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City National Grove of Anaheim
Category: Arts & Entertainment Music Venues Nightlife Music Venues Music Venues [Edit]
2200 E Katella AveAnaheim, CA 92806
(714) 712-2700
Announcement
'White & Nerdy', 'Eat It', 'Polka Face' - Catch "Weird Al" live on Nov. 11. Get your tix here @ http://bit.ly/sGFDBn
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 10 am - 6 pm
Sat 12 pm - 4 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sun, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
109 reviews for City National Grove of Anaheim
109 reviews in English
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Review from Melodi R.
2/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
I love the Grove!
I love the size of the venue, the layout, the sound and the staff.
The shows that come through are diverse and fun!
Parking is surprisingly easy too.
Go and enjoy a show at the Grove of Anaheim soon! -
Review from Al C.
Los Angeles, CA
2/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
I was that this place turned out to be so small. Not only that, the seats they had were sort of a weird choice for this place.
Oh well, I had free parking & it was easy to get in & out. Also the staff was nice.
Cool! -
Review from Tim W.
Orange County, CA
1/19/2012
First time to the Grove this past weekend to see Lisa Lampanelli.
This place is much smaller than I expected!
We were Tier 4 which is the last tier, furthest away, ie... the Cheap Seats!
The place is small, so even Tier 4 isn't that far away from the stage.
The downside is that the seating is all pretty level, so if you are at a sit-down type of show you will probably have someones head in your view.
And the chairs are way TOO CLOSE together. The are literally touching side to side. Luckily we ended up with seats 1 and 2 on the aisle so we were able to move the chairs out a bit for some room. If you are in the middle of the row expect to be touching arms with the people around you. Very tight and claustrophobic!!!!!
Parking is quick and easy. Lots of spaces and cost $10.
Bar area is pretty big and drink prices were reasonable for this type of venue. They had a drink special for $6...... the Alligator which was some vodka oj thing..... very tasty!!
No food or snacks.. only drinks.
Best of all............ Lisa Lampanelli was hilarious!!!!!!! -
Review from Gina D.
Bell, CA
1/17/2012
I came here on Sunday the 15th to see Lisa Lampanelli. We sat in tier 1, row D, two seats in from the aisle. First off, the service charge for this show was $20 per ticket, which was insane. I usually would never pay that but I love Lisa Lampanelli. The parking cost $10 and was easy. No struggling to find a empty spot.
Doors were supposed to open at 7 but didn't open till 7:10 because nobody had a key. Usually I don't mind waiting but it was raining. Once we were inside the staff was helpful and took us right to our seats.
The seating is cramped. The seats are literally touching and you will be bumping elbows with the person next to you. If someone needs to get up during the show they will pretty much be crawling on top of you. The seats in tier 1 do have a lot more cushion then the seats in the other tiers.
The biggest down side is leaving the venue. If you are in the 1st tier it can take 5mins or so just to get to the lobby. Once you are in your car it can take awhile to get out of the parking lot. They really need someone to direct traffic because everyone was cutting each other off, and cutting across parking spots. It took 20 mins to get out of the parking lot.
Overall, I really did like this venue. I think it would be best for concerts since each tier is on a higher level and it really isn't that big of a venue. I wouldn't want to see a sit down show that is longer then 2hrs because the seats are uncomfortable. -
Review from Giancarla E.
Garden Grove, CA
1/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
I attended the Into the AM New Year's Eve 2012 party here and for my first visit at the Grove of Anaheim, it was a spectacular one! Not the biggest venue you've ever seen but sizable enough. More than ample parking and for this particular event, they only charged $10.
Acoustics were amazing inside the main hall but it was great even in the lobby area! A little tucked out-of-the-way beside Angel Stadium between Katella Ave. and State College Blvd.
Extra points for this venue for having a Denny's across the street within walking distance! -
Review from Andrew L.
Fountain Valley, CA
12/26/2011
Okay I'm giving this 5 stars because this was my first clubbing experience and it has a special place in my heart, and cause i was super wasted hehe. So basically I am basing this review on what I THINK happened and what my friends told me.
Venue: 5/5 this venue is like the biggest and nicest club in OC. I think there was a really big dance floor.
Music:4/5 I don't remember haha but I think it depends on the DJs for the beginning of the night is when they played hip hop which is my type of music. But I do remember them playing house and techno which killed the vibe for alittle bit.
Crowd: 5/5 well I think it usually depends on the type of night. According to my friends though the ratio wasn't too good with too many guys. But personally I think the crowd was amazing, I remember seeing alot of cute girls but maybe that was the alcohol.
Management: 3/5 okay near the end of the night I stepped outside for literally one second to make sure my friend was okay and I turned around and the bouncers wouldn't let me out -_-. I talked to them for alittle bit and they were nice but they could it hooked it up... NAWMEEN?
Anyway, I'd definitely go again because of such a good experience I had but my advice is to check out the kind of event, because usually that's what matters. -
Review from Paulette M.
Irvine, CA
1/15/2012
For Christmas I recieved tickets to the B52's (including dinner) at the Grove of Anaheim. Getting there was easy. Parking was easy ($10). I was very happy with our seats in regards to the location. It was weird that all 4 of us had to sit next to each other and not across from each other. The food was great! We had appetizers of shrimp which was really tasty. The Grove salad was delish! My angelhair pasta with shrimp was great. The cocktails were pretty good but I am not sure it was quality alcohol since I did have a tiny headache the next day. The service was good. The music started and it was loud! I truely enjoyed my Grove experience! What a night.
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Review from Nikki M.
10/16/2011
The Grove is a nice smaller venue in the OC. I've been to several concerts here - all of which have been great - and, oddly enough, my senior prom was held here. So, in other words, I've been the venue set up for two very different kinds of events. But enough with the awkward teenage nostalgia, I'll get to the details on attending a concert here.
They have a flat lot parking lot outside of the venue, much like the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater down in Irvine. But unlike the free parking at Verizon, expect to pay your typical venue parking fees (i.e. somewhere between $10-20 bucks).
The inside of the venue is clean; it's not a divey spot by any stretch of the imagination. For the concerts I've been to, it's been standing room only, with a kind of three tired system going on. Each tier is is only slightly high up, and there is no really bad seat in the place - I love that about small venues. The acoustics are great.
Traffic getting out of the venue can be a little whack, as with most flat lots, there tends to be little direction about who goes where. Cool music spot.Listed in: Concert Venues in the OC and…
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Review from Lightning T.
Garden Grove, CA
11/23/2011
Ok I want all of you to jump higher than Michael fucking Jordan!!
SHOW-TEK!
Great performance...but the venue itself is just too anal on rules.
I emailed the workers and they said yes to gum and backpacks. Next thing you know they say no right at the doors.
So Wtf? They should post this on the site! And btw..if you stay in the car too long they will pound on your window and tell you to get out.....
Workers are all rude...to the females you must have your belly covered! This girl was yelling because she was turned away 5 times each time they just said something different. Funny.
I'd only come here again if a specific artist came..but other than that..poor service.
(BTW this is my first NON food review =) ) -
Review from Mavis M.
Huntington Beach, CA
1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
What a treat that there's a great small concert venue in Orange County, without my having to drive all the way home from LA at 1 AM on a week night! Though it looks like the Grove has some pretty weird shows lined up (mostly douchey songsters that are somehow famous thanks to American Idol or washed up acts that were hot 20 years ago like Boyz II Men), we had a GREAT time at the B52's concert (yay! a great washed-up band that still really rocks it!) and thought the venue itself was EXTREMELY pleasant. Staff was great, ticket prices were great, parking was great (even though it is $10, it was in a private lot, wasn't stacked, and was right next to the theater) and the facility itself was clean, well-laid out, and accessible. Best yet, there's a dinner theater option! That's right--you can have a gourmet meal either in the attached lounge/restaurant area OR at your seats before the show. Hip-hip-hooray! Two of my favorite things--melded harmoniously in one place--great grub and awesome tunes. The restaurant/lounge is a bit pricey for dinner (appetizers around $15, entrees in the $15 to $30 range) but it looks very nice inside and you could actually go in there and feel pretty swank and forget it's directly off the main lobby. The shows (if you don't get the dinner theater seats) is standing room only but it's spacious standing room, there aren't any of the pits that I'm afraid of (because they're full of crazy people) and even short folks like myself have a pretty decent chance of seeing the stage, especially since there are large screens to project everything. Oh, Grove of Anaheim! Please have someone come play besides Peter Frampton in the next few months so I can go to you again!
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Review from Niva S.
9/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
I really didn't like the seating and it was colder inside then out side! I thought they would have theater style seating but they had uncomfortable banquet chairs and the seating was way to crowded. the person next to me was hitting me the whole time.
the place was small but not to small enough to see the performance with out a jumbo tron. -
Review from Benjamin C.
Irvine, CA
12/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Located right next to the angels and ducks stadium. The place is surprisingly intimate. I came here for an awards shindig and found the place to be great. I can't wait to come back here for a show.
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Review from C M.
Los Angeles, CA
11/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
I would have arrived earlier had I realized what a great lounge this place has. If I ever return I will definitely arrive early to chill out.
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Review from Alma P.
5/19/2011
I've been to The Grove several times for different events but last night was the first time I've gone to a seated w/tables event where they serve dinner... and needless to say, I was a tad bit worried cuz I didn't know what to expect. The food was actually very good and the service even better... the watistaff was very attentive and friendly. I've always had a good experience here with the staff though.. even at the non-dinner events. The bartenders are always smiling and pleasant and they even went out of their way to try to find a "light" monster drink for my guy.
Honestly, compared to a lot of the other venues in the OC (i.e. The Galaxy, Coach House, etc.) I think the Grove is pretty top notch in terms of service.
My only complaint would be to have someone help direct traffic out after the events.. it's a bit of a pain to get out as people are crisscrossing traffic to try to get to the left hand turn lane. -
Review from Randi B.
2/27/2011
I have never been here for an actual show, but I did visit last weekend for a private birthday party. Very nice!
Since it was a party, the drinks were free (yay!) so I have no idea what they normally cost. I really liked this venue though. The bathrooms were very clean, although I was surprised there was no hook on the door for my purse. Maybe my stall was busted?
There was a band that played and the sound was great. This would be a really nice place to see a concert, it's small and you have a great view of the stage from wherever you are sitting/standing. -
Review from Drew A.
San Diego, CA
10/19/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Convenient, medium-sized venue that also serves dinner before shows. We went to see Aussie Pink Floyd and they were awesome. Definitely a fan of them. There are really no bad seats. Behind the pit is where we sat and had dinner. We had $20 each of credit from the tickets we bought, but I strongly suggest using it for drinks instead. The food was forgettable. I got the brisket dinner for $28 and my buddy got the ribs for $14. He got 4 tiny ribs and I got dry brisket on suspiciously too whipped mash potatoes (read instant box mix). For that amount of money, we were better off eating at one of the nearby restaurants. I'm sure that's the plan if you want closer seats, you have to suffer through the horrible meal and service. Good thing the show rocked.
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Review from Ben R.
Chino Hills, CA
10/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is a terrible venue for a show. Very uncomfortable seating.
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Review from Tiffany H.
Irvine, CA
3/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've been to this venue for two separate events and I've always had an enjoyable time. Ample parking for $10.
And if you have a small bladder like me and you're waiting in line, you can just walk across the parking lot to the train station and use the bathroom there :) Thanks helpful security guards haha.
Inside, the venue is kind of divided into layers. Think like a theater show but all standing room (and each layer is a little higher than the other so people in the back can still see!). Haha But you can go into any one you would like.
AND the A/C is awesome here! Can't go wrong when it's on full blast!
The only complaint I have is that the most recent time I went, they seriously didn't allow anything - including small bags for girls. I felt so awkward just holding my tampons. But, I can sort of understand as it does make the searching process faster.
I would definitely come back here for another event! -
Review from val c.
Arcadia, CA
9/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
I saw Bone thugs and Tim Minchin here. The place is not that big which is good so you can actually see the show from wherever you sit or stand. Just need more bathrooms for my itty bitty bladder!
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Review from Kim B.
Los Angeles, CA
1/16/2012
Friday the 13th I attended a B52's concert at the Anaheim Grove with two friends. Just outside the entrance a group of protesters (about 15- 20) with 'Jesus' banners and 'I Hate Gays' signs etc we're randomly verbally attacking people. Many concert goers we're forced to walk through or around these nut jobs to get in. I was verbally hassled and my friends were asked if they we're faggots. When I got to the gate I complained to the ticket person who agreed the situation was awful. He said there was nothing they could do because it was public property. Today I called the Grove to complain and ask why there weren't police present as many people were very provoked. I was told that the situation was 'unfortunate' but that unless there was a physical confrontation those people exercised their right to freedom of speech and did nothing illegal. Additionally I was told this was not the first time this group had done this there and that the City Attorney was already made aware of it. (The Grove is apparently owned by the City of Anaheim) I'm not gay and one of my friends who was with me is but we we're all equally offended. We paid $50- per ticket. Question? If the hate speech was directed at African Americans using say the 'N" word or, perhaps.. 'Latinos Go To ..Mexico' would Anaheim's finest be there? You bet they would! Shame on you CRISTINA TALLEY!!!
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Review from Lotem B.
11/12/2010
I liked my visit here...
Lol, it was a year ago, and it was for Rob Zombie K-Roq night thingy of Halloween 2009.. (Yes, yes this has been on my bookmark for ages)
So let's see what I remember....
Large area at the entrance where people mingle and enjoy a drink.
Note/ this would be the designated smoking area. (!! Hei don;t judge, you need to know where to pee, buy booze and smoke, right?? lol)
Cool thing about this area is that there were speakers and cool music, but I dont know if this was a part of the K-Roq 'production' thing going there.... Was super nice though as we were rocking out.
Walk through the doors and there is the bar!! Horrey..
Service was nice and quick... "Surprise surprise" you are to expect small plastic cups with ice... lol.. Though cannot remember the price... :/
Behind that area is the actual venue....
Large and specious... If I remember correctly the areas/ levels are devided... Again don't remember too many details, but do know that I had a great time seeing the show so must have been alright.. pffListed in: Venue Places
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Review from Tamara J.
12/16/2010
Absolutely one of the best entertainment venues anywhere.
$10 parking, but the lot is super accessible, small (but big enough) easy in and out. Worth it.
Gigantic and well staffed bar. No waiting through half the show to get a drink. The drinks were decent pours at a decent- for a venue- price. No complaints from me!
Intimate show space, no bad seats. Basically. I personally hate long rectangular tables at a show. Everyone has to either belly up or back away so everyone can see. Silly. Unless its a dinner show, line up some chairs and cocktail tables. -
Review from Poupee C.
So we heard Ira Glass was going to be in town months before...however, stupid me waited like one month before the show date to get tickets...And it was kinda sold out (thru Ticketmaster). So I searched the web for an alternate site to purchase tickets and they were running in the hundreds. Really???
Our plan was to show up on the day of the show and try the box office then...maybe they'll have some seats! But, I just hate showing up at a venue without tickets. So, I called The Grove box office the day before. What a novel idea! WHY didn't I think of this before? I am so accustomed to Ticketmaster. Oiy!
I asked the Box Office girl if there are any available seats for Ira, and she said, "Yes". Yeah!! Row 4, Seats 33 and 34. Hmmm, OK! Cool. Hope these are good seats. I was kinda afraid it be far off the center and more to the side...What the heck, got them anyways. Let's take a gamble.
Low and behold! The seats were really close to center stage. So glad we settled for these seats. FYI, the seats in Tier 1 has more cushion than in other Tiers. Scored again!
The show was very cool. Ira Glass is phenomenal, one of our favorite NPR hosts.
Parking - 10 bucks. Better price than LA! As usual in any venue's parking lot, it will take u some time to make it out the exit...
Drinks - steep! But hey, gotta stimulate the economy somehow.
Enjoy a show at the Grove... -
Review from Candice K.
Irvine, CA
1/9/2011
I typically don't like large spaces, but the size of the Grove is perfect for me. It just sucks that this place doesn't book a lot of metal shows.
- area: it's Anaheim. That means NOT ghetto. (Psst, that's a plus in my book.)
-parking: not free (boooo), but it's a huge lot and very accessible.
- entrance: not too big of a hassle. Standard procedure of checking your shit and letting you in.
- venue: spacious. Good acoustics. Decent bathrooms with water fountains nearby. The entire inside has layered floors so that the further you are from the stage, the higher up you are. This is a pretty awesome design in my opinion, since you can chill in the back and still see the show.
- stage: large and well-lit. They put up barriers and have enforcers patrolling the front so that we can't squish right up against the stage. Now, if only the enforcers would make sure to not only grab but also to kick out and BAN the stupid asshole crowd surfers from the venue, I'd be a happy girl. My head is not your kicking toy, you douches! And if you happen to get punched in the crotch while you're surfing up there, you're welcome. -
Review from Lizette S.
Pico Rivera, CA
3/12/2011
Had lots of fun tonight :) This place is really spacious, I went to the Escape the Fate show tonight. (hardcore, rock music)
Anywhoo I loved that you could FEEL the AC. That is sooo awesome when you are jammed together trying to get close to the stage.
There is a bar and my friends were happily getting hammered (About $8 a drink) Whooo... guess who's the designated driver -_-
Parking: $10... uhm SCREW That! Mc Donalds= Free. no ticket XD
Really easy to find too. Right off the 5.
There is 1 water fountain inside.
And that's it, It's a cool place, good crowd. :) -
Review from Jane K.
Los Angeles, CA
10/17/2010
I didn't even know that this place existed until I came here for Into the AM with Laidback Luke, Steve Aoki, LA Riots! (By the way, Laidback Luke and Steve Aoki KILLED it here).
This place would have gotten a better review if it wasn't for the way they worked with the tickets and lines. The will call line was so long and people waited for 2+ hours just to get the tickets! However, once we went through the main gate, there was a spacious area for people to just chillax outside, and a bar/dance area right in the front, with really good air conditioning, which was like HEAVEN whenever we came outside to take a break when it got too hot inside the main room.
The venue itself was pretty big. If you've ever been to the Palladium, it's somewhat mapped out like that with the ledge in the back near the sound system and a large floor area with ramps on the sides for people to walk back and forth without having to elbow people in the face just to get to the bathroom.
As expected, the area near the stage was completely packed with barely any space to move around, but we swam through the sea of people to get a glimpse of Laidback Luke, and it was amazing. It was nice because even though it was completely packed on the floor, I was able to easily access the side ramp whenever I needed to get out of that pit of sweaty mess and take a breath of fresh air.
Overall the experience was good and I would come back here if there was another show I wanted to attend. -
Review from Jocelyn C.
Orange County, CA
12/21/2010
Awesome staff, awesome friendly security!
$5.00 drink specials. -
Review from Matt C.
6/1/2010
Not so much...
Has a cavernous, industrial, dark, concrete feel to it... Probably one of the worst musical venues I have been to. It's confusing to get around in there also. The venue is set up terraced and you can only change levels by going down the sides... Why?.. (First of this type that I have seen). I would think going down the center (and sides) would make better sense (safer too, more egress points).
There were only 2 bars that I saw, one large one at the front of the venue and another much smaller / temporary one located outside. So crowd control was sort of a problem and the lines for drinks were very long.
Probably most importantly, and why you'd want to see live music the sound system... It was pretty poor - almost a hollow sound to it, part of which can be accounted for by the poor design of the place... There are a lot of other much better musical venues than this one in the Southern California region; this one lies at the bottom. -
Review from George J A.
Norwalk, CA
5/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went to see Matt Dusk, and there was a buffet... being vegetarians the selection was limited for my niece and myself. The kitchen prepared each of us a plate that was both delicious and vegetarian friendly. That, plus the friendly staff & atmosphere has made an impression on me - I can't wait to go back.
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Review from Andrew T.
Pasadena, CA
10/27/2010
Some info for those going here. Grove of Anaheim is situated right next to Angels stadium. Parking is 10$ or 5$ across the street. Plenty of fast food around across the street if you wanted to grab a bite before heading in.
I saw Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. Awesome show, but the place seemed a little cavernous for the amount of people there. I would say it is a medium sized venue, no seating, just standing room. They don't over book the place so you are comfortable, but you feel like they could have made the place more "cozy." Once you get inside the concert room it is very industrial looking, kind of like an airport hanger.
They do sell liquor and beer here and it is decently priced (5-7$ a drink) given the situation. All in all, this venue is much better than going to an amphitheater or anything like that. I'd come back given the right show. -
Review from Jamie W.
6/26/2010
Even if I like, but don't necessarily love a band I will go see them play if they are at The Grove. This place has it right... it's small enough to feel quaint but big enough that people aren't falling all over each other when they move or dance. This is a comfortable place to hang out and every time I've ever been here it's been free and clear of the douchey kind of people you sometimes encounter at more pretentious clubs (this might have something to do with the kind of music I listen to though).
Hubby and I went to go see the She Wants Revenge/Psychedelic Furs show last night (the second or third time we've seen She Wants Revenge here). Just as previously experienced, the sound quality is really good at this venue and there really isn't a bad area to stand in the whole place.
Yes, standing room only does suck and yes, I did have to change from my sexy new heels into flip flops. Oh well, what are you gonna do? I miss those days when I could dance in 4 or 5 inch heels for hours on end.
Parking is never an issue. It's plentiful and $10. There can be a lag to get out if you leave with everyone else. Of course though, it was made a little easier on this occasion since we left part way through the Furs set (when everyone suddenly got older and Tommy Bahama shirts became the new "uniform" I shoulda' realized).
Only complaints are... why do they not build more bathrooms in these places? Also, the lines for drinks can be ridiculous at times. I didn't go to a show just to wait the whole time! When you do get a drink though, they aren't badly priced and the bartenders do give you a decent pour.
Overall, a good venue. If a band you like is playing here, go.Listed in: Let's Rock
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Review from Hazel Q.
Updated - 4/5/2009 1 Check-in Here
You know the drill when you go to a show, you overpay for parking, deal with a surly parking attendant, deal with surly box office people, deal with surly security people, deal with a surly bartender.
I'm happy to say The Grove is surliness-free. It's a no surl zone. It's no shoes, no surl, all service...that one didn't work as well. There are, sure as hell, shoes.
Sure, overpriced drinks and expensive parking. But thems the breaks. For me it's all worth it to have stupendous service from everyone from the parking guy to the bartenders.Listed in: Orange County Music Venues
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/31/2009
Hi, I'm Hazel, and I like to write the opposite of what other yelpers write. In this case anyway.… Read more »
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Review from Liz O.
9/17/2008
My Cross Colors have been in storage for quite some time.
So have all my Pharcyde/Tribe/Black Sheep/Onyx and hell, New Edition tapes.
I left the hip hop long time ago...but I don't think it ever left me.
The Grove of Anaheim presented N.E.R.D. and Common on Monday night. I invited my brother, who happens to be a fan of both artists, and we made our way behind the Orange Curtain.
I've seen many shows at the Grove, most recently, Erasure. The cool thing about the Grove is that the stage is visible from any stand point within the venue. There are about 5 tiers of standing room with visibility from all tiers. There are several bars that serve cocktails and beer -- and you will also find a cool lounge with plush couches and flat screen monitors.
We arrived and were met with a long line of eager fans waiting to claim their tickets at the box office. Grove personnel made everyone, including invited guests, wait in one solid line. My diva attitude didn't help nor did pretending to know someone who knows someone who is related to someone who works with the artists, could help me get into the venue quick enough.
Time was ticking and the line would not budge. It was now 8:30PM and N.E.R.D. was due on stage in five minutes.
Miraculously, the hip hop fairy sprinkled some "crunk dust" on us and we were suddenly in front of a ticket agent.
Once inside, we scurried towards the front of the stage and managed to make it in time to catch N.E.R.D. start it up.
I am not entirely familiar with the hip hop of today -- only because I find whatever is on MTV and VH1 to be ridiculous and absurd. But I have known of N.E.R.D.'s Pharrell Williams to be a significant collaborator and producer to many of today's rising stars.
Which is why I was shocked and taken aback by the performance I witnessed. About ten dudes on stage -- all jumping around with microphones in hand shouting out random hype sayings;
"What!" "What!"
"Uh!" "Uh!"
"Ye-ah!" "Ye-ah!"
Ok?
Pharrell sang a few times, did a pelvic thrust towards the ladies in the house and jumped around mostly.
I observed the audience, and they too, were mimicking every hand gesture and aerobic exercise that these fools did on stage.
I don't get it.
The crowd was mostly made up of White boys and Asian girls.
Huh? Where the brothas at??? Where the sistas at??!?!
Maybe it was because I was in the OC. Maybe this isn't exactly hip hop music. Maybe these people were all of Kanye West's stragglers that couldn't make it to his show.
I don't know.
I drank my beers and greeted my client -- then I made a quick dash towards the exit.
I didn't stick around for Common. I can't imagine what THAT performance was like.
Oh yeah, the Grove.
Decent venue.
Box office line HAS to improve.
Parking is fine -- $10 is better than the Forum's $22!!
Drinks are expensive -- as with every concert venue.
The hip hop was not for Liz O. But may be for you. What the hell do I know anyway?! -
Review from Ti B.
12/18/2007 2 photos
Oh yes! My friends...get your coffee, bring a pen and paper, grab a chair, lean in and get ready to experience one of the most beautiful moments of my California existence.
Last Tuesday night my lovely friend Alex C and I drove down to the Grove of Anaheim to hear Trapt play. I was invited by the hot drummer boy Aaron Montgomery. We arrived in the cold and the parking was 8 bucks. "I am a guest, I don't want to pay parking?" We were advised we needed a lanyard in order to get free parking. So we called Aaron and he got us in. We picked up our all access passes and chilled in the dressing room with the Trapt boys. What a delight! The food was catered...yummy beef and turkey...with carrots, broccoli, and rice. We ventured out to the lobby for tequila shots with friends.
We sat around, told stories, admired the girls perfectly dressed walking by, and all the rocked out Rockstars awaiting their moments to shine. The dressing rooms were a decent size lined with mirrors and lights. It had kitchen area with a fridge loaded with booze.
Sitting on the leather couch in the dressing room we listened to the rumbling of the walls of the sound beating through...shared beers and just waiting for Trapt's turn to tear up the stage.
After much awaited anticipation the boys were ready to go! The band was announced to the crowd, there were huge cheers, and Aaron turned and looked at me and gave me a kiss on my cheek. Oh yes, a sweet moment. I stood there and watched my sleeveless white button down shirt and army pants hottie boyfriend run on stage to his drum kit. The fog machines were letting out a delicious mist and the lighting truss shining down with an array of colors down on the band.
The sound waves came and Aaron looked so amazing on stage with his strong arms playing with intensity and perfection. In my lonely world, sound began to cease and the world slowed down...all I could hear was my heart beating with the bass drum. My eyes reverted to tunnel vision and my darling beautiful man was glowing in the cyber lights. It was as if Heaven was speaking. My heart nearly burst out of my chest. Finally, I have seen him shine. All these months of intimate moments of love, Turkey travel, dinners, movies, sailing, affirmation hours, and we have reached this moment. The moment where I get to see my love do what he is created to do, see him at his fullest! I am captured...
This venue has great significance to me now. After the show I followed the band and watched them sign boobs, autographs, and take photos with the fans. A few moments in between we caught eyes and he smiled at me...little hints and reminder of his affection for me.
After much beer and quality time on the other tour buses we left for Vegas, intimately we shared that little bunk and held onto each other. Never thought half a twin size bed could work to my advantage. :) -
Review from Austin S.
9/8/2009
While I was living in Orange County, I had the chance to go to the Taste of Anaheim every summer, and the event (which I believe is now in it's 11th or 12th year) is hosted right in the parking lot right outside. As part of the festivities, they always had someone putting on a show inside. Usually it was somebody like an American Idol finalist, meaning someone good enough to put on a decent show but because they didn't win, they weren't famous enough to garner high admission prices or anything like that. But I usually always just poked my head in and never really took the time to take advantage of the facilities.
Until last week. I came here to see the ever hilarious Demtri Martin play.
Even though we had seats near the back, we weren't terribly far. The only thing is that the floor isn't really that angled, so I almost had to crane my neck to get a really good view. And you all know me, I'm pretty tall. Oh well....
The chairs could've been better. Demetri Martin is pretty popular, so they just brought in a bunch of hotel conference room seminar kind of chairs, but at least they took the time to type out and print row and seat numbers for EACH seat. And there had to of been a couple thousand people in there I think.
They've got a concession style that reminds me of what you would see at a movie theater and they apparently host a lot of musical concerts and such on top of the comedy.
I think I'd only come back here if someone I REALLY wanted to see was playing here, otherwise in terms of comedy, I'd rather just go to Brea Improv where there is at least a table to put my drink. -
Review from Ana M.
9/7/2008
Paying for parking is lame, but $8 isn't bad.
I have been to the Grove a few times all of which have been pleasant. It's not the best place to see a show, the size isn't small enough to be intimate, but not big enough to need to be stadium. It's just an awkward middle. But an awkward middle comes with its perks, it's general admissions so if you play your cards right you can be nice and close to the band!
It's well kept, no sketchy business like you might expect at other venues. If it's between The Grove and making a trek to LA, why not take a trip to The Grove! -
Review from Martha M.
Anaheim, CA
6/23/2009
I really, really like this Venue. Not only is it close to home, but parking is EASY, compared to the Honda Center a few streets down and even some of the LA venues, where parking is a nightmare! Don't even get me started on leaving after the show! A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! Every show I've gone to, I've been out of the parking lot in 10 minutes. The only thing I've ever had to wait on is for the street light to turn green.
I've been to this venue several times and it's great for both general admission concerts and sit down comedy shows. I've seen Cake, Bloc Party, Bob Saget, George Carlin (just before he passed away), and Most recently DJ Quik, to name a few.
Every show I've been to has been amazing! From every tier and any spot, I could see the stage clearly. When I went to see Cake, Bloc Party and DJ Quik, I got there at a decent time (after the show started) and I went straight down to the front tier (there are about 5 tiers). Not a lot of people know that for General Admission, you don't need a special ticket to get down to the front.
They have a huge smoking area and you can bring your drinks out when you want to take a smoke. They also have two bars, a big long one right when you walk into the building and a smaller one in the lounge area (with plenty of couches) to the right. The bartenders are all really great and they pour with a heavy hand.Listed in: Pretty Damn Good Concert Spots
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Review from Michael N.
Tustin, CA
6/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Don't come for the food - just the show!
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Review from Anh T.
Pasadena, CA
8/6/2007 1 photo
"Wanna go to a show?"
"Maybe, where?"
"Anaheim."
"Ummm...Pass."
"I'll pay...and drive."
"Fiiiine."
Basically, that was the only way my friend was going to convince me to go all the way out to Anaheim. Either that or promise of a good lay. Unfortunately, I don't put out on the first date...usually.
Last week, I was able to witness the live crooning of Musiq Soulchild. I've never seen so many big women swoon...and jiggle in places I never knew could jiggle like that. Despite his ridiculously tacky outfit, Musiq can really hit those high notes. Arriving early, we were also able catch Consequence, who will sadly never be able to overcome his cousin's (Q-Tip) shadow.
For a venue, the Grove was decent and had good sound quality. The front area was set with tables for full dinner service (I'm assuming only for the mellow shows). We ghetto kids, however, sat in the back area, where dinner chairs were lined up instead of real seating. Definitely not worth the $50 I didn't pay. The seats were so close together that I was almost suffocated between my buff buddy (I told him he needed a license for those guns) and a voluminous lady with extremely offensive body odor. She needed a good hosing down; I seriously almost passed out every time she lifted her arm/thigh. Ehh...I guess it wouldn't be fair to take stars off for someone else's bad hygiene?
Anyway, if I come back, I'd probably come for a standing-only show with a shower requirement. And if someone else pays for me...and chauffers....yeah, there's a good chance I won't be back.Listed in: Ear Fetish?
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Review from Ronnie M.
West Los Angeles, CA
1/9/2008
So I used to be kinda emo yo. Why do you think I like boys in skinny jeans? Cuz of Pete freaking Wentz. Yes, I wanted to bang Ashley Simpson's boy. I just thought life would be so perfect. Me, him - sharing the same clothes.... awwwwwwww.
http://www.mollygood.c...
awwwwwwwwwww.
OK don't all throw up at once.
Anyway, after much anticipation in getting Fall Out Boy tickets. I finally managed to score them on ticketmaster. They were sold out 2 minutes later. Word to mother earth yo. It's a hot commodity!
Anaheim really isn't too far from Torrance. 25 minute drive at most. We got there around 5PM for a 7PM show. We took a cab so I can't comment on the parking situation. There was a huge line already. WTF. After 2 hours of waiting with other highly stoked boys and girls, we were in! on time!
The venue is awesome! Great lobby. Different levels to stand. We were able to get in the front section near the middle. I hoped that Pete would sweat on me. I really did.
But he never did.
My sis decided to have a panic attack and faint cuz of the huge crowd and the security had to lift me and her out.
Prompt response I must say.
At least we got to see NFG and Early November.
Maybe one day Pete.
