All of us small time, two bit Bay Area musicians dream of playing the Great American some day. It's a hard place for a local band to fill, which is why most will continue to dream for the forseeable... More

All of us small time, two bit Bay Area musicians dream of playing the Great American some day. It's a hard place for a local band to fill, which is why most will continue to dream for the forseeable future. But when you go see a show here, it's still just small enough that it's not intimidating to go talk to the band afterwards. And even if you're pushed to the back of a crowded show, you've still got a good view of the action. Many bigger touring acts come through here, even the occasional European Avant jazz outfit, which I guess qualifies the place as an eclectic programmer. The room is amazing. Totally old-school movie theater style with gilded balconies and a killer sound system. I've seen some memorable shows here.
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The Great American Music Hall is a great place to see live music. They are located on O'Farrell near Van Ness and parking can be tough. The area is a little seedy but fairly safe. The "GA" as some... More

The Great American Music Hall is a great place to see live music. They are located on O'Farrell near Van Ness and parking can be tough. The area is a little seedy but fairly safe. The "GA" as some locals like to call it does serve food, but no one comes for the food. This is a place to see music. They have all different kinds of music -- a really good variety. This is a great place to meet up with friends. They have tables where you can sit down but you'd need to get there early.
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