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DTE Energy Music Theatre
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Thu, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Yes
8 reviews for DTE Energy Music Theatre
I'm old school too... this is Pine Knob in my head!
Prior to going to see The Fray in concert last week, it had been at least a decade - probably more - since my last visit... but I was pleasantly surprised to see that besides the name change, not much more had changed.
Parking was a breeze and the music quality was fine... We had lawn seats and enjoyed the big screen as well as seeing the stage from a distance. It was funny to see that not only were there plenty of beer vendors on foot, but (maybe because of all of the teeny boppers at this specific show), there were also vendors on foot selling cotton candy, snow-cones, etc...
The night we went it was a beautiful MI night. Just like my memories of going when I was a little girl!
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Believe it or not, I just got to DTE for the first time after living in Mich my whole life. Been everywhere else, but not here. Saw The Fray last night from some great seats. Awesome show! Great venue. I will be going back for sure.
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I love Pine Knob, and have loved it the first time I came to see a concert here in the mid 90's. Arriving at the lot to see a show is always met with excitement and anticipation, especially when coming early to tailgate. We generally come here to see metal acts, which always seem to bring out the metalheads and other interesting people out of the woodwork. People watching at these events can make for some fun conversation.
Most shows we just get lawns seats for, you can get cheap tickets at the venue or The Palace beforehand. Pavilion seats are decent but all the good ones up front are usually sold out to corporate season ticket holders and expensive or hard to come by.
Beer and food as noted by other is expensive here, but the parking lot tailgate parties can offer up some beforehand food and drinks on the cheap. This is just a great place to come chill for some summer fun on a big hill of grass, and listen to your favorite artist that doesn't play small gigs yet. A couple of the best shows I saw here were Iron Maiden, Queensryche and Halford, and the Dream Theater/Queensryche tour.
For comparison to outdoor pavilions, I have to give much props to the Blossom Music Center in Ohio where we saw Iron Maiden in 2008. That location was beautiful compared to Pine Knob.
I'm going to whole-heartedly agree with Parisa K. DTE (or Pine Knob which it will forever be referred to as by everyone born before 1980) is a great, great outdoor venue for seeing top acts perform.
As Parisa stated, it's all about the music. I saw The Police w/ Elvis Costello last night. The sound was great. The lighting was great. The large screens were perfect for viewing from the lawn, where the real action is. Ever been to a Jimmy Buffet concert here? If you have, then you know what I mean. I've seen The Police about eight times and this was my second favorite venue for them (First being Chrysler Arena in Ann Arbor back in high school in the 80's).
Yes, beers are very expensive, but that's what tailgating is all about. Fill up ahead of time and then buying one beer is not too bad.
Also, by getting here early you can get a prime spot and position yourself so getting out is easy. We had no problem at all! Speaking of parking, it's included in the ticket price; one reason for higher prices that Michael C. complained about. It is not highway robbery like the parking fee at The Palace. Lawn seats for The Police were around $44. That's cheap if you ask me, considering this very well may be their last tour ever!!
Pine Knob, er, I mean DTE is an awesome place to see concerts. You will have a good time here, trust me.
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I have seen countless concerts here. In fact, Pine Knob (sorry I'm old school) often was the backdrop of any monumental teen summers. Heck, my best friend slapped the boy I liked across the face because he was sitting with some other girl.. um hello YM moment-- I was mortified.
Regardless, while I agree with the other yelpers likes and dislikes, I really agree Parisa-- if you are going to "DTE," then chances are you are seeing a bigger name (mainstream) band so the intimate setting is lost. My question to Michael C is, where else would you want to see a summer concert? At the Palace? I feel like that's even worse.
And with seeing a mainstream band, chances are "mainstream" prices are going to come with it. It's a basic rule of business: if there is high demand-- jack up the prices and make bank... well at least that's what corporate America chooses to follow.
My advice is this:
1. Go early (like Libby said) and tailgate.. that is, if you are planning on drinking, it's a sure-fire way to save you some bills. Just don't hit the bottle too hard or you won't even get to watch Rod Stewart from the big screens on the lawn. Oh and pick a DD-- don't be stupid.
2. If you are seeing someone you REALLY like-- splurge on pavilion seats. I have sat in the Pavilion a number of times and it's definitely a different atmosphere. It is more about the music than the socializing on the lawn-- which is equally fun if you just "enjoy" the band and could care less about seeing the sweat drip down Rod's face.. or is that his face melting? Either way..
3. If you are sitting on the lawn-- don't wear something you wouldn't want to get dirty-- I made that mistake in my teen years and wore a white skirt. Unfortunately for me it rained that day. That's what I get for being an idiot-- so.. don't be an idiot like I was.
4. Do you really need that $30 Hootie and the Blowfish t-shirt? If the answer is YES, I do NOT want to hear any complaining about the price. Get over it.
5. Have fun. Pine Knob is a place to "take concerts lightly," as I like to say. Typically it is someone I couldn't care less about, but go for a good time. Personally I prefer more intimate settings with bands.. but that's me.
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As everyone has already mentioned, this will always be Pine Knob.
Now that that's out of the way, it is a decent place to see a show, at least for the types of shows that are usually there. We were able to take great advantage of some company pavillion seats and saw a wide variety of shows. Everything looks great from the twentieth row!
If you're the sort that drinks and wanders off from the group, be sure and have a central meeting place in case things end and you're not with your group. It's easy to take longer than you plan stopping by the restrooms and getting munchies and drinks.
In short, I'm not impressed with how this venue is run.
It's hard for me to enjoy a concert here because of the price of the event is usually so high that I would rather save my money. Tickets are separated into lawn "seats", which are just find-yourself-a-spot-in-the-grass seats so far from the stage that they have cameras of the stage that are projected onto giant video screens, and the pavilion seating, which is about double or triple the price depending on how close to the stage you are. Even if you get lawn seats, expect to spend at least $30 per ticket.
The lawn seating seems silly because of the video screens. It's like paying for a really expensive movie instead of a live performance.
But even before you get in the door, you absolutely MUST pay for parking. If anyone has any neat hiding spots in nearby streets, please let me know. So before you've gotten out of the car, DTE EMT has taken $10 from you.
If you plan on drinking at the show, then bring a credit card. Drink prices here are as bad as ball games. Expect to pay nearly $10 per cup of beer.
The bands seem to cash into these higher prices by raising the prices of their merchandise as well. I remember shirts being between $25-30 the last event I attended here. That's way too much for a souvenir shirt!
Honestly I can't think of a way "around" the venue - if the concert you want to see is at DTE EMT, then you're pretty much stuck seeing it there. But I will say be extra careful with your money. It'll go really fast in this place.
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I'm a fan of DTE's lawn, so I'm a fan of DTE. I agree with a lot of Michael's complaints, but these faults are a dime a dozen when it comes to music venues. Sure there are the cheap, more intimate hot spots, but those generally draw specific artists with much smaller fan bases. If you want to see any big name performer, you're pretty much going to have to spend a lot of money for tickets far away from the stage, a lot of money on parking, and a lot of money on drinks, souvenirs, food, etc.
What I like most about this place is the lawn. Sure it is sort of a free for all, but I have been to many concerts at DTE, and I have always found the atmosphere in the lawn to be quite jovial. It's just fun sitting (or standing or dancing) outside and hearing good music among others just like yourself. Yes, it can be hard to see the performers, but if you are going to a concert at a place like DTE, you shouldn't be going for the theatrics, just the music anyway.
I have sat in the pavilion on a few occasions, but really the lawn is the way to go. It's generally quite significantly cheaper, and everyone is in good spirits. I give this place four stars because it is my favorite outdoor venue that can draw any type of musician. I will admit, though, I may be biased because I grew up going to concerts here. Whatever misgivings you may have, if you do go to a show at DTE, I'll bet you have a good time.