5 stars simply for being an absolute legend of a venue!! Expensive drinks, just meh food but still hands down my favourite place to see a concert! It's the perfect size for a show, you feel close enough to the main stage but yet it can fit a ton of fans! Bartenders are always friendly and quick serving drinks. read more

Commodore Ballroom - Flaming Lips at the Commodore ballroom - Music Venues Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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We had a blast here! It was just my husband and I and we had never played five pin bowling before. We were surprised when we first got there and really bad at it! This just made it that much more fun! Trying to figure it out together and get better! Service was great and the atmosphere was old bowling alley mixed with a billiards, minus the alcohol. We would definitely go back! read more

Commodore Ballroom - Music Venues Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Love this place. It's not only a landmark in the Vancouver music scene but it's still relevant allowing awesome artists to have a place that's unpretentious for music lovers to dance and sing. Security is a breeze for check in with coat check and clean washrooms. They serve decent food and generous alcoholic drinks. Been having amazing times here for the last 20 years and expect 20 more! read more

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Fun venue. Expensive drinks! My margarita was $17 without tax and tip. The lowest automatic tip option was 15% for bar service! Eeeeeeeek. Anyways, the venue is really cool. I've been three times. They actually have seats you can nab if it's a general admission show but wait staff will make their rounds asking you if you'd like food or drinks! Good sound. Intimate space. A little grunge. read more

Commodore Ballroom - Waiting for a show to start. To note my margarita cost over $21 which did include a $2 tip - Music Venues Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Came in town for a fellas bachelor party and we couldn't have had a better place to just laugh and bond. It bought so much nostalgia the moment we walked in and down the steps just from the smell alone (in a good way). I loved the retro feel you get from the bowling score boards and all the memorabilia posted of past competitions. While I wish it was full size bowling and not mini, we still had a great time. The only annoying part I wasn't a fan of was just that drinks weren't allowed on the floor past a certain point. I completely understand considering people can spill on pool tables. But it can be a lot going back and forth just for a sip. The prices are also great if you're in a big group. I definitely recommend you check this place out if you're in the area. It can be a little bit of a challenge to find at first but I promise you'll have a great time! read more

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The iconic Commodore Ballroom is a classic Vancouver giant in the entertainment world. Many top artists like - U2, The Police, Tina Turner, Lady Gaga & so many others - have performed here. A few shows I've seen here - Sly & Robbie, the Cool Ruler Gregory Isaacs, and now tonight the London soultres Ella Mai! Since it was last renovated back in Prince's favourite year - 1999, the CB with capacity at just under 1000, is one of the prime intimate venues dare I say - in the world! Surprisingly there isn't a mega gigantic sign on the building highlighting its location on the Granville Mall unlike its sister venues, the Orpheum & Vogue theatres. The dance floor here is very spacious is quite an experience if you've ever been on it! When everyones jumping up & down on it - I swear you feel like it's moving & it probably is!!! Ella Mai was fresh off her Grammy win on Sunday - massive congrats to her!!! To be honest it's rare for me to fork out money to go & see an artist with just a debut album out, but something about her vocals & production has me thinking & feeling she's going to keep climbing high & be around for awhile! She could actually be todays new Sade!!! I mean why not - she's todays 'empress' & possibly the future of sultry Soul/RnB music. Lucky Daye & Kiana Lede were surprisingly very good - vocals & music caught my attention! Ella Mai performed songs from her debut album & the backup singers & band performed tightly! The sound coming out of the speakers was crisp, clear, heavy, loud & I wanted more!!! Very good sound system indeed!!! If you can ever attend a live show here at this magnificent venue, please do - you won't regret it! read more

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Before the show and even In between sets, giant projector screens came down on either side of the stage, and along with a dozen or so TV played ads! It totally wrecked the vibe. WTF!? I came here to have a good time and give myself over to some good music not be hounded by advertisements! read more

Vancouver's best downtown live venue! This old ballroom has had some of the finest international & local musicians for decades rock this stage over and over. The Ballroom walls could share many stories of music legends night after night who've cranked there Marshall stack to "11" to watch a sea of kids bounce the floor boards in hysteria to the beats of Cheap Trick, Loverboy, Marilyn Manson and even Kid Rock. I salute you! read more

Commodore Ballroom - Enter this doors to the past & future! - Music Venues Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Love the venue and always have- this review is directed at a staff member, and by extension, the management. A coupe of weeks ago, I went to see the JINJER show and sat at the upstairs bar for a few minutes between sets. While there, I was watching the bartenders work- I was a mixologist for over 20 years before becoming a General Manager in nightclubs, pubs, etc, so I know what I am speaking about. I'm sitting on the side of the bar, enjoying my beverage, when I see the female bartender pick up a rocks glass and DIG IT INTO THE ICE WELL to fill it with ice for a drink, instead of using the ice scoop, as is required by BC health code. Big deal, you might think. Actually, it is, and here's why. Not using the scoop does several things, all of them bad. First, the bartender's hand will contact the ice; this is cross-contamination, as their hands will have touched everything behind the bar- the cash register, bottles, countertops, their clothing, their face, the cloth used to clean the bar top, dirty glasses, the credit card machine (that customers touch all night) etc etc. Second, the glass itself will have been in contact with other surfaces like the tray or counter it was on, other glasses it is stacked on (placed there with the bartender's hands) again resulting in cross-contamination. But the big issue is that the ice itself will start to collect tiny glass chips from the rim of glasses being used this way- at the end of the night, when you melt down the ice wells to clean them, you will see tiny GLASS SHARDS on the bottom of the well- these come from the lazy habit of digging the glass into the ice instead of using the scoop, the shards chip off the rims of the glasses. This means that you run a very high risk of getting tiny slivers of GLASS in your drink. Pretty sure nobody wants that. A good bartender will actually be FASTER using the scoop if they know whet they are doing (but of course it takes actually paying attention to what you are doing, and learning how to bartend properly), so the only excuse is poor training, supervision and laziness on the part of the management and bartenders. DO NOT order drinks with ice at this venue- stick to wine or beer. Get your shit together Commodore!! read more

I recently won tickets to see a show here and this was my first time at the Commodore. And I have mixed feelings about it. (The show was great, btw! I'm not reviewing the artist here - just the venue). If I were in my late teens or 20's, or perhaps even in my early 30's, I'd be giving this place a solid 4 stars - maybe even 4.5 (rounding up to 5). It has a large, central ballroom floor for dancing, seating areas on the perimeter of the room on a few levels, two bars on opposite sides of the room, and a balcony for extra seating. They serve drinks and I believe snack foods as well. (This venue only admits people 19+ years old due to their liquor license, FYI). The bathrooms, while dated, are clean. The stage lighting and acoustics are great, and overall, this is a fine, intimate venue to see some big-name musicians. So far, so good, right? Here's where my qualms arise: Unless you arrive when the doors open (usually 90 minutes before the opening act), you likely won't get a seat. Which means you'll be standing up for the duration of the show. Which is fine and dandy if you're 25 years old, but when you're in your late 50's, no bueno. (Note: I was with a friend in her 30's and she, too, was uncomfortable standing so long. So it's not just me!). To add insult to injury, the seated folks at the bar behind us, although nice, kept asking me to move aside so they could get a better view of the singer on stage. Argh. By the end of the evening, my back was killing me and I made an emergency chiropractic appointment for the following day. Also, despite having a balcony with ample extra seating, for the show we went to, it was roped off (why oh why? There were enough people in attendance to warrant the extra seating. The ballroom floor was totally packed with standing people). Plus, although we didn't order any drinks here, I've read plenty of reviews and heard enough stories of people being overcharged for their drinks to believe these stories true (check your receipts before leaving!). Also, be warned, if you have a water bottle with you (as m friend did), they will make you dump the contents before entering. (Perhaps people try to bring in alcoholic beverages in their water bottles? Not sure. My friend had water. The guys outside said she could fill it up inside but there was no water fountain inside and there was a crazy long line at the bar. So...there's that). Also, I was told to wear my little backpack purse as a purse, or I'd have to check it (which isn't free). Strange. But..ok. I would definitely return here but I'd make sure to arrive when the doors opened in order to get a seat. But, like I said, if you're young, it'd be cool to stand right by the stage and see a favorite artist up close! read more

Came here for a Christmas party. Even though the ballroom isn't as large or as grand as the new Convention centres in town, there is just something special about this place. An older style of elegance. Something in the air that just spells "classy". There's no parking on Granville Mall on Friday and Saturday nights, so your best bet is Pacific Centre. As I always go to the same Christmas party every year, I can't say what the food is like for other events. What I CAN say though is that the sushi they have at this even never fails to impress. Today they even had ahi tuna. That stuff vapourized in seconds. With a ballroom, it's all about the entertainment. Today I had the honour of hearing THE Dal Richards and his band perform. The sound was set up quite nicely. It was a bit on the loud side, but at least it wasn't ear-splitting loud (which is my pet peeve with many nightclubs). The sound travels quite well here, and isn't echoey either. As for the bar, it was a bit disappointing in terms of selection. What kind of bar doesn't have Malibu? I decided to use my drink tickets on "simpler" drinks such as screwdrivers. They don't flood the cup with ice, which was nice. The washrooms smelled kinda gross, but guess there isn't too much you can do. Overall, always a good time here. read more

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The Commodore has stolen my heart. Seeing the eminently entertaining "Leon Bridges" show made me realize I have yet to review this venue. If you want to go early and stand you can belly up to the stage and use it as a coaster until the show begins. Anywhere provides a good view (and excellent acoustics). There is an upper level with tables and chairs and these can be found on the sides of the stage level as well. Drinks are a bit pricey but are good. Splurge for "tall", or choose from a variety of brews. I love the layout and it is one of my favorite places to see shows in Canada. One of my friends saw Lady Gaga here. The next time Gaga visited she played GM Place; so it is a great place to get up close and personal with acts that may move onto less intimate venues. There multitudinous eating choices close-by. I have yet to eat on-site. Vancouver has fabulous music appreciation. My heartstrings were strummed by everyone dancing their hearts out & playing nice this week. I was dehydrated and moved to the outside towards the end of the show. Someone fetched water for me and then I happily joined a dancing group of people I had never before met. Commodore = Great Space + Quality Sound + Good Times read more

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I love the spaciousness of the place and how every staff member is helpful and cordial. From the people at the door to the servers and security staff inside. I appreciate the general chill vib too of the place and patrons. But the main reason why this is not getting a 5-star review is that the sound quality is not consistent. I've gone to several music shows there and sometimes the sounds is great and sometimes it's pretty mediocre, from speakers cracking because they are too loud, to feedback from the mics. I wish the sound would be top-notch every time. read more

I've had some great times here and seen some great bands, but I won't be going back after their decision to go cashless. I like using cash on a night out because I can make a sane and sober decision before the event on how much I'm willing to spend, and how much I should drink, and when the cash is gone, that's my cue to stop drinking and stop spending. With a credit card with quite a high limit it means I could end up waking up with a crazy high bill, and a terrible hangover and possibly some drunken mistakes. Cash allows me a way of safely controlling my night out, both financially, emotionally, and healthily. Goodbye Commodore, it's been a blast and it's sad to see you go read more

Great venue with plenty of space! My friends and I went to Slow Jam Sunday last week and had an amazing time. We bought our tickets on Ticketmaster in advance, but stood in line for a short while to purchase one extra ticket at the door. The bouncers were nice, staff inside were friendly, and the music was on point. The venue itself is huge with a coat check and merchandise booth at the top of the stairs, multiple bars, and another floor overlooking the dance floor. There was a ton of space to dance, and best believe, for this event, we needed it. The acoustics were good, but a bit too loud (bring earplugs to save those little eardrums of yours). En Vogue performed that night and gave a killer performance, as expected. Drinks were a little less than $10 each. The shots were on the smaller side, but still a great deal. The "washrooms" were clean and had a ton of stalls, and there's an additional washroom upstairs too. We stayed out until about 3am and the music was still going. If you're ever in town for Slow Jam Sunday at the Commodore, do yourself a favor and go! If you're a fan of throwback R&B or love to get down with some body rolls, this is your spot on a Sunday night. Overall, there was an awesome vibe and minimal creepers. read more

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Even though the dance floor is less bouncy since they removed the rubber padding from underneath, this is still one of the biggest concert venues in Vancouver without assigned seating. The huge hard wood floors leading up to the stage fill up with a messy thickness of sweaty men and women, hundreds of them swaying at the back but full-body dancing at the front. On either side of the dancing strip are leveled seats and tables, and they provide great views of the band if you can manage to find empty ones. There's also a balcony at the back above the long and busy bar, where you can sip your $6 beer and watch the changing faces of the vast crowd. This is an amazing concert venue, host to every band from The Reverend Horton Heat to Gwar. It's located above a bowling alley, which should give you a sense of the long dimensions of the room. The only real problem is that ever since the new smoking ordinances came into effect they no longer allow people outside to smoke, which truly only inconveniences the non-smokers who have to breath in the inevitable clouds of second-hand fumes. read more

Commodore Ballroom - Music Venues Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

So I've been here for a few concerts in the past, but recently I went to a SJS (slow jam sunday) on a long weekend. It's not the greatest looking venue, and the bar is old etc but they host some pretty good shows and events. This particular event was super fun and really packed! The drink are typical of a club in Vancouver. What real Vancouverite has not been to the Commodore for something? read more

An iconic venue and well deserved at that. I saw Interpol on their El Pintor Fall Tour 2014 and it was unbelievable. The sound, the security and staff - even the crowd, ambiance and everything else was just spot on. Plenty of bars all over the place for a quick trip to grab another drink without missing a single note - my expectations were high but far exceeded. A damn fine place to see a band play live. read more

Commodore Ballroom - Interpol El Pintor Tour Fall 2014. - Music Venues Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Fantastic venue. I always look forward to a show here. The sound and the setting make for a great spot. I also like the capacity of the venue, I can always find a good vantage point. Seating and balcony space is limited, so if you want that arrive early. I personally arrive close to set time, as I've found doors usually open around 8 and no one goes on until 9:30ish I like to check set times on Twitter or other social media, they do a good job of releasing all the pertinent information before hand. My only spot for improvement would be with the drink selection. Could use some local options and a better wine selection. read more

Commodore Ballroom - Venue before a show, shades up. - Music Venues Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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The best concert and dancing venue in Vancouver in my opinion. We came here for It's Just Drag! (and so many other concerts and events) and it's great to have seating, massive dance floor and multiple levels and bars! Ace venue. read more

I've said it before and I'll say it again here: If the developers that wiped out the Ridge and the Waldorf even cast a casual glance at the Commodore, I'll go unibomber. This place has been an active part of Vancouver's entertainment scene since WWII! Seriously! And has been home to the BEST shows Vancouver has to offer consistently since. I had the honour of playing here several times myself in the 90s but even that doesn't trump the positive experiences I've had here as a patron seeing almost every band that I've ever care for here (on their rise up or down). The list is too massive or I'd include it. Despite the management changes, the renos and upgrades have always been to re-beautify this amazing room (though I do miss the glowing bubbly posts circa 80s 90s). I never recall any bad issues with staff, but note it is a "venue" so not going to have an extensive beer menu or such. read more

Always a good show here. I really like the venue for the space and sound. The place also hosts good choices for music shows. I've seen indie, alternative, folk and rock here. Tonight it was the Indigo Girls! I was so grateful to see them again. They're awesome. read more

Commodore Ballroom - Music Venues Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Came here on a Wednesday evening for the Tokyo Police concert. If you've never been, be sure to come early right when doors open in order to grab a table with a good view. The Commodore does serve food and beverages, but most concerts are late enough (doors opening at 8) to allow for people to grab dinner elsewhere. Glanced through the menu in advance and a lot of the food looked fairly overpriced, so my friends and I decided to grab pizza from the Pizza Garden. Brilliant idea, as there was no in and out privilege, so we would've ended up spending a ton of money otherwise. Drinks were good, and the logistical set up is pretty awesome. If you're out on the dance floor, be ready for drinks to possibly spill on you. Also, know that you will probably step on something while you're out there too. The sound system is pretty decent. My friends and I were pretty close up so I don't know how things sounded from afar. Washroom ran out of TP pretty quickly though, so heads up. Coat check line ups are usually long when exiting. I'd probably go back, but would definitely plan things differently. read more

They don't allow you to go outside after entering, and at some shows they close off the balcony. I tried sitting in the closed off area during a show, and refused to leave when asked, as when I paid for the ticket I thought the whole place would be open. The security took me out of there, and one of them twisted my arm, which hurt me. They restrained me by the stairs for a while too. Furthermore, the lines for drinks were long since they closed off all but 1 bar. I would never support such a place again. read more

Historic landmark venue in the heart of Vancouver. I love the Commodore. I remember listening to The Fox as a young teenager and remember wishing I could go see a show on the "bouncy floor of the Commodore". Now that I am an adult, I have seen a lot of shows here. And every time I fall in love again. The renos done a while back are spectacular. It is a classy venue, with great sound, and packs a lot of people without feeling too crowded. There's space to sit, if you prefer, or room in front of the stage where you can get so close the sweat from the band might fall on you. Despite being in Vancouver, on Granville, the prices inside are not as high as I expected. Sure, I'm paying $6.75 for a highball, but where am I not paying that much? Also, coat check for $3 may seem high, but the darlings behind the counter let my friend and I double up our coats instead of making us pay per item. No one lets you do that any more. Kudos for not being jerks. It says a lot about the legacy of a venue when the performer gushes about how thrilled he is to be playing there, and talks about memories of attending shows years ago, and how special it was to go for the very first time. Oh, and a note to spectators - please leave the playing of instruments to the band. That's right, Mr. Harmonica, playing along (poorly) to the encore. Shut it. read more

Two things happened for me the last time I was here: 1.) I saw the best show I've ever been to in my life, and 2.) I discovered a venue that I will always have on my "awesome place to see a show" watch list. Did I mention how much I love the Commodore Ballroom and its new but old-timey flair? First of all, the one-two punch of Jamie Cullum and rockabilly front act Imelda May left me reeling from so much jaw-shattering awesomeness that it made my brain reevaluate all my other past show experiences as it lay bruised and beaten on the floor. (Achievement Unlocked: Overload Yelp review with cheesy boxing references.) Second, the Commodore is a frickin' cool space. Tables all around with food and drink service, AND an open floor in the center that not only lets you watch your admired act up close and all personal-like but allows you to bust a move if said performer cajoles your junked trunk to drop it like it's hot. (Achievement Unlocked: Make irrelevant use of a two tired hip-hop idioms.) And third? There is no third! I heart the Commodore Ballroom. There, that's my third. read more

History Lesson Alert! (Or: How Old Is That Ramon Dude Anyway?) It's hard to believe that this building was opened 60 years to the month before I first set foot in here. So much history was consumed by this dance floor that I couldn't even begin to imagine the wealth of talent that has come and gone over the course of its lifetime. It's truly one of the great venues in this city. For me, the Commodore defined concert-going as soon as I made it a habit of going to shows. And did I ever. Starting with The The at the end of '89, my memory can only offer a brief list of all the shows I have attended. Nitzer Ebb, Pre-Nevermind Nirvana opening with the Doughboys for Screaming Trees, Inspiral Carpets, Blur, Skinny Puppy, Sugarcubes, Happy Mondays, Mudhoney, Catherine Wheel, House of Love, Primal Scream, Paul Weller, Consolidated and Meat Beat Manifesto (amazing), Jesus Jones, Ned's Atomic Dustbin, Nomeansno, Lush, Pop Will Eat Itself, Ministry, The Pixies (several times), 808 State with Meat Beat Manifesto (again, amazing), The Toast to Coast 1040 party, Stereolab, Mr Scruff, Peter Bjorn and John, Ladytron, Broken Bells, Cut Copy with the Presets, Jarvis Cocker, Deerhoof, Blonde Redhead, Destroyer, OMD, And DOZENS more. I am missing so many, and I would have a very difficult time trying to recall them all. And I'd do anything to re-live every single one of those shows. In the midst of all that, there came Disco Night. For $2 you could shake your groove thing all Tuesday night long. And if you dressed the part, it wouldn't cost you anything. Appreciation for the Commodore became painfully evident when they closed in 1996, starting a few years of concert doldrums for me. But all was well again when they renovated and re-opened in 1999 and started picking up right where they left off. I've given up more sweat, blood and bouncing energy here than a year's worth of 6-year-old's birthday parties at Crash Crawlies. It's thanks to the Commodore that there is a concert venue for shows up to 1000 fans who want to get as close to a band as they'd like to brave. And what a venue it is, with its spring-loaded floor, large unobstructed viewing, classy art-deco interior, and incredible location. One wonders if all the ghosts that dwell between the cavernous walls are still enjoying it as much as we are. read more

If I lived in your fair city, I know the Commodore would be my nightly address. ::::::::::SHOWS:::::::::: While in town over the weekend, they had two shows which were totally corey-worthy (I caught the Corinne Bailey Rae show, but missed the Sia gig. I also saw lots of other shows advertised that I would have totally been down for). ::::::::::THE VENUE:::::::::: The space is inviting and well-catered to live shows. The venue is open with a large dance floor and framed with tables on the sides and up in the balcony. There are several of bars, so you don't have to wait long for a libation. The sound was crisp and clear (now the bass was a bit much at the beginning of Corinne's show, but the loud screaming horde in the rear got the Sound Man's attention). The lighting brought out Corinne's sexiness and angelic stage persona. And finally, the climate was just right. I've been to many hot hot shows, and everyone's a sweaty bloody mess by shows end. For me, the temperature was just right---an important thing. And the dance floor is hardwood--which I love. So, if you're a spinner, your ankles will be happy. ::::::::::NOTES:::::::::: o The show I went to was advertised as $32, but I bought my ticket at the door and it was $42. o No in/out privileges o Coat check was $3 ::::::::::AN APOLOGY:::::::::: I have to send a pair of apologies to the two young ladies who happened to be standing next to me near the streetside windows of the Commodore just before Corinne's took the stage. Yeah, it was seconds before Corinne's set started. There I was facing the stage, bobbing my head to a groove, eyes closed, and with a pint in hand (feeling super-cool in my own mind). I felt peace, maybe a little too much peace. Because with a flash, I felt something out of nowhere softly land on my head. My reflex was to move my arm headward to swat away what ever was crawling on my head. Before I knew it, I totally sprayed a pair of unsuspecting females with a cold lager. EMBARRASSING!!!! I felt like such a heel!! I profusely apologized, but yeah, there was nothing I could do. So, I slowly slithered away into the shadows. Such a big dummy, am I!! I know it's not a new dry blouse, but hopefully this song from Corinne can help take away some sore feelings: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fA6LlVGaLb0 (and here's a clip from the Commodore show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipC09HhR-9s) "I"m soweee!" :) read more

The ballroom it is! I imagine it in it's infancy during the 1930's and can't help but fantasize about what it looked like, who was there, and what was heard during those first years. Now, every time I go, I take my own trip down memory lane on the decade I've spent on that sprung dance floor. Just a few silly highlights of years gone by: +Why oh why do I remember the Swollen Members concert? +An ABBA followed by the U2 tribute bands, huh? +Legendary Disco Nights... I long for these again! +NYE '02, or was it '03...either way, whoever slipped a bunch of us girls at the bar ruffies is still on my hit list! Back then (drugs aside), I would have given the Commodore 5 solid stars. But now, with Live Nations mega fees, no in and outs, ridiculous priced drinks, and absolute crap selection of beer, I gotta dock 'em a star. It's still my favourite place to catch a show, but when you have to heavily pre-drink just to avoid drinking watered down or mainstream crap beer, it can really kill a fun buzz. But it still rocks when the Budos Band or The Heavy take to the stage during the Jazz Fest! read more

Sorry to go against the grain here with a lot of people, but the sound quality is not great. I've seen 3 concerts here in the past year, and my overall impression is that "loudness" is being mistaken for "quality". Either the mixes of all three bands I saw were off, or the Commodore sound system has issues with feedback and distortion that wash out the quality of the treble. At the risk of sounding like an old man, it might be worth turning the volume down 20% to see if it makes a difference. Please fix it. There aren't many smaller venues in this town. read more

One of the best sound systems and dance floors in Vancouver (although we can't enjoy dancing anymore) it's still well staffed since being bought by Live Nation a few years ago but the drinks menu is as bad as at a hockey game now. The beer list is embarrassingly small and bland with two boring IPAs, Stella, Corona and Budweiser (no joke they're 'proud' to serve Bud) and that's literally all. I was so disappointed as this place used to have such an impressive bar. I tried to order RedBull and vodka and the bartender nodded and gave me Monster energy drink with no check if that was an acceptable substitution. The giant screens showing ads for mobile gambling apps and Jim Beam really killed the vibe, and the EQ for the supporting band was so tinny I was shocked the house sound hadn't made any effort. With how few good venues of any size the city has, and what a wonderful place this has been for generations, I can't express my disappointment at how bad a job Live Nation is doing running it. read more

Commodore Ballroom - One of the most disappointing beer lists in the city - Music Venues Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Best venue ever. I came here to see Canadian natives Tegan and Sara. What better place than their homeland, eh? This place was well taken care of. The sound was excellent. The upstairs balcony was great. The lighting was awesome! All important things for a music venue to have. They also had seats off to the side where you had a great view of the stage and big screens for close ups of the show. But, even standing in the back of the room, you could still see the stage. It was up high enough, but not so high you had to hurt your neck. They also had a small catering table set up in the back where you could buy food in case you got hungry. It was definitely a great experience seeing a show here. Totally worth the 3 hour drive. read more

Holy fuck, this venue is beautiful and has an amazing sound system. When you walk in, you can totally tell why it is so highly regarded among venues of it's size. I like the option of being able to run to the front or chill at a table, and the easily accessible second balcony is great if you're short like meeee! The drink prices are okay i guess. Dive bar it ain't, but it sure as isn't an upscale joint either. Their bartenders pour well and make some spot on drinks, so no complaints. Personally, i like that you have the selection you would seeing a band at a dive bar, even if it is at a higher cost. Better than the prices and selection at GM Place, that's for sure! The staff are pretty cool and seem tolerant of bullshit. A friend of mine and me got invited backstage after She Wants Revenge. We look trashy, but if they were hoping we'd put out they were sorely disappointed since we just saw it as an opportunity to (what else?) drink more. We were terrors and basically tripped and slurred until someone would give us more booze to make us sit still and shut up. In retrospect, we probably should have been kicked out on our wasted asses. (On a related note: Singer from She Wants Revenge, YOU'RE CREEPY.) As much as i appreciate the sound system and history of the place, i just can't quite give it a 5 since it almost seems too big for a hobo like me who is used to seeing shows in little venues! Plus it's so nice that perhaps i just feel a bit out of place without being able to look on the wall of the bathroom wall to find out who to call for a good time. That's just me though, so if you have any dignity and don't get blackout drunk, this entire paragraph is irrelevant. read more

The Commodore is a good medium sized venue, and one of the very few clubs with a 990 person capacity. A lot of the bands or shows I want to check out are usually booked here, but since this is the only venue of this capacity in Vancouver, a lot of the good shows sell out super fast, or don't get booked at all cuz someone else might be booked here already. It sucks because this venue offers you your only chance to see a band where you can weasel your way up to the front row for less than $30. Otherwise you would be stuck at GM Place or BC Place in a crowd of thousands of people. The only other venue we had that was comparable was Richards on Richards, but they are gone now. You can get service at the one of the bars pretty quick, but the prices are pretty high, so drink before you go! If you get there early enough (which I never do) you can actually get a table and they serve food, so you could just skip dinner at home and go right to the venue. There are no in and out privileges, so the smokers are usually in a rush to get out after the show, if they actually didn't smoke during the show. I like the Commodore for nothing other than the fact that I can get in the crowd and dance in the middle of people really givin'er. read more

The Commodore is no joke, hands down, the best venue for live music in Vancouver. My friends and I have a running joke that we will go see any band that plays at the Commodore no matter how disinterested we were in the first place. The atmosphere has proved time and again to works its magic on bands you weren't so sure of in the first place and amped up ones you were already stoked about. Probably the best thing about the Commodore is how easy it makes it for concert goers. Some people may line up at 5pm for the 8pm door but I think most of us know better. Any weekend headliner at the Commodore isn't going on till around midnight and weekdays usually sit around the 11pm mark. So even if your doors are at 8 you have lots of time to round up your friends or have a bite to eat before you head in. If you have the forethought remember to get cash before you go in! They recently added a second ATM but those lines can get super long nonetheless and there are no in and outs. If you do get there right on time you can probably snag some of the very limited seating and try some of the food. Their food is pretty good but nothing to write home about. Otherwise you'll be plenty early enough showing up at 9. The venue itself has 4 full bars plus 1 beer stand which makes it easy to get drinks without the lines. The prices are pretty standard for Vancouver so bring cash if you plan on drinking. Like I was saying before though, this concert is perfect for concert goers. The crowds here, no matter the genre of music, are usually courteous and fun. If you're willing to withstand the pressure of a few hundred people behind you, you can get to the front very easily for your favourite bands. At the front or not, the acoustics are great everywhere in this venue because it is so small. Also, once the concert starts it's pretty easy to snag yourself a seat if you're on the last day of a three day bender or if you've been in the most pit long enough to loose all feeling and decide to take 'er easy. The security staff is always aware and do a great job of keeping everything under control. Other than that all I can say is that I have seen the best concerts of my life at the Commodore and I am currently holding tickets for two more upcoming shows there. It is my happy place. read more

I wore flip flops to a rock concert. IDIOT! Other than my poor judgment in foot attire I had an awesome time watching two shows there this summer. Love the bouncy floor and the sound system. I must be getting on in years, because I did bring ear plugs for the last show. And thank heavens for that! I am done with the ear ringing at the end of the night. Still had a hoarse voice though. read more

The famous Commodore. I've always wanted to check it out and tonight I finally did. Jo Koy (comedian) performed at the Commodore tonight and absolutely killed it (super hilarious). This venue is old school in the best possible way. Spacious layout and lots of seating in different arrangements, this is comfy place. Drinks weren't that great, nor were the prices, but hey I come for the show, not to get smashed. I'll definitely try to catch another show/concert here again. read more

Live music lovers need to get to know this venue. It's such a fun place to catch a live show because it's a fairly small venue with a huge dance floor in front of the stage. I saw The Roots here and the guitarist even came off stage and walked through the crowd while playing his guitar over his head. It was fantastic, and not something that can happen in a theatre-style venue. The Commodore attracts all ages, and the crowd can really vary depending on the act on stage. You are always guaranteed a good view of the stage and there're lots of places to chill and escape the bounce of the dance floor. Considering the close proximity you have to the players, the tickets are reasonably priced. For example, Franz Ferdinand is coming to the Commodore Dec 9, 2008 and tickets are $35. If someone wants to Take Me Out ... I might be free that night. read more

Best concert venue in Vancouver. Period. No other venue has that personal, reach-out-and-bottle-your-favorite-musician feeling that the Commodore evokes. Went to see Les Claypool here the other night, and was reminded why I was so relieved he wasn't playing at the Colosseum or (shudder) GM Place. No in-out privileges is kind of harsh, except that I don't give a shit because I don't smoke.... Having 4 different bars to be ignored at is pretty sweet... Their menu looks pretty good too, although I didn't order anything... (I can just see the Usefuls on this review now.. :p) The floor always transforms into a deathly, yet entertaining combo of sticky and slippery by the middle of the opening band, the security guards are kind of retarded (yelling at people for dragging extra chairs to tables, while in the meantime there's about a hundred people smoking on the floor...), and someone had the brilliant insight last time of giving everyone actual glassware for their beers and mixed drinks. During a concert. Brilliant. I don't know how many glasses they lost, but it can't be cheap. Not to mention I'm glad I didn't get smoked in the head by a flying glass during the show. But yes, there's nowhere else I'd rather watch a band. Extra star for me being able to watch a metal show and walk out of there without getting stabbed, puked on, or smelling like an ashtray splashed with beer (unlike the 'Balt). read more

I used to think this was the best place to see big acts in Vancouver, but over the years I've grown to absolutely hate this place. Here are my reasons: -My friend works here and says they are cheap, untrusting of their OWN employees, and they've bulked up security to a ridiculous level. -There are no in's and outs. I don't smoke but sometimes you want to go outside for some fresh air, "too bad." they say, "once your out, your out." Umm, why did I pay so much money to have you keep me couped up, it's my money I should be able to go out and in as I please. -the drink prices are stupidly expensive and most of the bar tenders are unfriendly (except Scott Lyon). I don't mean to be a hater but i'd rather not see these acts then go to the Commodore. read more