My date (yes, I have dates) and I went to the Fine Line Music Cafe to see a band play this past Saturday. I've been there on two other occbuttions, once for New Year's (crazy) and another time to see a band. Both times were reasonably good experiences.
This time however was different, and a few years has pbutted since I've been there. The show was scheduled to start at 9PM. We got there early though, like 8:30 only to find out there was some sort of under 21 private party. Come 9PM though we still couldn't enter the place becase according to the front door people the band had to set up...?
So, we didn't actually get in to the place until 9:45 and then were told to keep our distance from the stage as the band was still setting up. There was no tickets for sale, just general admission-cover.
What the hell? They could have been selling people drinks for 45 minutes, instead they kept the crowd outside.
It seems they fancy themselves an 'event venue' when really all they are is a fancy bar. Any bar I've been to that has live music you go in, pay cover, get drinks, sit down and wait for the band to set up and play.
Pretty negative experience in any event. On the plus side, the band we cam to see was pretty good: One Less Reason.