Favorite Music Venues?

I went to my first Stern Grove concert a couple of weeks ago and WOW - what a fun experience! Music, sunshine, beer, picnics, happy people everywhere...I can't wait to go back. But that got me thinking...what are some of the other great places to hear music in the city? I went to a concert at AT&T Park last year which was nice just because it is the Ritz-Carlton of baseball stadiums, but surely there are others? Any specific recommendations?
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I haven't been to a concert in a while but the last one I went to was at the Fillmore. That is a great classic venue. Cool vintage posters in the lobby too.

I'm not a big fan of outdoor venues. I've never been to one where the acousics are really good. A few years ago I went to see a concert in San Jose (I can't even remember who it was) and I just couldn't get into it. The worst one I ever went to (and this will totally date me) was to see Depeche Mode at Dodgers Stadium--(it was awful and not just because they really weren't much of a concert band). Most indoor concert halls get it right , for the most part.
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FlowerGirl 2yrs+
The Fillmore is great, of course. The last place I went to was The Boom Boom Room. It was kinda small but so cool--I never had so much fun. I hope its still around--that was before the recession hit. The decor was really cool too--checkered floors and and a cool reddish glow. Really fun!
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StephSF 2yrs+
I know it's a little out of the way, but I just went to the Santa Cruz beach boardwalk last night, and the venue there (the name escapes me...) looks like it would be a lot of fun for a concert. Of course, the acoustics would probably be terrible since it is just a stage on the beach, but it looks fun nonetheless.

What is the Fillmore? Is it a mainstream venue or more underground/alternative?
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FlowerGirl 2yrs+
Fillmore is the theater where all those great sixties bands got their starts. It was run by that famous Bay Area promoter Bill something (his name is escaping me at the moment). He died about fifteen years ago in a pland crash. But anyway, they still book some old timers and some new bands--mostly straight rock n roll or alternative.

They used to hand out free apples to people on their way out and to give away free posters from old concerts sometimes. Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Jimy Hendrix, Janis--they all played the Fillmore just as they were breaking through. (I think the Dead played there first, just after they changed from being the Warlocks.)
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StephSF 2yrs+
Good stuff. I'll have to check it out. Is it still as cool as it used to be or has it kind of lost its edge over the years?
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I haven't been in forever, but its under new management. The guys name was Bill Graham and he did die in a plane crash in 1992ish--it was just after I moved here.

It wasn't that different than other concert halls a had been to, but the acoustics were really solid.
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FlowerGirl 2yrs+
The Warfield is a really good facility--unfortunately they never book anybody I would want to see.
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StephSF 2yrs+
Where is the Warfield? What kind of acts do they bring in?
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The Warfield is on Market Street where Taylor runs into it--right across the street from the Golden Gate Theater. I don't know if this is representative these days, but last night I heard that Adam Lambert from last season's(?) American Idol played there to a sold-out crowd. So I guess they book main stream pop-band?, I don't know.

Looking at their upcoming shows, I didn't recognize most of the names but maybe Porcupine Tree and Espinoza Paz mean something to non-middle aged foggies like me. I did recognize Weird-Al Yankovic--and Crowded House who I didn't realize made it out of the last decade (I think I remember dancing to them at my prom).

I know that in the Sixties this was a major place that booked people like Joplin and Jeffersen Airplane, but I don't know what its reputation is these days.
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I don't know how I missed this earlier--but, of course, Bimbos 365 on Columbus. It is maybe the best place to see live music in the city form mainstream acts to great indie bands like the Raconteurs or even something as relatively obscure as the Brazilian band, CSS.

Its got a great red carpeted bar and tables--a real 1920's speakeasy feel--apparently Rita Hayworth got her start here back in the day.
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Tracypie 2yrs+
I just saw Squeeze at the Fillmore. I had never been. Great venue. I have been to concerts at the Warfield too. I like the Warfield better because it has seats. Fillmore is standing room only. Ugh. I've also seen the Beasty Boys at the Bill Graham Auditorium near the Civic Center. Also a good venue, but again, standing room only.

I like the Shoreline Amphitheater for outdoor concerts, but that's in Mountain View. The weather is nicer there too.
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jenniferb14 2yrs+
The Warfield is a really good facility--unfortunately they never book anybody I would want to see.
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