The Regent

First Impressions: Whenever I go to a new venue I like to check out the website. There is a lot of history with this theater, and when you get inside the venue you will see that the history of venue as a theater is shown in the renovations. I love that they preserved the retro style painting, during a show this paint style reflected from the stage light an created a really cool visual. I appreciate that they wanted to preserve this history of the building while re-​purposing it.
The Experience: It was apparent that in spite of renovations, this is an old building that does not have the benefits of modern ventilation. Simply stated, it was REALLY hot. Granted, this is something that is expected on some level when at a concert venue. But my fellow Unilocalers, please be sure to wear your shorts and cooler clothes when in attendance at this venue. The renovations also include a slopped floor, which is really great when you are watching a concert. It helps those of us who are average height or lower to see. There is a bar tucked in the corner, and they provide water on the edge of the bar which was fantastic. They probably realize it gets a little warm. There is also a nice balcony that accommodates quite a few people and the potential acoustics is pretty good. That of course doesn’t guarantee that you’ll have a good Sound Engineer, but that is another story.
Overall: I liked the venue. It is small and has classic appeal, but it does suffer from the usual issues that you’ll get from a concert venue. We’ll see who shows up there next!

Traveled here to see Soulection The Sound of Tomorrow, and it was great! Security was cool and we were able to go in and out of the venue as we pleased, the slanted floors aren’t bother some have mentioned, its a two story, you can access bathrooms from the second floor, has a balcony with a decent view from the top, big venue, security was cool with us, they were definitely grooving as well. Great vibe, good energy, I guess your mileage may vary, but I would check out more shows at this venue! The bar on the top floor is nice as well, they have a good variety of alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks.

Came here for their NYE event. Not the place to come fancy, more like dressy-​casual, only because it was NYE, if not casual is fine.
Ladies: do not wear heels because the floor is slanted.
Parking: non existent, so use Über.
Event: fun and a nice selection of music! Nice size venue. They offered complimentary water– which was quite refreshing since most venues always charge.
Bathroom line: mayhem and a rude creepy little man guarding the woman’s bathroom. That was so odd, so I went elsewhere.
Bottom line: I would come back to try other events.

I love the Rock n Roll Flea Market. Its cool it’s hipster and it only for cool people. Hahaha any way its like the first Saturday of every month check it out

Came here on new year day. Venue is aight. Really need to fix the woman’s restroom. Either the stall is slow flushing or no toilet paper. There’s a restroom upstair but they will not open it to accommodate so restroom line for woman is super long. The sound is good. $ 12 for a drink is pretty average in the LA area. The place is dingy. Dance floor is slanted so it’s a challenge to dance with heels. Dance floor is wet and there’s empty cups everywhere. Would I come here again? Probably not.

I’ve only been here once so I may have a different experience from everyone else.
Honestly I like this venue a lot. I went to go see Title Fight here in March and had a blast.
The size of this venue is medium and they have a large pit with one level tier and a balcony. You can get a better chance of watching your favorite artist up close.
I like the fact that re-​entry is allowed at this place. I bought a vinyl at the show but I didn’t want to hold on to it while everybody’s moshing. So I was able to go back to my car and put it away. You just look foolish standing in the middle of the venue holding on to all the merch. So that’s awesome.
I don’t remember much about the sound but I think it was clear. I have to go to one of their intimate show to find that out. I’m very angry because I missed Jose Gonzales here, but it’s alright I’ll go see Sun Kil Moon in January.
For now I’ll give it a 4star. I’ll go back and re review it after the show in January.

Saw Peaches here. Convenient parking across the street. I like the multiple bars and how the standing area slants down so you’re not trying to look through people. Plenty of empty bathrooms upstairs. Pretty cool venue.

Nice intimate venue. Saw Emancipator. Good Performance. The balcony is where it’s at; the bar up there is not as busy.

Just came here to see Blockhead and Emancipator Ensemble and had a great time. I had seen multiple ads for shows at this spot but never made it to one until recently. I must say not a bad spot to catch a show at.
Getting into the venue was pretty smooth and security was not too harsh. As soon as you walk in you have the very small bar to the right. The placement here at the location is a little funky. With the entrance and steps to the main floor and the bar all being so close it creates a bottleneck of people They should almost build another walkway on both sides of the outer walls to open up the flow a little bit. You have another bar upstairs that is not as long of a wait as the down stairs one.
I thought the sound was decent here, although if you got to close it got a little distorted. The dance floor is big and you have plenty of room to get your groove on for sure. This is a place I would come back to if artists I would like to see are here. Other than the crowded entrance and bar not a bad venue. CHEERS!!!

Came here for Peaches! First time seeing a show at The Regent. It’s not a bad place. The sound was great, bathrooms and bars are easily accessible. Plenty of pay lots within walking distance. Only complaint I have was the lack of security presence on the concert floor. From what I noticed, security was more concerned about keeping the bathroom entrances clear then being on the stage floor where numerous people who can’t handle their liquor were getting pushy with people and causing distress.
Back to the show, Peaches was AMAZING of course! ALWAYS, an entertaining show!

Last night, 9÷17÷15, was my first time at The Regent and wasn’t sure what to expect after reading varying reviews on here. I was, however, not disappointed.
The slanted floors are great because I’m 5’3″ and like to stand in the back, this tends to attract the Kareem Abdul Jabbar types to stand directly in front of me. The floors being on that slight incline greatly helped my vantage point, but did eventually make me slightly uncomfortable after a bit.
The sound was fantastic, during both the Mineral and Hum sets. Hum is a phenomenally LOUD band and they sounded amazing.
Lighting was meh.
The bar is difficult to get to, very small, best to re-​up on your beer while a band is playing. The staff was very friendly and quick. Prices are average for a venue, maybe even a bit more reasonable than some. $ 8 for St. Archers Pale Ale can.
My biggest issue, granted the show was sold out, is that they obviously go beyond their maximum capacity. People were packed in like sardines, it was too much.
Lastly, I can see had this been the type of show where people would have been dancing/​moshing, etc that it would’ve been unbearably hot and stuffy. There isn’t any air movement at all. To make matters worse, if you want to get some fresh air they don’t allow re-​entry.

I’ve seen a couple of shows here now – Jose Gonzalez and Riot Grill Fest (pretty much opposite ends of the noise spectrum) – and I’m really digging on this venue. Since it’s a renovated old movie theater the floor does slope but that’s never bothered me, and it’s nice for us short people so we can see more even if we don’t happen to make it right up to the front. It’s been nicely restored and it’s a classy-​looking joint. I love being on the floor but the birds-​eye view from the 2^nd floor is also nice, if you can make it right up to the railing, that is. The sound has been good both times I’ve gone, especially evident at the quieter Jose Ganzalez show. They really do blast the AC but that gets to be a good thing as the evening wears and the place gets more crowded. A bar on each floor helps dissipate some of the crowds and I like their beer selection. The staff have been really nice and they keep the place up real well – I hope this will continue to be a cool and welcoming spot for years to come! If you don’t mind walking a block or two there’s way cheaper parking to be had than the $ 15 lot right across the street, and you might even luck into some free street parking (metered spots are free after 8, I believe) if the parking gods are with you. A good number of cool eateries/​watering holes nearby as well.
STEPH JUDGEMENT: Great new intimate venue to catch some cool acts in DTLA.

I came here recently for The Sound of Tomorrow (Soulection) with very low expectations after reading complaints about the sound system and the slanted floors from their movie theater days.
It turns out that the sound was pretty good (my hat was vibrating!) and the slanted floors did not bother me at all.
There is street parking or a paid lot right across the street. The venue is not tiny but it’s definitely not large — perfect for an intimate event.
Bartenders were quick and made consistently good drinks. We ordered 6 Jameson and ginger ales at $ 10 each (RIP my wallet… why did I do this). At least they weren’t super weak.
Good vibes all around from both concert-​goers and employees!
Warning: The have the A/​C on blast so if you’re prone to the cold, bring a jacket.

I really liked this venue. They had the AC blasting and I loved it but my friend was cold. It was so awesome for me because I am always hot.
I liked that could park in the lot across the street even though it was $ 15.00.
The pizza place inside/​next to the venue was really good but the only thing was the wait was a bit long but it was packed. You can bring your food back to the club which is cool.
The stage is set up OK and the room was decent size. The only seating is for VIP (special people) upstairs. It’s roped off but you can happily use the ATM up there because it’s a mostly CASH only place. If you want to buy shirts. I didn’t drink so I can’t speak about the bar in regards to that. The stage has no barrier so a few people were able to stage dive while wearing dresses. It was Babe’s in Toyland after all. I’d hate to see Anthrax here in that situation but it sure is awesome to watch. From afar!
I got sore from standing and so I sat on the cold concrete floor. I wished they had some sort of seating but it’s not really that kind of place.
The bathroom started out clean but was quickly destroyed but what do you expect at a punk show?! The bathroom walls sported old school pin ups, very cute.
I’d say if you’re the type of person who’s cold all the time bring a sweater and don’t forget to stop at the bank before going to the regent.
While I loved the décor the lights facing the eyes of the audience were too bright and felt almost damaging to the eyes. Other than these minor annoyances I had a great time and really like this venue.
The biggest positive about this place is the close proximity the audience is to the band and it brings you back to the days where it was all about the music and you could actually jump on stage without getting thrown out. Which a woman did and they let her dance and she jumped off herself. Awesome!!!

I think my most favorite part about this place is that ITS ALMOST IN FRONT OF KAZUNORI.
i went here because a friend of mine was doing sound for a show and as i was driving by Los Angeles street i realized «hey this is the same route as kazunori» TRUE ENOUGH, it was right there! parked in the same lot and had some rolls before i came in!
The venue is good. Nice space. can fit maybe 1000 – 1500 people. Good for mid level bands and is situated right on main street. A lot of things happening, lots of food and interesting people.
On a personal level, i think the venue is a bit muddy SONICALLY (not physically). My friend who is an awesome sound engineer tried his best to suppress that 250hz coming from the subs and it was still kinda ringing. So I don’t know what kind of acoustic treatment the venue has but that was my experience. Big resonant bass which is not always a good thing (think like Beats headphones)
It looks good though, and can feel intimate if the band playing knows how to address that kind of thing. Looking forward to seeing more shows here.

Review in #Haiku:
Far as venues go
Not the absolute worst place
Just a little squeezed

This long-​awaited theater in the Old Bank District – which has in just five years become a hip, fun place to eat and drink – opened in November, 2014.
I saw They Might Be Giants last night and had a great time. Self-​park two or so blocks away across from that architectural abomination named after Ronald Reagan was just 6 bucks.
This puts you within striking distance of Baco Mercat, Bar Ama, Orso and Winston and much, much more. The lights by the Hotel Barclay are beautiful at night. I don’t know what’s in there now but so happy they left the sign which is probably an historical landmark by now.
I passed a cupcake place that looked terrific, and the Vietnamese restaurant on the same block as the Regent looked spectacular. DTLA is a thing now and a viable option for (childless) professionals who work downtown don’t want to sit in their cars an hour or so to and from the Westside. The Metro has made the trip from Pasadena, Hollywood, and the Valley easy, which has also contributed to the DTLA phenomenon. It’s also much more ethnically and racially diverse than the Westside, which for many is a draw.
The sound was great and the bartender very friendly (not to mention cute). Ketel One is 11 (22 for a double) and the staff pleasant overall.
But the balcony leaves much to be desired. For the square footage upstairs, there is no reason there couldn’t be two or three times the barstools around the inner perimeter. I decided to wear yoga pants, a long-​sleeved top and tennis shoes and very glad I did.
TMBG started 75 minutes late (no opening act). This annoyed me as I could have left later and worked out beforehand. I called the Regent to find out if they had an opening act but Facebook friends who went to the website informed me that they didn’t. I left two messages and got no call back. This is annoying but I forgot to mention it to one of the bouncers or people milling about the venue.
I lucked out: 50 minutes from the Palisades. But it would have been a breeze an hour later and I could have worked out.
I would absolutely go back but try to get there early so I had a seat.
The a/​c is GREAT, however. So while you may be standing, you won’t be hot. One of my biggest pet peeves is no or bad a/​c. I am regularly annoyed by what amounts to Santa Barbara’s ideological opposition to a/​c, one founded on the delusion that «you don’t need a/​c in SB.»
That may have been true in the 1990s when I moved there for grad school. But as I’ve written on my blog (Victorian Chick), the most pervasive lie in SB is this «you only need a/​c 10 days a year.» Multiply the number by six and you begin to approach reality.
If you like air conditioning, you will be very impressed by the Regent.
Also it’s immaculate. I ended up sitting on the floor against the wall and felt perfectly comfortable doing so.
The piece in the LAT is worth reading. A lot of planning and work went into the Regent and it shows. I just wish they would spring for some more barstools upstairs for old people (those over 40) who don’t want to stand for hours on end, particularly when the show starts over one hour late.

I had a great time at the Tenacious D event last month.
Venue was clean and well air conditioned. The drinks were poured well and seemed to be reasonably priced.
Bathrooms were damn clean. I was actually impressed.

Okay I’m really not understanding the bad reviews for this place.
First of all, I just wanted to clarify that this is NOT in the Arts District of downtown…
PARKING: Metered parking is free after 8 pm in LA or find some priced lots nearby
Venue is in a GREAT location! Right next to a pizza joint and love story bar for drinks. All along Main there’s great restaurants and bars, great for spending some time in the area before the show
Saw a Soulection show here a few days ago. true acoustics aren’t that great but the lights surrounding the stage were beautiful! The floor is angled so it’s easy to see and it wasn’t too hot or crowded!
There’s a bar downstairs and upstairs, both of which weren’t TOO terribly hard to get a drink. But like any busy place, bar tenders aren’t just robots who can dish out drinks at the speed of light… prepared to wait like any other place.
The balcony is a decent size to hang out but I recommend hanging downstairs more closer to the stage!
Would def come back

Hear ye here ye, the regent is no longer a grindhouse. Blue movies have been replaced by not blue bands. The only porn here is possibly happening in one of the two backstage greenrooms and that, dear reader, is speculative —
The Regent Theater, sans the livelong, lovesong, lovesick, whatever bar and pizza place, is a big theater-​style stage with a large concrete ramp and second story for viewing. The fancy cocktail bar and pizza place, which is situated in the front of the venue, kind of help the venue forever stay open, so I’ll concentrate this review on what I am really into, which is the music.
So yes, yes — The Regent is now open! There will be no last minute rearrangements. There will be no change of venues — no more Fonda, no more Mayan, no more Tower. Any show you see listed as happening there will in fact be happening there! And be blown away because the sound quality and the lighting coming this large stage are fantastic. The stage is high with speakers bellowing sound from all the top of the ceiling area. And there really isn’t a bad viewing area here. Both floors, first and second story, have a bar on each level that (for now, perhaps) serve not-​cocktails.