Jessie M.
Yelp
We attended a Motion City Soundtrack Show here last month and all I can say is yikes. This venue is frustration incarnate for so many reasons and I've been meaning to write this review...once I found the right words. First, it is a beautiful building, like many of the House of Blues are. As a NJ native, I went to many shows at the former Atlantic City location.
And both locations (one now defunct) suffer from the same conflicts: incredibly poor sight lines, muffled sound quality, filled beyond comfort, and offerings that are outrageously priced. The tickets here are not cheap; so, to expect someone to attend a show that they can't see (as a result of the poor construction of the balcony overhang) and can't head (unless you are next to the stage I suppose?) is a bit ludicrous.
I anticipate that they present a less than savory concert experience so that you are forced to upgrade, at a cost. A good venue, however, would offer a great experience for all in attendance.
I also found the venue to be uncomfortable crowded, from stage to lobby. I have been to hundreds of concerts; from dive bars to night clubs, I have experienced elbow to elbow crowds, but there has always been a way to find reprieve. Not here. I know they aren't exceeding capacity legally, but perhaps capacity should be revisited.
I really, desperately want to see Bayside here in May, but I would be doing myself and the band a disservice to give my money to a place where the lead singer will sound like he's singing from across the country. And if I'm lucky, I might be able to see the guardrail around the stage. I should note, I am short, but my boyfriend is not at all. He experienced the same blocked sight from the bottom of the balcony.