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Slovenia

My answer to this changes over time. Places are good for a while, then they change and other places are good.

Nottingham
Dayton
Cullman, Alabama
Glasgow
Chicago

Milwaukee, Chicago, Dayton in the States.

Barcelona, Paris, Marseille in the Europes.

Schubas in Chicago is still my favorite place I've played. People were great there. The room is the perfect size, and you can always hear everything on the stage. Great venue... is it still there?

Locally: Cactus Club, Milwaukee, no contest. Madison also has the High Noon Saloon, which was wonderful when Cathy owned it. Haven't played there since it was sold so I can't speak for current management.

Touring: Bloomington, IN was always our favorite city to play in, but many of the folks that made that scene killer have relocated to Louisville.

Missoula, MT was always a good time, be it a club or a house show.

We always had a good time all the way down the Northwest Coast, from Seattle to Portland to SF/Oakland.

I feel like I can't speak to current venues, though, because I haven't been on tour for more than a weekend in 10 years.

This might date me but X-Ray Cafe.

A few that spring to mind, in no particular order.

The Theckla, Bristol UK
It's a gig in the belly of a boat, awesome.

Red Rocks, CO
I've never played here, only tech'd a bunch of shows but pretty amazing. Most of the backstage is underground carved into the rockface, cool tunnel out to front of house position.

Harstad Kulturhus, Norway
For the views.
Riverside Theatre, Milwaukee
5 star chef, arcade games, vinyl collection, cute barista girls, cool old style elevator. I could live here and the Pabst theatre with their comfy couches. If all green rooms were like this I'd never leave the road.



Austin City Limits, Texas
Again only tech'd but it's got all the comforts and great crew.

Radio City Music Hall, NY
It's a long ass day with union crew so you can't touch anything on load in or out. They are funny as hell though and get the job done, if you get the chance have them give you a tour of the hydraulics room.

Hornbill Music Festival, Nagaland India
I was sent out to guitar tech a show once. Got put up in a hut along a dirt road with free food and beer. Ate crickets, grubs and drank lots of rice beer. Later got mistaken for a musician and mobbed by a few hundred people. Probably the only time I'll feel like a rockstar. Was terrifying.

Least favorites:
Queens Hall, Edinburgh Scotland - It's impossible to sound good in this room.
The Wharfield, San Francisco - I've watched someone shit on the sidewalk outside the venue 3 years in a row.

Places I've played more than one great show at (and some clunkers as well but that's how it goes):

Missoula
Chicago
Milwaukee
Racine
Minneapolis/St Paul
Oakland/SF

Places I only played once but the show was great:

Cleveland
Pittsburgh
San Diego

Places I've played numerous times and never had one decent show:

Portland, OR