Chameleon Club

So I drove from DC just to see Andrew WK on a Sunday night. I was really worried after reading all the reviews but turns out it’s just a regular club. Don’t be a rule breaking obnoxious drunko and you’ll be fine. I do have to admit it kind of sucks if you are under 21 and forced to watch from the balcony instead of the main standing area. But I’m sure there’s more reasons than just controlling who’s getting drinks from the bar.
From waiting in line to rocking my face off to leaving the show, all staff and security I encountered were friendly, or at worst, indifferent. There was no checking of bags or even scanning tickets which I thought was a bit strange. I was able to take photos from the front row and even some short videos with no problem. And since I was at the front there was no issue with being able to see or hear. The moshers were allowed to do their thing for the most part, and security made sure to grab and crowd surfers from over my head and put them safely on their feet.
One gripe I did have was there was no information about who else was playing that night or lineup call times. There were FOUR openers before Andrew WK. They were all pretty decent, but I would have loved to know this beforehand so I knew I had time to enjoy a drink or three.

Chiming in just as an old timer, I started coming here when I was 15 and Rich had all-​ages shows nearly every Sunday night. Back then they had a fantastic sound system designed by the legendary Clair Brothers in Lititz. I was still coming here when they ripped that system out for a bass-​thumping rig to showcase Mr. Rowe’s lack of talent. I even used to eat here back when the bartenders would microwave you a free TV dinner if it was early. Been in the building on hundreds of occasions.
Over the years I’ve seen a few fights here, witnessed a broken leg in the mosh pit when someone thought they could just stroll through. Even waited for an ambulance once with a sound guy who was having an epileptic seizure. I always got a sense from top to bottom that they were all about the music and helping folks safely have a good time. Through several changes of ownership, that may have declined but never really went away until recently. Those days are over; this place is now dominated by a bunch of vicious thugs who make the worst security at The Electric Factory look like Quakers.
Save yourself the aggravation and watch the documentary about how amazing this place used to be instead. Don’t give ‘em another cent, maybe the next iteration will be better. Or, maybe it’s time for Lancaster to move on. I wanted so badly to see the Ocean Blue here just once more but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. What a shame.

I’m on board with the this place sucks crowd. Went to see the Bouncing Souls last night and same story as others. Place was way oversold. Got there late but right before the last support band and people were waiting in line — with tickets, being told they cant get in. When they complained (rightfully so), the security response was if youre going to argue with me you can just go home.
Anyway, no problem with the staff inside but because of the over crowding, spent the entire night being bumped into by people trying to go in and out from the floor to the bar/​bathroom area. Not the clubs fault perhaps but it was a very aggressive drunken crowd for a Souls show. This was more of a DKM crowd but possibly due to herding everyone in tempers were flaring a bit.
Next place does appear to be a fire trap. Limited exits and old run down facility. Last but not least, no towels in the restroom. Will be hard pressed to go here again unless I have no other choice. I thought Croc Rock was bad but this place may have surpassed it.

This is the worst venue I have EVER been to. When I used to come when it first started, it was a cool place, but over the years it has become so bad that it makes it worth missing your favorite bands just to try and possibly catch them somewhere else.
The last few times I’ve been here, the meathead, tough guy staff members have all been extremely rude and make you feel really uneasy. They’re always looking to argue or fight, and I’ve seen them use unnecessary force on people to throw them out of the club. The staff alone takes all of the fun out of the show. I even tried complaining on their Facebook page several times, and just like a bunch of sneaky, little girls, they delete every comment within minutes.
As for the venue itself, don’t even waste your time considering going to a show there! They’re so greedy that they will overbook any show they can for an extra couple of bucks. It’s hot as a mofo inside, and they will literally pack people in so tight that you can’t move anywhere. It’s a challenge just to try and use the bathroom. I went to see The Gaslight Anthem recently, against my better judgment because they weren’t playing anywhere closer that I could attend, and it couldn’t have been a worse experience. Nothing is worse than paying too much for a ticket to a crappy venue, looking forward to it for weeks, driving hours to get there, and then not even being able to see or hear anything other than the bass drum in the back. THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS OR SCREENS ANYWHERE IN THE PLACE! They’re so cheap that they can’t even run sound through the place. So if you can’t see them from where you are, you might as well go home, which is what me and a ton of other people did before the set was even halfway over.
This place doesn’t care about the music or providing people with a great place to enjoy good music and interaction. This place is all about making as much money as they can at any cost. There is no love in what they do.
Again, I have NEVER been so disappointed at a venue in my life, and I’ve talked to tons of people who feel the same way. Save yourself the headache. I had to sign back into my Unilocal account just to find a way to warn people since the spineless babies that work there try and hide everything negative anyone might have to say. I wouldn’t go back there to take a dump.

I would rather never listen to music again than to go see a live show at this venue. Literally every staff member that I had the pleasure of interacting with was very aggressive. Stepping into the building is a risk to your well being– AVOID.

I would rather burn my own nads and dip my ears in acid than spend an evening at the Chameleon Club.
The main floor is cramped and narrow which means almost no one can stand close to the stage. Theres a pitiful excuse for lighting unless the band brings along their own lights. The whole place is dirty and rundown.
I’m 24 but was marked under age because the drivers license I had with me recently expired. There was no reasoning with the staff who was checking IDs. The staff did not seem friendly at all so I didn’t press the issue.
They do get some good bands to play there but I would certainly prefer to see them anywhere other than the Chameleon Club. As far as I’m concerned the only thing they have going for them is they are close to where I live.

Saw mystery skulls and cherub here on Tuesday night. No complaints nice venue for the show. I liked the 21 and over is upstairs. Kind of dirty atmosphere but it’s a concert venue so I don’t care in not eating there lol. Would go again if another music group I like came in!

The staff is the absolute most ignorant group of dickheads that could ever run a venue. I’ve been to a few shows here. Security insults people at the door, swears at people, grips up people and PUNCHES TEENAGERS for dancing to the bands playing there. Terrible ventilation especially when they oversell their capacity by 200 tickets and there’s no room for anyone to get in. its just a mess with morons operating it. promoters in the area warn artists not to book here. Thats saying a LOT about how this place is run.

I have been to a lot of venues in my life. This was BY FAR the most square club ever. The bouncers and security really make you feel uneasy. They are rude, search to all extremes, even check and SMELL cigarette packs. They curse at you, try to make you feel dumb, and throughout the whole show if you do so much as … Well… ANYTHING. It’s over for you. They ruin all the fun. They hired method man to play for their smokers club tour and freaked out on people the entire show for smoking pot. Why would you hire an artist PROMOTING smoking and nearly kick people out for smoking. Management clearly needs some common sense. We got to meet Shiest Bubz outside which was literally the only cool thing that happened. Once you leave your not allowed back in. Not sure we even wanted to go back in. Which is stupid cause they stamp you. On another note– it’s dirty. Enough said. We won’t be back!

Rudest staff I have ever experienced at a venue in my 35 years of life! We’re here to see Andrew McMahon, not exactly a rowdy crowd. One security guard was screaming at people to make 2 lines, dropping f-​bombs, the guy at the ticket counter wearing a red shirt and NY Yankees visor, screams at the people who the other guy had get in line. He was also dropping f-​bombs yelling at people. Get some decent staff– no one was out of control. I’m tweeting Andrew not to come back here. I won’t be.

Gave them one star because there isn’t a lower one to pick!!! Spent $ 65 for 4 tickets to the Penny Palooza festival to celebrate my friends Birthday and was made to leave for doing absolutely nothing wrong except for drinking or dancing! Sorry… but thought this was a club! NOT A CHURCH OR MONASTERY!!! I had a Designated Driver with me who never left my side & confirmed that all I did was dance! The security here apparently has taken way to much testosterone & apparently enjoys throwing people out and giving them no explanation as to why??? His answer was «BECAUSE I CAN… IT’S MY CALL!!» Nice way to ruin our night out! I suggest only going to this club if you don’t like to drink alcohol or dance!!!

it is what it is. not the greatest venue, but i’ve seen worse (croc rock in allentown). i’d go there if the act wasn’t playing in philly, if it was a lot cheaper.
funny story, this was maybe 8 – 10 years ago, but my friend took pictures with a camera and security confronted him. they said «NO DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY» and he told them it was a regular camera, not digital. they repeated «NO DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY» and then ripped the camera from his hands, opened it, and removed the roll of film (thus ruining the film… again, FILM, not a memory card). no one gave a shit and every other person who worked there just kept repeating «NO DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY» as we stood there holding a ruined film roll.

Would rate –5 stars if I could. There are absolutely no good reasons to visit this dump. Bartenders are nasty and inept. Bouncers are itching to kick people out. A 7 – 11 store probably has better sound quality. Note to any reputable band, don’t associate yourselves with this sad excuse for a concert venue. It is amazing they are still open.

I’ve been to the Lizard Lounge quite a bit at Chameleon. That’s the downstairs part with a DJ Friday and Saturday nights. Friday is very dancy and not my scene, but Saturday has some really cool events. Most of the month they have «Dubstep Night» which is really good. The first Saturday of the month they have «Goth Night», with mostly people in black clothes and grungy music. Both events are unique and fun to attend.
Recently a friend was harassed and then thrown out by security after trying to leave with a Red Bull (non-​alcoholic drink obviously). It was pretty ridiculous, and he immediately contacted management. This was difficult; he needed to find their emails online on various sites to get it done. Calling the number at Chameleon got him nowhere. However, after sending emails out, the owner immediately responded. The situation was handled swiftly and professionally. My friend was very satisfied with the resolution and is actually at the Chameleon tonight!
For that reason, my friends and I will continue visiting Chameleon and the Lizard Lounge. I would suggest to the Chameleon, that they provide an easier way for customers to contact them. You should be able to get through to somebody on the phone during business hours. I would also suggest to customers who experience harassment by security in the future, to be resourceful and find a way to get through to management. Any security guard who abuses his power should be held accountable, but that simply won’t happen if you don’t take action.

Perhaps the worst place in the country to hear music because of sound techs who crank everything to 11+. Distorted, ugly music no matter who plays here. Same thing every time I come, and this is the last. This is where good music comes to be sodomized. See the band somewhere else or just listen to the MP3s. I guarantee you the sound would be better on the cheapest earbuds than at this club.

This place is an absolute hole, in a variety of ways.
I attended for the first time on May 18^th, 2013 to see the re-​united Five Iron Frenzy, with House of Heroes opening. Purchasing a VIP ticket (perks including a meet and greet with early admission), I expected to be able to go to a separate line, but found myself standing in one line with the rest of the GA patrons. Adding to the confusion was the fact that the door with the awning and «Chameleon Club» neon sign above it is not, in fact, the entrance, but the exit. The only thing signifying that the double doors are the entrance is a small, faded, paper sign saying «enter here,» which is probably only about 2 inches tall by 6 inches long. No one could see it, especially with the first people in line standing in front of it, so when the line reached a certain point, people assumed we were in the back of the line, and tried to get in there. Having to tell people that we were the front not only felt rude, but grew old, quickly. No venue staff were seen until ten minutes after the 6:00pm VIP doors time.
There is no external box office, will call, or anything which would be considered standard features for a legitimate concert venue. No security at the doors, or observing the line. I can’t imagine how things must be at hardcore shows, there. Any concert venue worth its salt would have people being carded and issued wristbands (or having hands marked for underage/​straightedge) while they were waiting in line, not as they walk in and are trying to get to the pit.
The VIP meet and greet was probably the most mis-​handled of its kind that I have ever been a part of. The line funneled into a dumpy ground-​floor bar through a narrow door, where a few members (not all) of the band lurked around in dark corners of a windowless and seemingly formeless room. Thank God I was near the first VIP ticketholder in line, or else I would have had to wait forever in the godawful line (I believe that VIP tickets were over-​sold for this venue, they were still available after GA was sold out, and there were a crazy amount of people let in during the meet and greet), only to get a few words in with one of my favorite bands.
After meeting all the band members who were at the meet and greet, I left while the line was still quite long and headed upstairs to the hall where the show was being held. A friend who purchased VIP had chosen to skip the meet and greet in order to be at the very front, and I easily found a space next to him and his wife at the barricade separating the pit from the stage. This was perfect, I thought. Got some autographs, and now front row for FiF. Well, when there were about fifty people (which, considering the tiny width of the stage was several rows deep) waiting for the show, security finally decided to show its face and told us all to go back downstairs. Early Admission? Kicking people out who all had VIP tickets isn’t exactly my definition of Early Admission. We were sent downstairs to wait in cramped and dark hallways, for no apparent reason. Meanwhile, the meet and greet had wrapped up, so everyone who had previously been occupied with that were trying to make their way upstairs for the show. An absolute nightmare.
After the doors to upstairs were finally opened once again, a mad race up two flights of stairs ensued to get back to the barricade. A miracle no one fell and was trampled to death, in my opinion. And what did we find when we rounded the corner? A small mass of people already there, taking up half of the front row (even more obnoxiously, trying to save even more space for friends who were GA). No explanation was given for these mysterious people who apparently have more of a right to the front row than honest people who waited for hours. The woman beside me constantly loudly complained that I was «trying to elbow her out» when she was leaning (heavily, I might add) on me as I had barely enough space to hang my arms over the barricade, elbows touching. She had plenty of space on the other side of her, and between the rest of her party. Ridiculous.
But I digress, those people are not representative of the Chameleon Club (at least I think). I shall attempt to describe the Chameleon, and let it speak for itself. The club is small, which could be an advantage to create intimacy, but at the Chameleon, smallness only creates cramped people and poor viewing conditions. Having recently moved from Philadelphia, I understand that some venues are small. However, this is the worst venue that I have ever been to in my life. Small venues shouldn’t have stages that are only ten-​ish people wide. That’s insane. The Chameleon’s hall is so narrow and long that people much farther than twenty or so rows back couldn’t see. Talking to friends after the show, they decided to be content in just hearing the music. While I admire their attitude, as a constant concert-​goer, I would have been infuriated with being unable to even see the band which I had paid to attend.

To go on a weeknight, is fantastic… to go on a weekend (Fri-​Sun) is ridiculous…
Came here to see Boyce Avenue on a Friday night and the place was so packed and the setup is quite awful, that I couldn’t even see the stage — so really, I just paid to hear the band play. However, when I came here to see Secondhand Serenade on a Wednesday night, it wasn’t overly crowded, there was plenty of room to move and I actually got to see John :)
Essentially, I would come back but I don’t know about coming here on another weekend. I think I’ll steer clear and stay in Baltimore for weekend shows.

I read all of the negative reviews before we went to the show tonight, and they were all confirmed. Let’s start from the beginning.
Parking across the street was $ 5. Not bad. By the time we got there at 7 (which is doors) there was a line wrapping around the block. We decided to wait in our warm car for the line to be let in, then made our way in to the venue. Our IDs were checked (for our 21+ stamp) and we started upstairs. I tried to go into the doorway for the main floor but two security women yelled at me to go upstairs. I asked if we were allowed in there and she kept screaming that 21+ was upstairs, and then gave me attitude when I looked confused. Oooook. Off to a great start.
The 2^nd floor had a wrap-​around balcony and a bar that continued to the outside deck for smoking. For some reason nobody was allowed to get drinks from inside. We had to stand outside in the freezing cold to buy and drink our drinks. Are you kidding me? Staff was not friendly or helpful at all.
We made a lap to try to find ANYWHERE to stand where we could see the band. You literally cannot see them unless you’re up against the bannisters. We tried going upstairs again to a smaller balcony area — same luck. I got into a fight with an awful girl whose friends didn’t even know what bands were playing after I asked if she could skooch over so we could see and it just turned into an awkward unnecessary fight. Another group of girls taking over a different section of bannister were also very unfriendly and couldn’t fathom that there were OTHER people trying to look over their shoulders while they’re texting away on their iphones. God forbid I brushed against your back. WELCOME TO A ROCK SHOW. Not to mention all the mommies and daddies there to escort their bratty children home.
For the last band, who I really wanted to see, we tried our luck back on the first floor. I was able to make my way into the thick of the pit. It was rough with all the kids trying to crowd surf. I’ve been in quite a few pits, and it was a bit ridiculous. The floor is so small that when you have three girls getting launched at the same time, it becomes too much for the rest of us to keep up — resulting in many kicks to the head, and people just flat out dropped on their heads because YOU’RE TOO HEAVY TO BE CROWD SURFING!
Aside from that, I had a much better — albeit sweaty and sore — time in the pit, although I would have only made it through one band anyway. Maybe 21+ shows are better. All in all, I will never buy tickets to see another show at this venue. It’s not worth the awful views, rude patrons, poor service, and UNFRIENDLY STAFF.

Terrible venue. If i could give less than a star i would. Sound is terrible. View is non existent unless you are in the front. Top floor has a constant smell of wet dog. We drove 3.5 hours to see a national act and will never do it again. WORST VENUE EVER!

About the only positive I can think of to this place is that there’s a nice parking garage right across the street. Bring cash, though, or else you’re up the creek.
That’s as good as this review gets, son.
Once inside, it all goes downhill. The floor area in front of the stage isn’t terribly wide, and about twice as long. I think there was some elevated seating along the left side of the club, but don’t quote me on that.
The biggest criticisms of this horrible excuse of a club: The sound and the lighting.
The sound is a muddled mess, and gives one the impression that all the instruments are being played through a single, giant megaphone. Forget trying to make out one instrument from the next, or even understanding the lyrics. Just hold on tight and try to get through the set.
I’d like to think I’ve been to my fair share of venues in my almost 40 years on this planet. This is by far the worst sound I’ve ever heard in a club… no doubt about it.
As someone else mentioned, the stage lights are on the wall right behind the artists, so you end up spending the evening staring at silhouettes. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t think it should hurt to watch the artist I’ve just paid good money to watch.
Unfortunately, it will. They should sell visors at the merchandise booth.
I hate this place. I really, really, REALLY hate this place.
My favorite band could come here, only about 40 minutes from where I’d live, and I’d still hold out for a Philly or Baltimore show instead.
A night out at the Chameleon is just good money wasted.