Shank Hall

The venue was so-​so. Our prior communication with the venue was less than so-​so.
I asked about the opening act and he called me an idiot for asking. Later, offered to buy me drinks to make up for it.

Dive-​y, unique, full of personality — I love Shank Hall.
This is a spot that’s full of history (check out all the pictures on the wall — hey there, Lisa Loeb). You can catch solid performers, great & intimate concerts, and the occasional quirky event (like the fabulous Pundamonium). And yes, the name Shank Hall is a nod to the cult & hilarious film This Is Spinal Tap.
Basic beers and drinks at the bar, chips available for purchase. Don’t expect anything fancy — just expect to enjoy the experience.

Been coming for years and I really like the bands! However, I am amazed at how poorly this place is managed. Think «trailer trash gone wild»! Owner shuffles around like a homeless slob. Cant believe he runs a business. Most unprofessional place around. Dave at the door is a «professional smoker» and hangs out on the sidewalk and might have time for you between puffs. The silly plastic chain? What is this? Studio 54. Bartenders are lame. Place is run on the absolute cheap. Could be a goldmine if worked properly. The people who run/​and work at this place are clueless when it comes to art, music, service, marketing, running a business, etc. Its akin to being in someone’s garage.

I love Shank Hall for a couple of reasons… First, is it a true music club in Milwaukee. I love the fact that you can pay a cover charge, or buy a ticket, go in, see the band, and get out. You don’t have to wait till 10 p.m. for them to hit the stage, and then they play until 2 a.m. Since the place is music first, and a bar second, the focus is the performance.
The second reason, is that I’ve actually played there numerous times. The staff is very professional, and Dan on sound is top notch. Their lighting system could use a little updating, but all in all it’s a very good performance experience.

One of the best parts of moving to downtown Milwaukee is being close to Shank Hall. Fantastic, intimate spot to see up & coming artists and established bands without having to deal with massive crowds & long wait times to get a cocktail.

This place could really be great. The atmosphere is ideal, and the size is just right to attract some decent talent.
The staff is the worst. The bartenders are slow. For lack of better words, the owner is jackass. He works the door /​coat check area and makes you feel like he is doing you a favor for getting you your coat. They require a ‘hall pass’ to go outside and reenter. If you leave the little area they have designated in front for smoking, they tell you can’t come back in.
For close to a decade we went to Shank Hall regularly, but got fed up with the lousy service, and being treated like children. There was no single bad experience that gave me a sour taste about the venue, just the consistent poor service. Glad that Turner Hall is booking more shows now than before, making Shank Hall less relevant than ever.

This review is about the venue and the event at the venue. I went to see the RAS Movement. The performance was on point as it usually is with this local band. The venue its self isnt that big but it does what it has to do!
The bar is located in a weird spot of the bar but it is also located in a place where it wont get to crowded and your fighting for room to get a drink, I cant tell you what it looks like exactly because it was super dark on the inside. There is room to dance sit and watch the stage without being bumped into.
The only downfall of this venue is the parking and the fact that it is next to a womens clinic that has picketers outside of it. Fellow milwaukeans know exactly what i mean and what i am speaking of.
The crowd is very diverse and friendly along with the the owners/​management. I would stop in for another show of music that i partake in. Stop in and try to for yourself.

I’ve been to Shank Hall a couple of times now. Once awhile back to see KMFDM and again last night to see My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult. What can I say, I’m a degenerate.
My first experience was a little touch and go. The drop ceiling and carpet must have really absorbed the sound waves because for a band like KMFDM the place sounded surprisingly muted. I spent the night a little bit peeved at security – it seemed like they were enforcing a strict «no fun zone» ordinance by putting an end to any mosh pits that broke out and being quick to throw people out. They did redeem themselves late in the show. I’m a concert veteran – I talleyed it up and I’ve probably been to about 70 or 80 industrial, electronic, or metal shows in the last 6 years or so – I know how to handle myself in a crowd and have a good handle for «concert etiquette.» My fiancée is a newbie when it comes to going to shows and doesn’t really know how to make room in a crowd or claim her space, or deal with people making the night suck; at KMFDM, some drunk girl had been trying to force herself into a tight spot in front of my fiancée for the whole show. The trouble was, there was no spot to give – we were squeezed in pretty tight and my fiancée couldn’t move out of the way for this girl even if she had wanted to. Eventually, Drunky the Clown got frustrated and started throwing punches at everyone around her. A few people helped restrain her and security got in there in no time flat to throw her out. Security redeemed themselves, I suppose. Overall, I’d give the night a 2.5÷5.
Last night was an entirely different experience. We got to the show about 15 minutes after doors opened and found the place… empty. There were no more than 20 people in the club. «This might be an extremely awkward night,» I thought to myself. People did trickle in as the world’s least charismatic DJ played a set that stretched on for way too long, but everyone mostly kept to the bar or up against the walls. Security was a lot more friendly tonight as they checked IDs and made small talk with people. Drinks were expensive, but that’s pretty typical of a club like this. The audio equipment was set up properly and quickly during the intermission and the music didn’t sound muffled at all (except for the first song, but the first one usually goes a bit rough at any show so you can’t fault them for that). Last night was easily a ⁵⁄₅ experience.
The typical crowd here (at least for the music I like) seems mostly decent, with the inevitable drunk asshole thrown in.
Intermissions here are a weird experience. They played Southern Rock to a crowd of sorta campy, sorta gothy industrial music fans. But for whatever reason it worked and didn’t actually seem that unusual.
Parking in the neighborhood isn’t so bad if you keep west of the club. Ogden, Humboldt, and Astor usually have spots that aren’t a terrible walk. You will not find a spot on Farwell unless you can work miracles, so don’t even try.
Taking the average of my two experiences, I feel like Shank gets a comfortable 4 out of 5.

If you’ve lived in Milwaukee for at least 25 years, you’ve seen a lot of change. And if you are a fan of live music (who isn’t?), it’s hard to believe there was a time before the Pabst Theater, Turner Hall, Riverside Theater triumvirate dominated the music theater scene. Before this conglomeration, Milwaukeeans were left with lesser clubs like The Globe East, Reed Street Station, The Unicorn, Sherm’s Celebrity Club and Shank Hall.
Fast forward twenty years and only one of those clubs remains: the Shank.
I gotta tell ya, I haven’t been there in years. Probably at least a decade, but that’s my loss. Shank offers one of the most intimate and resonant music theaters in Milwaukee.
I visited Shank Hall last night to see the sold-​out St. Paul and the Broken Bones show (totally awesome, I might add). The Shank is so cozy and tight that I don’t think there’s a bad seat in the house. Furthermore, every square foot offers the concert-​goer the same compressed, clear and euphonious fidelity. And with a capacity of only 300 people, it gives one a chance to get up close and personal with the band.
We enjoyed St. Paul and the Broken Bones from only a few feet away from the stage. The stages is only about 18″ high, so anywhere in the club you’ll likely have a pretty clear view of the performers.
Another thing I love about Shank Hall is that it is easy to get an adult beverage. Not only do they have a large oval-​shaped bar serving drinks 360, but they have a waitstaff that meanders the crowd making sure you don’t have to leave your coveted spot to get refreshed.
I really love that. They’re timely and courteous too, which I find amazing because walking through a standing room only crowd with a tray full of drinks sounds like it would be an infuriating way to make a living.
Our waitress served us with aplomb.
A final word should you visit Shank Hall: take in the history. On the walls are the autographed press pictures of many of the famous artists that have played there. You’ll see some real greats before they hit the big time. I personally enjoyed the Uncle Tupelo version of mullet-​headed Jeff Tweedy from the early 90s.
After last night, I’m going to make certain to check the Shank Hall schedule with regularity. I don’t want to deprive myself of Milwaukee’s most intimate concert experience for another 10 years!

Shank Hall is kind of a dump.
The thing is that it’s a lovable dump, though.
See, the thing is that I’d heard horrible things about this venue for a really long time, and had never been up until this past Tuesday night, despite me having lived in MKE for… let’s just say a long time. One of my favorite stand up comedians decided to roll through MKE and play… here. For why, I have zero idea.
Here’s the thing, though: it wasn’t half bad! In fact, it was pretty solid! Three stars seems spot on for this dingy, DIY-​ish «open concept» venue.
First thing: We walked to Shank, because parking around here SUCKS. Know this.
Second thing: We get through the door and beeline to the bar, I stick with beer since I know it’s going to be a long night. Prices are reasonable, selection is decent-​ish. Whatever.
Third thing: Our superfan friend snags us great seats right in the front and all is well and seems great and fine and whatever.
(Seats at Shank are actually chairs, lined up, in rows, just FYI.)
BUT! Luke R (in all his stealthy glory) spies a high top table nestled in a corner just off our row of seats; the line of sight perfect, though this magical table felt hidden away from the sea of peepers and the rest of the comedy-​loving crowd.
Eff. Yes. We move over to said table and enjoy the rest of the show from a better and more hidden vantage point. Yes yes yes.
Fourth thing: There are servers working so you don’t have to get up and go to the bar each and every time. Nice. I enjoyed the show and laughed my ass right off from this great little vantage point and never had to move, save for getting up to go to the bathroom.
Other things: Ticket prices vary, in our case we saw a super awesome, relatively well-​known club comedian for $ 19 + tax. Boom.
Shank Hall smells a little weird and it’s a little dirty, but I was surprised at how much I actually liked it. Goes to show you that you should always, always check a place out for yourself before truly formulating an opinion. Three solid «A-​OK» stars for a venue that’s been around in Brew City for… well… forever, it seems.

Wow — when’s the last time you saw a show in a place with carpet and a drop ceiling? I’m hoping I don’t have to wait long before the next time, because this place is very cool. Just a low key, tiny concert venue, and from the looks of the past show posters and signed band photos on the walls, they have played host to some great bands in this teensy space. The stage is low, maybe knee height, so no stage diving, but you are going to get up close and personal with the band.
No rudeness from any staff — we were basically the first people to show up the night we were there, so that was easy. There are a few tables at the side and along the back of the venue if you prefer to sit and rock out rather than stand and rock out.
I just hope I have a reason to return — I need bands I like to want to play very small venues like this, and since I’m thinking most could sell out a larger gig, that might be rare. But I would absolutely come back.

I finally went to my first show here last night, and went in with no expectations.
I was going to see Marc Broussard, who has a pretty even mix of loud and soft songs — and I thought that the sound team did an incredible job. The ID and ticket checkers were efficient and the bartenders were fast and friendly.
The venue was set up with mostly short round tables and chairs, with a few tall tables and chairs mixed in around the edges. I snagged a spot at one of those.
My issue with this venue (not sure if it was just for this show), but the lights were completely dark. I walked in a couple minutes late and could barely find my way to the bar, much less grab a seat. This forced me, and a handful of other people, to stand awkwardly in the middle of the room likely obstructing the view of those seated at the bar. Either turn the lights up a little, or have someone pointing out open seats.
Parking is whatever, it’s the east side!
I would definitely come back here. I especially love the 21+ crowd.

My experience simply standing OUTSIDE of the venue was so bad that I did not even go inside. I went to Shank Hall last night to see a show and I was really looking forward to it because there were finally a couple bands there that I wanted to see. I feel like Shank Hall rarely have shows I’m interested in so I was excited to see some local bands at a venue I had never been to before. I arrived with 2 other friends on our bikes and we had come a bit late and missed the first band so we quickly locked our bikes up on a pole in front of the venue with intent to head in right away. We ran into a few friends and were chatting with them for a few minutes before we were told by one of the men running the door that we needed to move our bikes immediately because they were a «fire hazard» and «blocking the doorway» and would be a problem for the bands when they were loading out equipment. They were locked up on the sidewalk a good 5 – 10 feet away from the door, not blocking anything or causing any nuisance at all. We were in the middle of a conversation so we said we would move them soon. A few minutes later, the same man came up to us and was pretty short with us as told us he needed to change the sign (which is right above the door) so we needed to move the bikes NOW. Mind you it was at least 10:00 P.M. at night, I’m not sure why exactly he NEEDED to change the sign at that exact minute, but we complied and unlocked our bikes because we didn’t really want to go into the show anyways. I had already purchased a ticket that was sitting at will call for me and my friend wanted to go tell a friend inside we were leaving so I told her to go ahead and take my card/​ID and go in. Upon walking up to the door, the same man who was telling us to move our bikes told her «You know this isn’t free, right? It’s $ 12.» She replied that she understood and that she already had a ticket at will call and he did not apologize for this or his previous rude behavior.
Overall, I am very disappointed with the whole sitaution and do NOT plan on going back to Shank Hall anytime soon. I have heard it is a great place to see music but I do not have time to be treated like dirt by their staff and will be taking my business elsewhere.

First of all, let me be clear that it is extremely rare for me to give a negative review and to post comments that give a poor rating. However, with Shank Hall, I felt my only recourse in trying to reclaim my wasted night there was to clearly describe my experience so that others never fall victim again. Steer clear of this place!
It is a great shame that Shank Hall is run so poorly because it is inherently a good performance space. That is overshadowed and completely diminished by what we experienced and witnessed. We have never received a more rude, toxic, spiteful manner of service from any staff of any establishment we’ve ever been to. The person running the door on the night I visited Shank Hall exhibited the most bizarre, angry, «jaded to the world,» attitude to nearly every patron. My wife and I traveled 3 hours, stayed in a hotel, ate at several restaurants and brought Milwaukee a decent chunk of tourist dollars all centered around going to a concert at Shank Hall. The only regret about our whole visit to Milwaukee was going to Shank Hall. The door person threw a tantrum anytime anyone wanted to step outside. He refused to provide coats (from coat check) to our friends because they had «used the service too much.» And he insisted on an overly-​complicated, silly, antiquated «ticket» system for entering-​reentering the hall. If a person lost the little piece of paper ticket, they were harassed or not allowed to enter despite having a valid event ticket and/​or stub with ID, etc. When challenged and questioned about these things, in a friendly way, he grew very angry and proceeded to kick one of us out. For no reason at all! Add to that, our bar tab was clearly padded — or the bartender was charging other drinks to our tab. We were with a group of people (30+) attending the same concert — we’re all professionals, civil, not trouble makers in the least — and every single person with us was flabbergasted with how poorly they were treated by the staff. I called and left a message, sent a Facebook message, and an email via the website — again very polite and asking for follow-​up from a manager or the owner. I wanted to make sure that the business owner knew about our terrible experience. I have never received any type of response or acknowledgement.
All I can say is that if you are a band considering this as a venue — I urge you to look elsewhere. Go somewhere where your followers will have a nice overall experience. If you are a patron considering going to a concert at Shank Hall — go elsewhere! Wait for your favorite band to play at another venue. This place doesn’t care about their patrons, they don’t care about their business, they don’t care about anything except padding their pockets.

Shank Hall is one of the touchtones of my youth. The appeal of Shank Hall in my teens was being able to go to an ‘all ages’ show (i.e. The Invaders, Little Blue Crunchy Things, Citizen King, etc). It was a chance to get out into the ‘big city’ and see a show. Years later, during my college years /​early 20’s, it was a place to go see a show and DRINK (legally). Now, in my mid-30’s, it’s a great place to see some of my favorite artists in a more intimate venue — the majority of the crowd being over 21.
The whole place is pretty dim, with a tinge of stale smoke still lingering. (I’m definitely not complaining about the smoking ban, though.) There is a fireplace by the big bar towards the back of the space, adding the ‘cozy’ feeling to the venue. The waitresses and waiters will bring you drinks throughout the show, but feel free to get up from your seat and get a beer at the bar, too.
The prices are very reasonable for an East Side venue. Two tap beers ran $ 4.00 (Sierra Pale Ale if you want the good stuff) and $ 3.50 for a Miller Lite. Very reasonable. Not only that, the musicians are more accessible than another venue than say, the Rave. Case in point; Gary Louris (of the Jayhawks), 10÷03÷12 — not only was it an intimate show, he came out after his show to mingle with the fans. Awesome.
Sound: surprisingly good. Bring earplugs, because it will get loud. The last few shows have had a good mix without any muddled vox or guitars. The sound seems to be balanced pretty well for a smaller club like Shank.
Seating: smaller tables with chairs. Easy to see the stage from any angle.
Bathrooms: pretty standard for a place like this. Nothing more, nothing less.
Parking: very limited. It’s the East Side, so parking is limited as it is. I’ve had the best luck with parking elsewhere on side streets and walking.
In addendum: yes, if you have seen the movie «This Is Spinal Tap», there is a connection. However — the venue in the movie was fictitious at the time. Pete Jest bought the old place and re-​named it. The Stonehenge hanging down at the back of the stage is a nice touch. Take some time to check out the artists pictures (autographed) hanging on the walls. So many now-​popular bands have played here, and a lot of the time they played at Shank before they got famous.
I will continue to go to shows here, and support a smaller venue such as this one.

I’ve seen many great reggae shows here long ago, and most recently I saw Swans perform. The bar service is great – those bartenders are real troopers, because it gets LOUD in there. They no doubt work all night hearing music they may not be too fond of. They wear earplugs, which is wise. When you order, LOOK at them, and enunciate. Don’t be a pain. And, TIP THEM, please.
For a music venue, drinks are very reasonably priced. Parking can be tricky, so park early. I was impressed by the professionalism of the door staff this last visit; there is no hyper-​macho or aggressive vibe from them at all.
I’m on the email list now, so I will be seeing more shows here soon! What a great excuse to visit Milwaukee for a weekend. :D

Judging from the exterior of the building, I admit I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into. What I got myself into was a really fun, exciting night sitting front row to enjoy Yuna and Graffiti6 playing their hearts out.
What an amazing experience!
One walks into a small, dimly lit room with a fireplace roaring on one end, and tables with 4 chairs surrounding each throughout the rest of the room. At the far end is a rather small stage. We got ourselves a table right in front of the stage, and experienced two excellent live singers, and an excellent live band — and they entertained in such an intimate atmosphere.
I immediately copped both Yuna’s and Graffiti6’s album. Yuna, being the laid back woman that she is, hung out with us at our table after she opened for Graffiti6, and made sure to autograph our cds. And of course, while we were eating at The Pasta Tree before the show — we just happened to be sitting right next to the guys from Graffiti6 and snapped a few pics.
After the show we took Yuna to our friends house and talked and ate homemade Malaysian food late into the night.
Best concert experience I have had the pleasure of enjoying.

Love Shank Hall. The venue is just the right size for an intimate concert experience. I have seen many event here over the years. My all time favorites would have to be Bob Schneider in 2003 and Alpha Transit in 2011. The prices are reasonable, but it is relative to what the performers set the ticket prices at. The acoustics are great. The servers are good at filling and refilling drinks. Would definitely recommend a concert here.

Went here earlier this summer and had a blast watching Bob Schneider. Very clean place which is surprising because they have carpeted floors. Acoustics are pretty good as well and I enjoy the fact that you have more accessibility to the bands once they are done preforming. This place reminds me of Schuba’s but 2 to 3 times bigger.
I know this isn’t much of review but if it helps, I would drive all the way from Chicago to watch another show at this place.

Shank Hall… thank god you exist. Away from the larger concert halls sits an intimate, dimly lit nightclub only open an hour before bands play at night. The atmosphere is killer, with tons of autographed pictures of those who have played there gracing the walls, which will keep you busy walking around the perimeter to see all the names you may recognize. The interior has a smoky jazz club-​like feel — dimly lit with cocktail table seating (complete with a waitress) directly in front of the stage. The miniature Stonehenge above the stage is a great conversation piece, too.
I have seen many artists/​bands here and each time has been a different experience. I’ve been one of a handful of folks seeing a legend (Frank Black) play what seems like a show just for me, and I’ve been part of the late night party crowd (This Must Be the Band) that is totally rockin’ out.
They typically charge around $ 10-​$ 20 at the door. The drinks are a little pricey (not outrageous like some other venues) but they make up for it in service. The staff is attentive, helpful, and friendly. You can even take your parents here and they will most likely love it (they love seats). All this equals a dynamite music venue that you must check out!