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Great American Music Hall
Rating Details »
Category: Music Venues
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin859 O'Farrell St
(between Larkin St & Polk St)
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 885-0750
- Hours:
Mon-Fri. 10:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Thu, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- Yes
502 reviews for Great American Music Hall
Great American Music Hall is an outstanding venue!
Last week we had the pleasure of seeing PETER BJORN & JOHN
Sound was perfect & we could hear all the instruments, the singers & even the speaking bits
Views are awesome - we lucked out & got a table in the balcony & had perfect stage views
What was really outstanding was their menu.....tons of "real food" offerings along w/ snacks & I be so interested in coming to check out their before-show dinner
But for this show, I got the mostest yummylicious-est Rogue Hazelnut Nectar!!! This ale stayed cold, flavorful & was smooth the entire glass. I could drink this all night & almost did!
Nice size for an intimate feel, great sound quality, rich brown woods for an elegant setting & I'm in love with Great American Music Hall!
Absolutely one of my favorite venues in San Francisco.
Since I've become a grumpy old man, imbibing alcoholic beverages in mass quantities has lead to...well I don't want to say incontinence...but apparently my bladder has shrunk to the size of a squirrel's. So when I go and see a live show in the City, I don't have the patience, will, or bladder volume to fight my way up to the front row of the pit, and out and back again when I need to take a leak.
My solution is to walk upstairs and pull up a seat on the balcony, where I can drink in peace, get easy access to the bar (and pisser), where I don't have to stand up for 3 hours straight, or fight little punk ass indie kids for a view of the stage. Seriously, the balcony is probably the best seat in the house.
Ted Leo rocked this fookin' house. And the Dears brought their sweet Canadian melancholy here. Elvis Costello played a show here that I missed, but by God, the next time he plays this joint, I will be here for sure.
I love this venue. It's beautiful, good sound, but I feel the booker needs to go back to booking heavier artists
Best spot in the house besides the floor is the balcony all the way back, facing the stage. Not every crowded , and you can see the entire stage central, while taking in the beautiful architecture.
Whether it was Candira/Will Haven in 99 or Poison the Well/ Hatebreed in 02 or Saves the Day in 05, the sound is always excellent, and this is prolly top 5 in terms of Live SF venues.
This is a fantastic venue. It was built after the 1906 earthquake, and it appears the interior hasn't been redone since then. It's very ornate - lots of plaster moulding and Parisian-style mirrors. There is table seating and a dance floor with a bar at the back. It's a pretty small venue - way smaller than the Fillmore Theater and way nicer. The drinks were strong and the show that we saw (Cajun dancing with a friend from New Orleans) was really fun.
Nice atmosphere and ambiance. I love the old style they have. I get a comforting nostalgic feeling everytime I think about this place. It must be the drapery and architecture. Great place to see shows.
I came here to watch the Tinted Windows (with opening act Magic Christian) show a month ago and loved this location! I've been to the Fillmore, Slim's, and other smaller venues but I vote Great American Music Hall my favorite so far. It was spacious but intimate and didn't look too rundown or unsafe.
I loved the intricate detailing on the walls ceiling as well as the chandelier in the middle of the room. We had a great view from the balcony of the stage (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). That way we didn't have to be smushed with the crowd and could dance around all we wanted. They also had 2 bars and served hot food which were great options to have.
The show was awesome of course too! (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) Tinted Windows sounded amazing in there and it was a fun evening. Hope to be back here for another concert soon!
Loved this place.
Saw Spinnerette here a couple months ago....
This place is majestic & beautiful. Good sound, awesome balcony seating (you can even sit all the way practically on the side of the stage for a neat view), bar, food menu (pricey!), large place.
I can't think of a reason not to give 'em all 5.
We'll definitely be back!
Wow this venue is so beautiful. Going to see a concert there makes it even better. The place is pretty big but at the same time the venue is small enough to make it feel intimate. I haven't been to a concert in a while but if there was an artist playing their that I really really liked, I'd go back to the GAMH in a heartbeat.
I love a smaller venue with cheap tickets for emerging artists. I also love that nifty Americana/Western-inspired sign out front; it's a beacon to an oft-unexplored region of my soul. Makes me wanna tie on a neckerchief, sport some gingham and and wear a denim skirt. But then I'd inevitably end up with grease stains from all the fried chicken and corn on the cob, and don't even get me started on the gravy, and oh why, WHY! did I have to eat all this food and be born a southern belle with a filthy craving for cowboys and a knack for do-si-do-ing?!
But yea, both concerts I've seen here had great sound and ample room to mill about and dance.
I guess the major pitfall is the Civic Center/TL location. And how to dress that up a bit? Maybe we can say it's in a "colorful neighborhood"? Or perhaps you prefer "a spot with a lot of local, SF flavor"? "A neighborhood with character"?
Pick your poison. Pick your concert. And go.
If nothing else, go to find out what kind of propositions you'll encounter as you wait in line out front for the show to start.
This place is a real gem in the city and the inside of the hall is beautiful! We came here for a wedding reception and the staff was very professional and helpful. I'd like to see a music act in this venue as I'm sure it's great.
The architecture of this venue is amazing and extremely detailed. It's so vintage and so well taken care of on the inside, I hope SF preserves this place for years to come. They have beautiful chandeliers hanging from the decorated ceilings and a great dance floor below. This venue is large enough for receptions, parties, intimate concerts and more.
this venue has it all.
looks, charm, history, great acts, bar up and down stairs. the venue is big enough to house a good size crowd but small enough that you have a nice intimate concert. the sound is pretty good too.
we also bought the nachos, wow those are big!
This is for draft beer only. The venue is great, but i had the two worst draft beers in my life here. I ordered an anchor steam at the downstairs bar and could not finish it. I think this is the only beer in my life i have not finished. it tasted like a moldy bicycle inner tube. I went upstairs to order a Lagunitas IPA (i am a beer localvore) and same damn thing. It was the second worst beer i have ever had.. GAMH clean your beer lines, they are horrible!! Don't drink any beer on tap at GAMH!
I went to a networking event at the GAMH a few months ago and it was my first time inside this piece of SF history. The history of the place on their website explains some tasty trivia about this joint: "San Francisco's oldest and grandest nightclub... with its ornate balconies, soaring marble columns and elaborate ceiling frescoes... 5,000-square-foot concert hall that symbolized renewal and optimism when it opened in 1907..."
Today, within our tech-crazed world, it's a breath of fresh air to step back into history in the GAMH for a networking party, or a local band's performance.
This has gotta be my all-time favorite venue to see a show. Great acts are witnessed here on an almost nightly basis.
The decor is absolutely gorgeous. Not in the best neighborhood, but definitely one worth waiting in line for some awesome entertainment.
The only complaint? Really rude patrons who insist on yapping loudly while your favorite performers are onstage belting their hearts out. Yeah, I almost threw a lemon from my friend's beer at some rude women who would not SHUT THE HECK UP during said occurrence.
Other than that, this place is ROCKS. Literally.
Thee* Great American Music is my Favourite Venue in the Bay Area
Yes i know i added the extra e that's because its extra amazing..
The architecture is beautiful and dates back to just post Victorian era,
even in London England there is not many places like this, The Hackney Empire in East London is a good example which dates from 1901.
I have seen some Awesome bands here, Jello Biafra 50th shows last year were incredible as were Shellac a few months back, last show I
saw was the Dirty 3 from Melbourne which blew me away(even better then their ATP NY show and that was w/special guest Nick Cave on Piano) so forget Arena shows and support the GAMH & the Bands that play this wonderful venue.
The Sound is always Good and ticket prices are affordable. 5*'s :)
One of the worst venues in the city. Has maybe ten quality acts a year. And I'll be polite and say the staff lacks refinement.
A few weeks ago, on 7/11, was my first GAMH experience. It was a triple CD release party with Pollux, the Gun and Doll Show, and Luce.
I was primarily there to see Luce, one of my favs (a great local band, whom I've seen several times live). Needless to say, it was a rockin' awesome evening!
From the moment I walked in, I fell in love with GAMH. It was relatively empty as the opening band was just setting up, and I soaked in the ambiance. It was such an intimate setting with the stage up front, and tables along the sides, with a bar towards the back. Looking up, I saw the intricate detail of the crown moulding throughout.
Walked up the stairs, I was happy to see another bar, where we stopped for a beverage. Decent selection of beers, wines, and spirits at reasonable prices. I was shocked to see that they also serve food (appetizers, salads, burgers, shakes, etc.,). My friend ordered the corndog and fries, and were tasty and cheap! Score!
Since we were there early, we snagged seats upstairs, right balcony. Looking down, we had a perfect view of the stage. When Pollux began their set, I was really impressed by how well the sound carried. Anywho, Pollux had good tunes, and a nice fan base. The Gun and Doll show also had a strong fan base, found them to be incredibly entertaining with their costume changes, props, and dances. At times, I felt there were too many people on that stage. Regardless, they were solid, and the male lead singer/guitarist and other female singers had great voices.
At long last, Luce finally took the stage, and opened with a song from their new CD. You can tell that they really gel together as a group, and are great performers. Each band member is so talented with the solid bass playing of Alex; energetic drumming of Brian; awesome guitar work of Dylan, who is always so animated when he plays; the fancy keyboard and sweet vocals of Adam; and of course, the soulful voice of Tom, the lead singer and guitarist. I took some great pics, thanks to my iPhone, and later on during their set, I walked down to get even closer to the stage.
Some highlights of Luce's performance, aside from them being on stage, was seeing an adorable teen girl in glasses. She stood directly in front of the stage, and was completely mesmerized by the band. She reminded me a bit of myself (x amount of years ago) during a NKOTB concert, and was completely obsessed and in love with them. After Luce's encore, Brian gave his drum sticks to her. The look on her face was absolutely priceless! I also saw a little boy who was holding a cd and a poster, totally rocking out to Luce, and later got their autograph.
It was great to see how all the bands complimented each other while on stage, and Ioved the camaraderie they were helping each other set up and take down their equipment.
It was a great night for music! To be honest, I love this venue as much as the Fillmore. The charm, the intimate setting, etc., what is there not to love? BTW, there was never a wait for the ladies room, which was clean. Woohoo! I'll be back GAMH!
Even if you don't normally go see live music, you should at least take the opportunity to see something, anything, at the Great American Music Hall. It's an old school style hall with super fancy saloon/bordello style decor, and there aren't too many of these left (think Castro Theatre but music hall instead).
The space is intimate without feeling claustrophobic (this is not a stadium). There are even tables upstairs where you can sit.
I would generally advise anyone attending a concert here to wear earplugs. As usual the music is much louder than it needs to be.
Probably my favorite music venue in San Francisco. I've been here a number of times in the last few years and every show I've been to has been a blast to see.
GAMH just has this atmosphere that really strikes me for some reason. Every time I'm here I just feel like I'm a part of the show, a part of the music, and it's quite intoxicating - especially after a drink or two. Haha, but seriously, there's something about the atmosphere here.
The layout is nice too, given that there's a ton of space both downstairs in front of the stage or upstairs on the balcony, which has some great views of the place. I've never noticed any problems with the sound setups, lighting, or anything, so as far as I can tell they're perfect.
Another perk is that the place is walking distance from where I live, and despite having to walk into the edge of the "TL", I don't mind heading here and back after dark. It's worth it.
One of the best small theaters in the country -- historic, intimate, and sweet sounding.
I've seen soooo many great shows here.
The bookings have been straying a bit lately, but if you haven't seen a favorite band here yet, you're totally missing out,
It doesn't really matter what's playing in the next few weeks at the Great American Music Hall; you just Need To Go. A lame band will magically sound decent, decent acts sound amazing, and amazing bands will change your life here.
There seem to be plenty of reviews that detail the decor so I'll skip that for now. The Great American has that certain something; that gestalt, that vibe that's hard to describe. Perhaps I should make clear that I develop emotional connections to location; if something really incredible goes down in my life, I'll probably never forget when and where it was. I've had perhaps more moments like that within the walls of the Great American than anywhere else. Maybe that's just because I'm hopelessly in love with music, and the same could become true if Random Warehouse X started booking my favorite acts. But I have to believe it's more than just the people onstage and the music they play. The Great American molds an otherwise normal evening of music into an experience that I could spend ten Yelp reviews never properly explaining. So perhaps I should just leave it at that, and petition you to just spend a few dollars and hours in one of my very favorite places, so you can decide for yourself. If you're anything like me, by the end of the night, you'll understand what I was trying to say.
And in case you're wondering, yes -- if the Great American were a girl, I would probably marry it.
To the bartender by the door: Fuck you.
My friend was 21 and you came over, asked to see his ID, didn't let him take it out, and then proceeded to take my beer off my hand and kicked us out! What the fuck! ?
I didn't even get my beer money back or another sip! You thieve!
Went to UCSF's Red Hot Gala here a couple weeks ago with RIZE the band. The band was fun and the hors d'oeurves were good, but this review is about the venue.
This place is sweet. The adornments on the balcony remind me of an old play house or somewhere I'd go to watch a Vaudeville act if I had a time machine. Of course if I had a time machine, going back to the 20's and watching a kickline chorus would probably not be at the top of my list of things to do.
But yeah after I'm back from convincing my parents to liquidate all their investments from 2 years ago and maybe a quick stop to convince my junior high self to continue with piano lessons and Chinese school, sure, a stop by the GAMH during the roaring 20's would be a nice way to reward myself for all my work.
Time to be useful: the acoustics here are pretty awesome and there's plenty of space above and below to see the stage. There's only one bar area I saw there which can get crowded at times but that's pretty standard I feel like.
See you guys there when I go back to the future.
Saw Poco Friday night. You kids have no clue but this band has been around for a LONG time. Jim Messina was also part of the band so added bonus. Great place to see anyone. Sound is wonderful. Perfect venue to see a band.
Drawbacks: get there early! Fills-up fast. Not the best 'hood.
This is one of my favorite venues in the city. It is so ornate inside and has beautifully carved balconies and ceiling. Has a very old school classy feel. The acoustics are great in here as well, never had a problem with sound here.
I saw Blvd. here this weekend (http://blvdsource.com) and it was rawkin! They brought in lasers!!! Aaahhh lasers in the great american!? Yes!
Turning around, during the show, and seeing the lasers bounce off the balconies and create a web above our heads, was truly incredible.
Beware of the surrounding neighborhood though. I couldn't find my car for a lil after the show and walked past a very busy corner for some ladies and "ladies." I've also had friends get robbed around here. It is the tenderloin afterall.
I wish I could give them 12,000 stars because I was so impressed by everyone who works there. I brought a woman who uses a walker to see the great Richie Havens and I cannot begin to tell you how kind, accommodating and just sincerely nice everyone was. Jeremiah special props go out to you for your superlative managerial skills and also the great guy who walked me to my car, it was late by then and his name escapes me but a very handsome, super nice young man with a long black ponytail, and how cool is that, that I did not have to walk by myself with my dog and my big purse over to Larkin St.
The club is beautifully maintained in it's original art deco era interior design, and it's visually stunning. It's intimate but big enough for a rollicking good show. The sound quality is amazing, they don't skimp on top of the line speakers. This is important when you have a club with as many nooks and crannies as they do. The food is prix fixe, with salad, bread and three choices of either chicken with pasta, stew or pizza which was all very fresh. They have a fairly extensive drink menu, as well as desserts. The great thing about having dinner tickets is they let those people in first so you get the best seats if you have dinner tickets.
It was kind of an emotional experience for me because Richie and I go back to the 60's, and I hadn't seen him in a long time. Everyone was very sensitive and kind to me under the circumstances. You really can't ask for more.
We saw a psuedo-Reggae band with some friends here. I would say that this place was well worth the visit. I am rating it only 3 stars for the others in the crowd. Seems like they didn't have their turd filter up and running because a group of people stank like there was no tomorrow. It truly ruined the experience. I had that smell in my nose for the rest of the night. B.O. and Butt with a hint of scented deodorant or cologne Yummmmmy
Saw the Devil Makes Three here, and wow. What a beautiful venue. Something out of the 19th century, love it.
This is where i will have a costume/wedding party with "The grannies" and "Chow nasty" on stage.
Great American is in many ways great.
I'm embarrassed to say that after living in city for almost 3 years, I just attended my first show at the Great American a few weeks ago. Definitely one of the best venues in SF to see a show, if not the best...good size, unique architecture, great sound, sweet balcony.
We saw Lambchop - a very mellow, alt-country-folk band that gave a solid performance that was enhanced by the intimate atmosphere. Even though we didn't have dinner tickets, they opened up the balcony to everyone so we took our drinks upstairs and had excellent seats to enjoy the show. Drinks weren't insanely expensive either, which is another plus. Hope to be back again soon.
This place is kind of perfect I think. It's cozy with its dark wooden floors (Mahogany perhaps?) and ballroom-like theme, what with the big ol' chandeliers on the ceilings and what not. When I come here for shows, I usually leave happy and not perturbed, disturbed or annoyed in the least. Thanks for keepin' it classy Great American Music Hall.
Was at another show at the GAMH this past weekend, and this place showed why is an institution in the city. Not only is this place elegantly designed on the inside but the standing room layout provides a lot of incredible views from the ground and the balcony areas. For what it is the GAMH acoustics are not that bad either, the artists, Brandi Carlile did couple of songs unplugged and you could hear it in a completely sold out crowd.
GAMH has the idea just because its louder doesn't mean its better when they setup their sound, I could hear the music just find without my eardrums blown out like other establishments , or it could my hearing lost from all the concerts.
The two downsides about this place is it does not have a separate area for artists to sell their merch, and this area is totally sketch. Evident by my car broken into a block and a half way.
FUCK YEAH GAMH you are the shit! Was here last week for the evening reunion show for Murder City Devils. Sound wasn't too great, but I spent the whole first half of the show admiring this wonderful venue.
It has to be one of the best if not THE best venue for a show.
It's like a playground for the music lover. Two levels, little here's and there's to strike up a conversation, upstairs they've got lot's of great seating on either side of the main floor. And almost everywhere you are in this fine establishment, you have an amazing view of the stage. $1.50 coat check, affordable drinks, tons of fun.
I had such a great time, I think I'll be back to see Yann Tiersen in May.
By far one of my favorite places to see music in the city. Not only are they the perfect size, not too large where you can't see, but big enough to attract popular band (okay, popular to me...). I like how if you get there early you can snag side tables and that they are not all "reserved" like at the filmore. Their drinks are decent although pricey.
The quality of sound is always top notch, and coming from me, that's saying a lot (I was a techie for awhile, I know when things are wrong). Their lights are of course, not as cool as some other venues, but hey... since you can actually see the band, who needs super fancy lights... yeah?
Basically this place is awesome, and if you have never been here, don't let the 'hood deter you, it's a great place.
Beautiful venue. Was my dream to perform here until I finally did last week with my band, The Moonlight Orchestra. It must be difficult not to sound great in this place. I Love everything about this place, except maybe the fact that it's located in the Tenderloin, but whatever. It's an all-ages venue. There's a decent bar with decent food. Pricey of course. Amazing balcony. Awesome stage. Very cool staff, especially Josh, the stage manager. Backstage is underground where there's a ton of space. Three dressing rooms with comfy couches. They also provide beer and water bottles. The Great American is no joke.
Saw the Reverend Horton Heat & Nekromantix last night and had a ball. Bars were good, sound was good, venue is pretty, no issues with tickets--purchased online, easy parking-- probably because because we got there early. Been here before but not in a while. I really need to see more live music so hopefully I'll be back soon.
A few years ago I would have given Great American Music Hall 5 stars. I have seen so many shows here I couldn't count if I tried. My experience on New Years Eve was not great. Maybe my expectations were higher because it was NYE. I dunno.
Getting tickets at will call was a simple painless task. It was when I took my first sip of my Pabst Blue Ribbon beer that it started going downhill. I was so excited to sip my cold beer, until I put it to my lips. I don't know how long it's been since they changed the lines... but my beer tasted like ass. OK, I don't know what ass tastes like, but I'd imagine it's pretty close to the beer I was holding. I really wanted my favorite beer but had to change to another brew. There's a $10 minimum for paying by credit card but most people have more than one beer or drink so I can't see that being a serious problem.
GAMH is beautiful inside; very intricate, very intimate. The sound is great. Unfortunately it's not well taken care of. There are two bathrooms; one is a single person bathroom downstairs and the other is upstairs with two stalls. Both bathrooms were disgusting. The downstairs sink was filled with puke no one bothered to clean it up and the upstairs bathroom was out of toilet paper. For such a pretty place one would think it would be maintained a little nicer.
I was knocked into by moshers countless times. There was no control by the security at all. I mean... I know it comes with going to a rock show, but I just want to enjoy a band up close without getting socked in the face. Me and three other girls had to move countless times so that we were safe from flailing arms and head bangers. The place isn't big so this was pretty obnoxious.
I walked to GAMH from BART (and back) and it was pretty convenient, about nine or ten blocks. Not a bad walk at all and honestly kinda refreshing. You have to walk through the outskirts of the tenderloin, but you also get to walk past City Hall, which I love. Parking has never been an issue for me when I traveled by car.
Hopefully I just happened to have a bad experience with GAMH and it'll be better when I go back because I really do like the place. It's definitely not bad to the point where I wouldn't go back, but I was mildly disappointed.
Awww, just last week I was commenting to Gregor G. that no one had ever bitched at me through a PM about my reviews...
Look at this lovely message I received from Jessica S. titled "you're an idiot":
security guards at GAMH do not think they are the cops. they are only doing what the cops tell them to do. your "review" (which was nothing but a complaint and had nothing to do with the actual venue) just proves that you are nothing but an ignorant customer. i work there, not as a security guard, but it is idiots like you who don't understand that just as other jobs, we have rules and regulations too. and we answer to someone way more important than your manger at the local coffee shop you probably work at. we answer to the ABC- look it up since you probably don't know much about alcohol and their laws. get a life, get enough money to be able to afford a beer inside, and don't talk shit when you don't get that the reason we do that is because our jobs are on the line. you are pathetic.
...and in all fairness to Jessica, I guess she's right. So here is a little more insight: The location is total shit; the sound is terrible; and drinks are terribly overpriced.
Now if you will excuse me, I have a Frappucino to make.
Happy Holidays!
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12/11/2008
When did the security of Great American Music Hall become SFPD and start harassing people in line… Read more »
Cool music venue tucked in the heart of the Tenderloin. The neighborhood is definitely sketchy, but once inside, you forget about it with the beautiful decor and great stage lighting. They have a full food & bar menu available and tables/chairs. We tried the $5 shake and it was pretty good and it's big. Came here to see my friend's band MONTANA SLIM! Of course they were awesome! Nice venue!
One of my favorite venues to visit in SF! I have seen Cursive there and NOFX. I saw NOFX on my 21st birthday and what a blast that was. The hall is so enchanted-looking (for lack of a better word). The stage isnt too high so the connection with the performer is always good. I like the fact of a smaller venue for a better music experience. The sound quality is never bad, the drinks are fairly strong.
Cursive was such a weird show, partly because of the crowd but the Hall made it a lot of fun still, so if i can attend a "weird show" and still appreciate the venue, then i think we're good to go!
Plan on going to a good show here!
