Great American Music Hall
Category: Music Venues [Edit]
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin859 OFarrell St
(between Larkin St & Polk St)
San Francisco, CA 94109 (415) 885-0750
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 10:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Music: Live
- Best Nights: Fri, Sat, Thu
- Happy Hour: No
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: No
- Coat Check: Yes
94 reviews
Neighborhood: Japantown
"Without a doubt, this is one of the BEST places to see music in the city. They have a steller record of bringing in great talent and if…" read more »
400 Reviews for Great American Music Hall
Gorgeous venue with all the ornate plaster on the walls & ceiling. Apparently this place used to be a brothel, which certainly adds to the appeal. The sound is good, the lighting is good, not too big, not too small. Plus, they have the Great American Lemonade, which is a fine and tasty drink.
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I do love this place for the nostalgia, and beauty. And if you go to a low key sit down concert its great. I've gone a few times and been able to get a table up front and really enjoy a favorite band absorbing and seeing everything. A big plus for a shorty like me. But if you go to a sold out standing show beware of the NO VENTILATION factor...yikes! And I was wearing a tank top, wow it was majorly uncomfortable. Its a great place for a more intimate show, maybe a more low-key type band to enjoy the whole ambiance. Of course thats just my opinion. I'll still love seeing a show here, and I always go for the smaller venues over the big ones. Matter of fact I can't even remember the last time I went to a huge venue. I usually only go these days to the clubs or places like these to see a show.
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A love old buildings with a lot of detail. I wish I could go back in time to see how people came up with such beautiful structure. Why do we love those glossy, sleak chrome blank walls now? It's so... modern. Heh.
They have superb wood carved walls and high ceilings with a chic chandalier as the focal point of the venue. Intimate enough to form a nice cozy crowd, but not too compact where everyone is stuck under an armpit. There were plenty of walking space and well placed water coolers in case your favorite performer makes you hyperventilate.
The upstairs is pretty neat, but only the seats right next to the edge are worth sitting at. Otherwise, you might as well listen to a radio because you cant see the stage anything pass the balcony area. Drinks are decent (ie. not watered down) and food looked edible for a non-restaurant type of place.
But the draw (aside from your fav band) is the building itself. Rich browns, darkened mirrors, well placed worn out floors, and vaulted ceilings for ample raising of the roof! I hope they never tear down this SF gem, so that all visitors get a chance to go back into time and see how the flappers boogied in their hey-day.
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A classic San Franciscan music venue this large space houses everything from LA Rappers (Busdriver) to Whole Foods Holiday Parties. A must for anyone who loves to see live music, the drinks were strong and affordable, the location is interesting (heart of the tenderloin next to the O Farrel Brother's Theater) and the sound system is great. One star off for having to dance around the tables that were set up near the front of the stage. Get those tables off the dance floor for seriously funky events.
So I have this fun habit of getting really anxious and awful feeling at shows sometimes. It happens to me WITHOUT FAIL at Mezzanine (http://www.yelp.com/bi...), and I'm pretty sure I've had at least one panic attack at most of the music venues/dance halls in the City. I could map them out with pins like sexual conquests, like in Gravity's Rainbow, but less sexy and less effed up, but probably more pathetic (+1000000000000000000 snob points for that one, btw.)
ANYWAY, I think the only place left off that list would be Great American. I have never had a bad time here. Which is remarkable, given that this is the venue that I've seen the most shows at BY FAR. I think my love for this place comes down to:
1) Somehow it is never too ridonkulously crowded. Even when it is crowded, it never FEELS horribly crowded. Visibility of the stage is usually fine, no matter where you stand. I think the reason it never feels too crowded comes down to....
2) The decor. It's got the whole lovely, guilded, ornate thing going on, which can make even the dingiest, unshowered hipster feel almost elegant. But it's ceilings are also REALLY high because of the balcony. So even when it's crowded it never feels stuffy.
3) The crowd never seems too douchey, or at least I have been lucky in this department.
4) There are two bars and two sets of restrooms. CLUTCH.
5) Really good acts come to this venue. And Golden Era is right down the street!
However, I've never had the pleasure of doing the dinner ticket.
...oh hey, any takers? I'm, like, a really good conversationalist. And by "conversationalist" I mean kisser.
BUT YOU HAVE TO BUY ME DINNER FIRST I AM A LADY AFTER ALL.
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hands down my favorite place to see a show in the city.
beautiful venue, not to big or small, great acoustics and they do a great job booking a variety of bands.
The Great American Music Hall is where I've seen some of my favorite shows. Last time I went, I saw Mirah and The Blow perform here. Even though The Blow turned out to be one girl who was wayyyyy chatty cathy and had to give the background on every song (don't you hate when live performances kill your enjoyment of a band's music?), I never have a bad time here because the venue is sooo gorgeous, the historical features are well-preserved, and the line at the bar is never too long.
PS Mirah ruled.
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This is a VERY COOL venue. The inside reminds me of an old opera house converted to a who knows what. I came here with a group of friends for a Dredg concert and I was very surprised at how small it way. I admittedly did not have much fun due to the crowd. Sweaty people who smell like weed just aren't my thing I guess. I would have liked it if they had a sitting area for the downstairs people but you can pay extra and have dinner before the show upstairs. If I return here I will definitely be paying the extra to be upstairs. Maybe it's just me but I don't have fun if I'm uncomfortable or tired. Anyways once again very cool venue minus the bums outside.
with its shiny gold ceilings and a beer 'n shots bar, GAMH is awesome. i've seen tons of shows here, and it's one of my favorite places to see live music. the area is pretty easy to get to, and it's got a low-key feel to it unlike it's sister venue Slims. shows tend to be cheap here too.
For some reason, this reminds me of some place in NYC. Definitely one of my favourite venues in SF. The crowd is thankfully not the kind that you'd see at the larger venues. Not too big, not too small, it's just the right size.
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This is a great venue for live shows. The parking is not too bad in terms of availability. The area is sketchy though, so don't leave anything valuable in the car.
Anyways, the venue looks nice inside. The interior is nicely decorated to give an early 90's feel. It has seated viewing from the balconies held by thick columns. The walls, ceiling, and railings had intricate details. When I stepped into the venue, it felt like I traveled back in time. It is a medium sized venue. Not too small, not too big.
As for the sound quality, from standing on the floor in the front of the stage, the vocals are not really clear. The highs aren't good at all.
Ah, the last show of my road trip...never been to a show here (and I've been hitting up shows in SF since probably 1996)...it was surprisingly small and had a nice ambiance. I was able to squish way up front. The sound was decent, but what really won my heart is after I left my bag under a table and walked about 4 blocks down the street, and ran back in a panic, the staff was pretty awesome and even gave me a ticket stub for the show - will call = no stub :(
the only negative was 2 stalls in the ladies room??? unless there's another restroom i didn't see...
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Beautiful. I'll never forget Rufus Wainwright here. Hard to get a drink sometimes, but who cares. Its the Great American Music Hall. Take a look at a picture or two -- you'll melt. No other venue can top that. Fillmore Schmillmore.
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my fav spot to see a show The Tubes rocked there years back... great atmospher!
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This is my favorite venue. Chill in the car for a bit, have a few drinks, and go enjoy the show and hang out with the band later- it's a good ritual.
Seeing explosions in the sky? Epic. Seeing explosions in the sky another time on shrooms? Even more epic.
Saw Rosie Thomas here last night. Great acoustics for small shows. Intimate, great lighting, friendly crowd. Lots of seating upstairs on the balcony and downstairs on the floor. Guess it just depends what type of view you want. The Great American Music Hall has to be one of my favorite venues in San Francisco.
Plenty of street parking. Try to park on the side streets off O'Farrell or Van Ness. If you're afraid that your car might get broken into, you can always park at AMC1000 and get your ticket validated inside the theatre.
A beautiful venue, a nice menu, great staff. I have only seen 3 shows here but that's probably because I have a preference for the Fillmore. I am coming around to really liking GAMH though.
The one thing that keeps this from being 5 stars is the sound system. Heavy on bass and low frequencies, it tends to distort or hide the vocals and higher frequencies.
There is a MARKED difference in sound from the balcony to the floor- but not a bad seat in the house. Looking forward to future shows!
This is one of my favorite places to see a show (and there are a lot of venues to choose from in this city)! It has tons of character and the size of this place is just right. Ticket prices are definitely reasonable and if you find yourself buying tickets the night of the show, the will-call line moves pretty quickly. I've seen a bunch of shows here (Badly Drawn Boy, The Frames, Juliette and the Licks, Matt Pond PA, the list goes on and on) and I've never been disappointed. Added bonus that it is a quick jaunt from my apartment.
Dear Great American Music Hall,
You are beautiful. Inside and out. I love your dark walls, your intricate period details, your drinks, and especially the music acts you get.
-1 star for the iffy sound system that causes the singers' voices to come in and out.
Other than that, you are perfect.
Sincerely,
Tien L.
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I love Great American. It's one of my favorite venues, definitely top 5. Awesome acts play here all the time, but be warned: bigger shows sell out frequently. If you don't buy your ticket in advance, there's a good chance you'll be longingly eyeing the willcall line for extras.
The venue interior is very classy, but they only have one bar downstairs in the back corner and there's usually a line. But you should be fine provided you start making your way toward the bar with about 1/4 of your drink left. And $3 PBR is worth mentioning.
They're cool with cameras here as long as the band doesn't care. That alone gets a 5-star review from me. Fuck the cavity searches the Fillmore and other places welcome you with. Great American is pure class.
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Over the years I've seen some great shows here, everything from Tuvan Throat singers to Rufus Wainwright. On the right side of this page I see a bunch of people talking shit on the sound, but I've never had a problem with it when I've been there.
Very classy and beautiful venue!! Perfect size!!
Wish I went to more concerts there!!
Best time was when he took me there to see Goapele!!
Great American Music Hall is GREAT!
I think the old sign outside this venue, is reason enough to make you want to check it out.
I love this type of venue. It's not too big and not too small. And don't get me wrong, I love cramped up bars with live music and your typical summer festival. But, this place has a nice atmosphere. You get an intimate vide with the musicians and the staff is pretty rad. The bar is approachable and quick with the service. And a plus for both the fans and musicians that the merch tables are visible throughout the show... bring your cash 'cause it sucks to miss out on tour merch... I think so at least. and the closest ATM is a couple city blocks away. It's easy to get in and out, if you want to smoke or chat with people outside during the breakdowns. And I thought the will-call line moved really quick another alternative to paying service fees.
And I love the architecture...
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The venue is has a convenient location. It is by far the easiest venue to get to of its caliber (wait, except maybe Warfield). Some of the most amazing shows I have ever been to took place inside the beautiful walls of GAMH. Klaxons left me wet with sweat (which I wish was my own but I am sure about 50% was not). Arctic Monkeys left me dazzed (they had so much hype around them, to see them play at this place is amazing. Somone offered me $100 outside for my ticket), Kings of Leon left me elated. Even the Kings bassist told me this venue ranked in his top 3 he had ever played.
It is big enough to bring your friends and small enough to still be that elitist hipster prick. Ticket prices are always reasonable. The box office is open during the day and there is ALWAYS (I say that very confidently) tickets at the door. Whether it is 5 or 25 there will always be tickets at the door.
The balcony area is mostly reserved for dinner guest but if you get there early enough you can scope out and find an excellent seat over the side of the stage. Honestly though, every seat in the balcony is superb.
This is a must go to place whether you are a resident or a tourist.
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OK, so I love the Great American Music Hall. Yes, I do....I mean is there any other venue in the city that speaks as clearly to the inner baby boomer in all of us...well at least all of us with musical taste that predates rap? The moment I enter the front door, I feel like I should be wearing a headband and saying things like - "That's heavy, man" or "The pigs are here...Hide the stash!"
I just love the low-light vibe here, the ornate wall decorations, the little cafe tables that the waitresses somehow manage to navigate. It's like groovy in here. I have yet to try the dinner specials here, but I love the idea and the menu actually sounds pretty good. Dinner theater is so 1970's, but that fits since that's when it was refurbished after years of decay.
I saw Howard Jones here last night. Yeah, Howard Jones...HoJo...remember him?... http://www.youtube.com... ....man, I love that song...
"Doctor says you're cured but you still feel the pain
Aspirations in the clouds but your hopes go down the drain
And you want her and she wants you
We want everyone
And you want her and she wants you
No one, no one, no one ever is to blame..."
I tend to think of HoJo as a relatively under-appreciated talent defeated by a really bad haircut. He wrote some beauties back in the 80's, but then he went the way of most of the hair bands - ABC, Ultravox, Human League, Thomas Dolby, Spandau Ballet - obscurity. Well, he was back for an acoustic tour, just him at a keyboard and longtime accompanist Robin Boult on guitar.
The whiplash haircut is gone, long gone...he's 52 and more of an avuncular presence now. But he sounded so good in this venue, ideal for an acoustic set. He sang the oldies, encouraging sing-alongs and getting a verbatim response from a rapt audience. He sang new songs which made me think he may be due for a renaissance. At he does in here. What a great place. Pass the doobie, man.
Oh, and this is how he looks and sounds now...we're all getting older http://www.youtube.com...
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Can this place's character absorb one more "intimate" description? Really, it's beginning to feel adjectivally claustrophobic on these pages.
I like walking into the Great American's generous, yet intimate, swath of space. The vertical, horizontal and diagonal motion possibilities are numerous, and they are appreciated by me -- a frequent floor dweller who occasionally aspires to balcony heights. A standing member of the audience who occasionally retires to a chair when the old back starts aching. It's all possible here.
The shows I've seen at GAMH rate among my most memorable (from The Verlaines in the early 90s to Circle in 2005 to Slint and Mission of Burma's reunion tour dates).
The interior is sensual and ornate, the hue is soft and red, the sound is formidable and the floor is oak. This Hall has long been, and remains, my favorite venue for experiencing live music.
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This is such a beautiful venue that I actually called them about having my wedding here. They weren't so into the idea, but that's ok. I love them anyway.
Small, intimate, great sound quality and really cool staff. There's literally nothing not to love about this place.
this place has such an ambiance and gorgeous architecture throughout it. i love that they offer a good menu selection, it always comes in handy if you've rushed their to see a show and are starving, or if you get hungry while you're there. i suggest splitting the nachos, quesadillas or garlic fries, they also have an array of fresh salads, burgers & sandwiches. there's a balcony area upstairs where you can sit down and relax while chatting with friends or to watching a band, although sometimes it's already packed, so get there early if you don't want to stand.
i used to go here on a regular basis when i lived in the loin...i've seen some of the best acts perform there! it's a definite must do if your new to the city and want to see some of the history that san francisco has to offer.
When I was a DJ at KALX I used to get free tickets to this place all the time. I wouldn't think twice about seeing a show here. I kind of got used to it as a venue.
I came here last night after having had not been in at least two years. THIS PLACE IS AMAZING! The sight lines are pretty good [except for that tall guy whose girlfriend is in front of him & he's not caring whether or not you see, but that his GF gets a good unobstructed view.] The sound system is great too.
My one complaint is the sound at the bar itself. Last night's show of Mirah & the Blow were great, but the people who were hanging out at the bar being all loud were louder than the quiet softness that is Mirah. At some places [du Nord] they have a curtain between the stage area & the bar area to help muffle the sound.
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Great place to see live music and the annual skate awards! I have seen awesome bands here over the years, but as of late there seems to be less rock and more obscure stuff. As long as people are enjoying the gorgeous space!
Cons: the bar is full on highway robbery! The table guards that don't allow you to use the space on the side of the dance floor.
Pros: the funny djs and the cool lady bar staff (the guys are crass)
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The Great American is arguably the best music venue in the city of San Francisco. I know it's a gutsy statement, but for me, one can't go wrong with: affordable tickets to great shows, an intimate environment that isn't too claustrophobic, a great bar with relatively affordable beverages, and versatile options for patrons to either stand and watch, sit and eat, or grab a chair from the balcony and just sit, imbibe and observe.
I lurve this venue. I've seen a handful of amazing shows here -- from Band of Horses, to Of Montreal, to The Knitters -- I can't wait to come back!
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One of my favorite venues. Gorgeous building, great sound, amazing bands. There are a few spots that make it really hard to see the stage, but for the most part, it doesn't really matter where you sit/stand.
It's well worth the drive from Sacramento.
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My absolute favorite place to see a band in SF. It's gorgeous and if you can get a seat in the balcony, you're pretty much guaranteed a great view. They book great bands and they don't have crazy rules like the Fillmore, Bimbo's or the Warfield, i.e., "YOU CAN'T STAND HERE" or "YOU CAN'T SIT HERE" or "DON'T EXIT FROM HERE" or "TWO DRINK MINIMUM" which drive me nuts. They don't treat you like cattle...it's a bit more intimate of a venue and they employ polite and easy-going people. It's just a beautiful venue, filled with fuzzy memories and good times.
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Favorite SF venue--I've been everywhere except the Nob Hill Masonic Auditorium. GAMH has a refined look and the acoustics are great. I saw Of Montreal there last November.
Street parking was readily available. Also, there are plenty of restaurants nearby. I ate at an Indian restaurant two or three blocks west of the venue. It was incredible.
A+
The size, the lighting, everything about this place rules. The building is well preserved. Above all, the sound is amazing.
The place seems much bigger on the inside than outside - yet the GA floor can be basement-club-intimate due to beautiful stage design and no shortage of state of the art electronics.
The venue treats artists and fans alike with top notch equipment and amenities.
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great venue.. especially when the upstairs is open.. good acts.. gotta love the tenderloin, and you can't smoke cigarettes inside, but who would want to smoke cigarettes?
By far one of the best live music venues in SF.
I know live music, as I've been a live music aficionado in SF for many years. I've probably been to GAMH over 15 times.
This place kicks ass and SF wouldn't quite be the same without it.
Do yourself a favor and go to a live show at this place!
Great sound, intimate smaller venue, and nice historic interior.
Awesome venue and I have only positive things to say about this place. Another reason I love SF.
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Great live music venue. If you can see a band you dig here you are lucky. It is small and classic and I do not think there is a bad seat in the house.
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