Top 20 Los Angeles Live Music Venues

Where Los Angeles Magazine: There might not be any concert-going experience so LA as the Hollywood Bowl. From headlining rock bands, to the LA Philharmonic & Playboy Jazz Festival, always show up early for picnicking. Read more.

Where Los Angeles Magazine: The art deco theatre is a stunner, from its nostalgic neon signage to the grand ballroom. It has a knack for booking artists on the cusp of stardom, giving fans an intimate show-going experience. Read more.

Where Los Angeles Magazine: Herb Alpert’s Bel Air supper club projects the kind of retro class that might fool you into thinking it’s been here for decades. Find live jazz performances Tues.-Sun. and upscale menu offerings. Read more.

Where Los Angeles Magazine: With 20K seats, Staples Center is home to performances by the Lady Gaga and Justin Beiber-types of the music industry, many shows complete with pyrotechnics, dancers and/or earth-shaking volume. Read more.

Where Los Angeles Magazine: This dive is a fixture of the Eastside music community. (It helped launch the careers of Elliott Smith and Beck.) Catch acts popular with the Pitchfork-reading set, like Magic Wands & Gauntlet Hair. Read more.

Where Los Angeles Magazine: The Wiltern was built in glamorous art deco style. Headliners like Wilco and Jack White stop here. Balcony seating and multiple levels of standing room offer stellar stage views. Read more.

Where Los Angeles Magazine: Expect a charmingly informal vibe, that local performers view as their second home; Jon Brion plays monthly, occasionally bringing Fiona Apple with him. Also catch comedians such as Russell Brand. Read more.

Where Los Angeles Magazine: One of the few historic Broadway theaters that have been restored is the Orpheum. The theater’s Wurlitzer pipe organ is still operational, but you’re more apt to find film screenings or pop concerts. Read more.

Where Los Angeles Magazine: Frank Sinatra was the first act to appear here, and then it was Jay-Z when it reopened in 2008. Music trends may have changed, but the Palladium’s retro-glam good looks & top-notch performers haven’t. Read more.

Where Los Angeles Magazine: For house-music aficionados, Avalon Hollywood is dance and DJ central Thurs.-Sat. Upstairs, find Bardot, a hip French-inspired bar and lounge with its own free shows featuring DJs and rock bands. Read more.

Where Los Angeles Magazine: LA's most iconic music hall opened in 2003, its design (by architect Frank Gehry) inspired by a sailing ship & its acoustics nonpareil. It’s home for the LA Philharmonic & various other epic concerts. Read more.

Where Los Angeles Magazine: The Sunset Strip music scene wouldn’t be the same without this faux-ramshackle venue. One night might bring a head-banging metal band, followed by a rafter-raising Gospel Brunch the next morning. Read more.

Where Los Angeles Magazine: Intimately sized at 2,300-person capacity, with similar pop-radio players you’d see at Staples. Three bars and a sleek lounge create inviting environments to cool your heels between sets. Read more.

Where Los Angeles Magazine: Small enough to lend intimacy to singer-songwriters, but big enough for a raucous rock show. A favorite stop for musicians and arena headliners: Prince & Coldplay have previewed new material here. Read more.

Where Los Angeles Magazine: The Echo and its downstairs counterpart, Echoplex book the hottest indie bands. Stop by the Echo for regular “Bootie L.A.” nights, featuring DJs spinning rock and pop mash-ups. Read more.

Where Los Angeles Magazine: The Echo and its downstairs counterpart, Echoplex book the hottest indie bands. Stop by the Echo for regular “Bootie L.A.” nights, featuring DJs spinning rock and pop mash-ups. Read more.

Where Los Angeles Magazine: 80-year-old Canter’s Deli, the Kibitz Room—the divey-est, strangest little club and bar in town. It has a history with rock ‘n’ roll royalty: The Doors & Frank Zappa kibbitzed and jammed here. Read more.

Where Los Angeles Magazine: The Greek’s size (fewer than 6,000 seats) is far from overwhelming, and with excellent natural acoustics amid the towering pine trees of Griffith Park, the venue is even a little romantic. Read more.

Where Los Angeles Magazine: Hollywood independent record store boasts a stage in the back that hosts free concerts from nationally known acts like Otis Clay & Lana Del Rey, as well as some local musicians and DJs on the rise. Read more.

Where Los Angeles Magazine: “Intimate” is the word at Harvelle’s, a gem of a jazz club. In a petite, narrow space that offers music by jazz, blues and soul bands. Another branch of Harvelle’s opened last year in Long Beach. Read more.

Where Los Angeles Magazine: “Intimate” is the word at Harvelle’s, a gem of a jazz club. In a petite, narrow space that offers music by jazz, blues and soul bands. Another branch of Harvelle’s opened last year in Long Beach. Read more.

Where Los Angeles Magazine: Every LA singer-songwriter worth mentioning has probably paid her dues playing at Hotel Cafe in Hollywood. Although it helps to do your research about the performers, many play here regularly. Read more.