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FROM ICONIC TO INNOVATIVE: REDISCOVERING 4 OF LA’S BEST MUSIC VENUES
The City of Angels plays host to many an up-coming act, bonafide twerk stars, punk kings and band geeks, bedroom beatsmiths, smooth crooners and their groupies; right next to New York City and Nashville, Los Angeles is one of the foremost central hubs for music. But what would great music be without a supporting cast? Our city’s venues play an equally important role in propagating the growth of this scene, booking and essentially curating our city’s selection of live music. We highlight some of our favorite venues and their roles in making our musically-indebted city a world class destination.
LOS GLOBOS | 3040 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Los Globos has long been on the forefront of innovation by allowing itself to be deeply immersed in evolving cultures — at one point serving as home for one of LA’s first openly gay bars and the first legal rave in the states. The two-story nightclub is open seven nights a week and has played host to a wide array of local and national electronic DJs and live bands over the years. It’s also home to LA’s favorite pan-sexual disco romp, A Club Called Rhonda. With a 2014 mission to further expand its talent repertoire to fuse local and international acts, Los Globos is a lock-in for one of our go-to venues to discover some of the best and brightest to come through Los Angeles.
Upcoming shows: Mario Basanov (1/24), Sammy Bananas (1/24), J.Phlip (1/25), John Talabot (2/14)
THE MINT LA | 6010 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90035
Though often over-looked as one of the best venues to nestle itself in LA, the Mint will say that’s precisely what it wants. Claiming themselves as one of the most unpretentious clubs in LA, the Mint has been offering the most eclectic mix of performs since its establishment in 1937, hosting everything from jazz and funk to rock and folk. Equipped with a full kitchen and rotating draft beer selection, the Mint carries a burlesque air with velvet curtains and balconies overlooking the stage that caters to the very people that built it: music lovers and enthusiasts alike.
Upcoming shows: Ray Stinnett [Light in the Attic Records] (1/18), Hot 8 Brass Band (1/24), The Annual Namm Jam with The Meters Experience (1/25)
THE ROXY THEATRE | 9009 West Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90069
With its founder’s reputation preceding its own, the Neil Young-established legendary Roxy Theatre became the very locale for classic performances from a number of classic rock stars: Bruce Springsteen, Guns N’ Roses, Miles Davis, Jane’s Addiction, Pearl Jam and so many others graced the stage of this venue, making it the nightlife and music entertainment staple it is today. While also playing host to comedy shows and performance art, the Roxy now has a “On The Rox” after-hours spot that gives guests a view overlooking the very hub of Sunset Boulevard that it sits on.
Upcoming shows: New calendar to be released soon.
THE VIPER ROOM | 8852 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90069
The Viper Room has gone through a series of transformations over the years since its inception: in the 1940s, it was a jazz bar and a gangster’s gambling den. Then it become Filthy McNasty in the 1960s, which eventually turned into a disco the following decade. But when Johnny Depp bought the club in 1993, the Viper Room made its final transformation into the music hub that it is today. Playing host to legendary performances from the likes of Tom Petty and Iggy Pop, nowadays, though the club is no longer owned by Depp, the Viper Room still plays host to local artists and DJs, often as the first in many steps to becoming a main-stage name.
