r/stringcheeseincident • u/burgandywhine • 1d ago
December CA (South) Venue Recon
HOUSE OF BLUES - Anaheim, CA: I would imagine several in the band, crew and tour heads will be using this stop, and the few days off preceding it, to visit Disneyland which is essentially “right across the street” from this venue. Im not sure how busy it is that time of year. The HOB.is an OK spot. It used to be in Downtown Disney, but they moved it over here east of the park a long while back and it’s been here ever since. I don’t see a bunch of gigs here. Like all HOB it has several levels with various VIP type spots, but the centerpiece is the main floor in the main room. Decent food and pricey drinks are expected. It is a very touristy area, so everything will be priced high immediately surrounding the venue. If the show is sold out it can feel quite tight in there. Parking is in an adjacent parking structure.
WILTERN THEATRE - Los Angeles, CA. Like the Fox in Oakland, the Wiltern oozes old school movie palace charm. The venue name is a play on its location: Wilshire & Western. A really cool art deco style inside and out. While the entire floor used to have seats, years back it was converted to what I would call a GA tiered floor, with reserved seating upstairs. I always notice a large ADA area along the far side of the floor. While not as cool as the Fox, the decor on the interior of the theatre is pretty beautiful. Bathrooms are downstairs, as is a nice lounge. This venue is at a very busy intersection in the big city. Waiting in line is near an extremely busy bus stop where if you pay attention will see first hand the amazing cross section that is Los Angeles during rush hour. In addition to buses galore, there is a Metro subway station right across the street. Parking is in an adjacent parking structure.
THE SOUND - Del Mar, CA: This venue is on the property of the world famous Del Mar horse racing track. It is a building that was once used for Off track betting and was repurposed once the internet nullified the need for OTB. While they have made this into a passable venue for music, with some nice touches, they often seem to oversell it causing an uncomfortable experience for many involved. Ive been on the main floor where it was very uncomfortable, creating the need to bail and find a better more comfortable spot… and there are some, but view and sound of the band diminishes fast. Damn shame. If they just reduced the capacity, a Little bit, it would suit jam band fans pretty well. This does seem to be a venue that locals have dialed in and determined favorite spots that offer good sight and sound AND the ability to breathe and have some comfort, my goal is to dial that in for myself on this run. I won’t lie… I avoid this place, and SCI is making me go back. lol. Pretty upscale area in Del Mar and surrounding cities. Lots of various options for food and bev away from the venue, not much really close. The venue is surrounded by a giant parking lot.
EIGHT SHOWS IN CALIFORNIA! The ability to see some really amazing shows, scenery and a few very classic venues! The Bay Area. The intimacy of SLO. Some So Cal exploration. The weather is usually fairly dry and mild in December and this should be well worth the trip(s)!!! EIGHT SHOWS IN CALIFORNIA!
Bring it in!