ACL Live at The Moody Theater

I love this venue. I wish every concert I ever wanted to see was at this venue. I have been to concerts standing in general admission on the floor all the way to being seated in the last row of the top section. There really isn’t a bad seat or spot in this place. The sound isnt great when you are front and center so I tend to pick my seats based on who is playing. Erasure, Blondie and Jimmy Buffett… I was front and center dancing my butt off and singing out loud. Lyle Lovett and his very large band… All the way in the back and the acoustics were awesome.
Parking is easy in several spots around the venue. They have several bars inside so I usually don’t have to wait for a drink and because it is a smaller venue I don’t have to stand in line for a half hour to use the bathroom.

The acoustics were amazing. Really enjoyed listening to music here. Seats small so did feel cramped. Drinks overpriced. But really– it’s about the show and that was great. A venue I would return to if ever in Austin again– and I surely hope to be.

This is a great venue, even when you’re like me and can only afford the «cheap seats.» I’ve seen several shows here, including the New Years Eve Willie Nelson and friends concert this past year. The sound was great and our ticket price included a glass of «champagne» and some fun props to use during the show (read: noise maker, party hat). Worth the money.

Austin’s best venue for a show hands down. I’m grateful that my company has a suite, so that is a terrific perk when I can use it! We used to get great waiter service for drinks in the suite, but the last few times the new staff wasn’t up to par, however the manager did address this, so hopefully it was just a glitch. Regardless, even in the very top section there isn’t a bad seat in the house and no other venue in town holds a candle to this place for atmosphere, sound and service.

We had to leave a concert early because they made us throw away our food in our bag before coming in. One of the thing I had was a SEALED bag of chips. They don’t even sell food here. You can’t reenter. So you are expected to starve throughout the concert. I guess if you’re diabetic or eat you’re screwed.

I’m a big fan of this venue.
I’ve seen shows from the floor and each of the upper decks, with vantage points from the front and each side. All have been great, with great nightlines and great sound.
The bars are well stocked and the bar tenders are fast, efficient and friendly. The double-​pours of wine are much appreciated, as are the friendly and fast security people that quickly get you into the venue to enjoy the show.

Really, every seat is a good seat even if you’re in the balcony. I was impressed at how smoothly everything ran even though there were loads of people. We really liked the photo booth and had some good laughs trying to get our photo taken. Parking is a bit tricky. Now that I have been here, I can better appreciate it when I see it on TV. But, Willie, if you can’t sing anymore… lower the prices of your tickets! Don’t price gouge your fans! Just sayin’

Wow.
I have wanted to see ACL Live forever and psyched that I finally got the chance (it also helped that it was Postmodern Jukebox playing, who killed it.)
So I obviously never got a chance to see the old theatre in person but this one is beautiful and gigantic. We were in the Balcony (so top, top section) and it was still easy to see the stage. And the acoustics in the theatre are top notch incredible. Some of the best I’ve ever heard.
I even like the little things, like how you can start a tab at one bar and continue it at any other around the place. That’s awesome. And the music artwork on the walls were beautiful.
My one issue, and it’s a small one, is that it’s a tight seat. Now, I’m a sort of big guy but not a BIG guy but when I sat down, I felt a little crushed. Woah tight squeeze. However, to make up for it, they do give you tons of legs room in front of you. Enough that people can walk by you without you having to stand. Excellent.
Great space, great theatre, great time. Go to it if you can.

A GREAT PLACE TO SEE LIVE MUSIC. We were on the floor. The seats were comfortable and the sound was awesome.
It was a bit laborious to get into the theater due to the heightened state of security these days, but this made me feel much more comfortable once inside.
The crowd at this venue is a sitting crowd, so standing the entire time is not to be expected. The bars had a quick turnaround, and the restrooms were easy and quick to access. A+ ACL!

The Moody Theater has the greatest acoustics of any venue in Austin and truly makes concerts an incredible experience. The lineup of performers coming through here for free ACL Live tapings is always so impressive. Even the paid events often feature the best of the best. Now if only the drinks didn’t cost so damn much.

Cool concert venue.
I’ve been there twice — once for Ingrid Michaelson and once for Loretta Lynn. The venue changes, depending on its audience. For Ingrid Michaelson, the floor was standing only. For Loretta, they had set up chairs.
Prices are reasonable. Bars on each floor if you want an overpriced drink.
Great location in Austin — head to the Second Street District early to eat dinner or get a drink — so many restaurants and options. And there’s tons of parking garage options for concerts — but not necessarily cheap.

There’s something just plain awesome about ACL Live tapings. I’ve seen quite a few shows here and it’s always a good time. They continue to bring in amazing talent year after year and it’s a straight up Austin institution.
I would say that my only complaint is the seating. When I go on a more empty night, I am able to sit a seat apart from whomever I go with. However when it’s super crowded, it’s sardines in a tin can. I’m a tall guy, so it can be a little uncomfortable. This is a mild inconvenience to the awesomeness of ACL Live.

Great sound. Almost every seat is has a great view. Getting a drink at the bar is fast and the bartenders always give a great pour.
I especially like that the ushers get all over folks using their cell phones in the auditorium because they are so distracting.
My only gripe is that they are getting weird about security and are «wanding» everyone that comes in. At the bottom of the entrance stairs you’re herded like cattle into Men and Women lines. I can’t for the life of me remember a knife fight breaking out or fists flying at this venue. It’s not like we were at a Snoop Dogg concert or in Detroit or God forbid, Houston.

Great venue, intimate setting. We were seated in the mezzanine section 6, seats 306 and 308 for the Gipsy Kings. They were great seats, close to the stage and even though on the side, still could see everything happening on stage. If you prefer a full frontal view then go for the center mezzanine instead.
The mezzanine and balcony are steeply graded so you don’t have the head of the person in font of you blocking your view. Of course, once everyone stands up and starts rocking out, you will ultimately end up having to stand as well. Just accept it.
There are several bars throughout the venue and you can bring drinks to your seats. They didn’t have enough bathrooms. It was a long walk from our seats to the restroom. That’s a minor complaint though. Overall it’s a great place to see a show!
The floor seating does not appear to be on a grade. I think it’s just flat so you can’t avoid the big head of the person in front of you. The front row on the floor in front of the stage didn’t look too appealing to me because the stage is quite high off the ground. You’d have to crane your neck all night. As the show built to a crescendo and everyone was standing and rocking out, others came to stand in front of the stage so there was a bit of a crowd forming. I would have been pissed if I had paid for front row seats.

Always the best every time. Every seat is great. The crowd is always good.
The facility is spectacular, not a single bad seat. Have been many times but Elton John last night at the Andy Roddick Foundation gala was the best.
Star performer, intimate environment, all for a good cause!
A great event and a great memory, can’t wait for next year!

We have been here twice for comedy shows and had a great time. The seating is good, even if you are up in the balcony area. And there are bars everywhere pretty much on every floor as well as inside the theatre on the floor level. The parking can be good if you show up just in the right timeframe, so we have had parking right in front and then had to drive a couple of blocks… but no big deal.
Their ticketing system via ticketfly is easy to use and sends you friendly reminders when your show is coming up because sometimes I am a space cadet and forget these things.
Lots of history here and great previous acts, so I will continue to find shows here to go to as long as my wallet allows for it.

I have to be honest — experiencing a taping of ACL at Austin’s best venue is a pretty amazing experience.
There are no bad seats in the house. The boy sometimes gets comp tickets from his work, so we went for free on this one which usually means seats in the highest tier. Yet we could still not only see, but see clearly without obstruction and were close enough to make out the details of the performer’s boots AND face. Pretty sweet setup.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — after several years working for a major label in my early 20s, I’ve been to most every venue in Austin, and a large number in Houston and Dallas. The Moody Theater is by far the best venue I have *ever* had the pleasure to attend. I do wish the seats were a bit wider — I don’t mind being pressed up against the sexiness incarnate that is my boyfriend, but the bubba on my left with the attitude problem, on the other hand, not so much.
While the beer and liquor selection is limited and prices are fairly high, the venue is outstanding, and ACL is a tradition unto itself.

Awesome venue in downtown ATX!
I came here on Halloween with my girlfriend to see the Neon Trees perform for the Zombie Ball. The venue is beautiful. The staff are very friendly and helpful. My only complaint is that the drinks were expensive. Luckily there are so many bars nearby so we had some drinks outside and then came back for the concert!

Moody Theater — Just enjoyed the Russel Peters show in Jan 2015. This place is a much much better venue than the Paramount. For concerts they keep the floor open without seating. For the comedy show, Russell also had two large screens (HD) where we could see people’s reactions. It was great — didnt miss a thing even though we are sitting far away in the balcony.
Each row is at a height that is higher than the one ahead, as a result of which — you can clearly see the stage. No heads in the way. Sound is great.
The theater is built in such a way that all viewing seats are close enough to the main stage, even though its higher. Location is 2^nd & Lavaca. Balcony and Mezzanine are high but still a good side view of the performance.
Entry process was annoyingly slow — in fact the security (just to avoid people taking their own water) took so long that the opening comics started. No outside snacks or beverages allowed of course. Beverages lines are long and bars are slow and expensive, which seems to be the motto of every event venue — keep people thirsty and make money, so I shall just move past it.
Parking can be a pain — city hall parking is $ 8 which is closest. They take money on exit so it makes getting out very slow (allow 25 – 30 mins). Try some other open parking for $ 7 around. You may find open free spots 4^th and Guadalupe.

Things that matter to me in a music venue: How does it sound? How is the seating/​viewing? And, of course, how are the bathrooms?
Moody scores pretty well on all of my criteria.
Great acoustics, and nicely laid out seating, means every seat is a good seat in the Moody.
Bathrooms were plentiful and clean.
Concessions serve the usual overpriced, mediocre fare you would expect.
One thing to note: they keep it cold in there. Really cold. To say there was «a nip in the air» is an understatement by about 2,699 nips. They could hang meat in there.