. We will for sure be back!
We all came together on this night to honor, remember, and say goodbye to an amazing man. Freddie Herrera AKA Keystone Freddie. The venue was beautiful the staff was kind and attentive. I was in awe of the amazing details and the ornate carvings. Everything was beautiful fit for the King and Queen Sandi and Freddie are and will always be. We were are there where the music was that where I will always look for you 🎵🎶💜
This is a good venue -- didnt like the show at all but that isnt pertinent here. For general seating arrive early they oversell and you could be stuck uncomfortably in the margins with no view. This again is not relevant if the event is a concert with a dancefloor, this is probably great for that, but I have only ever seen comedy here
So much history, love this place. Its been around since the early 1900s and has hosted countless gigs of legendary musicians, burlesque dancing, jazz music, folk and rock and etc. The gig sounded great, the venue staff were all so friendly. We were harassed by the local crackheads outside the venue too, everything we expected, simply beautiful.
First time attending here earlier this week for the Possessed/Nunslaughter show. Quite a bit smaller than other venues Ive been to around the bay. Probably most comparable to the DNA Lounge. Very accessible with plenty of street parking and food options nearby. Performances sounded and looked great. Stage is also much lower than Im used to. Security hastily handled anybody surfing over the barricades. Merch tables were off to the side, limited seating was available upstairs. Had an excellent time here and would gladly come back.
Loved the beauty and attention to details of the architecture of the inside of the theater. But the sound quality throughout is poor. Both in the audio system and the way sound travels through the physical structure.Overall, a great venue for an event and beautiful vintage interior.
Dunno if the band (TR/ST) brought their own sound engineer or if it was the house sound person, but the music was well balanced and eqed so well, we didnt need earplugs for nearly the entire evening! For both the bands playing live and the DJ sets, which is highly unusual. Most venues have your ears ringing if you dont use hearing protection, we were able to converse without even needing to raise our voices. Amazing. Not to mention, the venue is beautiful!
I love this venue. Funky, fun, and always an interesting evening when I attend an event here. Table service can be slow, youre usually better off walking over to the bar.A great old venue that still serves up good entertainment.
The place is beautiful on the inside. Youd never know from the outside. Staff was nice enough, just doing their job. There are no quarums there. The only thing I didnt like was that the wooden steps were so loud even without heels on. It feels like everyone can hear every movement you make.
Theres just something really special about this old, intimate space for concerts. The ornate walls are dripping with character, and the views and vantage points are great, whether youre on the floor or in the balcony upstairs. Standing in this grand old room, one can totally understand how the vibe inspired the brilliance of the Grateful Deads One From the Vault.
This is an amazing venue for several reasons. First of all the sound has real strong potential given the physical layout of the space. At the north star boys concert the base was too loud for healthy human ears. But I don’t think all of their concerts are that way. The bar is really cozy and the architecture is super impressive. The entry process is easy. I have a feeling that they host a lot of 18 and over events. Limiting one drink per customer is a little bit challenging.
Quite small and intimate. There’s the AMC parking garage less and half a mile away and if you get your parking ticket validated @ the venue then it’s 50% off to park. The wait staff is very attentive and there’s plenty of seating on the first floor even though I didn’t buy any food or drink at the venue. Bathrooms upstairs are kept clean and the architecture is impressive. Will definitely be coming back.
Love this place soMuch seeping good vibes with an incredible history!
Amazing room! Everything from psychedelic rock to death metal to folk will sound incredible within this space. If a band you like is playing here ya better see them, if you don’t you’ll regret it.
This is one of the coolest little clubs Ive ever been to sound is great. Its small. Every seat there is great. The food is great. The alcohol is cheap. Definitely recommend going to The Great American music Hall
Up there with the Fillmore, this place is one of my favorite venues. Theres old red velvet and gaudily ornate plaster trim, with a waist high stage and a small standing room dance floor, which gives a majestic yet intimate vibe to a place where you can feel the weight of rock and roll history, in all its leather panted and battered guitar string snapping glory. Impressively good food, with downstairs and upstairs bars, beers on tap, and tables both on and under the side balconies. You can wander up and look down over the spectacle, or sidle your way down out into the middle of it, and possibly even trade a fistbump with your favorite artist. I love the GAMH. And street parking within a few blocks is even pretty decent on weeknights.
One of the best rooms for music on this planet. Staffed, managed, and operated by decorated industry professionals who refuse to let you down. Plenty of groovy ancient spirits haunting pleasantly. Treat yourself! Youll always remember your first time.
Easily the worst music venue in SF. This place just needs to roll over and die. Horrible, trashy, dirty neighborhood, and the venue isnt much better. The acoustics and audio was atrocious, I couldnt even stay the entire show. What a shame and disgrace to artists performing there. Ill never be back to this venue, ever. Do NOT attend a music concert here..you will regret it.
Came here to see one of my favorite bands, Male Tears. Nice, clean 2 level venue. Appreciate that they have bar and restrooms both upstairs and downstairs. Good sound and lighting systems
Fantastic venue! Space was awesome for the band we saw. Acoustics and room dynamics were excellent. Super staff, friendly and professional. Neighborhood is run-down and its hard to find sit-down food nearby but I highly recommend the Turkish place.
Dave, Arthur, and Monica are some of the nicest and most professional people at any music venue in SF. If youve never been to the historical Great American Music Hall you need to go!
Great venue. We saw pub choir and the place was rocking. Bar and restrooms upstairs were much less busy and for the main bar downstairs go to the extra stations on the left to avoid lines.
Decent little venue, parking garage on the diagonal corner and they validate. Decent bar, non-alcoholic drinks are $5. And there are 2 bars one for each floor so the lines stay short. Good food in the area to pre fill on. The volume was a bit high making it hard to really make out the music at times but I dont think thats consistent.
Awesome venue! Staff very friendly. Security team outstanding. We witnessed the security team handle situations calmly, appropriately, and professionally. Shout out to Corey! He was good at getting his job done and handling situations remarkably. Personable staff, fantastic and safe atmosphere!
We saw Naika, last night.The building is a must to see.The sound was up too high and it overpowered the singer most of the times unfortunately.The staff was very nice and the tickets were inexpensive.The parking across the street was partly refunded also.
Excellent venue, fantastic staff, great place to go see live music
Small venue with a great vibe. Safeish enough location in TL. Two bars. The balcony area has very limited capacity, but tables to sit and enjoy. Excited to come back here for another concert!
We generally love more intimate shows at the Independent or Palace of Fine Arts, but at Great American, we couldnt see anything from the second row or further back in either the ground floor or balcony. Not sure if it was the show being double-booked (the original concert was postponed from 2020), or the stage being so low to the ground, but we struggled to have any view of the lead performer. After an hour of frustration we gave up and left early, determined to never go here again.
This is a classic styled theater, a real piece of art. They dont build them like this any more.Great venue, good acoustics, with a wide genre of excellent musicians.
Always a great atmosphere, the staff was super kind and helpful today tha k you very much.
Symphony orchestra concert is so advanced, esoterical and beneficial to children, toddlers and infants... Start
Great venue! More toilet stalls would be nice though. Almost pooped my pants.
Awesome venue, thankful for ADA tables which can be reserved. Wait staff to take drink orders was nice! Saw a lady getting real angry over something that sounded petty. Sorry the house staff has to deal with rude concert goers - hope they dont kill your vibe!
What a gorgeous venue! Absolutely beautiful decoration and detailing. Everyone on the staff is so much friendlier than at other music venues Ive been to. The space wasnt too crowded, although my feet were sticking to the floor where I was standing. I felt very secure at this venue as well.
Great venue, really cool and historic. Good acoustics, the band I saw here sounded amazing. Reasonably priced drinks, and convenient restrooms, whats not to love? I cant wait to see more acts here.
Beautiful historical venue in the city, small and cozy. The band we saw sounded amazing and as long as you were tall enough you could see the whole stage from anywhere in the hall. Worth it!
Beautiful classic of one of the smaller venues in our city. Enjoy the interior architecture while you wait for an awesome concert experience
Saw Brujería tonight. The opener (Piñata Protest) was amazing, the beers on tap good, but the sound was a little off. Couldve used some more balancing.
This is my favorite music venue hands down! The floor level boasts open area to dance and get up close and the second level, opera style, is the best view with area to have a private moment. Get this, besides full bars on both floors, you can order great food! I mean this has everything and if I could choose I would want all my favorite bands to play there! You’ve got to try it!
Enjambre Rocks SF!The Great American Music Hall in San Francisco was the perfect venue for Enjambres electrifying performance. This historic venue provided a stunning backdrop for the Mexican rock bands unforgettable night of music, elevating the concert experience to new heights.As Enjambre took the stage, the grandeur of the hall was on full display, with ornate chandeliers and a beautifully crafted stage setting the tone for the nights festivities. The bands energy filled the space, as the crowd eagerly awaited their first notes.Throughout the concert, the halls acoustics provided a pristine soundscape, allowing each note and lyric to resonate with clarity and precision. Enjambres powerful vocals and dynamic instrumentation were perfectly complemented by the venues impeccable sound system, creating a truly immersive experience for the audience.The halls spacious layout also gave fans ample room to dance and move to the music, making the concert feel like a true celebration. Enjambres ability to connect with the audience was heightened by the venues intimate atmosphere, with lead singer Luis Navejas frequently engaging with fans and creating a sense of community that permeated throughout the entire night.Overall, Enjambres performance at the Great American Music Hall was a truly special experience that was enhanced by the venues stunning architecture and top-notch amenities. The halls rich history and commitment to showcasing live music made it the perfect setting for a night of rock and roll that will be remembered for years to come.
Beautiful historical amazing. This is the best place to see a show in SF. The fire lane thing inside the venue is a little weird. Like dont stand here so you can walk here or whatever.
One of the best venues in the Bay Area and beyond. Not a bad view in the house really. Most shows are standing room downstairs with a few tables upstairs and around the edges. Many shows have 20 or so dinner tickets that get you in past the line and upstairs to a reserved area with a balcony overlooking the stage. Dinner is prix fixe and has several tasty options but limited info on dietary restrictions or substitutions. Sound is excellent, staff is omnipresent and friendly! One of my personal favorites!
Beautiful inside and great place to see your favorite bands. Bars and they serve food.
A beautiful venue that showcases handcrafted, intricate wood work on the ceiling. The sound system is also incredible. Ive been to this venue under very different circumstances, including a wedding and no matter what it is, your ears will love it. Staff is nice and usually wanting to help you, it also depends on the type of event.
One of the best venues in California. I saw Sleep play three New Years Dates and it was an amazing experience. The staff is intelligent and helpful. The acoustics are good. The food is amazing. The venue itself is beautiful. There are many great places to watch the bands (upstairs and to the sides and ga). Again , the staff is wonderful.
Beautiful building. Went to an intimate concert. It was amazing. Nice snack and drink options as well.
When I think of older music halls, I want to walk in and see the type of decor that they have here. It has an old western saloon, baroque feel to it! The lower floor is open with a sizable area for a dance floor or more tables for dining. They do serve food here but I did not try anything from their menu. The drinks were not overly expensive but they were a little more than most places. The acoustics in this place are amazing! They had the balcony area closed while I was there but I was able to use the restroom upstairs and the view was pretty awesome!I would definitely come back here to watch another performance.
Beautiful venue. Sound system is perfect for the space. Pristine audio.
One of the few remaining great small music venues in SF. Beautiful old theater setting, excellent sound system, good floor setup with balconies upstairs for a better view, and great staff!
Phenomenal staff! They were super helpful, kind, and did their jobs well! They even gave out free waterbottles in the middle of the show! 5 stars!
We saw Bad Cop/Bad Cop, Good Riddance and Hotwatwr Music on Saturday. The venue is great! Sound was good. And the staff was amazing. Security passed put water to those who wanted it. And the customer service agent at the box office was amazingly helpful!
Had a great time at the Bouncing Souls!!! Ive hungout at some legendary venues but GAMH wins bc of a bottle of water. Never have I seen a venue start handing out free bottles of water to keep ppl hydrated and cool. I am so impressed by this simple act of caring for their patrons. The venue has great lights and sound too! There were no noticable tech issues and the bands came on and off the stage quickly and fluidly. Security was there keeping the crowd safe without ruining our fun!!! Thats a tough line to walk at a punk show but they did a great job!!
Went to see a show with my sister, a band she liked. The sound and atmosphere was good. Staff sucked, bartender upstairs was rude/diva. Waiter was just talking to all the girls as if he was working there to serve just the girls. Once we went down stairs you felt a better energy. Nice place to have an intimate venue.
Still a great place to attend live concerts! Staff is chill, drink selection is varied (if a tad pricey), and the architecture ornate and historical. GAMH (and the dearly departed Slims snif!) books an excellent mix of quality performers. Biggest issue is finding reasonable parking nearby, which is certainly not unique to GAMH!
Very small intimate venue, just how I like it. The show we seen was not sold out, so there was plenty of room to wiggle and move and we were able to find street parking a couple blocks away.
This is an spot that Prince and many other performers would be at. The building it self is a sight. The detailing inside is so fantastic. Its has that old vintage crown moldings with Angels Roses in gold and red. There a balcony that goes around there are velvet curtains. Very nice place Drinks are well prepared the food is good too.
If you are looking for a fun slash chill slash energizing night this is the spot! Lots of awesome acts come here and the music hall is one of the most beautiful Ive ever seen. They also serve food! If you purchase the dinner you can watch the show from above which is always fun. Its even better to be part of the crowd on the ground and get super close to the action.
Went here for the Saint Motel concert, and had a great time! Considering the size of the venue, the sound quality is amazing and doesnt blow out your eardrums. The VIP seats upstairs look really cool...will check them out next time.
Wonderful venue & very nice that theres a balcony open to everyone. My friend rolled his ankle there and they were super nice and accommodating. Plan on going to more shows here :)
Decent venue but far from the best. The placement of the bar upstairs is strange and inefficient as people can barely walk around the line. Downstairs is better but gets to crowded during a show. Decent place overall but if I had to pick there are plenty of other places I would choose before that specific venue.
My favorite venue to see music in all of San Francisco, the great American music hall reminds me of an old time venue, where cowboys would see big city shows. It also reminds me of the Muppet theater. Its a nice little venue with a lot of history and an intimate place to see your favorite bands. Food is nothing special, but youll want to get there early and order some if you want to claim a seat for the show.
This is a fun venue. Bathrooms upstairs and downstairs (though the ones downstairs are a one holer but if you have problems with stairs they will do). There are a couple of parking lots pretty close and lots of street parking nearby.They do a pretty good dinner if you get dinner seats and for sit down shows, not a bad view. Its a nice venue that hosts a variety of interesting acts.
Great venue.. it’s in the Tenderloin, so there is that (Just be a little careful at night and be careful where you step when walking.. so many used needles, everywhere). It’s two stories and can be a little cozy. I’ve watched the March Fourth band here twice and each time had a blast. There are two bars one in each floor.. price is expected, a little pricey for drinks.
I saw Sunn O))) and they were incredible. Its a dance floor, so you have to stand, but at least theres no assigned seating. Employees were friendly and helpful.
I love these small venues for music. You can actually see the band! This historic place has really cool deco from what back when. I like that they h have tables and chairs to order drinks and food. Theres a 20 min to use your credit card here. Service is great but once the bands starts it will be impossible to flag anyone down. You can go to the bar in the back to get drinks also. Ill be sure to keep up with any future shows they have here and try to score seats at the upper level.
Visited on a Thursday night with my wife to see Rhett Miller. Tickets were purchased in advance - tickets on phone - so getting through the line was a breeze. The facade of the building does not do the interior justice...this space is beautiful. Given the location, deep in the strip club section of the SF Tenderloin neighborhood, I have not made it to this venue recently but am happy to see that it is attracting large crowds of people out on a Thursday night. The line at the bar was a breeze and space is still great to catch live music.
Great music venue that’s not super intimate, but nearly as overwhelming as some of the other music spots in the city. This is typically the venue artists transition to before heading to the Bill Graham’s or Warfields, so the lineups are always strong. Also, for the architecture fans, the interior designs are pretty dope.
Saw the meinzingers and they killed it. The drink prices werent bad only down fall is the bathrooms are small you can check your coat up stairs. For sure going to come back. Traveled from Reno NV.
Saw an all ages show here with my 16Year old daughters. The building is old and gorgeous with decorative ceilings and gilded mirrors. Lots of seating both upstairs and downstairs and some great views of the stage. They have a nice menu - unfortunately we had already eaten so we didnt order any main food items. We did order a yummy brownie sundae and I had a good cocktail. The only thing we complained about was the uncomfortable chairs ...but most people were up dancing anyway. Id love to see another show here!
GAMH is one of my favorite venues in the city. The staff is always friendly, reasonable prices on drinks, and they always have amazing acts on the calendar. The venue itself is really cool looking inside, there are some tables to eat some food before the show, and the food is quite good! Killer sound system as well.Last night at Thee Oh Sees the staff even passed out water bottles to the very thirsty folks in the front of the crowd. Thank you so much for that!!
I came here last week to see a concert and left early because someone was physically pulled out of one bathroom line and put into another one by an employee. It is completely unacceptable to put your hands on a patron, especially while they are in line for the bathroom. We spoke to the manager and he defended his employee’s actions. He also told us we would be getting an email back on how the incident was happened and we have not heard back. This is not a trans safe environment and I wholeheartedly recommend not coming here.
Really like this venue for small concerts. Its nice and intimate. Though seating is limited, there are no bad seats. You can also enjoy cocktails, craft beer and dinner. All-in-all, I had a good experience and look forward to returning.
The staff was super helpful with us with my wife in her wheelchair. Call ahead if you are disabled and they really accommodate you! Plus the venue is really pretty. The sound system was great also, even where we were, off to the side of the general admission area.
Love the feel of this place! Upstairs is really nice, just be careful on the stairs. We enjoyed watching the show from the tables by the bar. Great view!While at the tables we decided to order some food and drinks. Everything was reasonably priced. The coffee was pretty good.We were super excited to try their falafel bites and fried pickle chips. The falafel bites were delicious, but the pickle chips were WAY too salty. We actually couldnt even eat the pickle chips, which was very disappointing.Overall it was a fun spot and wed definitely go again.
Great performance and music of JB Presents. Singers and dancers put on an excellent show. It was hard to get table service, but was eventually able to order food and beverage. Limited menu of sandwiches with fries including some vegetarian options. Food quality was acceptable but you are really there for the show.
Great venue. Good sound, good drinks, good people. Always like coming to shows here.
Probably my favorite live music venue in SF. Its a beautiful physical space, the sound is solid without blowing your ear drums, and its the perfect size so theres no bad angles or bad places to stand. Also, the bar is in the back which is convenient for refills. Just beware: if they close off upstairs to GA, the bathroom line downstairs can get crazy.
Intimate venue, close-up contact with artiats. Beautiful example of master craftsmen building which is still well kept. Friendly staff, parking garages close by. All around memorable experience. Ill be back!
Saw a great show with Sprain, Midwife, and Have A Nice Life - still not a bad seat in the house, and amazing acoustics!
Best venue for gigs in the Tenderloin. The interior is deadly, staff is chill and vibes are generally rad.
Gorgeous historic venue, good bar, table service, close parking garages. Stage is high enough so you can see the performer even if sitting down, at the back. Only negative is just 2 bathrooms.
Staff is awesomeJames at the door is a fundamentally great dude
The venue was beautiful but its being ruined. The bathrooms were discussing- toilet paper soaked in pee on the floors. We asked an employee to call for it to be cleaned. He walked in and said there is toilet paper not sure what you want we spent around $150 on tickets, dinner and drinks and st very least expect a possible bathroom. The dinner was bad as well. Overcooked fish and drys that taste like someone put sugar on them. The sound was good as were the cocktail waitresses. Id rather not go back. Its sad because the building is really lovely.
Pretty good spot, have seen like 10 shows here over the decades. Sound is ok, they get good acts. Dont bother buying drinks, just smuggle in a flask. No ins and outs. The best place to actually see is the balconies.
Ive only seen one show here, but the bones are incredible. Acoustically one of the best tuned music halls in San Francisco. Iconic. balcony space is very enjoyable, and you can get a little bite to eat if you order early.
Still one of the best Venues Bigger N Smaller Bands love to play. Its big Enough to pack the House ,But the Stage N how everything is set up ,It still allows a much more intimate performance, Punk Bands playing...(I.E. microphones in face of crowd, audience singing along)pit swirling Behind..
Been meaning to come here for months, and Im glad I finally did. The interior of the venue is gorgeous with lots of cool molding and detail work. Its also one of the better-priced medium-sized venues in town (you can generally get tix for under $30). The sound is good and they book solid acts. Its in the Tenderloin, so jusy be prepared for some grunginess.
Very nice old music venue with superb sound, high tin ceilings, and wooden appointments abound. See cool bands here over and over. Tip your bartender also.
Great venue. Lovely inside. Can get nice and close to the band. If you can grab a table you can get table service for drinks and snacks. Toilets are a bit thin on the ground. Only 1 mens toilet that I could find and it only served 1 due at a time! Only other bad thing is the location. Its in the Tenderloin, very iffy to go walking around after a gig, drunk. Get a cab.
It was great! Is one best places to see bands perform; great sound and a beautiful Victorian era ornate building.My and I had tickets that included dinner before the show, and the food great to boot!
Cool old venue, is nicely appointed from what looks like around the turn of the century. Much more character than a lot of venues these days. Has good seating on the second floor with good views of the stage.
Interesting place... Drinks were all right but the carvings were so fantastic!! It was kind of awkward and hard to see with everyone standing, but other then that I would come again :).
Cool spot food was pretty good aside from my husband finding paper in his vegetables. Oliver tree was awesome. Architecture of building is amazing. Seats upstairs and dinner were so awesome. Would recommend.
Ive experienced some of the best concerts in my life here. The venue is an old restored dancehall with fantastic acoustics, and being such a small place means you can get really close to the artists.
Went to watch a concert and got a dinner reservation. It was an awesome experience and even came with great food choices. The atmosphere was unbelievable, everyone was very excited and into it. Definitely one of the best enclosed places where concerts are held.
Another classic music venue in SF. Great layout with spots available above to watch performances as well as a few different spots to order beverages. The bathroom area/ coat check can be a bit of a disaster... it can also be a little bit difficult to find spots close by to eat or drink before/ after.. unless you want to do so at a strip club.. then your options are seemingly endless!
Probably my favorite venue in SF. Intimate, great sound, great space, nice staff
The Great American Music Hall is a legendary venue that has played host to some of the best shows of the last 20+ years. The staff rule and the sound is reallly good. In terms of ambiance, you really cant do much better as its rumored to have once been an Opera House.
Located at the edge of the edgy Tenderloin district, this iconic venue hosts some of the best acts for a venue of its size in the Bay Area. Booked by the same folks who manage Slims, they know how to get whats popular to the people. Ive seen some phenomenal shows over the years here, never disappointed. Excellent sound and lights, top notch service, excellent eats and nice variety of drinks, the best of it all! The decorative frescos, columns and balcony create a vibe that is unparalleled in the city.
My friend, Quinn, performed here recently and I cant believe Ive never been before. Its an intimate and beautiful venue that made you feel like you were in San Francisco circa the 1900s. I liked that there were tables on the sides and the dance floor in the center so that you could give your legs a rest after dancing. Parking was easy in an alley (I didnt feel too unsafe) and the staff were efficient and professional.
I attended a private gathering here. It had great atmosphere and acoustics.
Wonderful venue with great music and beautiful architecture. However, I find their $20 purchase minimum at the bar discriminatory towards those of us who dont drink. I was unable to buy a $4 bottle of water because to reach the minimum I would have had to buy 5 bottles! I dont drink alcohol, and cant possibly drink five bottles of water throughout one show, so was left thirsty and with a headache. Last time we were there I had major food poisoning and ended up leaving the show early, so buying food to get water was also not an option. So all in all, a great venue, but sadly not non-drinker friendly :(
The word that comes to mind when I think of this venue is... Ornate. The dual levels give an opera house feeling, the intricate decor complete with complex wood.carvings and beautifuly engraved metal plates give a very unique, turn of the century vibe. The sound system is good and stage visibility is also good, overall I say that if there is an artist playing here that you like dont hesitate to go see them. One downside is the downstairs bathroom are single use only.
Always a great place to see a show. Lots of room, good vibes, professional staff and a positive crowd every show Ive had the pleasure of attending here, from the early 1990s through tomorrow (fingers crossed). One of my favorite clubs in the Bay Area.
I chaperoned a high school prom this past month and it was such a pleasure and the staff were great. This venue was so nice and clean.
A fabulous intimate venue with the ghosts of all the former artists who have lent their spirit to allow a memorable experience while being in the hands of a comforting staff.We were here for Leonoid and Friends, a group from the Ukraine that offers an incredible performance of songs from the Chicago songbook with all professional nuances of the band itself. In fact, Chicago even recruited a Peter Cetera sound alike for Leonoid and Friends.Dinner came with the show and was handled in admirable fashion, as well as the drinks from the bar. We loved this place and I cant wait to see another show here. It is just so beautiful inside and is filled with so much history. The amenities are not lacking either, completely up to date.
Been here twice. The venue itself is super nice, small and intimate. Youre able to get in real close to the performers. Staff is rude as hell tho -2 stars. Thought so both times I went.
Went to see lion babe here with a friend! when my friend was overheated and dehydrated from being in the crowd, the staff was easygoing, kind, and accommodating; they brought her outdoors and provided her with a seat and cold water immediately. lovely and intimate venue, great crowd, and amazing staff!
Saw Joshua Radin, Ben Kweller, William Fitzsimmons and Jamie Drake here on Monday, Feb 24. Sit down show and an intimate unplugged vibe. Gorgeous interior decor and fine handcrafted detail... Seen a few other shows here as well, including post-rock outfit Caspian. A couple of acoustic resonance issues, but a really great venue overall.
Decent venue with balcony and floor seating. Sound is not the best in comparison with a few other venues around town. Line to get in the door but moved v fast.
The venue itself was very nice and it seems like they get a good lineup of artists coming through there so I cant rightfully say that I hated it, but the staff there was incredibly rude to my friend and I so I will not be going back. As someone who sees lots of shows throughout the Bay Area, Im happy to do business with many of our venues, but this will not be one of them.
Ive seen a few folks shows here and love the atmosphere. The building itself is beautiful and adds a lot to the performances on stage. Ive never had the food but the drinks and bar service are always great.
Balcony area has partial view of stage but good sound. Dinner was decent. Venue capacity is less than 500. Place has intricate wood work on walls, columns and ceiling.
Ive been coming here for 47 years, as long as Ive lived in San Francisco. We even briefly considered having our wedding here but it was more than we could afford. Ive seen some great shows here, from Ry Cooder to Princess, Maya Rudolphs Prince cover band. Small venues are so much better for live music than a stadium, and GAMH delivers.
Living in the Bay Area I have become spoiled with all the great venues to see live music, honestly we have so many to choose from. Last night I was stoked to see Quicksand at Great American Music Hall. This was only my second trip to this venue, both times very different experiences, but enjoyable.Waited in line a short time, both guys outside, super friendly, made sure folks were in the right lines, had tickets and IDs out and ready to go... And the doors open. The guy scanning tickets, and the one checking IDs, both nice, in a good mood, happy to be there. ( This is important to me, as a guest. The first point of entry sets the tone IMO)We get inside, if youve not been here...check it out. Its beautiful, vintage, everything about this venue is welcoming. Floor or standing room, also upstairs seating. Theres great view points from pretty much anywhere you are here. GAMH offers two types of tickets, one for the show and the other is a combo show/dinner. We were one of the first few there so we had a chance to hang out a bit before the crowd really packed in. They offer coat-check, though I do not recall the cost. Two bars, one upstairs, one downstairs.Bar staff was friendly, beers are average price, $8.00. ($20.00 for credit card). There was a gal that came around to take drink orders, but if you had a bar tab open, you could not combine the two. She was separate, and needed cash or another credit card.The first band, No Joy, I had never heard of so it was a nice surprise to hear their music, however, I dont know if it was due to where I was standing (front center stage) it was impossible to hear the singer at all. One song I briefly heard bits of her singing, but very low. Perhaps it was a technical problem. Once Quicksand came on, there was no issue. They were amazing! Everyone had a great time, the place was packed, and no surprise...today I see it was a sold out show. Congrats!
The venue is packed with so much rich history, of course it deserves a five star. But this 5 star is for the sound crew, I forgot my buds and still had a pleasant listening experience for all of Jay Som. It was cathedral-like noise, just right.
Went for Sunday show. Cool old venue in kind of a depressed area. Going to a show with many children and young adults performing two doors down from strip club was odd. Also, what kind of bar doesnt have bloody Marys on sunday???
A great time was had, as usual, at the historic Great American Music Hall! Every time one of my favorite bands plays at the GAMH, I buy tickets immediately, because the employees are friendly, the hall is beautiful and well maintained, the drinks are good, and the food is excellent.
Beautiful venue with good bands. Could stand to have a few more bathrooms, but the sound, lights, and security were all at the top of their game for the night. Drinks werent poorly priced either!