I went to a show at the Mil at the Cannery this month (Feb, 2025). This was my first time in Cannery Hall since it's closing and reopening. I saw many shows here back in the day, and to be honest it was one of my less favorite venues in the city due to sound quality. It always felt like the sound would bounce off all of that brick and be distorted in all the wrong ways. The layout was often odd, with booths tucked in behind posts behind the general pit/standing area. Not sure what all was changed or updated on a technical level, but this time around the sound was far better. It was actually pretty great.
The Mil is the mid-sized room of the venue, the main stage being the largest with a smaller intimate space downstairs. While there for the Mayberry show, there was another show going on at the main stage. I actually got misdirected (likely with a little user error) into that area before finding my way to the Mil, and that show was already off to a deafening start before ours even began and there was no bleedover with the sound from venue to venue. Pretty impressive.
The bouncers/security and staff were all friendly, upbeat and helpful. Looks like an Evolv gun-spotting security device was employed and it was not obtusive--no patdowns and such, no wanding.
Bathrooms clean and well stocked.
Only complaint at all is drink prices. Look, I know most major venues in the city overprice drinks, that's just how it goes. They depend on that revenue to host the shows, the customer is over a barrel if they wish to imbibe within such a closed system. But a draft beer with a shot of well whiskey should not run $25+, lol. read more