It's a dirty concrete box where music happens sometimes. That's all it takes to be the best music venue in Berkeley! Seriously flithy, in a good way. read more

924 Gilman is by far the best place I could imagine to be. For anyone who is a punk, misfit, outcast or freak, the Gilman in perfect. The music is always great, and the entrance fee is never expensive. If you don't feel like paying, just work at the front entrance and you don't have to pay. Legends like Green Day, Rancid and Operation Ivy have come out of the Gilman. It's amazing. read more

Great place. I've been going for a relatively short time (7 years as of this month) but I hope to see it continue to operate for many more years to come. All the silliness (read: moral/political hypocrisy) is worth it. read more

This place is definitely a must see, for those who have yet to venture to an all ages punk show. The place is both a funky dump and a historical land mark. Now that Pyramid is across the street there is safe bathroom access. I have seen countless shows here in my youth, but haven't been back in years. Last night I made the trek to support a fundraiser to help a friend pay her medical bills. I had so much fun in the front; getting pushed, jumped on and otherwise bruised with a bunch of kiddos and some aging punks, like me. Good times. read more

This is exactly the type of an all-ages venue I expect for the types of bands that play here. Dirty, smelly, cold, under-staffed, and pretty terrible sound. I came to see We Be The Echo on 1/22. I would totally see another show here! Think Slim's for the Punkers under 18. read more

All ages, all the time. No -isms welcome. Don't stagedive, don't bring in booze, don't mess with the neighbors, don't be a weenie, mind your own business about what gender is in which bathroom. This is a collectively run, mostly punk music venue that does shows on weekends (killer sound system) and hosts the occasional movie night or 12-step meeting. I've also attended a workshop on polyamory here. Because it's a volunteer-run collective that rotates over the years, expect things to change. Some years it's cool for a band like the Mentors to play when they clearly show contempt for any woman with a sex drive, other years they're working on actually heeding their initial ideals. If you want to be involved, you can go to their Saturday afternoon meetings that happen once or twice a month. You can also volunteer to work a show by showing up early the evening of that show, and you'll get in free that night. Once a year, you'll need to pay for a $2 membership card and if you forget to carry it you pay for another card the night of a show on top of the cover charge. Lots of Bay Area bands got their start here. Once they're signed to a major label, they're too big to play Gilman, per Gilman rules. There is enough space to stand back from the madness if you want to bring a little kid in, just make sure they've got serious ear protection. read more

oh man the good times i had here. I've been coming here since i was 15. not so much within the last five years or so because the scene has changed, and i along with it. i drop by every now and again when a friend's band is playing or when i really like the band headlining. read more

Context: I grew up in a small hardcore/punk rock scene in the middle of Nebraska. We struggled to find venues that would host the music. We struggled to convince bands to bother driving through the middle of nowhere to play here. When I moved to the Bay Area, I was excited to see a show at the infamous Gilman. The venues notoriety allows it to draw some of the best punk/hardcore bands of the day. The sound quality is actually pretty decent. Yeah, it's pretty filthy, but who wants to go to a clean punk club? It used to be crazy smokey, but thank you California for banning that. The 18-22 year old crowd continuously regenerates itself with new faces - a pretty amazing phenomenon in my mind. My one beef with the place - too many bands on the play list. It seems like there's a 5 band minimum for their shows, and once you've seen umpteen gazillion shows over the years, 3 band bills are where it's at. I truly hope Gilman stays open forever. read more

Make no mistake: This is a venue for the kids. Parents and older people come out to it all the time, but it most likely won't be their scene. And now it's in trouble because their rent was recently tripled or something. And it would be a shame to see it go, but realistically, it could easily be moved to another cheaper location without much hassle. The sound is decent, and the variety of underground acts that has played there since, like FOREVER, is amazing. But maybe it's time to venture forward and have the volunteers work their magic elsewhere... read more

My favorite venue to see music. Here's why: 1) Many of the bands' average age is less than 25 years old - lots of enthusiasm and originality! 2) Nobody drinking alcohol, no spilled beers and especially NO SMOKING of any kind inside - what a relief! If you want to drink, you can go next door to the Brewery during breaks between bands. Worthwhile to note that I have never seen any need to "enforce" these rules - everyone seems to know and is respectful. Pretty amazing. 3) Real community feel - friendly people that are easy to meet - mostly young people since it is an all-ages club. 4) Easy, safe parking. 5) Very fair entry fees ranging $5-15 depending on bands. 6) Lots of variety - check out the bands on the www.924Gilman.org page before going - or just take a chance - hardly ever been disappointed. You can choose a night with Surf music, Ska music, Reggae, Punk (wide range of sub-genres), etc. 7) Finally, no VIPs, no snobs - true DIY and egalitarian spirit. Bands tend their own Merch sales at table along wall, and meet with audience between sets. No egomania or superiority complexes. read more

Great music, critical, conscious and analytical messages. All volunteer-run with truly inclusive and open community meetings with tons of great fundraisers from personal tragedies to helping other vital,struggling East Bay communities. All volunteer-run, did I mention that (not CEO/Industry sharks), blood, sweat, tears, amps, vocals, and drums, read more

What can I say 'bout old Gilman st. project? This place has had all the best Punk rock bands come through there. Gave birth to many SF punk bands and I believe I even saw Jello Biafra get beat up there once!!Great place but the area around there really change since the late 80's. 924 Gilman hasn't!! read more

Ya gotta go at least once. I have. Maybe one or two times more than I needed to. I grew out of it. For me, it was a phase. And not one I am particularly proud of considering it was just me trying to conform to a style and not really being true to myself. And I didn't even go that many times! It is unwise to be a thirteen year old idolizing seventeen year old coke addicts. My parents didn't allow me to go alone, and I was mortified by that. However, now being the age where I could go alone, I no longer have the desire. Thank god for parents ammi right folks?! Anyways, the place itself is beautiful. The graffiti and art is sublime. I will never forget seeing pat the bunny on valentines day and sitting on my buddy's face in the moshpit by accident. I'll never forget it, although I have no desire to relive it. Sorry. I'd rather have my own dance party to Blur in my room that get squashed by a bunch of sixteen year olds who think they're Sid Vicious. But if that's your thing- have fun! read more

Boy, we're all grown ups in here, aren't we? No one's yet reviewed Berkeley's punk rock mecca, the plainly-named 924 Gilman--launching pad of Green Day, Rancid, and more Lookout! bands than you could shake a stick at. Well, what to say about it now that it's being done? This is the ultimate no-frills venue--it's just a big boxy room with a stage and a PA. No bar so they don't get any guff for running all-ages shows, no jukebox, no decor, no mirrors or neon beer signs or anything. What you do get, though, is the real deal--a place that exists solely for the love of live, loud rock music, and that keeps it accessible to the kids who love it so much. On top of all of this, it's a non-profit collective--it's Berkeley, right? If you're going to be here at all regularly, get the annual $2 membership and you get reduced-price entrance for the year. Be ready to feel really old the second you walk in, too, but if you're willing to rough it with the young 'uns then there are few better spots for the raw stuff in all of the Bay area. read more

I'll have to give it to them, this place is 100% legit. I know that this is a major punk hot spot, and a shitload of bands got their start here, etc, etc, etc, but frankly I think it's a shitty venue. I know that is like sacrilege to say, but there are a couple things that just don't work about it. The atmosphere is border line depressing, and I'm afraid of catching an STD everytime I sit down on one of the couches. On the other hand they let you smoke inside, occasionally a good band plays there, sometimes even for free, and I always run into someone I know. It's hard to run a venue on volunteer only assistance, so I give them props for doing the best they can, but maybe a different system is required. Though, no disrespect to those who have been coming here since high school and like it exactly the way it is. read more

Hells yeah. been coming to Gilman since i was 12. best place for all-ages shows. 2 dollar a year membership. All volunteer staff. Shasta sodas and candy, ins and outs and parkin lot pimpin. Gilman por vida! read more

it used to be cool.... now the cops just arrest you for drunk in public and make you spend the night in jail so you miss the bananas...bitter YES! read more

last year at punk prom the rock and roll adventure kids dumped a couple hundred cans of silly string on the mosh. within a few seconds the pit was covered with a thick web of silly string... it was like a huge blanket over our heads. a second pit formed on stage. when i got on stage there were about twenty other kids moshing around the band. then i accidentally pushed a girl off the stage i feel kinda bad about it read more

This is as punk as it gets, moshing and all sorts of craziness. it also an all ages venue which is rare, at least where i live they are rare. read more

my band, The Shortbus, started at Gilman. It was a time when us as friends, bands trying to just have fun and get our music out there for everyone, greenday, the offspring, rancid. at that time, we all were a united front against corporate entitlement to our music..nofx was a huge part of us. anyone remember 15, bikini kill, loose change, (johnny I know you remember Loose Change...Ukiah) ...... afi played with us. they went corporate. anyone remember when No Doubt played at Berkley Square for $2? at the time we all turned our backs on them. NOFX was one of OUR biggest supporters. Epitaph was the only label that supported us in an independent manner. Fat Wreck Records... NOFX... independent. For all of us, we realized epitaph was underwritten by Sony. Hard times for us that tried to continue playing, hanging out in our crowd, and fighting to survive without needing big corporate companies to actually get us somewhere without eachother. All of the above mentioned bands, not No Doubt, they were Berkley Square, we were family. Greenday, remember the Phoenix Theater in Petaluma? Maybe my statement is based on an apology for the rest of us shunning you all. Those were days that helped define the person I am today. people who weren't apart of all of that couldn't and never will understand. I specifically regret my later treatment to Bilie Joe. Here Here to all of the success that Gilman Street has created to all of us. Sincerely, Tonkababy ps: our party house in Ukiah was a ton of fun. read more

The Gilman is a small, dirty club on the corner of Gilman and 8th. It is the most amazing place I've ever been. The atmosphere is great, and it's a true punk venue. Sometimes the bands are shitty, but a lot are great. It's a good price, and great place for kids to hang out. read more

great place to see a punk show. i just saw the queers and groovie ghoulies play here a few weeks ago. i've seen them play many times before at different venues and different cities, but gilman was the best. i would rate this place higher if it wasn't for the no booze policy. last time i went i was trying to down a 40 out back, but i felt paranoid and only took a few sips and then tossed it. however, there is that brewery across the street and the contrast from greasy punks to uc berkeley sweet bros is actually pretty funny. i would also rate this place a lot higher if i lived in the bay area during the whole hay day of bay area punk like: op ivy, rancid, green day, etc. i've only seen a handful of good bands play here and the rest of the time is lame hardcore bands from virgina or something. what happened to local bay area gutter punk bands with mohawks and shit? oh yeah, and it's always nice to see punk rock joel mosh it up in the pit. anyways, i will go back if it's another good show like the queers or something. oi! read more