Great Scott Named Eighth Greatest Music Venue in America

Photo by scenefeeder on Flickr/Creative Commons

Consequence of Sound has ranked the 100 greatest music venues in America, and a Comm. Ave. favorite has cracked the top 10.

Allston’s Great Scott beat out the Sinclair in Cambridge (ranked 33rd) and the Paradise Rock Club (79th) for the title of greatest music venue in Massachusetts. Established in 1975, Great Scott also bested world-renowned venues like Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

“For all of Boston’s cliched drunken swagger and collegiate crowds, no place makes the most of alcohol and youth quite like Great Scott,” writes Nina Corcoran. “The petite, 240-capacity venue carries all the traits of an ace dive bar without the unbearable setbacks.”

Indie acts like MGMT, Titus Andronicus, Passion Pit, and Grimes have all passed through Great Scott on their way to stardom. Representing the rest of New England were Toad’s Place in New Haven, Connecticut (No. 15), Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel in Providence (90), and The Space in Hamden, Connecticut (100). The Fillmore in San Francisco took top honors.

“As silly as that sounds the more we say it, we’re still extremely grateful that all the bands and fans and friends that have skipped across our checkerboard over the years have chosen to do so and that’s what makes the Little Rock Club That Could what it became and what it is today, however you want to quantify it,” Great Scott posted on its Facebook page.

“We’re coming for you next year Red Rocks, suck it Grand Ole Opry.”