Best Live Music Venues In Los Angeles

It should come as no surprise that the music scene in Los Angeles is unlike any other in the country, and even the world. With a diverse array of venues, on any given night in this city, you can find concerts galore. Whether it's the renowned Hollywood Bowl, the historic Troubadour or Roxy Theater or the Silverlake Lounge, there's certainly no shortage of great music clubs to visit. What's equally amazing is the top tier talent that has graced the stage at these spots. From Bob Dylan introducing Elton John for the first time at the Troubadour in 1970 to the greats like Fleetwood Mac playing the Hollywood Bowl to more current artists gracing the stage at The Greek Theatre, these venues are unmatched when it comes to history and the talent that plays there.

The Hollywood Bowl
2301 Highland Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90068
(323) 850-2000
www.hollywoodbowl.com

A list of the greatest music venues in Los Angeles could never be complete without one of the grandest of them all. The Hollywood Bowl has been the venue for seeing shows since it opened way back in 1922. Throughout the years, this 17,000 seat venue has seen the likes of music's elite. Home to the LA Philharmonic, the venue is known for its classical music concerts, but maybe more so for the amazing talent that has graced the stage. Who's played here? Too many to list, however some include The Beatles, Depeche Mode, The Doors, John Mayer, John Legend, Harry Connick Jr., Kings of Leon, Coldplay, Bruno Mars, and many many more. The Hollywood Bowl fittingly offers up its own museum with a treasure trove of memorabilia and artifacts about the history of the venue and who's played there.

Troubadour
9081 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 276-1158
www.troubadour.com

The Troubadour may appear unassuming, but the walls are pulsing with musical memories. In fact, some of the world's most famous musicians have played here since its inception in 1957. Everyone from The Doors, Elton John, The Byrds, Metallica and Radiohead have graced the stage here, and the Troubadour continues to make memories for music-loving Angelenos. It's easily one of the city's most favored small venues for concertgoers too. While many artists play the larger venues, they also favor playing this one because of the history. The Foo Fighters in fact recently played a series of surprise shows, one of which was at the Troubadour. Music-lovers enjoy the intimacy of the venue, which is standing room only, save a small bar and balcony for VIPs. Tickets for shows are occasionally available at the door, but you can buy them online as well through Ticketfly.

The Silverlake Lounge
2906 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(323) 663-9636
www.thesilverlakelounge.com

Situated on Sunset in Silverake is the extremely small, yet great venue that is The Silverlake Lounge. As the quintessential hipster dive bar, you're not going to end up paying an exorbitant fee to get in. With its cash only policy, you're likely to get away from the night paying almost nothing and seeing some of the most emerging bands around.
Many of today's top artists have played this small stage including The Head And The Heart and others. The Lounge also does an "open mic" night on Sundays, so sign up if you feel bold enough to show off your own talents!

Greek Theatre
2700 N Vermont Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 665-5857
www.greektheatrela.com

Many concertgoers think of The Hollywood Bowl and The Greek Theatre as sister-venues for good reason. They both offer top qualities including an outdoor amphitheater to enjoy the music, as well as great seating, but what sets the Greek Theatre apart is its cozier atmosphere. While The Bowl sits around 70,000, the Greek Theatre only sits just shy of 6,000, meaning that you'll see many of the same artists you'd see at The Hollywood Bowl, but in much smaller intimate arena. Nestled in the heart of gorgeous Griffith Park, it is easily at the top of the list for any outdoor concert venue because of its intimacy, as well as state-of-the-art acoustics combined with excellent site lines. The Greek Theatre has been named North America's Best Small Outdoor Venue multiple times, making it a cultural icon of L.A.

Staples Center
1111 S Figueroa St
Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 742-7100
www.staplescenter.com

In addition to it's impressive schedule of sports and high-profile events, STAPLES Center continues to pride itself on also providing iconic concerts from the best of the best such as U2, Paul McCartney, Madonna, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, Garth Brooks, Phil Collins, the Rolling Stones and the list goes on and on. So, if a big artist comes to town, chances are they're going to perform at The Staples Center due to its sheer size and capacity. Surprisingly, for its size, it does offer great acoustics though and it makes for a great place to see a show.

The Viper Room
8852 West Sunset Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 358-1881
www.viperroom.com

Opened in 1993, and located on the infamous Sunset Strip, The Viper Room is known for a lot of things including as the place where actor River Phoenix died. Throughout the years, the Viper Room has hosted the likes of Tom Petty, Oasis, Pearl Jam, The Strokes, Weezer, and even Iggy Pop. The fees for tickets are relatively cheap so come pick your poison and enjoy a show!

The Wiltern
3790 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90010
(213) 388-1400
www.wiltern.com

Named for the cross streets it sits on, Wilshire Boulevard and Western Avenue, the Wiltern is one of Los Angeles' most beautiful old-time theatre's which still hosts many of today's top artists, as well as emerging ones. With standing room on the ground floor, there is also seating on the mezzanine. Wherever you sit or stand, the view is pretty great and so are the acoustics. It's a great intimate venue which holds around 2,000 and has hosted top-tier talent over the years including the likes of Jack White, Eddie Vedder, The Head And The Heart, Phoenix, Cheap Trick, Buffalo Springfield, and many more.

The Roxy
9009 Sunset Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 278-9457
www.theroxy.com

Since 1973, The Roxy has been at the forefront of music in Los Angeles and seen the likes of everyone from Neil Young, Genesis, Van Morrison, Janes Addiction, and more take the stage here over the years. With an official capacity of only 500, you can be sure you're in for an intimate night seeing any show here too. These days, you won't find many of the bigger artists playing here due to the capacity, however, there are exceptions with special shows. You're likely to catch a lot of up and coming bands, as well as smaller bands grace the stage here.

Whisky A Go Go
8901 Sunset Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 652-4202
www.whiskyagogo.com

Like The Roxy, The Whisky A Go Go comes with a ton of Los Angeles music history. Older than the Roxy by around 10 years (it opened in 1964), The Whisky A Go Go only holds around 250 and has been the launching pad over the years for bands like Motley Crue, The Doors, Guns 'N Roses and many others.

House Of Blues
8430 Sunset Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(323) 848-5100
www.houseofblues.com

The House of Blues Sunset Strip is located in the heart of West Hollywood, and is the perfect stop for a show! The tin covered venue was once home to the last live performance by Tupac Shakur. In keeping with tradition, the venue displays the "Crazy Quilt" and keeps a metal box of mud from the Delta Mississippi underneath its stage. You can also enjoy dining while you enjoy a show, or if you're lucky enough, find a way into its exclusive Foundation Room.