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TOP OF THE HILL 2009
BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUE
1st — The Granada 1020 Massachusetts St.
Photos by Ryan Waggoner/KANSAN
BY BRENDAN ALLEN ballen@kansan.com
Chock full of both aspiring and established talent, music lovers from across the Midwest flock to Lawrence, an oasis of live music performances. On any given night, live shows can be found up and down Massachusetts Street, music streaming from one beat to the next. But with such a high density of musical talent, where can students find the best shows?
Located at 1020 Massachusetts St., The Granada reigns as the winner of Top Of The Hill for live music venues. Boasting some of the largest shows in the area, The Granada attracts little-known acts as well as nationally acclaimed bands like The Republic Tigers and Yo La Tengo.
Mike Logan, owner, said that the number of national acts performing at The Granada is why students prefer attending shows at the venue.
"We've really made a name nationally," Logan said. "We're just the right size to play."
Logan attributed another facet of The Granada's success to the diversity of the venue.
"I love how universal it is," Logan said. "We hold concerts and also rent space out. We try to be a little bit of everything — a jack of all trades."
Liberty Hall, located at 644 Massachusetts St., took second place in the voting. As opposed to some other venues, Liberty Hall holds more intimate shows with a wide variety of genres.
"I would say that whatever appeals to an 18-to 65-year-old crowd — that's the type of shows we put on," Douglass Redding, box office
clerk and video store manager, said. "Some acts bring every kind of person. The best shows are ones that carry a broad cross-section of people."
Redding, who often sells tickets to concertgoers, said he enjoys working at Liberty Hall because he gets to see this interesting mix of people.
"It is very fun, with the excitement that builds up before every show," Redding said. "You can get a read of what kind of night it's going to be by who buys tickets."
Taking third place is the Jazzhaus, 926- $ \frac{1}{2} $ Massachusetts St.
The venue has a much closer setting that's very music-oriented.
"People just want to be there," Tanya McNeely, co-owner, said. "We don't have a lot of TVs, we don't have a lot of distractions. It's right up in your face, up in your grill!"
McNeely said she feels that the crowd-focused appeal of the jazzhaus is what keeps music-lovers coming back for more live music.
"I love that it's not all just recorded music. It's much different when you come see a live show. The feeling, the room, the people there," McNeely said. "The people are part of the music. It's the crowd that comes in and enjoys it."
When asked why the Jazzhaus deserved one of the top spots of Lawrence live music venues, McNeely was quick to answer:
"We've been here forever. The vibe's great, the visual's great, the sound's great. Oh, and we've got great bathrooms!"
Edited by Tim Burgess