There is just something about this place that I love. Mr. Smalls is a perfect-sized venue... not too tiny, but small enough that performances still feel intimate, even when the place is packed. The venue was created from a former church (this seems to be a theme in Pittsburgh?) so the atmosphere is pretty cool and unique.
I have seen two shows here (Ra Ra Riot about a year ago, and St. Lucia (with Joywave) last week. Both were spectacular shows and drew pretty cool crowds. No douchebaggery to be found--although I don't know if that should be attributed to the venue itself, or to the actual bands.
The only thing that is kind of annoying is that alcohol can only be consumed in the back where the bar is. There is a fence of sorts dividing the two sections. I'd like to imagine this is what being in a zoo feels like... except with booze. And cool bands to watch. Okay, so it's not like being in a zoo at all. But still a little odd.
Overall, this is a favorite of mine that I will definitely be visiting more often (there are some great shows coming up this fall!).