Want to figure out where to go for a show? We asked City Cast Portland podcast guest J. Pinky Jansen, a volunteer with Portland Music Month, for his top three picks of local venues.
There are “a lot of outstanding venues,” says Jansen. “Some are good for some things and others are better for other things, but my personal favorites currently — drumroll please —”
Lollipop Shoppe
(Buckman)
“For color, I love the Lollipop Shoppe — beautiful projection setup there. It also sounds really good. Nice, big, beautiful bar. That's a really cool spot to see a well-lit show.”
The Fixin’ To (St. Johns)
“I love The Fixin’ To for its sound and its size. It doesn't take a lot of people to fill the room, and it feels really good. For sound, I vote for The Fixin’ To.”
Doug Fir Lounge (Buckman)
“The Doug Fir is the kind of venue that artists are honored to play at and you can feel that reverence in their performance. It's got a very unique aesthetic and sound and so that's the kind of venue that somebody's gonna be stoked to play in, even if they've played larger venues throughout the country. There’s just no place like it.”
The best-venue question was a little like asking Pinky which of his children was his favorite, so he offers this disclaimer on his picks: “The right band at any club can really be the best house any night of the week.
