*2.5 stars* It's right in between "Meh" and "A-Ok"
I have mixed feeling about the El Mo. On the whole, when i've gone there the only reason i've had a good night is because of the specific bands i've gone to see, not because of the venue.
I know i know "It's an institution! It's got such a history!" I do try to give the El Mo some props for that, but really... do you stay with a dirty, lazy, broken old boyfriend just because you had some good times 20 years ago? No. Keep the memories of the good times alive, but move on.
The ladies bathroom looks like it's had some work done. That's a good thing. But it still needs some work too.
What really gets me, and i've wrote about this before at other places, is when you pay cover to go somewhere, you get inside and they tell you it's mandatory to check your coat. AND they charge you for that too! What?! It just really pisses me off. If there was just a tip jar for the coat attendant that would be a different story. But a set charge added to the cover charge i already paid seems like a money grab. Especially because i was wearing a light little sweater-like jacket that i wanted to keep on. The bouncer told me I HAD to check it. I said "But this is like my sweater". No dice. Tons of other peeps were strolling in with huge sweaters and hoodies, but not me. I was on her naughty list. I went back outside to find my friend and she followed me and I could see her whispering at the other bouncers and pointing at me. Oh dear. I'm the jacket trouble-maker i guess.