He Said: I have attended many concerts at The Armory, and I always enjoy the experience. The venue is a converted...wait for it...armory. The place is huge and smack in heart of downtown Minneapolis. There are street and parking ramp options. The Armory holds events other than concerts. Take a look at your personal calendar, see if there is a show you like, and buy a ticket. *Hint - if you can, go to their on-site box office to buy your tickets, so you save on the online fees). My friends have been in the suites, and they say they are great. There is, also, and small outside spot to grab some fresh air, so you do not have to exit the venue. Pros: - The place is huge, clean, and easy to get to - The sound system is great - When the crowd is really into it, you can feel the ground shake! Cons: - Some shows can be pretty expensive read more

The Armory - Hoang DJ - Music Venues Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Came here for a concert on NYE. Overall things went pretty smoothly through security but it was a very busy and crowded event. I'm not sure if it's always like this but for this event it was mostly general admission with no seating so you just had to stand the whole time. I heard that they had ear plugs for free at the bar which I think is very nice. read more

The Armory - Music Venues Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

It was another great night at The Armory, seeing Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit. We love that security hands out bottled water when we are riding the rail. read more

The Armory - Music Venues Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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OMGosh, what a venue. For the Prince Celebration concert, it was perfect. Inside is amazing and perfect for the event. Lots of seating and open space for a huge dance floor due to the layout. What it looks like inside is a total surprise from the outside, which looks like a big building downtown, but once I walked in, I was like, "Woah"!!! I would love to see another concert here. read more

From out of town and this has got to be one of my favorite venues of all time. Went to 2 shows while in town this past weekend and thoroughly enjoyed my time while I was there. Staff was so friendly, vibes were extremely high, and the merch was never an issue both days. Will definitely be returning!!! read more

The Armory - Music Venues Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

First timer! This place is really beautiful and has some wonderful history. The MN Lakers played here, Prince's 1999 music video was filmed here as well as Aerosmith's I Don't Want To Miss A Thing video. How freaking cool! I was here to attend the Lord Huron concert in July 2025. I do stand tall and proud at 5'2'' so I'm not the tallest person and it's a hard for me to see the stage in a GA standing room type of venue unless I upgrade to the VIP, balcony seats, etc. Which I will say that I should've done. That is the only real reason for the 3 stars. I was impressed with the security team which were friendly and fast. I was also impressed with all the bar options and the team of bartenders...they don't mess around. They have bartenders along the side from the front to the back all lined up. I was also surprised and delighted they have complimentary ear plugs at almost every register for FREE! Bathrooms were constantly being attended to constantly which was great. Lots of stalls. Definitely worth checking out for at least 1x! read more

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It was transitioning into spring and the ever changing weather made it a bit tumultuous to pick the right venue outfit, but Alex up by the stage really went the extra step to ensure his crowd was comfortable and even occasionally helped with hydration. This venue can get hot, so this was greatly appreciated. Thanks Alex! read more

The Armory is an impressive venue with a fantastic layout that makes it easy to navigate, even during sold-out shows. The organization of the space ensures great views of the stage from almost anywhere, and the sound quality is top-notch. The staff is friendly and professional, adding to the overall positive experience. There is ample private bottle service rooms both on the balconies and floor 2. Floor 3 is strictly for seating and VIP as per the event I attended. I definitely preferred being on the balcony for the first night of our event as it was clean , private bathrooms, however there is no seating but you can sit on the countertop as long as one foot remained on the ground. The second night we were in GA on the main floor as it wasn't too crowded however people were a lot more rude and messier even in the bathrooms. I had two drinks knocked over onto me and the girl looked at me like I did it to myself. I guess it pays to spend more on the expensive seats to avoid a certain type of concert goer. However, the lack of general seating is a downside. Unless you're willing to splurge on a private bottle service booth starting at $1,400 or upgrade to the lounge for $115 per night (which includes two free drinks and first-come, first-serve seating), you're left standing for the entire event. While these options cater to those looking for a more VIP experience, it would be nice to have some affordable seating alternatives for general admission ticket holders. Overall, it's a great venue, but a bit more flexibility with seating options would make it even better. They even have their own indoor parking which is a huge plus you can reserve ahead of time. They also have a full menu of food which is a great touch for a concert venue and it's not crappy generic fast food either. read more

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The Armory is such a cool venue! It's really open with tons of standing room, and the acoustics were fantastic for live music. I loved the vintage vibe--it has its own unique charm. The higher balcony seating was a nice touch too, giving a great view of the stage. The drinks were great, but definitely pricey! Regardless, it was a memorable place to see a show. read more

The Armory - Music Venues Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Loved John Mulaney, but the venue did him no favors. Lovely old converted theatre where the Mpls Lakers once played in the 1950's before the move to LA. It's dark and nicely restored. Still, the Armory was better suited to the NBA than to stand-up comedy. First, it's basically one level of seating for 95% of the crowd, so those seated on the floor are mostly quite a distance from the stage, without any rise. From Row 1 of Floor 5, about halfway back, it felt like GA seating at a rock concert. At least we had seats. Second, the sound echoed badly, with some distortion, often to the point where close-captioning the projection screens would have helped. Third, the concessions and beverage service was very good. At a glance, most of the food sold for a flat $15 - not bad for my cheddarwurst and fries, but a bit ridiculous for my wife's ice cream sandwich. Nice selection of beer by the can. Fairly quick getting in and out of the venue. They asked $40 for reserved parking beneath the Armory - seemed high for the convenience. Mulaney delivered as promised, though and while the two openers fell short, we had a fine time. Always love to see a big crowd downtown on a Friday evening! read more

The Armory is such an AMAZING live music venue in Minneapolis. I would go as far to say that any place in here is a great spot to watch your favorite band. The service for drinks was so quick - no lines ever. Bathroom line was quick. Def will be coming again for another show! read more

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I have always enjoyed going to the Armory! This venue has so many artists come through and perform. I enjoy the aesthetic it brings to each act. Sometimes, it can feel stuffy inside, but that's with any venue that has a lot of people. The standing area near the bar is great and you can get an awesome view there! The drinks are pricey, but that's expected. Overall, I'm always excited to see a show here! read more

I was at the Armory for Lindsey Stirling concert with VIP Meet & Greet on 08/24/24. VIP: The performer's team will reach out for like meet and greet check in time. Overall VIP experience was good. Security: Checking in was a breeze. Everyone was professional to tell you where to go. Unfortunately, the check in for the VIP front row and meet & greet were five hours early before the concert time. I was not allowed to leave the Armory to go to my car to drop off my VIP gift bag even though I parked at the venue. I was told "no re-entry" and this was when the door were about to open for the general admission after the VIP just finish their Q&A with Lindsey. Bag policy: So there is a size limit, but clear bag is not enforced. Your bag will be searched. I just bought a clear crossbody bag on Amazon. Parking: I did not buy a parking pass from the Armory beforehand. It was a flat rate of $40, pay upfront. There are 2 floors, so space is limited. I did see parking ramps nearby charging $30. We parked here for convenience. It is connected to the Armory, but the time we arrived for the VIP stuff, the doors were shut so we had to exit the parking ramp and walk around outside. Food & drinks: They have a bar that takes food orders. It serves personal pizza, chicken tenders, pretzels, hot dogs, some sort of "bowl." I didn't get a close look since the line was long. We did have chicken tenders and fries in the VIP lounge and the fries were good. Drinks were OK. My regular Coke was $3. My husband's Crown & Coke was $15. Bathroom: The ladies room were big and clean. During intermission, they had staff directing concert goers to keep the line moving. Seatings: As a VIP, I was in the center for row 3. Although a few fans and I agree that the spacing between seats are very tight. My husband, who is 6'3" had no leg room. Space was tight/crowded when you have bodies of same size with limited room. Air Conditioning: I wore a tank top with an under shirt and jeans. I was OK until 2 hours before showtime, when I wish I could go back to my car for my hoodie. Due to security policy of no re-entry, I bought a $80 merch hoodie... oh well. My husband was fine throughout in a polo shirt and shorts. 4 out of 5 stars because we had 2 hours before showtime and I think the no re-entry policy is ridiculous! The VIP gift bags (plastic bag) ripped, there were no replacement bags available, and the merch table sold out of the tote bags. Plus, the VIP gift bags were heavy since every person got a canvas art and a mini bluetooth speaker. I was not the only VIP with bag issues! The VIP folks had their lanyard on - so you know we've been here for a while. When I emailed the Armory 4 days prior, they said we could return to our car, but that wasn't the case on the day of. read more

The Armory - A view of the stage from center seat, row 3. Lindsey Stirling. - Music Venues Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

We went to see Jamie xx here over the weekend. Such a spacious venue! Awesome lighting. Drinks were a bit expensive but that wasn't too surprising. Very fun and enjoyable time! Also, it's awesome because this was the original Lakers venue. I liked the memorabilia in the lobby area! read more

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Came for the first time during Katseye's fist tour stop and have to say I was disappointed in this venue. The performance was great, but the venue just didn't live up to the same expectation. GA was all floor which wouldn't be an issue if the floor was somewhat slanted or the stage was higher, but because the floor was level and the stage was not high enough our view of the stage was obstructed 80% of the time from people in front or everyone raising their phones that I spent most of my time watching the TV to see the performance even though we had what would have been considered good center spots. Despite arriving 30 minutes prior to doors open the system to get in was just poorly managed. The line went out the door and across several blocks with crosswalks in between. This created chaos when the doors open and people were trying to rush across the crosswalk or wrap around the block when we weren't supposed to. There clearly was not enough security to manage the crowds. When we finally got in it was just 10 minutes before show time meaning it took us over an hour and a half to get into the venue. Needless to say I will not be returning for another show if it's still GA floor. read more

I think this is a great venue....especially for EDM / rave vibes. I've been here many times and enjoyed it everytime. There's actually real alcohol (aka they don't replace expensive stuff with cheap stuff like in a lot of venues). It sometimes gets crazy to get out. Getting in is easy and quick.. the staff is good and experienced and kind. There's also parking inside the venue so you don't have to go outside..that is the best right there. Totally worth the $40. read more

Leon Bridges was here for the 2nd time around. THAT IS ALL! That's the review! 10/10 would recommend, I'd follow this man if he was in a cave down the back alley in some secluded desert. lol read more

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I have a love hate relationship with the Armory. It is a good intimate venue, but still having ample space for a large crowd. I prefer to watch shows from either the raised bar area or the second floor. I don't love that merch is typically sold between the doors you enter and exit from - it makes for a very congested area. I prefer my GA areas to have a little bit of space to breath and not feel like cramped sardines. Security is quick to respond to guests who may need water or assistance, but I hate to see things get to that point. I do think the sound quality is pretty great and things feel close enough to still see. read more

Fabulous venue spent $20 on GA and had the best seats ever everything was absolutely phenomenal ! The armory never disappoints!!! Also GO ZADDY WARREN !!! read more

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Great venue with ample room. Get there early as it is all standing room only. But security hands out water bottles during the concerts, the venue is mindful of the temperature and regularly gets the AC blowing, and the bathrooms are huge and clean! read more

The Armory - Music Venues Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Weird layout. It's impossible to see the stage from the floor. The stage is at one end and the only seats are along the edges. I'd recommend purchasing seats along the edge. Update. On reflection, the acoustics are really good at the armory. I so want to like the place. They get great acts. read more

This is a great concert venue. They have a huge space with multiple tiers of tickets which allow flexibility in where you stand. We were in general admission, standing room only. Bathrooms were convenient to access and accommodate many people, so there was never a line. Plenty of bars and staff, so getting a drink was quick. Parking is available at the venue for a steep $40. We opted to park at a $20 ramp a couple blocks away. Overall, this is a fun music venue! read more

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Concerts here typically run in full general admission, meaning the floor is first come first serve! Bars on each side, no issues with getting drinks. They pump AC and security hands out bottled water to the crowd. This venue books popular acts and places them on a stage surrounded by great lighting and sound. read more

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Been to tons of events here it is a beautiful venue. Staff is respected and security is quick and easy.

First time here. Paid $40 to park, as time was more important to me than to waste 45 minutes on light rail. Couldn't find parking at first, so drove around twice. Word of advice: stay in left lane on South 5th. OMG the parking lot nazi! You could go outside by scanning your phone. She used a green Lazer pointer to point to which outside door to go to. We wandered to door we are to go in and listened to sound check briefly. She chased us away and said we are to wait in our cars until 625 pm. This didn't sit well with others, as she was constantly yelling at people. We got to stand fairly close to stage for Billy Strings. It was hot inside, pot was smoked everywhere, vaping and body odor. Also tall people. My sister left as she felt faint. So overly crowded walking to bathroom during break. 8000 people or so to sold out show. Covid super spreader. Concert was great, but so super crowded! Unsure if I'll return. read more

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The Armory is probably my favorite concert venue in MN. The sound quality is always top notch, the indoor setting allows MN concert goers to enjoy a "festival" like experience in the winter. There is ample space for people who don't want to be deep in the crowd to still enjoy the show. The VIP balcony's are great for an elevated experience but are not necessary to enjoy the experience. There lay out of the two bars spanning from the front to the back of the venue allows for short wait times on drinks/ food which keeps the areas from getting clogged up with people waiting in line. The bathrooms are ALWAYS SO CLEAN! and the lines move quickly. I have been to many concerts at the Armory seeing a wide range of music genres and I am impressed each time by the ease of entry into the venue, the service provided by the staff and the visuals/audio quality. read more

This is a really cool place to see a show! It was built in the 1930s and its surprisingly spotty history of even being used at all includes being the home of the Minneapolis Lakers before they moved to Los Angeles. When Minneapolis hosted the Super Bowl in 2018, it was turned into a venue for concerts and as of the summer of 2021, pandemic notwithstanding, that seems to be its raison d'etre going forward. The recent refurbishment kept a lot of elements of the art deco aesthetic but added, like, SO many bars. The lengths of both sides of the arena are completely lined with bars. There are probably as many places to get a beer here as there are at Target Field. At any given time, you are probably way, way closer to a bar than you are to a restroom, since there's just a single men's room and a single women's room, opposite each other on the sides. There is also a concession stand on the main level that appeared to have a basic slate of stadium-type grub. That main level doesn't have fixed seating; it's designed as a general-admission auditorium, so if a production wants there to be seats they will be set up temporary-style. There are also two balcony levels which offer more intimacy; supposedly the top level has actual seating as well as access to some better food options. Seems like a first-class experience of the sort that I'm not likely ever to see. I noticed other reviews are impressed with the sound quality. I saw Modest Mouse here in August, 2021 and I was not impressed with the sound. The half-cylinder shape of the roof kind of precludes a really good acoustic environment. Between songs when the singer would speak, I couldn't make out what he was saying. But as much as we try to scrutinze the quality of sound in a live music venue, is it ever really that good? You don't go to a concert at a place like The Armory for good acoustics. It's just cool there. I would definitely come here again for a big show where I didn't need the sound to be crystal clear. read more

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Food 4/5 - The chicken tenders exceeded my low expectations on bar food. The chicken and fries was hot and the chicken was not overly breaded. They also had plenty of condiments to pick from. Service / Ambience 4/5 - Food arrived within 5 minutes of ordering and they had a great ordering/pick up process. Well done Armory! read more

The Armory - Chicken Tenders with Fries - Music Venues Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Brought in the new year at this venue seeing Zedd. Great concert venue. They offer VIP lounge seating which was nice. We were able to order food and drink that were brought to us. Awesome experience! read more

The Armory - Music Venues Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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I have been to The Armory on a couple of different occasions with mixed results, but my last trip on Black Friday was the proverbial straw that broke the camels back. So, what happened you ask... I purchased two balcony seats to see Yung Gravy / Gravyfest. Normally I do floor seating / standing, but with my health being what it is now and not able to stand I purchased balcony seats for the show and was extremely dissatisfied. To start the image on TicketMaster led me to believe I would be sitting in an actual seat one row up from the balcony. However upon arrival not only did we not have a seat like was pictured, but we were in barstool seating. Had I known I would never have purchased barstool seating as I have back and other health issues which are aggravated by seats like these. Also, the attendants were not watching who they let up on the Balcony level, so when I arrived at my seats there were three gentleman standing behind another group just down the way. While none had wristbands for balcony, that was not really my issue. What I did take offense to was they were using the counter space immediately in front of my 19 year old daughter for their unattended alcoholic beverages. While I know you can't control every attendee, I felt like this was unacceptable. Now for the worst part... the seats had an obstructed view with one of the beams blocking dead center of the stage. Again, this was not mentioned in the description nor was it pictured. I paid a premium for these seats and was so disappointed that my daughter and I left less than an hour into the show. Yes, I could have gone down and watched the show from the floor, but due to the afore-mentioned health issues I really could not without causing myself great pains. I attend concerts quite regularly and as stated previously I have been to the Armory a few times with mostly good experiences, but I felt like the seats and the obstructed view was unacceptable and downright false advertising. I am sad that I had to miss BBNO$ and Yung Gravy. Unfortunately, there will be no way of getting that experience back. I did give contact the venue a couple days after the concert and gave them ample time to respond. Aside from a generic response stating they would escalate my concern to a supervisor, I've heard nothing back since. read more

Very unorganized before and after the show. . Started cleaning up as soon as the show ended (I've never had that happen to me and I've been to many concerts). All around not good read more

I can't believe I've never been here before, I didn't know what to expect, a night club, stadium seating I just had no idea. When purchasing tickets we didn't know what to purchase but it didn't seem to matter as it's a huge floor and everyone just packs in, last minute we found an employee and paid for VIP to go upstairs where it was less crowded, worth it to me. There's a lot of VIP seating where you can get bottle service as well, the place is a giant night club. Super cool. read more

The Armory - Music Venues Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Amazing venue, probably my favorite in Minneapolis - great acoustics, layout. It feels spacious even when you are crammed on the main floor. Lots of bars, and view points to watch the show. Blessed to have this in our neck of the woods. read more

The Armory - people standing on the balcony of the building - Music Venues Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Came to watch a Peach Pit and it was nothing less than fantastic . With the help of Jeff in the balcony guests services, my night was undoubtedly better. This energetic venue and its customer service are what make me come back time and time again. read more

If you've never been to a show at the Armory, you're missing out. The sound, the bars, the restrooms are all immaculate! Great experience everytime I come here. You never have to wait for a drink or to go to the restroom. Whoever designed it is a genius. I found out recently that you can get balcony and club level for a small upgraded price and don't have to deal with everyone on the floor and the view is great. Parking isn't bad if you are cool with walking a couple blocks and paying $10-20. I believe you can buy parking from the Armory, but haven't done that yet. read more

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Let me start off by saying no place give me more joy than the Armory! I love spending time here for all of the live music. What's not great about the Armory? 1. It's huge, if you have been there you would understand. It fits around 8 thousand and it doesn't feel like it when you're there. Which is my favorite part. 2. The staff there are amazing. They are kind, courteous and very responsive to anyone and everyone. They accommodate as much as they can and I know I personally appreciate it. 3. The drinks are good but the food is better. I don't order often but when I do it's the tenders, cheese curds and churros! Also my go to drinks usually fall around $8-$12 so not super horrible on pricing compared to some other places. 4. If you can ALWAYS do a premium experience. Do VIP different with the Armory. I've done almost all the experiences they offer and by far the suites and Generals Hall are my favorites. 5. If you didn't know now you know, but the Armory also holds a lot of history behind it and if you look around while you're there you'll see and get to know some pretty cool facts! read more

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Maybe the best venue I've been to for a concert. The acoustics were amazing. So many concerts you go to end up being more of a distorted eardrum bursting of instruments and not much vocals from the musicians but not here it truly is setup perfect for concerts. However, maybe the biggest upside of this place is the bar that stretches the entire length of the standing pit area on both sides. This is unbelievable and enough to have me coming back for many more concerts. I'm not talking about a bar that only has two bartenders more like ten to fifteen bartenders for each side. We never waited for a drink. The entire night for five hours we walked straight up to the bar and ordered no lines and this was a sold out show! Accessing the venue and getting through security was a breeze. Restrooms were clearly marked, clean and spacious. Security was present and professional. I had zero complaints and a great time! read more

The Armory - Full House! - Music Venues Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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I've been to the Armory for 2 shows - Andy Grammer and Lizzo - and think it may be the best venue in Minneapolis. HERE'S WHY. 1. Sound quality. !!!! HUGE! I saw Beyonce at US Bank and was disappointed with the sound quality. I knew what she was singing because I know her songs, but everything echoed and bounced around. At the Armory, NO SUCH PROBLEM. It's like the artist is singing right to you. Beautiful. 1a. Employees. These people are KIND and HELPFUL. Huge thank you to all of the security, bartenders, runners, cleanup crew, and literally everyone who is customer-facing. Haven't had a bad experience yet. 2. Visibility of the artist. I have been on the ground general admission and on the second floor for general admission and genuinely had a great view both times without arriving at the venue hours before the show. You're not going to have a private concert VIP experience with a GA ticket, but girl you knew that! Right?! 3. Accessibility in general and to restrooms and bars. EZPZ. Sure, when the venue is full you may have a wait time. But the facilities and employees are inviting and clean. That's a lot more than I can say for other venues! 4. Prices. I saw Lizzo for about $70. My friend bought tickets months ahead of time, but DANG that's great. A whiskey sour and a vodka soda was $18. $9 per drink is pretty typical for downtown mpls, even on the reasonable side. I'm thankful that the Armory doesn't jack up drink prices! 5. Parking. You can buy parking ahead of time (~$30) or on arrival (~$20) and park in a covered, secure lot that takes you directly to security for check-ins. WORTH IT. You don't stand outside in lines when you park in their garage. VERY notable for Minnesota. 6. Temperature. This place used to be a parking garage and when it's not full, feels sort of chilly like a garage. When the venue IS full, it's not hot and gross. I don't know if they control the temp or if it's just because of its history... but I love it. Catch me at the Armory. I can't recommend enough! read more

The Armory - Full crowd for Lizzo. - Music Venues Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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The Armory is a sweet venue with plenty of space on the floor. Only downfall is if you are close the stage and need to use restroom or grab a beer, it's almost impossible to get out. You have to squish through a packed crowd and don't plan on getting back in. The sound was great and there are some spots near the front on the "Floor" step up against the rails if you get there early. There was a decent amount of options for beer and they had a full bar during Vampire Weekend. Parking sucks around that area... if you are new to the Armory or Minneapolis area... pay the extra money to park in their lot. (I think you can only purchase ahead of time when you buy a ticket). They also have a coat check during cold months. I will be back. This is better than seeing a show at Target Center ANY DAY!!! read more

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My first and only venue I've had the pleasure of frequenting. No doubt I'll return for future shows. Sound quality is fantastic, staff is accommodating, free pizza samples, and mostly a nice crowd. Overall a pleasant experience! For those who know me, 311 is my favorite band and I go see them when I can. Playing @ the Armory gave me an excuse to check out the Twin Cities (pretty dope area) and see them rock on. Other bands included Glorious Sons and Highly Suspect which most of the younger crowd was there to see. I recall a two young girls at the front and didn't know who 311 was and left before they took the stage. While disappointed they didn't want to see them, it allowed me to snap their spot up front on the rail to see the band up close and personal. Probably the best 311 experience I've had so far as I've never been that close to the band. Will they remember my face!? Other reasons I give this place the 5 is they have clean restrooms, a coat check area, and a bar on each side that stretch the length of the floor. Convenient and easy to navigate! This is how venues should be; left a positive first impression of Minneapolis! No doubt I look forward to more shows/events here. read more

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