Mr. Smalls Theatre

This continues to be one of the best music venues anywhere. After a recent tune yards/Ring down show we were reminiscing about our first shows at Mr Smalls and realizing how we could track our individual music histories by the bands we watched here. It has continued to improve over its many evolutions and it is beloved by music fans and bands alike.

We had a fantastic experience. We paid to go to the balcony and were so happy we did. The only sad thing, it is not handicap assessable to go upstairs.

I haven't been to Mr. Smalls for probably 15-20 years and we got tickets to see sleep theory/oxy morrons/nevertel/strayview here recently. The only part that we didn't love is the balcony tickets released before general admission, and we don't really want to stand or be cramped with a million people anymore so we bought balcony tickets first, assuming we were going to be able to get general admission tickets. The rest of the experience was absolutely amazing. We felt bad for the security because it was like a 90 degrees day and they were in the direct sunlight checked everyone before entering, but they were all friendly (and even cracking jokes). The bartenders up at the balcony were awesome (the girl remembered people's names..as you can see I can't even remember hers) and the way they do the balcony tickets is whatever you spend on the tickets goes towards food/drink and the food was surprisingly pretty good (although menu was smaller than what we found online). The place was cool and was a very intimate show since it only holds I believe 800 people. Also sleep theory was awesome, but just overall had a great experience at the venue and would go back for other shows.

Super cool venue in a former church. The acoustics and decor are both great. The balcony experience is worth the extra fee as well- the cost of the upgrade is applied to a bar tab to be used for food and drinks during the show. There are also restrooms located upstairs that are less busy than the main. I look forward to returning for another show!

They know how to put on a good show and keep the crowd safe. It was very hot at the Joyce Manor concert performance and they were throwing water bottles to people which was awesome. Entry and exit were quick and painless. Bar was quick and efficient. Awesome atmosphere, awesome venue

This is a great community resource. It's not your typical concert venue, it is however extremely important and valuable to the community. I saw a great group of kids put on a very professional show that they might not have had the opportunity to put on at a standard venue. If you want to go and be part of the community, this is a great place to visit. The street parking can be a bit of a challenge. They served awesome food. The sound quality was great.

Another great venue in the Pittsburgh area where you can experience great shows, I went to see the Cavalera brothers and it went beyond my expectations, incredible staff, great sound and perfect views from every angle. Regarding the parking in the area I would recommend arriving early, it is definitely complicated.

Great theater. Good size. Friendly welcoming staff. Great to see The Mountain Goats here. Only other place we have seen them is Toronto, pretty different vibe, very comfortable and fun.

Mr. Smalls is hands down one of the best venues in Pittsburgh. Millvale is already such a charming town and Mr. Smalls truly adds to the overall amazing vibe of the place. I love that this old church is now used for live music and the acoustics are soo good. There were a couple of bars and the prices were pretty reasonable. Staff was super nice too. Amazing venue!

This review is based on the larger room at Mr. Small's, which is the theater. This is a great space that is like a true old school rock and blues club... Meaning it is standing room only, plus it has a balcony. There is a bar on the side. This place was once an old church, so it's located on the slope of a hill and there are quite a few steps to get up to the venue. But, they will allow handicapped access through their side door so call or plan ahead for that. You wait in line out front until the door is open and they do have two security people who will check your bags & wand you. All the staff were friendly that I encountered. I was comped with all access to a show with a nationally touring act, and I had a great experience, both in the front row during the show and backstage after the show. The sound was excellent even in the front. I will be seeing a show at the Funhouse next week, and I had seen one show at the Funhouse prior, which is the smaller of the two venues. The only issue I have with this venue is that you have to look for street parking. You can typically park for free, but you might have to drive around in circles to find a space. For that reason I always come extra early. There are some bars and restaurants within walking distance if you want to get some drinks or a meal before hand.

No ambiance. Stark environment. Standing no seating. The minibar on the first level ofovide foid and drink. The main stage was stark no seating and....i was only impressed with one band. I felt like i was attending an experiment!

This is a really great venue! Very intimate, there's not a bad view in the whole place. Ticket and beverage prices are really fair. They have free water at the bar, $1 ear plugs at the ticket window if you've forgotten yours, and tons of street parking. If you're looking for something to do before the show, definitely try the Grist House. It's a like 5 minute walk.

This place is a nice concert venue. They have guest lists. They have good drinks and they always choose shows that know how to put on a good time.

I really love how intimate this venue is! The stage is really cool since this used to be a church and there are two bars inside where you can get drinks during the concert. Drinks are decently priced too. You really get to be super close to the performers and the lighting setup is pretty awesome here too. Lines to get in usually look long but it's actually not so bad even when it wraps around the church. Their bathrooms are kind of small though and have weird saloon doors haha. I think this venue is also at a great location too! Millvale seems like a cool neighborhood.

On a scale of documentaries to romance novels, Mr Smalls Fun House is Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Reid Jenkins. An intimate concert venue, Mr Smalls Theatre offers music lovers an up-close, personal interaction with their favorite bands and performers. Whether you choose general admission or opt for an upgrade to VIP balcony seating (and a tab of drinks and food), you're sure to have a fantastic experience. Drinks can be purchased at the bar on the main floor, balcony, or down in the cafe. P.S. As an introvert, I would highly suggest the VIP balcony seating or a break to the cafe mid-concert to recharge.

Mr. Smalls is a great place for live music! I have been going here regularly for the last 15 years (wow, that makes me feel old). Mr. Smalls has gone through many renovations and updates over the years, and it is a really nice venue now! This old church turned music venue(s) and cafe is located in Millvale. Parking is always tricky in this small town so I usually uber. The security check, ticket taker, and ID check are all quick to get through. Once inside you can stand in the general admission pit, or upgrade your tickets to sit on the balcony above. I always stand close to the stage. I love that big names have played this intimate venue. I've been here for everything from heavy metal bands with mosh pits and crowd surfing to acoustic acts like Conor Oberst and Phoebe Bridgers to comedians like Fred Armisen. We are so lucky to have this intimate venue so close to the city. The drinks are reasonably priced, but I have never tried food from their cafe. Pro tip - go down the steps in the back of the venue near the bar to use their downstairs bathroom (it's always empty and clean). I look forward to many more years of great live music here!

the funhouse is the smaller room at mr smalls and sounds great and has a general good vibe. The main room where the bigger shows happen sounds lousy and you go through a check in process at entry that is worse than the airport.

I love this venue. It has charm as a converted church. For some reason, I think because of the hardwood floors and balcony, it reminds me of NYC's Bowery Ballroom -- another favorite intimate venue of mine. It feels like there isn't a bad place to watch and experience a concert here and the sound is loud and bright. Two thumbs up!

When we got tickets for Lone Bellow playing here, I had no idea what the venue would be like and did not research via Yelp or interrogate friends beforehand. Was I ever surprised, pleasantly so, when pulling up we realized it was a repurposed church! We ended up upgrading our tickets from general admission standup only on ground floor to seats in the top balcony section. This then included food and drinks for the price of the upgrade. Well worth it! The sound was great, the performance super , there was a bar and restrooms one floor down from our level. Staff came by to take our drink orders most of the night and we went to the bar other times. Parking is available on your own on the street for free. Very pleased.

this woman that worked there with long curly hair heavy set was either recording me or taking my pic and sending it to other staff members when i hunched over in back pain- not drunk. walked over to bartender and whispered to him. i addressed her and she told me my sister was paranoid that saw her taking picture! i asked to see her phone and she refused and said that we "could have a problem" this is INSANE!

One thing that needs gotten out of the way first: touring bands/artists/performers will often be listed as performing in Pittsburgh when they are actually performing at this venue (Mr Smalls), which is in.... Millvale. Not Pittsburgh. I'm not sure if this should affect my review in any way, because I am not sure how much of this is due to promoters or the venues themselves. I think this may be a common practice in large-ish cities that are defined by a "Greater Metropolitan Area." Millvale is also juuuust close enough to Pittsburgh that this is not as much of a stretch as touring bands ostensibly playing in Pittsburgh when they are actually booked for out-of-the-way venues in places like Crafton and McKee's Rocks. Now, on to the venue itself. Mr. Smalls, despite the name, is NOT small at all. It is BIG. Impressively BIG. Mr. "Small's" lies about being small so you will be a little more pleased and satisfied when you show up to take it in. Mr. Small's is in fact located inside of a palatial former church with a gorgeous courtyard and several other features. This includes the oddly-named "Funhouse",* a small concert space that is in many ways the Platonic ideal of a rock music venue. Within that small space you have the option of either sitting by the bar with food and/or drinks, or standing near the stage while a live performance is going on. There is also at least one other performance stage and a restaurant space. Expect decent fast-casual fare from this venue's kitchen. As to the bar, the only thing I've tried from there is the Long Island, which at Mr. Smalls is sufficiently strong and does exactly what you want it to. I really don't have anything negative to say about the venue itself, which sets exactly the right mood for going to see a show. * Life pro tip: don't tell family or friends you went to a place called the "Funhouse". It will lead to some very weird and inappropriate questions.

We attended a show in this venue, which is upstairs in the location. The staff said the capacity was 175 people. It has a bar in the room where the show is performed. Out in the entry area, there is a kitchen, where you can order food with a small counter to eat at. The bathroom had 2 stalls behind curtains. That was a little different, but no big deal. The show I was at was not packed, so it made it a great experience.

I recently attended a concert here, and I was impressed by some things and weirded out by very few others. Formerly a church, the original architecture still stands and is very apparent. The acoustics and intimacy of this space are fantastic. The work to convert it to a concert hall was definitely put in. We purchased tickets for a table upstairs on the balcony; probably won't do that again because we couldn't really see the stage. The real move was to buy tickets on the balcony for the bar-like seating that had a direct view to the stage. The nice thing about the reserved tickets is the balance you pay beyond general admission can be used for food and drinks. So we paid $25 extra for reserved seats which means we were able to use that $25 for drinks (including alcohol) and food. The only cash we paid was for tips. The bathrooms have saloon doors to each stall, and the bathrooms were rather nasty since there seemed to be only one for the entire venue. I went once and then decided to hold it until I got home. Other than this, everything about the venue and experience were pretty good. Entering the space is pretty congested especially with the merch tables right there. But the staff was on top of people wandering to the balcony to stand and checking on our food and drinks.

Been here several times over the years to see a number of bands. It's a nice venue with a great sound system and bar. Of course the drinks here aren't cheap but when I'm at a show a beer or cocktail are the last things on my mind. Never a hassle getting tickets or dealing with the house. Nothing fancy but cool spot.

Decent facilities. Not bad for a small concert. I'm not a big venue kinda person so I loved that it was pretty intimate

Honestly I had a eh attitude towards going to see 80's punk bands. But my sig other loves the electric banana days so I went along to check it out. We were one song in and I told her I'll absolutely go back again. Cool place, really friendly peeps working there. Sound is good, drinks are priced fairly. Just a really good place to see live music. Already looking for a reason to go back. Parking is meter and a quarter per hour so who cares. Good choices for food ahead of the show and I recommend the "Grist House". Cool place only a few blocks away. It looks like they're putting in a restaurant in the near future and have food and drink trucks handy. Had a great time all around. Check it out!

One of my favorite venues in Pittsburgh. I've been to roughly 25 shows here and I've enjoyed every single one. The vibe of the crowd for sure sets the tone of any show but I get good vibes at mr. Smalls!! I will come back anytime. Recently, I saw moon hooch @ mr. Smalls and it was one of my favorite shows of all time. Check out moon hooch!!

After having a disappointing experience at The Thunderbird, we weren't sure what to expect at Mr. Smalls. What a great place it turned out to be! Highly recommend doing the upgraded seating to balcony. Service was impeccable, food was tasty and the drinks were worth the cost of the upgrade. We went to see Riverside, who always put on a great show. We will definitely return to this venue- parking isn't too bad, the Cafe downstairs was fun to pre-game at, and Millvale itself is a hidden gem.

Mr. Smalls has long been my favorite venue in Pittsburgh. Between the main stage and the Funhouse, they often nab a lot of the artists I dig who are touring through the area. I've been coming to this place since 2005 and is evolution over the years has been great to watch. For the main stage, take the plunge for balcony seating if you can spare the change. It's an extra $30 or so on top of your ticket, but that applies to any food and drink you purchase. Most of the food I've had has been really good and there's a pretty decent beer selection. Bartenders are quick to serve everyone and for as big as the place is, food comes out relatively quickly. The view from the balcony is great; it's unobstructed, and no rubbing against sweaty strangers or having a mosh pit break out right on top of you. Great for us olds who can't stand up for 4 bands anymore. I've probably been to 50 or more shows here over the past 14 years and it's my go-to venue when I'm in the mood to find a show to attend. The Funhouse offers a more up close and personal little stage for smaller crowd artists, and I really enjoy it. Plus it's right by the kitchen if you get hungry!

If you're looking for a unique spot to have your wedding, then congrats! Cause you just found it. Mr. Smalls was seriously such a cool place to have our wedding reception. Sarah, Shaunden and their crew were the easiest people to work with and let us have ultimate creative freedom with our wedding, which was #1 most important when selecting our reception venue. First of all, even if you've been to Mr. Smalls for a concert, having your wedding here is just different. The venue itself is way bigger than you think, with two stages, like 6 fully stocked bars, an outdoor grotto, huge rooms in the back to get ready, etc. It also has the advantage of full stage lighting and sound systems which transforms your favorite punk rock club into this magical versatile space that you can really make into whatever you want. When you rent Mr. Smalls, it also comes with some top-notch venue coordinators. I mostly worked with Sarah Troy. There were weeks that I emailed her every day with wedding details and she was always very responsive and usually emailed me back that day. Sarah and her crew setup the entire venue with all the decorations I provided and it looked SO good. My bridal party and family didn't have to do anything and it was perfect. Even though weddings are not their primary business, Mr. Smalls knocked it out of the park. So many of my guests said it was the best wedding they have ever attended, and I think a large part of that was due to the space that Mr. Smalls provides, as well as their service and the creativity that they allow you to have. Thank you Sarah, Shaunden, and everyone else at Mr. Smalls that made my wedding so memorable - y'all rock!

Saw some great reggae shows there......wailers, elephantman,Israel vibration capleton,Anthony b. Yes, I loved the venue, I taped most of these shows,so I liked the venue and the bands they had come to Pittsburgh. Thanks craig sokolowski

I've been to hundreds of concerts across the country and I'm attempting to write a review of every venue to assist my concert going troubadours. Old 97's/ American Aquarium - August 17, 2016 It had been 11 years since my last concert at Mr Smalls (Ryan Adams & the Cardinals, 2005). Maybe it's because I've moved and seen other venues across the country or maybe the place is just getting old, but the venue was a lot dumpier than I remember. I was drinking Jack and water out of plastic cups and all night I was picking something grainy out of my teeth. I'm hoping it was just dust/dirt from the rafters (and not asbestos). It could have been dirty ice, but I purposefully ordered from different bars. Most inexcusable, the speaker (left stage) was crackling and popping throughout Old 97's set. I can forgive most things, but if a venue can't take care of its sound equipment, it's not worthy of my cash. I don't know if this venue changed ownership or if the current one is just mailing it in, but there are a lot better venues within driving distance (for example, The Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland) that put up similar acts that I'm more willing to drive to and spend my money.

Great small venue for a concert. Drinks, as at most concert venues are overpriced but not quite as bad as some places. Parking can be dicey, as you'll probably have to park on the street somewhere. Otherwise it's a great place to see a concert.

I had the pleasure of spending my Sunday evening with Tennessean noisecore terrorists Today Is the Day and even shook the hand of and spoke with their fanatical leader Steve Austin (not the pro wrestler). Thus, I can testify that Mr. Smalls is continuing to expand and improve. Tables and lounge chairs were in the 21+ area for those who wanted to relax, for example, and the will call area is now enclosed to shield awaiting concertgoers from the elements. I was also told that the restaurant will now be installed upstairs instead of in the basement. I must say a word about Grill Master Gregg: An alchemist of sauces (he makes his own, and they are many) and a mage of cookery, GG creates tempting, portable menu items within a confined space and with few kitchen luxuries to work with. In a skillet on a hot plate, GG conjured for me the King Cobra Burger. Tastefully garnished with fresh orange slices, the amply meaty and moist burger contained bacon, jerk seasoning, lettuce, tomato, and GG's own King Cobra Venom Curry which attempted to kill me...w-w-w-warmly with its creeping, slow-burn essence. 'Tis the softest way to die. Desserts are called "Oddities" on the lengthy menu, but GG was out of candy for the evening, so I settled for one of their massive, toasted pretzels and enjoyed it with mustard as I have on many other occasions. Mr. Smalls continues to be a top-flight venue that admirably flies the flag for heavy metal and all other forms of underground, unorthodox genres of music. Long may it reign. Deliver thyselves to The Electric Church on the hill and worship... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9RNZOahsbY P.S. I recently discovered that Mr. Smalls co-owner and Rusted Root drummer Liz Berlin went to my high school, graduating months before I started. P.P.S. Grill Master Gregg is as gracious and personable as he is talented and inventive. Get to know him.

Defiantly a unique venue ... Nestled in PA Hills . I believe it use to be a church . The Merch is located rite when you walk in . It's lite up with lights so you can see merchandise clearly . The bathrooms have curtains for doors ( this both excites me and gives me anxiety ). Stage is elevated . Great sound ! There is a bar . They also have a cafe that serves food during the show ! They serve during the whole concert.They have a upstairs balcony you can see the shows from and the cafe will serve you up there as well :)

I'm gonna tell you right up front: I'm too old to stand for a concert and opening act without moving for 3 hours. However, if your knees and back can stand it, this venue is an intimate-ish and, to my old ears, acoustically correct venue. Here's some tips: 1) Parking is not awesome, very small lots fill up quickly. Otherwise you're in a neighborhood and on your own. 2) Drinks are very reasonable, staff is very nice. 3) There is a balcony that has seating. Do your old self a favor and do the balcony - because the view is fabulous and your knees will live to bend another day. From the knees up, this was a great experience and I wouldn't hesitate to go again!

I went to see funny man Hannible Burress and he rocked the house he even had a dj spinning throughout the show. Hannible's from Chicago and has written for 30 Rock. My one and only complaint the girls bathroom stalls don't have doors just a weird curtain system that leaves me a little nervous oh well , it's works. BBQ in the winter is always the best. The food is finger licking good. I ordered two burgers one ranch blt burger and one burger with honey badger sauce and jalapenos. My hubby and I swapped burgers halfway through and each was very delicious. The grill master is very good at his job and I recognized him from our last show. He's still holding it down. The buns were super fresh and soft and the burgers were tender and juicy. Seriously the burgers at Mr. Small's were better then what I've had a burger joints. Actually I will go as far to say that Mr. Smalls burgers has restored my faith in the mighty mighty hamburger. For awhile there I was starting to think I didn't like burgers anymore.

Loved my time at Mr. Smalls. Great music. Nice people!!

This is a great place to see a show! Good selection of drinks, almost no wait time so I could get back to enjoying the show and the staff were extremely helpful when I needed some extra help because I was rolling into Pittsburgh from out of town arriving on the train. That's a long story and these are awesome people!

Great venue and just right for a intimate show. Highly suggest to buy seats in the balcony. Beer selection is excellent with a full bar. Food is ok? French pizza is average. Panini's are excellent. Hummus just ok. Pretzels were hot and fresh. Attentiveness of service was high. It was apparent the staff likes to work there. I will be back again and again.

This place was super rad! I did not know what to expect at all before going here. I immediately noticed it was an old church when walking up to the venue. I was curious how the inside would be and it did not disappoint. Super cool and unique, interesting layout but yet still really functional. The general admission area was perfectly sized and the acoustics were solid. They did a nice job of engineering the sound in the place, given it's a big old school church. Plenty of bars around so there really weren't lines for drinks. The only oddball thing was when I asked the bartender for directions to a rest room. I was sent on a wild goose chase up the stairs, into a completely different building it seemed. This eerie adventure led me into a thickly padded carpeted hallway and into a empty ballroom-type area. Once I finally found the bathrooms, I felt like I was going to spot a priest at any given moment and be asked to confess my sins. There was some funky chapel-like areas I had to wander around before my journey back to the main area was complete. Some signs would have been nice, but I was feeling rather adventurous anyways. This place is definitely a fun house! Most unique music venue I've ever been in.

Had a (J.G.T.) Jolly Good Time......did the McCartney Tribute 12-29-18, place was loaded with fossils like myself....all grooving to a well done tribute. We bought the balcony upgrades and had excellent seats plus a bar tab for the night. Smalls spent a lot of time renovating the church.We can't wait to go back for another event. We recommend the balcony upgrades and view. Had to slide out the side door, though...security was very helpful in getting us out without dealing with the paw paw razzi.

The Mr. Smalls venue itself is a very cool place, however, I have never been more disappointed. I was shocked at how outwardly aggressive and rude every member of the staff was. Everything felt highly unprofessional. I would not recommend this place to anyone ever again.

This is easily one of my top 3 concert venues of all time. What a great little place to see some very big bands. I've only been here twice; once for Dawes and once for They might Be Giants. Both concerts were fantastic! Drinks are reasonably priced for a show and the place is so intimate that you can be anywhere and it's a good show. We were front and center on the floor, but we may spring for the upper balcony for the next as I think the view from above would be something. The converted church really adds to the character of the place and you are immersed in the sound (in a good way). The staff is friendly and helpful, definitely recommend experiencing a show here.

****This review is for THE FUN HOUSE at MR SMALLS. The smaller venue upstairs, not the large church theater. This is a great place that has great acoustics. The sound man knows his stuff. The set up sometimes has tables, but sometimes standing room only. The beer selection is good with taps and bottles as well as a nice selection on liquor. Everyone there was friendly and helpful as the entrance is a little confusing when you first get there. Go check out your local bands if you have a chance.

Amazing venue. I regret not visiting this place sooner. It has drinks, food, an area to enjoy aeay from the show if needed, and more. Security was tight but respectable and informative. I had forgotten about a small pocket knife and it was confiscated. They told me how, and where to get my belongings once the show ended, no arguments. I highly recommend this place.

My favorite spot to see bands in Pittsburgh. Parking can be a little challenging, but I always feel safe walking through the neighborhood at night after a show. The sound is great, the merch table, bathrooms and bar are easily accessible, and the long but narrow floor space means that I can come and go from the crowd as I please without feeling trapped in a sea of people!

Sometimes it is hard to review a place that you have been to again and again for years with fresh eyes. I have seen a lot of shows here, and great many of them were sold out and everyone was packed in like sardines. I am really into the church-turned-venue vibe (rip Altar Bar), and it is a great venue for medium sized shows. The sound quality is okay, the light shows are pretty good, and you can mostly see the stage from standing anywhere as long as a super tall person isn't completely blocking your view. The setting is intimate, but kind of a large intimate. They serve drinks in the back and have an upstairs section that anyone can go up to with an upcharge. I would definitely recommend going to a show there if you have never gone before, I've always had a good time!

Love the venue but we got there to try and buy tickets and they said they didn't take a card! But they had an ATM.. tried twice and no money! Not from either ATM, now I have to wait until Tuesday to talk to the bank and make sure they didn't take it from my account! I also got fraud alerts from the bank after trying the ATM! But great show!

I have been going to Mr. Smalls since the mid-2000's. I've been in multiple bands that have played there and always been treated very well. I came tonight for a charity event at the funhouse, and while I had a great time once I made it into the venue, one of the staff members was rude enough to make me never want to come again. On my way in, the line in front of me had about a half a dozen folks waiting to get in, and each one of them was met with an abominable attitude and complete rudeness. One man simply wanted to know where he should check in to go to both events happening, and he was legitimately screamed at by this woman who insists on calling everyone "friend" while accosting them. The man was so shook he tried apologizing multiple times to no avail, and was met with more rudeness. What need is there to literally SCREAM at someone who is just trying to do the right thing?? Several people were yelled at and treated like they were stupid for not already having their documentation ready at the front of the line. Many people haven't even been to a show since COVID, why are we all supposed to know what to do?? Another friend who was in one of the bands playing was stopped and yelled at while escorting the woman in a wheelchair for whom the event was for. He'd already been there for two hours and had checked in already. I watched as multiple people in line were met with distrust and animosity for simply not knowing how to check in properly. Every single venue has their own rules now in this COVID landscape, and we're all just trying to live and find some joy. No one can be expected to innately know how each one works, and being hostile towards your patrons who are literally trying to donate towards a charity event is completely unnecessary. This woman treated everyone as if they were trying to mug her as we gave our cancer donations. I'm sorry if COVID has made working a door more difficult, but it's made everyone's lives more difficult.. you're not special. People who had to get tests were given literally no direction by her (another woman working who saw the insanity did come and explain, thank Christ), and each test sold has 2 tests... why not tell patrons that before they spend $25 each on money that could have gone to a donation?? I had to get tested because she thought my card was fake (it's not and I've literally never had any issue with it before and have toured all through Appalachia through this mess) and the person next to me did too. We walked together to the testing, and about 5 minutes later, he said "why the hell did we both buy these if there's two tests inside?? Is Smalls really that hard up to make a buck? I had to explain what to do to about a dozen confused folks I saw on the street too because that woman was too important to do her job. When I returned with my negative test, there was a new woman at the door who greeted me kindly and I said "wow, you're so much nicer than the other woman who was here." and she tried so hard not to laugh it looked like it hurt.... so I can't be the only person who knows this woman has no people skills. Like I said, I've been coming to Smalls for forever, and I've never had a bad experience until now. I don't know what crawled up this woman's ass and died, but... maybe find a profession that doesn't deal with people. Find some fucking joy in your life and rethink your choices. A couple of years ago this would have been a physical fight, but I woke up and didn't choose violence. I'm happy to say that this event sold out (despite this asshole being so belligerent that a few people straight up left and went home), but Smalls, please talk to your staff about treating people like people. Screaming at people who are trying to donate to a cancer fundraiser is not the vibe you want.

One of the top three coolest live venues in the Burgh! This converted church has awesome sound, an authentic vibe, and a well curated selection of mostly indie rock and roll, electronica, and a smattering of funk, jazz, folk, R & B, and alt. country. One of the owners is Liz Berlin of 'Rusted Root' so if you ever get 'lossed in the crowd' here, you'll be right at home.

I've been here a couple of times on tour now and Mr Smalls is a destination we love arriving at! The staff is helpful, merch area is large, great restaurant on the 2nd floor, nice bar in the back, and it's all in a converted church! Good sound system and great acoustics, it is a church afterall, make this venue a fun experience for bands and fans alike! I can't wait to see you again soon Mr Smalls....You rock!

Saw Devin Towsend there ... 18 months ago. Stopped in for drinks in 7/2012. Just finishing the review now. I am not a fan of the punk scene ... but I AM a fan of re-purposed churches. Drinking in church = winning = automatic 5 stars. Both trips were summer trips and ... sorry but the ventilation was sup-par. I get it ... it's an old Croatian church ... hard to cool a joint like that. Beer selection was adequate. Grillmaster Gregg? Are you kidding me? Awesome. This guy merits an automatic 5 stars, says me. Try it.

This might be my favorite venue in the Pittsburgh area. It is located in Millvale, so it is just a quick drive over from the city. Under $10 Uber from Polish Hill which is wonderful because they have a full bar and sometimes parking is tough around there. I've seen a great variety of shows here, from folky Punch Brothers to indie Jenny Lewis to Gwar. Every time I check their schedule I find a show that I want to attend. It is general admission/standing room and there really isn't a bad spot in the place, even if you want to stand in the back by the bar away from the crowd a little bit. I prefer to get right up front, which is usually pretty easy here depending on the show! Another thing I love about this place is that you can get reasonably priced drinks. I guess I should clarify and say "reasonably priced drinks for a music venue"! If you need craft beer, they have a great selection. I've also gotten wine (they usually have a white and red from Black Box, which I really like) and they give you a generous pour! If you're trying to keep it cheap, go for a PBR pounder which is probably one of the best deals. They also have some snack food like pretzels or pita and hummus. GOOD ADVICE: Either get there early (also for parking reasons) or AVOID WILL CALL. If you are someone who likes to buy your tix online and then show up right when the music is starting, expect to stand in line for a bit. I like to buy my tickets at Soundcat Records in Bloomfield to avoid the box office line. At the last show I attended, there were at least 50 people waiting in line to pick up their tickets as the band was starting. We had our tickets and got to skip the line and go right in!

I love Mr. Smalls I definitely have a lot of memories of seeing bands here when I was in high school. I love the fact that it is an old church and the alter is where the bands play it it's very unique and just fits in to the rest of Pittsburgh quite nicely. They have a couple bars and they are huge you never have a problem getting a drink. There is a upstairs patio where you can go up and smoke. They also serve food upstairs sometimes. It's a nice place to check out.

There is just something about this place that I love. Mr. Smalls is a perfect-sized venue... not too tiny, but small enough that performances still feel intimate, even when the place is packed. The venue was created from a former church (this seems to be a theme in Pittsburgh?) so the atmosphere is pretty cool and unique. I have seen two shows here (Ra Ra Riot about a year ago, and St. Lucia (with Joywave) last week. Both were spectacular shows and drew pretty cool crowds. No douchebaggery to be found--although I don't know if that should be attributed to the venue itself, or to the actual bands. The only thing that is kind of annoying is that alcohol can only be consumed in the back where the bar is. There is a fence of sorts dividing the two sections. I'd like to imagine this is what being in a zoo feels like... except with booze. And cool bands to watch. Okay, so it's not like being in a zoo at all. But still a little odd. Overall, this is a favorite of mine that I will definitely be visiting more often (there are some great shows coming up this fall!).

Seeing Band of Skulls rock the house (or church?) at Mr. Smalls for my first ever concert here was just amazing. I loved the dark, gothy feel of the inside of Mr. Smalls and seeing a pure rock n' roll, grunge-rock band light up the room really made my first experience here even more memorable. The acoustics are great in this old church, making Band of Skulls seem like rock gods playing amongst the peons of souls trying to make themselves worthy. The deck outside consists of some sort of juice bar/ grill where concert goers can indulge on some light fair or order a vitamin water which, I think, is pretty neat to have outside of the actual stage. I also noticed some sort of pizza oven on the inside of Mr. Smalls, even though I didn't try any of the food. The bar is pretty legit as well; its much better than some other concert venues bars. I'll definitely come back to see other performances at Mr. Smalls. I'm interested to see what a band that doesn't wear all black sounds like inside the funhouse for sure.