Austin Music Hall

Under normal circumstances, old run-down venues can be easily excused as 'Austin charmed' but there is nothing 'charming' about this place. The staff is a motley crew of the rude and mindlessly lost. Considering the manager, 'Jeff', whose offensive, childish demeanor runs rampant in the chaos, it's no surprise the employees feel free to follow his example to scurry about either pushy, lost, or terrified, absent of any real leadership. more

I have heard many mixed reviews in the past year about the Austin Music Hall and although the venue did have sound problems at the beginning all the issues have been fixed. I have seen many shows at the venue including Incubus, Death Cab for Cutie, Matisyahu & Chevelle and the venue sounded great. yes it was crowded and the bar lines were long but that is how it is at every sold out show no matter the venue. All in all great place to see shows and looking forward to seeing many more shows in the future. Pros: Sound, view, staff Cons: drink prices more

I have heard many mixed reviews in the past year about the Austin Music Hall and although the venue did have sound problems at the beginning all the issues have been fixed. I have seen many shows at the venue including Incubus, Death Cab for Cutie, Matisyahu & Chevelle and the venue sounded great. yes it was crowded and the bar lines were long but that is how it is at every sold out show no matter the venue. All in all great place to see shows and looking forward to seeing many more shows in the future. Pros: Sound, view, staff Cons: drink prices more

So disappointing. Went to see Etta James on April 24th. My first time since AMH reopened. The acoustics were horrible. Equally disturbing was the fact that there is no barrier between the bar area in the back on the main floor area and the seating. In addition to the noise from the bar which is expected is the brightness of the neon lights and overheads in truly distracting. The seats are the cheapest, most uncomfortable ever! Pathetic...you expect a music venue to consider the patron's experience which should include sound, visual, comfort and security. I think they missed the mark on all four and I do not plan to go back until it is improved for real. Cons: Poor acoustics! Noise from bar & glare from neon bar lights! more

So disappointing. Went to see Etta James on April 24th. My first time since AMH reopened. The acoustics were horrible. Equally disturbing was the fact that there is no barrier between the bar area in the back on the main floor area and the seating. In addition to the noise from the bar which is expected is the brightness of the neon lights and overheads in truly distracting. The seats are the cheapest, most uncomfortable ever! Pathetic...you expect a music venue to consider the patron's experience which should include sound, visual, comfort and security. I think they missed the mark on all four and I do not plan to go back until it is improved for real. Cons: Poor acoustics! Noise from bar & glare from neon bar lights! more

Absolutely disappointing!!! The security has no authority what so ever. We showed up two hours early to grab seats upstairs in hopes to see the band since the new seating was suppose to be so amazing?. Ummm seeing the bands didn?t happen. Everyone piled up in the walk ways and FIRE lane blocking everyone in the upper levels view of the stage. Oh and VIP seating ha what a freaking joke?don?t bother buying tickets for that?you can?t see the stage because of the inconsiderate people who block those isles. During the second act two of the security guys? a bald guy and a guy with a Mohawk were able to clear the way (thanks for that first time we saw the stage) but when Death Cab came on they lost total control. To top it off the VIP isn?t clearly marked and this woman security guard chewing the hell out of a straw due to nervousness I?m sure, kept having to chase people off yelling ?VIP ONLY!!!!? Seriously I was told they remodeled in order to improve the venue. Instead it was a total disappointment. If you are going to have seating upstairs there should be a limit to the amount of people you allow up there along with sitting should be mandatory. If you want to stand go down stairs!!! If you are going to be a security guard you should be able to maintain authority yet remain polite at the same time. I heard a lot of people complain about the way there items were searched. I understand they check bags for everyone?s safety but you don?t have to be rude while doing it. I think whoever is in charge of this venue needs to not just work on the improvements to the building but work on the quality of customer service they provide as well. Keep in mind that we pay to not just listen but to see these bands and if you can?t provide that service than you have failed. To sum it up Death Cab for Cutie sounded amazing but someone should tell the people standing they should reconsider the shampoo they use. Pros: Good sound Cons: Read my review more

Absolutely disappointing!!! The security has no authority what so ever. We showed up two hours early to grab seats upstairs in hopes to see the band since the new seating was suppose to be so amazing?. Ummm seeing the bands didn?t happen. Everyone piled up in the walk ways and FIRE lane blocking everyone in the upper levels view of the stage. Oh and VIP seating ha what a freaking joke?don?t bother buying tickets for that?you can?t see the stage because of the inconsiderate people who block those isles. During the second act two of the security guys? a bald guy and a guy with a Mohawk were able to clear the way (thanks for that first time we saw the stage) but when Death Cab came on they lost total control. To top it off the VIP isn?t clearly marked and this woman security guard chewing the hell out of a straw due to nervousness I?m sure, kept having to chase people off yelling ?VIP ONLY!!!!? Pros: Good sound Cons: Read my review more

I hate hate hate the "new" music hall. I saw my favorite band there last night and was so utterley dissapointed at the venue. The door security could not get their act together, and I eneded up having my purse searched four times. When I finally got through the door the guy was so rude, telling me to back up and wait so he could finish talking to a fellow employee. then was like "did your bag get searched?". It was insanely over crowded and hot as hell. While I did enjoy the smoking patio, the upstairs is a joke. The bars are in the small hallway that leads to the "seating/standing area, so trying to get through is a nightmare. The security was so rude and kicked us out of the spot that we had and then let other people stand there. They made people sit on the floor during the first 2 bands. down stairs was a joke also. It was sooooo hot and horrible in there. I have never been in a venue that gets that hot and stuffy. The sound in that place is less than stellar. I had a really hard time even hearing the show in some places. the sound did not flow well, and the top balcony was obvously inhibiting the sound for the back of the room. I miss the old music hall, sure it was just basically an old big room, but the sound was way better and there was not a security gurard with a flash light in your face every second. more

I hate hate hate the ""new"" music hall. I saw my favorite band there last night and was so utterley dissapointed at the venue. The door security could not get their act together, and I eneded up having my purse searched four times. When I finally got through the door the guy was so rude, telling me to back up and wait so he could finish talking to a fellow employee. then was like ""did your bag get searched?"". It was insanely over crowded and hot as hell. While I did enjoy the smoking patio, the upstairs is a joke. The bars are in the small hallway that leads to the ""seating/standing area, so trying to get through is a nightmare. The security was so rude and kicked us out of the spot that we had and then let other people stand there. They made people sit on the floor during the first 2 bands. down stairs was a joke also. It was sooooo hot and horrible in there. I have never been in a venue that gets that hot and stuffy. more

This was the worse venue I have ever been to. I saw Cheech and Chong there over the weekend and I can't even review the actual show because I couldn't hear anything. Although we sat in the balcony, we didn't exactly have nosebleed seats so we were excited about the show. My relatives came in from out of town to watch the show with me and I felt bad that they even made the trip over here for not being able to hear anything. It was so frustrating straining to hear the show and people behind us and around us started to leave in the middle of the show. I'm sure that music concerts may be a bit better here but this place is definitely not the place for anything else. Pros: They serve alcohol to keep your mind off of how bad this venue is Cons: Too many to name more

This was the worse venue I have ever been to. I saw Cheech and Chong there over the weekend and I can't even review the actual show because I couldn't hear anything. Although we sat in the balcony, we didn't exactly have nosebleed seats so we were excited about the show. My relatives came in from out of town to watch the show with me and I felt bad that they even made the trip over here for not being able to hear anything. It was so frustrating straining to hear the show and people behind us and around us started to leave in the middle of the show. I'm sure that music concerts may be a bit better here but this place is definitely not the place for anything else. Pros: They serve alcohol to keep your mind off of how bad this venue is Cons: Too many to name more

We were very excited to see Cheech and Chong in concert again. Our children bought us tickets for our birthdays. Tommy's wife started the show but we couldn't hear a word she was saying. We were lucky if we heard one third of the entire performance. Not only was the sound terrible, but we couldn't see. People were walking in front of us and those seated kept having to move their heads so they could see, therefore, blocking our view. There was a big screen behind them but they were not on it. That would have made all the difference. Plus, we were all packed in there like sardines. Very uncomfortable. Several people around us moved or left. I won't ever go there again. I wish I could get my kids' money back. Pros: The choice of performers is great, the bartenders were very friendly. Cons: We couldn't see or hear. We were crammed together like sardines. Very unenjoyable. more

We were very excited to see Cheech and Chong in concert again. Our children bought us tickets for our birthdays. Tommy's wife started the show but we couldn't hear a word she was saying. We were lucky if we heard one third of the entire performance. Not only was the sound terrible, but we couldn't see. People were walking in front of us and those seated kept having to move their heads so they could see, therefore, blocking our view. There was a big screen behind them but they were not on it. That would have made all the difference. Plus, we were all packed in there like sardines. Very uncomfortable. Several people around us moved or left. I won't ever go there again. I wish I could get my kids' money back. Pros: The choice of performers is great, the bartenders were very friendly. Cons: We couldn't see or hear. We were crammed together like sardines. Very unenjoyable. more

The acoustics are utterly horrible. There is a huge amount of echo, even if you are close to the stage. This is just a cement bunker. I've been to hundreds of concerts in my lifetime and this is one of the worst venues ever. I never went to the AMH before it was renovated, but I just can't imagine how bad it was then. Unless your most favorite band is playing, I highly suggest staying away from this venue. Pros: Some decent acts play here, reasonable prices Cons: Horible acoustics, poor seating (if at all) more

The acoustics are utterly horrible. There is a huge amount of echo, even if you are close to the stage. This is just a cement bunker. I've been to hundreds of concerts in my lifetime and this is one of the worst venues ever. I never went to the AMH before it was renovated, but I just can't imagine how bad it was then. Unless your most favorite band is playing, I highly suggest staying away from this venue. Pros: Some decent acts play here, reasonable prices Cons: Horible acoustics, poor seating (if at all) more

Hmmm where to begin? Just saw Kings of Leon at the Austin Music Hall - worst concert venue I've ever been to. Most importantly, the sound quality was horrible. Terrible acoustics, a sound that was muddy and scrambled. The venue itself was over-crowded, hot, and humid. There was nowhere to go to get a halfway decent view of the band, unless you got there 6 hours early to crush forward to the front of the huge mob on the ground floor. These people are packed in like cows going to the slaughter. I don't know what they did when they had to go to the bathroom or get a drink or sit down, there was no way of going in or out. The main bars at the back of the ground floor were overcrowded, the lines were spilling out into the section where you stood to listen to the concert-which created a huge bottleneck for people who wanted to go to the bathroom or move from one side of the room to the other. The staff were worse than the Hell's Angles-constantly bossing people around with ridiculous, nit-picky rules that seemed arbitrary at best. I went to the bar to get 4 beers for my group and was told by the bartender I was only allowed to buy two beers at a time. Ooooooookay....then, when I went to pay for my two beers with my debit card, I was told there was a minimum charge of twenty dollars for cards. What? So they only let me buy two beers, but then told me I wasn't charging enough to use my card. We elbowed our way up to the balcony to try to get a glimpse of the band, and was once again met by an angry bossy staff member weilding a flashlight. The concert was almost half over before we finally found a spot way off against the right side wall, and I spent the rest of the concert staring at the back of the person in front of me, occasionally standing way up on my tippy toes to catch a glimpse of the top of the lead singer's head. Just don't do it people-consider yourself for-warned, the Music Hall is bad news. Pros: Decent Location Downtown Cons: worst sound, staff, ambience, layout, crowd control more

Hmmm where to begin? Just saw Kings of Leon at the Austin Music Hall - worst concert venue I've ever been to. Most importantly, the sound quality was horrible. Terrible acoustics, a sound that was muddy and scrambled. The venue itself was over-crowded, hot, and humid. There was nowhere to go to get a halfway decent view of the band, unless you got there 6 hours early to crush forward to the front of the huge mob on the ground floor. These people are packed in like cows going to the slaughter. I don't know what they did when they had to go to the bathroom or get a drink or sit down, there was no way of going in or out. The main bars at the back of the ground floor were overcrowded, the lines were spilling out into the section where you stood to listen to the concert-which created a huge bottleneck for people who wanted to go to the bathroom or move from one side of the room to the other. The staff were worse than the Hell's Angles-constantly bossing people around with ridiculous, nit-picky rules that seemed arbitrary at best. I went to the bar to get 4 beers for my group and was told by the bartender I was only allowed to buy two beers at a time. Ooooooookay....then, when I went to pay for my two beers with my debit card, I was told there was a minimum charge of twenty dollars for cards. What? So they only let me buy two beers, but then told me I wasn't charging enough to use my card. We elbowed our way up to the balcony to try to get a glimpse of the band, and was once again met by an angry bossy staff member weilding a flashlight. The concert was almost half over before we finally found a spot way off against the right side wall, and I spent the rest of the concert staring at the back of the person in front of me, occasionally standing way up on my tippy toes to catch a glimpse of the top of the lead singer's head. Just don't do it people-consider yourself for-warned, the Music Hall is bad news. Pros: Decent Location Downtown Cons: worst sound, staff, ambience, layout, crowd control more

i checked this site before going to the Kings of Leon concert and was a bit scared after reading it. Obviously the only people who write these reviews are the ones who didnt have a good time. so ill be the first to TOTALLY disagree. the sound was great, the show was great the staff was great, Im sorry robert earl keen didnt sound good for the people who posted a few posts back but thats his fault. Ive never been to AMH so i didnt know what to expect. Luckily my expectations were shattered by an awesome concert hall and an awesome band! You can get so close to the band and not at any extra costs. they have seats upstairs but who sits down and concerts?? (robert earl keen fans thats who) Pros: the whole experience and the balcony for smoking cigs before the show Cons: if i had to say one thing it'd be the lines for drinks but thats normal anywhere. more

i checked this site before going to the Kings of Leon concert and was a bit scared after reading it. Obviously the only people who write these reviews are the ones who didnt have a good time. so ill be the first to TOTALLY disagree. the sound was great, the show was great the staff was great, Im sorry robert earl keen didnt sound good for the people who posted a few posts back but thats his fault. Ive never been to AMH so i didnt know what to expect. Luckily my expectations were shattered by an awesome concert hall and an awesome band! You can get so close to the band and not at any extra costs. they have seats upstairs but who sits down and concerts?? (robert earl keen fans thats who) Pros: the whole experience and the balcony for smoking cigs before the show Cons: if i had to say one thing it'd be the lines for drinks but thats normal anywhere. more

Background in performance and event coordination. I understand things happen, but... Section D, Row 4, Seats 8-11, and Row 5, Seats 8-11, $65/ea. Got to the venue early for the first time since the remodel to look around. Asked if there were in/out privileges before my ticket was scanned, was told no just before the woman took and scanned my ticket! I explained to her that I had 7 tickets for friends, and was told I could wait in front of the door. While waiting, saw a detective turned away from the door because he was wearing his firearm on his hip (next to his badge). They also turned away a woman with a CHL who had a handgun in her purse. If you are going to do that, post a no-gun sign! Same woman who scanned ticket the first time said there was no re-entry. After 3 or 4 minutes of explaining to her what she had earlier told me, she finally let us in about 20 minutes before the show. Section D isn?t even close to in front of the stage ? HORRIBLE set up that isn?t apparent in online venue chart. Only 8 chairs in each row, so physically no seats for 6 of us. Staff would only tell us rows had been added, seats removed - tried to move us to back of floor or balcony. By the time this was explained, whole section was filled, and we went to the balcony. All 4 couples sat in completely different parts of audience. We were put in angled seats on balcony by someone who promised to bring us back her card. I'm 6' and couldn?t see the opening comedian on stage due to the person?s head in front of me. Open seats on the rail reserved for members. stayed open for the whole show. Moved forward after intermission, ppl around us had done same thing. Kept an eye out for the woman who was supposed to bring us her card, but never saw her in that part of the theatre again. If you are going to inconvenience that many people for uncomfy seats, at least do a better job at handling the situation, and offer some sort of partial refund (or even offer a drink)! Pros: Most staff was friendly Cons: See review more