VENUE REVIEW: The Neighborhood Theatre - Charlotte, NC (NoDa District)

Nestled in the heart of NoDa is an old movie theatre (complete the the old-timey lighted sign out front) that has been converted into a unique music venue. The particular event for the evening is a Battle of the Bands, so the place is packed with fans, bands, and merchandise tables. Upon entering the venue, there are several different and interesting t-shirts on display with a variety of bubbly fangirls manning the money boxes. The whole room is abuzz with anticipation of the competition to come.

As the lines of bright stage lights dim for the beginning of the evening's performances, the fans shuffle into the main chamber of the theatre for the show. High above the fans is the biggest fan in the room--a ceiling fan, probably 15 feet or more in diameter--manufactured by a company aptly named "Big-Ass Fans." Unlike many of the other venues in the Charlotte area, the stage actually has a large curtain that opens and closes, presenting a lush backdrop for the bands instead of the usual cinder blocks or scribble-covered walls. Creative lighting and a variety of colors and flashing frequencies add to the general ambiance of the stage room. For those standing in the front near the stage, it's a challenge to find a spot where there are no flashing lights beaming into your face, but there are lines of theatre chairs in the back half of the room, a second floor balcony, and a side-stage balcony for those who prefer to avoid being flashed by the stage lights.

Sound-wise, standing in mid-room, it seemed generally a bit muddy, and vocals did not come through the mix particularly clearly. Guitars were a bit fuzzy (granted, some guitarists like it that way), but bass and drums came through alright. Despite vocals being a bit on the quiet side, it was nice not to hear the random feedback that accompanies most local band shows. Since the venue hosts national acts, too, it makes sense that the sound operators really know what they're doing.

The amenities for drinking were good--a good variety of high-quality beers from across the U.S. (and a couple of imports--the usual suspects), though at $4 to $4.50 per draft is a bit pricey. There was plenty of semi-quiet room to talk to people between bands, and lots of room for merchandise selling for bands (and the bathrooms weren't scary).

The Good:

--Lighting & Stage setup

--Beer selection

--Lots of room for merch displays

--Several places to sit/stand

The Not-so-Good:

--Beer prices

--Sound mix on mids could've been better

--Ticket price was pretty high for a local show ($15)

It was a cool little place. I heard they're having to close, though, which is no fun. Hopefully the efforts to keep it open will be fruitful.