Jessica Z.
Yelp
Please, please, PLEASE improve the air flow of The Roxy. I felt especially bad for the performers, dripping and drenched with sweat on stage. Towards the end, I felt like I could barely breathe because it was so hot, stuffy, and poorly ventilated - hundreds of sticky, moving bodies crammed into a tiny space... not the most pleasant of experiences! Alas, sometimes sacrifices must be made for the things you love. :)
While the show we saw was fantastic, the venue conditions were unfortunate. We took a Lyft to/from the venue instead of dealing with parking, which was very convenient for us - it seems like a rather busy area. There's a men's bathroom next to the stage, and a women's bathroom near the entrance.
People started lining up outside before noon for the 8pm show. If you desire a good spot and are willing to wait for hours, be sure to bring some helpful provisions - there's minimal shade, especially in the summer. Some people came with umbrellas and lawn chairs, which was smart. If you bring a friend, you can also take shifts to take breaks / get food / use the bathroom.
+2 stars for the sound quality and intimacy of this small venue (500 capacity). After waiting in line for hours, we squeezed into a nice position in front of the center of the stage, close enough to touch the vocalist (though we refrained from doing so) and watch his sweat pool onto the stage floor, which was amazing. I think even if we'd been farther back, it would've felt really intimate. The music was extremely crisp, and the instrumentation seemed well-balanced - I like being able to pick out backing notes and vocals. Anyway, that's all it really had going for it...
Overall, would go again if I really liked the artist, but otherwise would avoid.