As concerts become a bigger part of social life in the 2020s, artists will be more likely to play in different venues. The quality of a concert experience depends on not just the show, but mainly the venue. There are many venues that can make your concert experience more comfortable and highlight the act of the night more than others. It can be helpful to know what to expect before going to a new venue instead of going in blind. Know which venues are the highest quality, keep tabs on them, and catch a show soon. 

10. Crystal Ballroom

The Crystal Ballroom is in Somerville, MA. and is a very complicated place to find street parking. However, it is accessible via the Red Line. The venue is quaint and fits around 500 people. The tickets are all general admission below the average price. Shows here don’t sell out fast – it’s not somewhere to see popular people unless they’ve passed their peak. There is a flat standing room near the stage and steps to a higher floor that goes back to the venue’s bar. Without an incline, it’ll be hard to get a good view unless you are in the front or at the edge of the higher part. They also have a beautiful disco ball that they use fairly often.

9. Fenway Park

Fenway Park is optimal for a casual concert in Boston. It’s also a lot easier to go as a large group here than anywhere else. There is never a need to worry about merchandise selling out and it’s an accessible place going to and from. The green line has two stops a brief walk away: Fenway and Kenmore; the latter is easiest. The sound engineering here is of a high quality too; however, Fenway is extremely expensive. Plenty of attendees spend an absurdly large amount of money and still end up far from the stage. Concerts are supposed to be a shared experience, as the artist is performing for you. It’s hard to feel like a fan instead of a number here. With the distance, the net between the regular seats and the stage, and the sheer amount of people that are more visible than the artist, there is little hope of even being looked at by the artist without paying a fortune. 

8. The 4th Wall

   

The 4th Wall is a DIY venue in Arlington, MA. DIY venues are unconventional spaces that have been reworked into performance-worthy venues. In this instance, The 4th Wall doubly functions as a local movie theater. The street parking is easy, people who get there too early have to wait in the attached ice cream store and then when it’s time to line up there’s no order to it. There’s also another, unrelated 4th Wall and the real website for the venue is under a different name, so buying tickets and finding the right place can be confusing. The artists perform in movie theaters here. There is a projector that plays over them with whatever visuals the artist brings or the camerawork of the venue. The shows sound good for where they take place. The theaters fit 100-200 people and you sit in the movie seats for the show. Tickets are very affordable here. 

7. Royale

Royale is technically a club, but it serves as a venue for many events in Boston. Royale has a balcony and a flat pit besides the barricade. The balcony has tables for no extra charge. It’s a great view from the front. The railings upstairs are also a great spot and a small relief considering the venue is standing room only. Parking is okay; there is an average-priced garage nearby that is a faster option than street parking. The venue fits around 2,000 people. Although rare, some shows may have a dress code or be age-restricted. Be sure to check the show description on their website before buying tickets. 

1. 1. 6. TD Garden

TD Garden is in Boston, and it has very swift parking and security systems. Traditionally for concerts, there are seats and a pit, all with varying views. Like any big venue, TD Garden has several screens but still, views can be very good or very bad with no way to tell one from the other,  and the tickets are expensive, but less so than Fenway Park. There is almost always a familiar act booked, so it’s an easy place to go for those who value the experience and knowledge of the artist beforehand. 

5. Warehouse XI

Warehouse XI is also a DIY venue. It’s in Somerville, MA and is woman-owned. It’s important to note that the venue has no lights and there is no stage, so the band just sets up on the floor on the side or in the back. This would normally be difficult to see for short people, but the shows do not normally sell out at this venue and people just hang out before the show, so getting a good spot is totally stress-free. It’s also a very authentic place for live music. Warehouse XI fits around 150 people, and tickets are cheap. 

4. Brighton Music Hall

Brighton Music Hall is in a great location. It’s right by Boston University and their venue, Agganis Arena. It’s also within walking distance of a Raising Cane’s, among other fast, affordable pre-show dinner spots. The entry process of any show can be tedious, but here it’s swift. Brighton Music Hall has been the stage of many now-famous acts, all the way from Weezer to Ethel Cain. The venue is also the best size for a show, it is on the bigger side of small venues. The stage is high, so even if the act is sitting, the view stays great. Tickets are low-cost.

3. Red Room

The Red Room is a great way to discover new music. It is also a great location to plan a day around. It’s a short walk from the Prudential Center and shares a str

eet with plenty of locations to get food. Tickets at the box office are only a few dollars more than online ones for those who lean towards spontaneity. The Red Room is a Berklee College of Music venue, so there are a lot of student shows and open mics. It also hosts a series called Fresh Prospects, which is a free, student-curated set of artists. The capacity is around 200 people, ensuring an intimate show. The stage is about a half step higher than the floor, so the front row is almost uncomfortably close. Berklee events are free and other tickets in advance are not much more.

2. MGM Music Hall at Fenway

MGM has the best staff at any venue in Boston all around and the bathrooms are the nicest. There is truly a good view easily accessible from anywhere in the venue. MGM’s only con is that the merch lines at sold out shows get very long, very fast. Shows at MGM almost always have creative staging and lighting. The venue has three levels, two of which are seated balcony sections. They also offer VIP tables, and it fits about 5,000 people inside. 

1. Roadrunner

Roadrunner is the easiest venue to have the most fun at a show in Boston. There are two levels, one is standing room, general admission floor and the next is standing room, general admission balconies and both have a great view of the stage. There’s a quality show at Roadrunner about every week. They have the best variety of acts playing and they are booked very often. The shows sound the clearest they will in Boston. There are plenty of clean bathrooms and the staff hands out water to the pit between sets. Parking is very easy and there is a parking garage a block away. Again, with bigger, sold out shows, the merch line might get hefty. Roadrunner is also a great size as it is a small “big venue.” It fits 3,500 people. 

While attending these venues decreases chances of misencounters, it is important to help by following modern concert etiquette and giving the venue staff a chance to help any problems that arise. The venues in the list all have an Instagram account, which is convenient to get the upper hand on ticket opportunities, shows happening, and giveaways. Instagram is also a great place to hear updates on shows, such as venue upgrades, delays, and more. Spotify also notifies you when an artist you follow is performing nearby. Turn the notifications on, click the next one, and go to a concert.