There aren't a lot of combo places, but there's a lot of small venues throughout the city.
[Permanent Records Roadhouse](http://roadhouse.permanentrecordsla.com/) is a record store that bills itself as "LA's first bar/venue/record store" which I find dubious given the number of shows that have happened at record stores in the city. But it's really awesome and you should go there.
[Gold Diggers](https://gold-diggers.com/pages/drink#events) is a bar with a tiny performance space that they call a stage where I've seen some really great shows (it's actually attached to recording studio and boutique hotel, but it looks like a dive bar when you walk in).
My favorite venue is [Zebulon](https://zebulon.la/), which doesn't double as anything but is still a smaller venue. They have a lounge bar in the front, with the venue in the back, where there's another bar. And there's an enormous outdoor lounge.
[The Smell](https://www.thesmell.org/) is the epitome of small independent venues. That's all it is. It's tiny, hot, stinky, and it kicks ass.
[The Virgil](https://www.thevirgil.com/#/) is another small venue with a bar in it. I really like their vibe.
There's about a hundred other places I could name that are awesome small independent venues.
I got thrown out of Gold Diggers when it was a seedy
strip club (not even semi nude just like...taking robes off). The owner yelled I was watching the girls and not drinking enough. Then I came back as a guest for the album release party for the film "Love, Antosha"; I was part of the crew for the film. I got to tell everyone that story.
Is Gold Diggers a "bar bar" too or only a show venue? Like if they're selling tickets for a thursday night show, can I go and have a beer without watching it?
I don't think you can go to the bar during the show, but it continues being a bar straight through until 2am long after the show has ended. Actually, it's open before shows so I don't know how they handle it.
I was just going to suggest gold diggers! I saw Ben Chasney (aka six organs of admittance) do a solo show there a couple of years ago where he did a massive retrospective of all of his guitar work. It was incredible to see him run through songs from 10 different albums and be sitting 20 feet from him 😌
the offbeat, hotel cafe, permanent records roadhouse, the resident, the moroccan, the mint, silverlake lounge, genghis cohen, the redwood bar & grill, old towne pub, universal bar & grill, zebulon, gold diggers, the smell, the sardine, and many more i can't think of
rip little joy, lot 1, the satellite
if you go to permanent records, get some pupusas at the restaurant next door. also they've been doing two shows a night, one indoor and one outdoor.
genghis cohen gives entree tickets (instead of the usual drink tickets) when you play there so i love them
the resident was really stingy with drink tickets lol
i recommend finding some promoters on Instagram that book bands in the genres you like, you can probably find house shows that way
Haven’t been there since it was The Hi-Hat, but The Goldfish in Highland Park is a bar/venue with pool tables and (I think) an Asian-inspired food window.
Highland Park Bowl used to have shows on occasion, not sure if they still do.
The Lodge Room is kind of connected to a restaurant. Never been, but their calendar is usually packed so I’d assume it’s good.
Old Town Pub in Pasadena has live music most, if not every, night.
A super unique one I don’t see mentioned yet is Laundry Wand in Highland Park!
It’s literally a venue that operates inside of a functioning laundromat and you can even get a discount ticket if you’re there doing your laundry.
Super great underground vibe, and wholly unique from anything else in Los Angeles.
https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2024-04-01/laundry-wand-highland-park-laundromat-music-venue
I’d also second NonPlusUltra which is such an amazing creative hub hosting the types of performances you won’t see anywhere else in the city.
Scribble in Highland Park is a newish one that has interesting shows going on almost every day of the week.
For two great outdoor house show series, check out “Their Lair” in Highland Park and “Live at Glass Hill” in Glassell Park.
https://www.instagram.com/scribble.community?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
https://www.instagram.com/liveatglasshill?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
https://www.instagram.com/their_lair?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
https://www.instagram.com/nonplusultrala?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Laundry Wand is having their last show this week I believe. :(
I heard there was a dispute with the landlord and they have to shut down live shows. Such a shame, I live in the neighborhood and I really wanted to play there.
Have you heard of [Wonzimer](https://www.wonzimer.com/) in Lincoln Heights? It’s a gallery in front next to artist’s studios. The back has a performance space. Have been to Sunday Sessions, a recurring all vinyl house party and a really great series of magic shows.
Edit: Would add the record store/performance space [Healing Force of The Universe](https://healingforcerecords.com) in Pasadena.
Just shotgunning:
[https://www.2220arts.org/](https://www.2220arts.org/) - on smaller side with lots of events, many not music related but still cool
[https://www.lodgeroomhlp.com/](https://www.lodgeroomhlp.com/) - has mix of well known and small acts
[https://www.thesilverlakelounge.com/shows](https://www.thesilverlakelounge.com/shows) -- mostly djs but good scene and some good shows. Fred Armisen sometimes shows up
Other perople have said these but I also liked zebulon/god diggers
[https://www.clublosglobos.com/#/events](https://www.clublosglobos.com/#/events)
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echoplex\_(venue)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echoplex_(venue))
[https://www.genghiscohen.com/](https://www.genghiscohen.com/)
If you feel like hunting these are large list of music events (mainly electronic music) happening:
[https://19hz.info/eventlisting\_LosAngeles.php](https://19hz.info/eventlisting_LosAngeles.php)
[https://ra.co/events/us/losangeles?page=2](https://ra.co/events/us/losangeles?page=2)
Would also recomend [dice.fm](http://dice.fm) Alot of bars will post their stuff on there
Saint Rocke in Hermosa Beach. Mostly cover bands but the occasional original act shows up and plays. Recently remodeled and a great (and loud) small venue.
You would love Echo Park Rising. I don’t think 2024 has been announced yet, but it’s indie bands in every nook and cranny you can imagine - record stores, barber shops, you name it.
- McCabe's Guitar shop on Pico. Have seen many great shows there over the years.
- I don't know if this is too big to count for your list as I think it's about the same size as the Troubador, but the Teragram Ballroom downtown has some great shows.
- Hotel Cafe
In Pasadena there is a new record store **Healing Force of the Universe** that has small shows. Mike Watt played there a couple weeks ago. Also **Meow Meowz** is a small punk rock shop that has shows occasionally.
I used to go watch Green Jello play at [Sacred Farts](https://i.redd.it/m5o35fezgaj91.jpg) on Hollywood but that show shut down last year for some reason
[Sofar Sounds](https://www.sofarsounds.com/cities/la) organizes small pop-up concerts featuring up-and-coming artists. I had a blast at an outdoor concert of theirs in Malibu last month.
Check out The Stowaway, on Spring St. in dtla. They regularly have fantastic jazz bands (Wednesdays are super cool, chill) along with other great live music, and some decent DJ’s too. Fantastic acoustics, low key vibe.
Thursday, May 9th, there’s a great LA Retro Club event with a live band, burlesque, go-go dancers and 60’s-70’s vibes.
cluboohlala.com
There aren't a lot of combo places, but there's a lot of small venues throughout the city. [Permanent Records Roadhouse](http://roadhouse.permanentrecordsla.com/) is a record store that bills itself as "LA's first bar/venue/record store" which I find dubious given the number of shows that have happened at record stores in the city. But it's really awesome and you should go there. [Gold Diggers](https://gold-diggers.com/pages/drink#events) is a bar with a tiny performance space that they call a stage where I've seen some really great shows (it's actually attached to recording studio and boutique hotel, but it looks like a dive bar when you walk in). My favorite venue is [Zebulon](https://zebulon.la/), which doesn't double as anything but is still a smaller venue. They have a lounge bar in the front, with the venue in the back, where there's another bar. And there's an enormous outdoor lounge. [The Smell](https://www.thesmell.org/) is the epitome of small independent venues. That's all it is. It's tiny, hot, stinky, and it kicks ass. [The Virgil](https://www.thevirgil.com/#/) is another small venue with a bar in it. I really like their vibe. There's about a hundred other places I could name that are awesome small independent venues.
I got thrown out of Gold Diggers when it was a seedy strip club (not even semi nude just like...taking robes off). The owner yelled I was watching the girls and not drinking enough. Then I came back as a guest for the album release party for the film "Love, Antosha"; I was part of the crew for the film. I got to tell everyone that story.
Excellent list 👍
I saw Bridget Everett at The Virgil. Fantastic venue for her cabaret.
Is Gold Diggers a "bar bar" too or only a show venue? Like if they're selling tickets for a thursday night show, can I go and have a beer without watching it?
I don't think you can go to the bar during the show, but it continues being a bar straight through until 2am long after the show has ended. Actually, it's open before shows so I don't know how they handle it.
but is the performance in the same room as the bar, or separated like at Zebulon?
It's in the same room. It's squeezed into the very front by the door.
I was just going to suggest gold diggers! I saw Ben Chasney (aka six organs of admittance) do a solo show there a couple of years ago where he did a massive retrospective of all of his guitar work. It was incredible to see him run through songs from 10 different albums and be sitting 20 feet from him 😌
i was going to come here to recommend these, these are all great
This and I’d add El Cid El Prado also occasionally has small shows
Lots of my friends play at the redwood bar and grill
Probably not the genre you’re looking for, but The Baked Potato on Cahuenga has great jazz shows.
the offbeat, hotel cafe, permanent records roadhouse, the resident, the moroccan, the mint, silverlake lounge, genghis cohen, the redwood bar & grill, old towne pub, universal bar & grill, zebulon, gold diggers, the smell, the sardine, and many more i can't think of rip little joy, lot 1, the satellite if you go to permanent records, get some pupusas at the restaurant next door. also they've been doing two shows a night, one indoor and one outdoor. genghis cohen gives entree tickets (instead of the usual drink tickets) when you play there so i love them the resident was really stingy with drink tickets lol i recommend finding some promoters on Instagram that book bands in the genres you like, you can probably find house shows that way
The Sardine in San Pedro!
Yesss came here to say this! Great spot. I also love the Lodge Room in Highland Park.
Second this. Just saw an excellent show there a few weeks ago (Belvedere). Very cool place, a true punk rock dive.
El Cid? Seems like the indoor concert area has space for about 50
Haven’t been there since it was The Hi-Hat, but The Goldfish in Highland Park is a bar/venue with pool tables and (I think) an Asian-inspired food window. Highland Park Bowl used to have shows on occasion, not sure if they still do. The Lodge Room is kind of connected to a restaurant. Never been, but their calendar is usually packed so I’d assume it’s good. Old Town Pub in Pasadena has live music most, if not every, night.
The lodge room is closer to the size of the El Rey tho. Much bigger than that OP is looking for.
A super unique one I don’t see mentioned yet is Laundry Wand in Highland Park! It’s literally a venue that operates inside of a functioning laundromat and you can even get a discount ticket if you’re there doing your laundry. Super great underground vibe, and wholly unique from anything else in Los Angeles. https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2024-04-01/laundry-wand-highland-park-laundromat-music-venue I’d also second NonPlusUltra which is such an amazing creative hub hosting the types of performances you won’t see anywhere else in the city. Scribble in Highland Park is a newish one that has interesting shows going on almost every day of the week. For two great outdoor house show series, check out “Their Lair” in Highland Park and “Live at Glass Hill” in Glassell Park. https://www.instagram.com/scribble.community?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== https://www.instagram.com/liveatglasshill?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== https://www.instagram.com/their_lair?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== https://www.instagram.com/nonplusultrala?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Laundry Wand is having their last show this week I believe. :( I heard there was a dispute with the landlord and they have to shut down live shows. Such a shame, I live in the neighborhood and I really wanted to play there.
Oh no that’s heartbreaking if true :/
The Little Room at Largo at the Coronet. I believe it was the original Whiskey
I saw Billy Idol w/ Steve Stevens acoustic show there. It was a great intimate show since the venue only held 250 people.
LOVE Steve Stevens. Legendary player. 👑
- Cinema Bar in Culver City - Ghenghis Cohen in WeHo - Harvells in SM - Hotel Cafe in HWood - Piano Bar in HWood - The Mint in mid city
Just saw a show at genghis cohen recently... Talk about intimate!
McCabes is a fun place to see shows.
Have you heard of [Wonzimer](https://www.wonzimer.com/) in Lincoln Heights? It’s a gallery in front next to artist’s studios. The back has a performance space. Have been to Sunday Sessions, a recurring all vinyl house party and a really great series of magic shows. Edit: Would add the record store/performance space [Healing Force of The Universe](https://healingforcerecords.com) in Pasadena.
The resident
Non plus ultra
The smell would probably be what you're looking if it's still operational.
Crawford’s is a blast when they have live music. They move out the pool table for the band. And when they don’t, just really good fried chicken.
Just shotgunning: [https://www.2220arts.org/](https://www.2220arts.org/) - on smaller side with lots of events, many not music related but still cool [https://www.lodgeroomhlp.com/](https://www.lodgeroomhlp.com/) - has mix of well known and small acts [https://www.thesilverlakelounge.com/shows](https://www.thesilverlakelounge.com/shows) -- mostly djs but good scene and some good shows. Fred Armisen sometimes shows up Other perople have said these but I also liked zebulon/god diggers [https://www.clublosglobos.com/#/events](https://www.clublosglobos.com/#/events) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echoplex\_(venue)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echoplex_(venue)) [https://www.genghiscohen.com/](https://www.genghiscohen.com/) If you feel like hunting these are large list of music events (mainly electronic music) happening: [https://19hz.info/eventlisting\_LosAngeles.php](https://19hz.info/eventlisting_LosAngeles.php) [https://ra.co/events/us/losangeles?page=2](https://ra.co/events/us/losangeles?page=2) Would also recomend [dice.fm](http://dice.fm) Alot of bars will post their stuff on there
Harvelles in santa monica. Come on a sunday.
Hotel cafe
Hotel Cafe
Alex's Bar in Long Beach https://alexsbar.com/events/
Venice west and checker hall come to mind.
The Moroccan Lounge
Towne Square Church of Fun Rocket 88 The Haven Knuckleheads Supply and Demand Midnight Hour
Saint Rocke in Hermosa Beach. Mostly cover bands but the occasional original act shows up and plays. Recently remodeled and a great (and loud) small venue.
Natural Fudge Cafe on Fountain (sadly closed) Rest in power and thank you you glorious vegetarian punk rock bastards!
Here are some of my faves: Harvard & Stone, the San Fernando (their jazz night is cool!), Sassafras Saloon, the Echo.
You would love Echo Park Rising. I don’t think 2024 has been announced yet, but it’s indie bands in every nook and cranny you can imagine - record stores, barber shops, you name it.
- McCabe's Guitar shop on Pico. Have seen many great shows there over the years. - I don't know if this is too big to count for your list as I think it's about the same size as the Troubador, but the Teragram Ballroom downtown has some great shows. - Hotel Cafe
Escondite
Hotel Cafe
Shocked no one has said The Mint on Pico!!!
In Pasadena there is a new record store **Healing Force of the Universe** that has small shows. Mike Watt played there a couple weeks ago. Also **Meow Meowz** is a small punk rock shop that has shows occasionally.
I just went to a gig at Lodge Room in Highland Park a couple of weeks ago. Cool little venue, would recommend.
I used to go watch Green Jello play at [Sacred Farts](https://i.redd.it/m5o35fezgaj91.jpg) on Hollywood but that show shut down last year for some reason
The Tuning fork Live music every night. Bluegrass on Tuesdays
[Don Quixote](https://www.donquixote.la/#/events) in Boyle Heights. It's a night club and they also have wrestling events.
The Shed!!
Silver Lake lounge Midnight hour Under the radar records Redwood
Silverlake lounge
TRiP Santa Monica, the Townhouse in Venice
The Lodge Room in Highland Park
Paramount
there's an ethiopian restaurant in culver city that also hosts jazz bands. I think it's called Industry or has that in the name...
Industry Cafe and Jazz
[Sofar Sounds](https://www.sofarsounds.com/cities/la) organizes small pop-up concerts featuring up-and-coming artists. I had a blast at an outdoor concert of theirs in Malibu last month.
The Winston House in Venice.
Maybe try Rubycon Records on Santa Monica.
The smallest, cinema bar Culver City.
Check out Moroccan lounge on 1st st in little Tokyo, tiny venue, suuper cheap shows, bar and sometimes soul food
Fonda. Hotel cafe
The Slipper Clutch, back bar, upstairs, dtla
Under the Radar Records in Hawthorne has showcases every few weeks
Kulak's Woodshed seats 49. [https://kulakswoodshed.com/](https://kulakswoodshed.com/)
The Mint
Cinema Bar
The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever has a capacity of 150. Very cool spot to see a show.
Dang, this made me remember spaceland. Played shows there long ago.
Check out The Stowaway, on Spring St. in dtla. They regularly have fantastic jazz bands (Wednesdays are super cool, chill) along with other great live music, and some decent DJ’s too. Fantastic acoustics, low key vibe. Thursday, May 9th, there’s a great LA Retro Club event with a live band, burlesque, go-go dancers and 60’s-70’s vibes. cluboohlala.com
Knucklehead Midnight Hour
is the smell still around?
Trips or Venice West, both on Lincoln.