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| - The Grog Shop fills a void in the Cleveland Concert Scene. Indie, rock, punk, hip-hop artists in a venue that has less than, say 300 people. The ticket prices have been reasonable every time that I've went anywhere from $10-20 each. Plus, you can purchase tickets at a few places around the city for a $1 surcharge.
Its execution is flawed but satisfactory. Like Murray said, there's very little seating there, besides the dozen bar stools and a small pleather couch recently installed that seats 4-5. Unless it's the main act, I'll play the Simpsons Pinball machine on the side (although some of the time it's blocked off, whatever).
The sound system is all right (being a music junkie, I should know more than just that) although I would love the GS to sell live recordings of their shows. They never have in the 10+ times I've been there. They have a full bar, with assorted microbrews (I'd guess 5-6 on tap) and domestic with advertised $3 PBRs [other domestics $3 as well]. The bathrooms are functioning with graffiti and bands' stickers all over the place. The service at the bar ? Ok. I never had any problems. There's a self-serve container of free water, nice.
The layout is ok, there are a couple pillars that can block your views and make you choose whether to be standing in front of a pillar or a loud speaker. There is a circulation fan system there although that only helps if you're standing in a few select spots.
I usually show up about 45 minutes after the show starts, and I usually catch the end of the 2nd unadvertised opening act. Their time management can also be improved; I'd like to see the start of shows moved earlier as well. If I stay for the main act [all of it], I usually leave around 12:30-1ish. I remember one time I went to a Little Brother show 2-3 years ago there and they weren't even on before 1 AM.
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