Parish

The venue was cool, the show was better than I'd hoped. We had a little trouble at the bar, it was our first time here and didn't know that when you open a tab you get charged a temporary fee. I ended up paying nearly $160 for $90 worth of drinks. The manager was kind and helpful but it was frustrating and took nearly an entire week to process. Overall we enjoyed ourselves. Drinks were tasty, atmosphere is fantastic and the food trucks next door were delicious.

Love the second story balcony, it lets you see the band very well. The first floor isn't elevated, so being a very short person I absolutely could not see anything even from the mosh pit. Band seemed to have many technical issues, unsure if it's the venue or no one's fault. My main compliant is that there's no seating whatsoever, wish there were at least bar stools, and a few chairs on the second floor would've made my day. Otherwise, the atmosphere was nice. There's a no smoking policy, but there were absolutely people smoking left and right. Also, if you are a minor, they don't let you go outside and come back again. This is a problem if you are overwhelmed and just want to get some fresh air.

Always a great place to see live music. Staff is friendly and drinks are decent. Public parking is very close too.

Absolutely love this place and all of the staff! The GM is an absolute sweetheart, the bartenders are incredibly talented and the AV and production team is absolutely outstanding. They have incredible music equipment, out of this world, lighting, and are super hospitable. I love that theyfeature a wide range of talent and art, whether it be music, dancing, comedy, etc. Could not recommend this place more!

Great little venue, 2 levels and a bar. Sound was very good for this concert. Standing room only.

It was a great location and was very well managed. The show I went to had sold out tickets, and there was enough room for everyone to have their little space while still being able to feel as one audience. There is a bar at the back and a second floor that lets you see the performance from a little higher which was fun too. Overall a great experience, and I can't wait to make another trip and have another great music experience!

Honestly, I was beyond impressed with the staff here. My girlfriend is ADA, but we waited in line like everyone else because we didn't know any better. The staff saw her and immediately came over and escorted us to the ADA entrance, asked us if we needed a chair (she had a walker with a chair attachment so we declined), and helped pick out a spot on the floor by the gated off section. The staff told us if the floor got too rowdy that we could get her behind the barricade (the crowd wasn't too rowdy but the forethought was great). And then they personally got her a bottle of water partway through the show because the floor was packed and the place was hot (Texas in July). Really and truly, I'm beyond impressed with the attentiveness and kindness of the staff here.

I've been here many times and it's a great venue all around, but I especially appreciate the fact that I had tickets for a show tonight that just got canceled (because of travel problems for the artist), and they just automatically refunded me the price of the ticket immediatley.

I've been here for various types of bands and all of the shows have been packed. Pretty much standing room only with just a few places to sit upstairs. The bar is downstairs and can be a bit hectic as theirs standing room only to watch the band. It's a full bar that offers most alcohol you'd want and limited beer and wine too. If you get too overheated or just want a quieter place, the back bar lounge area is a nice escape. The washrooms are a bit odd and be prepared to climb stairs unless there's a hidden washroom I'm unaware of that is open to the patrons. Street parking is available with most metered spots and maybe you can try Whole Foods. I'm not sure the policy to park there and for how long. It's a great venue to see up and coming bands. Just the two huge speakers hanging down can block the view of the stage if you're upstairs. A chill vibe for the most part overall where you can let loose but it can get grungy and sweaty as the night progresses.

We came for a New Years show to see DeVotchka. The venue was cool there was a balcony above with seating. We were in standing general admission and had plenty of space. The restroom situation was interesting. You have to go up at least 8 steep metal stairs to get to them. So be careful on your away up. It is a pretty tight space especially when the line starts going down the stairs. Drinks were affordable and the staff was friendly.I had read about an outside area but never found it. It was a nice was to spend the new year.

I ordered 3 gin and toxic and my bill turned out to be 60 lol they didn't even let me check. And they added the tip themselves. All 3 bartenders looked like they hated their life My advice is bring cash to this place and just tip them like .50 cents or some thing lol

Love this music venue. It's intimate and you always have a good view of the stage. There is also a little upstairs viewing part that is good too. Not a lot of parking but the drinks are extremely reasonably priced and they even have a little bar that's attached if you need a moment away from the music.

Very intimate venue. I recently went to see a show here, and the small space really emphasized the artist and the overall show. I really enjoyed watching the artist perform on this stage. There is a second story where you can view the show from above if you prefer. This is a standing venue.

This is a cute venue space. I came here for a drag show that was phenomenal. I deducted a star because the bartender was extremely rude to me. I'm sober and asked what mocktail options existed (a fair question) and he just kept repeating "we're a dive bar" condescendingly until I finally got him to tell me the goddamn options. I purchased a $5 liquid death because I was just so flustered and wanted to leave the bar. They also automatically add a 20% tip which in any other circumstance is fine, but after being made to feel stupid for being sober and inquiring about options? He didn't deserve that tip. FYI: The bartender on the other side was LOVELY and so sweet. This review is specifically for the bartender in the event space.

Great for concerts! The lighting and building provides just the right amount of space and intimacy.

Saw The Boys Fresh last night. Walk up bar service and they also had an app at the tables where someone would bring you a drink. Available parking that's gated, overall great spot on east 5th. Got a bottle of noble vines cab for $44.

The manager of Parish reached out in response to my prior review to let me know the AC situation was not their doing. Apparently the singer of the band performing that night, Tiger Army, requests the air be turned off at all of their shows, even any AC for the the audience. The Parish manager tells me they have the AC going at all other shows. So not considering the AC situation, it was a decent venue with easy access to drinks. However, make note you cannot exit through the back door near the stage. It is for the band only, so if you're close to the stage you still have to exit through the front door. ----------------- My prior review: It's hotter than HELL in here. It's 84 degrees and been rising ever since we walked in. People are feeling sick around us, fanning themselves, questioning if they want to see the show they bought a ticket for or forego it to stop feeling sick. They are saving money on AC, but losing money on future ticket sales. I am certain that I, and anyone I encountehere, will never come back unless maybe it is a cold day in winter.

I've only been to this little gem of a club twice: once for a Black Fret event featuring Walker Lukens and Sweet Spirit, and most recently to see the venerable King's X! The Parish hearkens back to the days of old 6th, with its painted original brick walls, raised wooden stage dominating the room, which is standing room only because there aren't room for chairs when that many people are there to see the band. Both times, the place has been packed. The sound system is stellar, and they run it at just the right volume to keep you grooving without making your ears bleed. Pack along a pair of plugs in case you want to shimmy up close to the stage, though. You might miss the Parish if you aren't looking for it, because there's just a light purple sign hanging inconspicuously over the sidewalk outside. A bouncer/greeter stands at a podium outside the door to point the way up the double flight of stairs. It's an upstairs club, in other words, and I didn't notice any windows. The bar sells beer, wine, and mixed drinks, and the staff seems very helpful and friendly. There's enough room at the back for a large merchandise table, and they seem to book touring acts that might have played a venue like the Back Room or Steamboat, which were similar clubs, and I'm now totally date-stamping myself. Parking is available in nearby lots, which they kindly list on their website. There's a lot of construction downtown in this area right now, so allow yourself some extra time to park and walk and find the place if you go. Check their website for a calendar of upcoming shows.

Seen a lot of shows here over the years. The latest was last night. Parish is a cozy space with awesome sound. The venue holds a couple hundred, although I've only been to one show over the years that was uncomfortably packed. Small amount of seating along the right hand wall, past the main bar. Staff is always pleasant, from the door staff to the bartenders, everyone is friendly. Always a great time. See ya soon for another show.

Saw Yungblud play at the Parish last night. It seemed like an ok venue, nothing particularly memorable about the place but nothing too bad about it either. I came late and grabbed a beer at the bar and almost fell over when I was handed a bill for $7. I know places mark up their prices during events, but this isn't ACL Live. Anyway, I was able to get my way to the front right of the stage to watch the show. Partially obscured view and no way to come in from the left. Not my favorite venue for watching live music, but if the right act came to town, I'd go back.

This is bay far the best places to see live music. I come particularly for the Real Music events and it's alway a guaranteed amazing time. From the sound system, bathrooms, and the staff- I always feel like I'm amongst friends when I come here to enjoy music and company.

I went here to see Washed Out do a dj set and I was not disappointed he put on fantastic show, however let me discuss the venue. Parish is in the heart of 6th street it's a small/ intimate upstairs space. The layout is very simple, 2 bars and a stage on a large open main floor. Modest size but clean restrooms are in the back. The staff were very polite and the bar service was quick. Props to management for the water stations which were perfectly accessible to thirsty patrons. The club got pretty crowded but there were no incidents and the vibe and energy was lively and entertaining. I will definitely be back for other concerts.

With all of the great places to hear/see a band in Austin, I can't believe I'm about to say this... But here it goes. My favorite place for live music is on 6th Street. Parish is, IMO, the most underrated venue in town. Yes, you enter from craziness that is 6th street. But once you climb the stairs and walk into Parish you are somewhere else completely. We've been to numerous shows here and have never been disappointed. Even for a sold out show, you have no trouble finding a good spot to stand with a great view of the stage. You don't wait more than a minute or two for a drink, and there's a clear path to the bathrooms. Oh, and the sound system is amazing. I'm not sure what else you'd want from a venue, but those pretty much cover my must-have list.

My daughter bought tickets weeks ago for a concert here tonight. She ended up in a cast from the knee down and was devastated that the logistics of getting downtown, upstairs was too much for her. I emailed the venue and was put in touch with the floor manager, Karl. We could not have asked for better treatment! She was escorted in early, met the artist, was given a seat with a view... She's in heaven! Thank you Parish for making me daughter's experience so awesome!

If The Parish is the best music venue in "The Live Music Capital of the World," does that make it the best music venue in the world? Maybe so. You would be hard-pressed to find a better combination of sound quality, intimacy, and talent anywhere in Austin, and by extension, the world. Venues like The Parish are essential to a healthy music scene. Musicians on the verge of stardom need a venue where they will sound great and can play to a dedicated and supportive crowd. The Parish is one of the main arteries of the music community in Austin and routinely hosts some of the best indie musicians just moments before their big break. Take Shakey Graves for example; I believe his month-long residency at The Parish was a tipping point for his career. If a band you follow is scheduled to perform at The Parish, buy your tickets immediately. It WILL sell out and it might be the best chance you'll get to see an artist before they are selling out venues 3x this size. The Parish is a gem. Support it and you will be rewarded with an unforgettable concert experience and a thriving music culture.

I arrived in Austin for SXSW and my first stop was this music venue...oh so fitting! I was there for the interactive show, 20x2...paid my $10 entrance fee, got my hand stamped, and made my way inside. A few minutes later I noticed that the ink from my stamp had gotten all over arm and clothes, which make me think the Parish needs to take my $10 and invest in some new stamps! Besides the stamp issue I was a fan of this place...the bartenders were super friendly, it was pretty spacious, and the lanterns hanging from the ceiling give the venue lots of character. An hour later the room was packed with SXSW interactive nerds, but still plenty of room to move around (i even scored myself a seat) and the acoustics were great. So yeah, cool place....just get some new stamps!

First time SXSW'er.. spent waaaay too much time here heh. I saw Vampire Weekend, Shout Out Louds, Jens Lekman, Bon Iver, Yeasayer, Sara Bareilles, Ingrid Michaelson, Joshua Radin, Meiko, She & Him, and Destroyer here. The acoustics in here are better than any other venue downtown.. plus its got an intimate feel to it.. the stage is higher up also so people can see better. I was in the front for most of the performances (my feet are killing me as I type) and I was able to talk to some of the band members after the show as they congregated near the bathrooms. Oh and yah.. I like the asian lighted ball thingy's hanging from the ceiling too.

No bullshit is my favorite mantra in life and this place delivers. Super easy entrance for a great show I was chasing across town for SXSW. This venue is on top of the Happy Chicks place right on 6th. No sign for Parish you just have to know what you are doing. I liked the openness of the room, the dark lighting and the tables I got to sit at. Very friendly staff too which is always a bonus at joints that have music showcases. I would definitely return for a show!

I just left the Tiger Army show after they played about 4 songs. It was oppressively hot and the inside thermostat read 86 degrees when I left. The temperature outside was 81. They have a bunch of ceiling fans, but didn't feel the need to turn them on. The ladies room had one stall with paper-and this was before the headliner started. It's shameful that the owners think this is an acceptable way to treat people who paid to be here.

I'm so bummed I bought a ticket to a band I've wanted to see for ten years, only for it to be hell hot in here. The poor guys on stage are dripping sweat, it smells horrendous from sweaty ppl and ppl are leaving because it's way too hot. Turn on the ac for Christ sakes. That being said I'll never come back. I've never had a more miserable concert experience and it's such an amazing band. Update: So someone reached out from the venue, said it was the bands request to have no ac. Seems like a strange request to have every fan feeling like they're in the Sahara but I'll believe him. That being said, hypothetically if there was ac I would have been more inclined to stay. I still would not go back though due to the rude staff. I do appreciate when managers reach out to fix the situation. So I gave it an extra star.

HOLY CRAP, we saw Anderson East at Parish on 2/9, what a fantastic venue!!! Very intimate, great acoustics, wonderful bar service and bouncers with a sense of humor!!! Could not have had more fun!! Anderson Easy is an amazing talent, we felt lucky to catch him on his way up, he won't be playing small venues like this much longer!!

I saw Joanna Newsom and Smog play a sold out show here the other night. I'm so happy they played here because it's small, intimate with red lanterns hanging overhead, and it's easy to get in and out of. The best thing is the bathrooms are behind the stage, so you don't have to get out of a huge crowd to run to the back of the club, losing your chance to ever get back in front of the stage. I hope to catch a lot more acts here in the future.

The acoustics are great, the decor is great, the bands they book are great, but the drinks are so expensive for 6th street. I ordered a gin and tonic ($5) and AGHHHH their well gin is Taaka. For the price of two gin and tonics I could have bought the whole damn bottle. It tasted pretty gross. A Jack and Coke cost $7.50. Tall boy Lonestars were $4. So, don't expect to get a bang for your buck at the Parish, but do expect to see some great bands. Sarah Jaffe blew my mind last night, and the Parish hosted last year's SXSW NPR party.

Decent venue. But a bit hypocritical. Light three bowls, no one cares. Light a cigarette, get thrown out. There's edibles and shit now. No need to get high and create a cloud for people who don't want it. Expressed concerns to bar staff; zero fucks given. So next time I'm here, I'm bringing a gas mask.

There are some seriously gross, but terribly awesome music venues in Austin. Nothing like the smell of male urine at Emo's while watching GZA or The Bronx swoon away on the main stage to getcha in the mood for some live music, ya know? Though some people might be turned off by that scene... I love it! It's the heart and soul of music. Dirty, grungy, grimy venues for bands who are dirty, grungy and grimy from weeks and weeks of touring the country in a smelly Ford Econoline tour van with 5 other dudes. It's what music is all about! It's the essence of the art form. With that in mind, The Parish is the complete opposite... but it's great in it's own right. The Parish is a pretty well-kept joint with cool art on the walls, a clean environment and some seriously impeccable sound. Of all the venues I visited in the city last week for SXSW, I conclude that The Parish had their sound dialed in. If you wanna wanna hear every single instrument... from the bass, to rhythm guitar, to the kick drum... they seem to be able to capture it all. Nice staff too! Every bartender we encountered at The Parish was super cool and didn't give us the 'fuck off' vibe because we were out-of-towners. With the amount of $$$ rolling through to stimulate the local economy during South By, not sure why some folks choose to act like such assholes. San Diego probably gets 3X the amount of shitty, wacky tourists visiting Sea World and the San Diego Zoo on a daily... but I tend to be nice to everyone. Oh well, different strokes, I guess.

Seriously... a year ago this place would have hands down received 5 stars. Apparently it's been taken under new management and 2 stars was the most I could squeak out. I moved to Austin almost 5 years ago now and this was the first venue I went to to see a live show. I have a lot of memories and sentiment here as I've been here atleast 40 times or so since then. What has changed that makes it so bad now, you ask? Well, let me first start off by saying that they no longer offer that free gatorade-looking jug full of water. Now, they have signs plastered everywhere that say "Water - $2", and they aren't kidding. When we asked one of the O.G. bartenders to pour us a cup from the tap, he did so with little hesitation, but when we later asked the new girl - she replied "um, we don't do that anymore". You don't pour people water from the tap? You are going to make me fork over $2 for something that is free everywhere else? Wow. They have security guys walking through the crowds. They are there to prevent people from, you know, doing things like dealing crack, trading black marketed guns, selling Russian teenage brides and yes... standing up on the seats along the wall. Previous to the "new and improved Parish" (a quote directly from one of the bartenders when we asked them what the hell was going on), getting there early to grab a seat along the wall was where it was at. Because, you could then later stand up on said seats and see over the sea of heads and get a better view of the band. Not 1 minute after we stood up, security was on us and we were TOLD to sit down. Ugh. Hate this place. Also, all of the art is gone. They painted over it in white... The last thing that I'll mention (as there is more, believe me) The Parish sign from the stage is now missing as well. I'm sure it ran off in the middle of the night out of pure embarrassment of what that name has become. I can't say I blame it.

The Parish is a top notch music venue. They bring in fantastic artists, have a sweet sound system and it's big enough for you and all your 4200 friends. We recently went to a Shakey Graves show, the last of his "residency" there. Even though it didnt happen until midnight, the show was stellar. Crowded but not too packed, we all had a pretty solid view of the stage. The bathrooms were clean, the servers were prompt and friendly and it's an all ages venue. 18 year olds need tunes too! One gripe: I would love if they had water around. We were at the end of our night and drinking H2O. Having to ask for it each time was a drag.

Oh Parish....I foiled your plan to overcharge my bar tab by $25...here are 3 things you didn't realize... First: you assumed that 3 drinks for me in the span of 4 hours would render me "drunk." Second: you didn't give me an itemized receipt when I paid out with my credit card...Thats what we in the business call a "clue." Third: you probably thought I was stupid and couldn't do math. My boyfriends beers were $6 a piece...there's no way my 3 piddly vodka drinks were $15 A PIECE! I showed you....hope you enjoy your crappy tip!

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner. I love me some The Parish. I wish I could count how many concerts I have seen at this place. But, I can tell you I have had a good time at all of them. Last weeks Pnuma Trio show was killer. The Parish books a very eclectic music mix, so you can expect to find everything from techno to rockabilly at some point in the week. I would give the place 5 stars if the drinks weren't so expensive and small.

Great room. Stick to bottled beer. It's got a great PA, and sound engineers who generally know how to use it. The room is acoustically warm, has good sight lines for the most part and they book some excellent acts. One niggle: I'm a draft beer guy, and they either are not open frequently enough, don't sell enough draft beer or don't clean the lines often enough to deliver draft beer that tastes like what went into the keg back at the brewery. The good news is there is a full bar, and a decent bottled beer selection. And the music is always the true star.

No complaints about the venue. I got here way too early for a show -- thought it started at 8, but doors didn't even open until 8:30ish -- and I wish they'd have let us in a little early, as I wasn't the only confused one there. But it turned out for the best, as I met a really cool person in line who was also *just* pushy enough to assure that we secured great spots right in front for the whole show. Acoustics were awesome. Alcohol prices were right on ($2 Lone Stars, $4 gin and tonic), and the number of tickets sold (for a sold-out show) didn't result in a ridiculously crowded venue. I appreciated the benches running along the sides for pre-show lounging. Even the 18-and-up (or maybe even younger -- there was a father-son duo where the kid probably wasn't more than 14) policy wasn't an issue. No crazy behavior here. I'll definitely be back.

I don't doubt there have been great shows here, and the venue itself exceeded my expectations. My friends who have gone for shows in the past have had positive experiences here. The above being said, my rating is based on a single experience, so take it as you must. I (with a group of four others) came for the Nightmares on Wax show, which we were really excited for and purchased tickets in advance for. We were supposed to receive 'tickets' at the box office for will call, but were instead on a list and crossed off as we came in. Not really a big deal, of course, but it makes entry and re-entry difficult. And selling off tickets too, since there is no refund possible. We had someone in our group who was under 21, and I'm familiar with the policy of stamping or marking individuals who are over 21 with a valid ID to separate out the minors. The person in our group was tagged with huge X's across the entire top of both of her hands with a sharpie, no exaggeration -- as if it wouldn't be obvious enough. I understand putting 'X's and the liability issues here, but there was no reason to go that overboard -- there must be a better system for this anyway, especially when the event detail for the concert says "All Ages" are welcome to attend. I've been to a number of venues before where I didn't have my ID and they either used wristbands or a small 'x' on my hands. These small, arguably meaningless issues would have easily been forgotten had it not been for the concert itself. We liked the venue and enjoyed hanging out for a bit once inside. A bit... According to the website and information outside, doors for the show opened at 8 PM and the show would start at 9 PM. We showed up at 9:30 PM. And nothing had happened. Not even the opener had started. 15 minutes later, the opener did start, so no problem. And we waited patiently, listening to the opener... and listening... and listening. An hour later, the same opener, playing the same music, was still playing. We decided to step outside to take a break from the droning music, around 10:45 PM. The problem was, the individual in our group under 21 was not allowed to leave the venue and come back in, even with those huge, obvious 'X's on both of her hands. Why? Because apparently their policy at the Parish is that this is to prevent the minor from leaving, drinking and coming back again. Okay. Could they at least mention this somewhere (perhaps an asterisk next to the 'All Ages' on the event detail, a sign at the entrance, somebody telling us this beforehand)? We gave it 15 more minutes and then, realizing the opener was still going and knowing we had to get back home, had no choice but to leave early (on the way out, we were told the opener would be going another 30 minutes). We were really disappointed we couldn't even see Nightmares on Wax start. We payed a reasonable amount of money between the five of us for weird, targeted ID policies, a delayed start to a show, a drawn out opener, and main act that wasn't even going to start until 11:30 PM (and no refund possible, of course). Again, I'm not discrediting the positive reviews out there. But I felt it was important to share this bad experience. True... one isolated experience. But to me and everyone else in our group, this was a poor enough experience that we would have to hesitate going there again.

Hello! Bestest music venue in Austin! Awesome bands, read: Josh Ritter, Matt Nathanson, Eric Bachman, Paolo Nutini, etc. The floor sways while you rock it out, the stage is setup so that you can see it no matter where you are in the room, drinks come fast and for a decent price, the place isnt packed to the gills [even for sold-out shows] and shows are on time and always frickin awesome. I'mma be back so many times!

First of all, I was hesitant to write a review because I didn't want to mess up the 69 review thing going on and make it a very uncool # of 70. But I need to rave about my experience last night. Went to the sold out AWOLnation show with special guest Zeale. Let me say that I don't even listen to rap. I don't hate it, I hate a lot of it though. I certainly don't go out of my way to listen to it. WELL SHIT. This guy Zeale from ATX just blew my mind away. His rhymes were so entertaining and hilarious at times. He had me at "Half Mexican" haha. Got me dancing to his beats, and I think the crowd was really into him. It was cool to see a performer really interact with the crowd, you don't see that much anymore. After his set, we waited a bit for the main event unsure if they dug themselves a grave by having such a fantastic opener. What I like about this place is the decor. To me its got the dark ,romantic, creepy feel to it if I may say so. And I mean that in the best way possible. There are two bars and if you want to leave your spot to get another drink you're not too far away from the action and can still see everything. Which is exactly what I love about small venues. Never a bad spot, no one pushing or shoving their drunk way to the front. Everyone at this concert seemed real chill and mellow. That might have been due the the fact that I hadn't been to a concert that smokey in a long long time. I could barely see as I made my way by stage to the bathroom. I felt like I was in a never ending cloud of ganja heaven. To me the drink "specials" were no specials at all. $6 for a red bull vodka on a Thursday night in a tiny cup? Yikes. My group and I were starting to think we should have pre-gamed at some other bars before coming to the show early. It was about $4 for a Lonestar I think. That or I got ripped off which wouldn't surprise me. But anyways the show was awesome (though I have to admit I liked the opener Zeale better than I liked the headliner) and I love this venue. I don't think they are trying to be like anyone else and its kind of like a hidden treasure to some. AND the ticket prices are amazingly cheap, which might be why the overcharged for booze!

Went to see David Ramirez at the Parish last night. My first time at the Parish. I love David Ramirez but the venue was less than desirable. Bar is so close to the stage that half the time I'm hearing David and the other half I'm hearing people at the bar talking. Hard to really enjoy the great music. Also a statement of the people going to concerts...if you go, shut up and enjoy the music. Otherwise, go outside.

I went to the Parish for the second time last night and I must say I am impressed with their sound production. The music sounds great from anywhere in the room, and the sound technicians definitely know what they're doing. Not only that but the stage is nice and big and it's pretty easy to see the stage from all parts of the room. I never venture out to 6th street to see shows, but after seeing their upcoming lineup for the next few months (2 Yeasayer shows in February!) I will definitely be inclined to return.

Great music venue. I really noticed that the lighting and sound were top notch, very professional, really nice effects with the lighting that gave the entire show a cool ambiance. Tickets were cheap and the drinks were not THAT expensive. I mean come on, when you go to a show, you can't seriously be expecting super cheap happy hour type drink specials. I think the the place was nice enough that it justified higher drink prices. I didn't really get any cocktails and just stuck with beers...LoneStar tallboys were $4 for a 16oz can. Not a bad deal in my opinion.

Without hesitation, the BEST live music venue in a town baptized by "The Indie Gig". So, please, if you ever have a chance to catch a show here, skip it, because space is LIMITED and I'm prolly trying to score some tix, too. As an aside, Bill Murray seemed to be enthusiastic about this venue during the Band of Horses ACL aftershow, which is nice.

Its a crime that more road shows aren't booked there. It has by far the best sound in Austin as well as the most competent sound team. Its also a crime that since new management has taken over the prices at the bar have skyrocketed. Check your bartenders counts and make sure they don't use snowcone ice to pack you glass to the rim.

Over the past seven years I've seen almost too many shows to count at The Parish, dating back before the name change (nee The Mercury). One thing that has stayed constant is the caliber of talent the venue books (read: high) and the consistent exposure to the next big thing that might be rolling through town. Like so many of Austin's other premiere venues, The Parish is all about a well-worn comfortable ambiance. The space is wide open and friendly, with just a touch of the Cajun flavor that comes from sitting atop a Louisiana kitchen downstairs. Rumor was that the restaurant downstairs was closing as of this writing, supposedly to become a new and improved Louisiana restaurant. But no one's jacking with The Parish. Mostly because that wouldn't be progress. A great room.

I realized the other day that The Parish hasn't booked a band I've wanted to see in almost a year. Time to clean house.

This might be my favorite music venue is Austin. They don't oversell the venue and they have recently remodeled the interior. Place is gorgeous and there is an added bar near the back :) . You can find a wide variety of musical styles at this venue any week and I have yet to have a bad time here. The mixed drinks are a tad small, so I stick to beers. My tab has always been less than what I think it should be and the drinks are always quickly acquired no matter how packed the bar is. This venue has the best sound in Austin...and I really noticed this while seeing The Stanton Moore Trio a few weeks ago. Truly a gem in that part of dirty 6th..

Went here to see Madison Beer in concert for the As She Pleases Tour. The venue is awesome and the sound quality is great!

It is one of the very few places I will go see a band down in 6th Street. The venue is upstairs and not much seating. If you get there early, you can get a seat on the right side of the wall. There is a two bars, one main one in the back and a small one in the front. Bouncers are cool. Watch your step on those stairs!

The Parish is one of my favorite places to see a band play because it has a quiet, intimate atmosphere that allows you to make out the musician's face no matter where you stand. It also hosts Rock the Casbah, a quarterly 80s dance party that's quickly become an institution in Austin and is always fun. The problem for me with the Parish are the employees. I've had a handful of encounters with bartenders or doormen that leave me speechless. Most memorably, a doorman stamped my hand so hard that it physically hurt. Prior to stamping me, he had barked at me and continued to be similarly rude to my friends and other people in line. You'd get more bees with honey, dude.

I would have given 5 stars, but here's what went down: I just bought 4 delicious ice creams from a street vendor when the line started to move. The guy at the door made us throw out the ice creams, but we realized, after a few steps, that the girl in front of us still had hers. They get 4 stars for hosting NPR's all songs considered, for having a beautiful venue to view the show, and for the restaurant downstairs. I imagine that on a non-SXSW day, this is an amazing place to dance or see a concert.

I love The Parish. Really, this should be a five star review. Since I've lived in Austin I've seen three kick-ass shows here - Little Joy, Vic Chesnutt, and an amazing, amazing night with Jonathan Richman. There isn't a bad spot in the room. Amazing sight lines. Really good sound. Great acts. My gripe, and my reason for deducting a star, is that not only are the drinks RIDICULOUSLY OVERPRICED ($6 for a Tito's and soda?), but the bartenders are terrible. They put no effort into their jobs and are rude. I get that they aren't responsible for the prices, but damn! Could it hurt them to be nice and give good service? As I write this and think about the bad service I've gotten there, I'm thinking about deducting another star. I'm not going to, though, because the three shows I've seen at The Parish have been magical, lovely experiences. I'll see a show there any time, but perhaps I'll drink elsewhere before the show and tip bartenders that are worth tipping.