Tag Archives: bands

Putting the TRUE in The Troubadour

Picture 19The Troubadour in West Hollywood is the truest definition of a LA live music venue. New bands, old bands and whatever falls in between seem to flock to The Troubadour for weekly performances that keep the tickets sold out and the lines long. With multiple acts and set lists, The Troubadour has seen some pretty impressive faces, from Neil Young to James Taylor. If you have made it in the music industry, you have most likely played here.

When it opened its doors in 1957, it probably wasn’t expecting to be the locale for a spontaneous performance seven years later by Bob Dylan himself. Thanks to people like Young and Dylan who have once taken the stage, the weekends are packed with bands hoping that this is the first day to the rest of their thriving careers.

Insider Tip: Due to the selection of up and coming bands with Los Angeles favorites, ticket prices tend to vary. The other bummer is the parking situation, whether it is parking in the structure across the street or valet parking. Situated in between clubs and bars, parking is nearly impossible so it may pay to walk or take whatever you saved on the ticket and hand it over to valet.

The Bluebird Theater’s Still Singing After All These Years

Picture 10From the Fillmore Auditorium to the Ogden Theatre, East Colfax Avenue is bejeweled with historic concert venues. But the Bluebird Theater, at almost 100 years old, is the crown gem.

Like the infamous neighborhood itself, the location has had its ups and downs—including a run as a porn house—but since 1994 it’s been welcoming the nation’s coolest up-and-comers (and even some of its more beloved down-and-outers) from a wide range of musical genres. Neither the main floor nor the balcony has seating (though both have bars), so sport comfortable footwear—unless, of course, you’d rather put on your dancing shoes, a must on New Year’s Eve when the local legends of Slim Cessna’s Auto Club return to town.

The Majestic Theatre: Where Vaudeville Took Flight

Picture 17Places like Hollywood and New York are known for their legendary theater houses, but with the Majestic Theatre, Dallas has a goldmine of entertainment theatre that lives up to its grand name. On April 11, 1921, the Majestic Theatre opened its doors during the Vaudeville era, hosting a variety of now legendary acts from Houdini to Mae West and Bob Hope.  As Vaudeville began to fade and the era of “talking pictures” emerged, the Majestic Theatre began hosting movie premieres. And not to be outdone with its past, the Majestic hosted stars such as Jimmy Stewart, Gregory Peck and John Wayne.  The Big Bands featuring Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington continued the tradition of live entertainment at the Majestic.

In 1973 the Majestic Theatre went dark after the final showing of the film, Live and Let Die, but when it re-opened in 1983, it was upgraded to the elite list on the National Register of Historic Places. Today the Majestic Theatre serves as a beautiful old-era theatre house, with extravagantly engraved and decorated balconies, plush red seats, and grand box seats, and is home to performing acts as diverse as Menopause the Musical to Dallas Black Theatre performances to Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker.

83rd Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

In most American homes, Thanksgiving is not complete without the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The legendary parade is broadcast throughout the U.S. and in New York it brings the city that never stops moving to a stand still along Broadway. The parade is filled with massive balloons, the nation’s best marching bands, and award-winning performers. This year there is a new parade route so make sure to check the website for details.