The guitar-driven sounds of California power-pop band The Regrettes roared from 191 Toole last month, loud enough to be heard long before fans reached the front door to have their bags checked and tickets scanned.
Once inside the building, located just west of the North Sixth Avenue underpass, concertgoers had a short walk to get close to the action, pushing up against the stage less than 50 feet from the door.
Over the last several years, 191 Toole has established itself as one of Tucsonโs most popular intimate venues, with a capacity of 500 people squeezing into the space to see acts ranging from hip-hop artist Freddie Gibbs to singer/songwriter Ben Kweller to comedian Michael Ian Black.
โThe good thing about the venue is there is no hard aesthetic to it,โ said Dan Hernandez, a talent buyer for both 191 Toole and its sister venue, the 1,400-capacity Rialto Theatre. โHip-hop, country, rock, all the way to comedy. The venue offers a more direct connection to the artist that both the fans and talent appreciate.โ
The connection was apparent at the recent Regrettes show.
Fans packed the room, with those under 21 on the right side of the space and those over 21 on the left.
Venues with a capacity of less than 1,000 are required under state law to separate those who want to drink legally from those who canโt.
For parents who were less interested in being near the front of the stage, seats lined the back wall of the venue, offering a view of the action without having to brave the energetic crowd.
โI prefer smaller venues, especially for hip-hop shows,โ said Jaylon Hill, who attended the Regrettes show.
โBeing a little older now makes me appreciate the more intimate setting, and getting to hear the artistsโ voice more than the crowd is a different vibe than at a stadium show,โ he added.
Once home to Skrappyโs, a popular youth-oriented performing arts center that shut its doors in 2013, 191 Toole operates under the umbrella of The Rialto Theatre Foundation, which runs the Rialto Theatre. 191 hosts acts that arenโt big enough to fill the Rialto.
โWe wanted to capture a certain feeling,โ Hernandez said. โBands know what to expect and we know what the right size room will be. We look for shows that fit and fill the gap from a packed club to a roomier venue.โ
Hernandez says 191 Toole shoots for 12 to 15 shows a month, but busier months can bring up to 30.
191 Toole is one of several small venues in Tucson that offer fans an up-close concert experience.
Grantham Street, an alternative band from Vail, finishes playing their set for a crowd at The Rock in 2014. The Tucson venue has been hosting bands for years, including groups such as Korn and the Goo Goo Dolls early in their careers.
The Rock
136 N. Park Ave., rocktucson.com
The Rock specializes in hard-rock, with some country and even professional wrestling shows dotting the schedule over the next couple of months. With a capacity of 650, the venue is tucked into a neighborhood near the University of Arizona. The Rock has seen bands from Korn to the Goo Goo Dolls play its stage early in their careers. The Rock also made national news when rapper Lil Peep died of an accidental drug overdose inside his tour bus hours before his November 2017 Rock concert.
Coming up: Texas Americana-alt country band Flatland Calvary with Saffordโs Cole Trains, Friday, Aug. 3.
Club Congress
311 Congress St., hotelcongress.com
A staple in the Tucson music scene, Club Congress can fit 400 and has been one of the premier spots around town for live music since it began booking acts in 1985. Whether a local act or a national touring artist, you are likely to find yourself shoulder-to-shoulder with other revelers. Nirvana and No Doubt appeared at Congress early in their careers It also is a must-play spot for local artists; nearly 100 of them will play the annual HoCo Fest on Aug. 29-Sept. 1. When no shows are scheduled, Club Congress transforms into a nightclub.
Exo Roast Co. added the Exo Bar in 2018. The Exo Bar has a capacity of 80, and shows are often free.
Coming up: Feminist politically-charged jam band Gauche, Wednesday, Aug. 7.
Exo Roast Co.
403 N. 6th Ave., exocoffee.com
The newcomer to the Tucson music scene, the coffee shop opened in 2012 and added Exo Bar in 2018. The bar offers weekly tequila tastings as well as live music from jazz, country, pop and traditional Mexican music. The emphasis is on a laid-back feel. Exo Roast Co. has a capacity of 80; some shows are free and those that arenโt are usually under $10.
Coming up: Billy Sedlmayr listening room show, Aug. 30.
Mark Lawson is a University of Arizona journalism student apprenticing at the Star.
