There are still great venues to choose from in Pittsburgh

If someone who has lived in Pittsburgh his entire life closes his eyes, he might be able to… If someone who has lived in Pittsburgh his entire life closes his eyes, he might be able to think back to the glory days of having several concert venues at which to see incredible live shows any night of the week.

In Oakland we had Club Laga, which brought in national acts of all genres music while also supporting the local scene. In the South Side we had Nick’s Fat City, where national acts and local acts could both fill the small space and provide an intense concert experience for fans. In the Strip District we had Metropol and Rosebud, which together made up one of the best places to see a live show in the city.

The key word in all of this is that we had these places. Laga went by the wayside a year ago to be made into apartments, Nick’s closed on New Year’s Day 2005 for unknown reasons and Metropol had a face-lift about three years ago and became a dance club. Rosebud closed, reopened as The World and then closed again in December of 2004.

So, with everything closing, where in the world in Pittsburgh is there to see a live concert? Well, for acoustic acts there are places like the Quiet Storm, an intimate coffee shop in Friendship, a new hookah bar called Hkan in the South Side and the Walnut Grill in Shadyside, which features small acts every Monday night.

Venues like The Rex Theater and Club Cafe on the South Side bring in national acts but also cater to local acts, hosting both acoustic performers and full bands. The Rex Theater is a nice place to see a show, as it still has the original movie theater seats in place with tables lining the back row so people can gather between acts. Club Cafe is an intimate venue equipped with a small stage and plenty of seating for knocking back a few drinks or having a quick bite to eat. The menu is a tad pricey, though, and you might end up paying more for a drink then you did to get through the door.

For national acts, places like Mellon Arena, which is only a short bus ride away Downtown and Chevrolet Amphitheater in Station Square are places to go. Mellon Arena doesn’t have concerts all the time, but the ones they have are usually worth taking in. Performers like Green Day, Incubus and Yanni have played there in the last year. The Chevrolet Amphitheater has gone through some name changes in the past couple of years, but the outdoor covered stage is still one of the best places to see a show.

Even though it’s a bit of a hike to get to, Mr. Small’s in Millvale is one of the most interesting places to see a show in Pittsburgh. The former church holds a concert venue, a recording studio, an art gallery and a skate park. The acoustics are immaculate and the concert-going experience is phenomenal. The only problem is getting there, but if you gather a couple of your friends, you can split the $8 cab ride.

For a lot of local acts, the pickings are slim when it comes to venues, but the ones that are available can host some pretty fun shows. Places like the 31st Street Pub in the Strip District, where rock is literally written on the walls and Oakland Cafe on Atwood Street in Oakland are starting to make names for themselves as places to play on Friday and Saturday nights. Oakland Cafe has its house band, Loose Booty, playing every Wednesday. Peter’s Pub and Fuel and Fuddle, both on Oakland Avenue in Oakland, are also great places to see shows. Peter’s has bands on Fridays and Saturdays and Fuel rocks out on Tuesday nights.

Whether you dig jam bands, heavy metal, alt rock, acoustic stylings or bluegrass and country, there’s somewhere to see a band. You might have to do your research to find out where your favorite band is playing, but if they’re your favorite band, you should already know where they are playing, right?