Livewire

Avoid this venue at all costs, what I experienced last night was one of the worst live music experiences I’ve ever had, and in my short life I’ve had quite a few.
Sure the place looks nice and has more security than actual concert goers, but that’s about where the pros end and the negatives roll in. Very expensive drinks, no free water, and a very confusing and rather bs VIP area. Everything about this place emanates the worst aspects of Scottsdale. The staff all seem to hate their jobs especially since for whatever reason the women are wearing way less clothes than the men. Is this the owner’s idea of class? Paying for water from scantily clad women and impolite men?
I have been to a few concerts in my life to put it lightly, but I’ve never had such an issue with security like I did last night. The main performer was handing out merch from a bag so I tried to push my way up to the front, after which an attendee took huge issue with (who wasn’t even near the front, I’d imagine he was drunk and looking to start a fight.) and pushed me back and got in my face. I didn’t throw any punches, I wasn’t even the instigator in this scenario, I was merely trying to get merch from one of my favorite artists of all time.
Well apparently security saw our standoff and decided to swiftly elbow me in the head and push me on the floor. I actually don’t even remember this happening, but luckily my girlfriend was there to witness the event. They then promptly carried me out in a chokehold where I didn’t put up a fight at all and told me I was a huge nuisance and that I can’t push my way up to the front. I can’t help but feel like there was a better way to handle that, I wasn’t acting violent I was just upset because I wanted some free stuff (who doesn’t?). I’ve pushed my way to the front in so many venues and I’ve never even caught glances from security. I’m used to them running through crowds looking for pot smokers.
So after getting kicked out of one of my favorite artist’s shows after a long hiatus, I couldn’t sleep because I was in so much pain. The side of my head is inflated by about an inch and I keep getting pulsing pain all through my head. To top it off it literally hurts to breathe and I have to work in 3 hours.
Thanks Livewire, you will forever be the s#!t standard I compare all other venues with. I will not miss you if you go.

So we saw PVRIS last night, great show. But this venue sucks, and mostly from the people that work there. Standing in line wasn’t so bad, the guy checking IDs was cool and making jokes with everyone.
But once we got in and found our spots, I wanted to look around. Headed up stairs to the balcony area, where they have seating. There were no barriers to entry, took the elevator up. No bouncers or anything. I found an open area and was looking around (this was before the show even started), and this security guy came up and very rudely told me to leave, that I wasn’t allowed up there, VIP only. He was really being a jerk about it, and followed me back downstairs.
Later, during the show’s intermission, I needed to sit down for a bit. Due to health issues, I get tired very easily and am in pain if I stand for too long. They have NO seating (unless you’re $VIP$ upstairs, apparently). So no chairs anywhere. Zip. None. So, like a few others, I found an inconspicuous spot to sit on the floor against the wall. Not two minutes later, another jerk security guy told me I had to get up. WTF? Even the Marquee has plenty of chairs and areas to chill during a concert.
The acoustics are also somewhat lacking; for a concert/​show theatre they should be better. Sound was quality was meh. Stage is small. The floor is level, which is odd; good luck seeing anything if you’re short or in the back. Water is $ 6, ridiculous, but expected.
So to recap: venue itself, 4 stars; personnel, 1 star. Maybe they’re used to dealing with dumb kids or something. Don’t come here if you need to take a rest during the show, won’t happen.

Went to my first show at this place (Steel Panther) and it’s a great spot for music. Setup really good! Acoustics are great and it is an intimate venue where you really feel up close to the performance! Definitely worth checking out. Only knock I have is they only serve Rock Star energy drinks vs. Red Bull.

Wow! This place is GREAT!
Other than an occasional drop in at Wasted Grain, I had basically given up on Old Town Scottsdale, when the clubs became so trampy and expensive.
But I broke down and bought tickets for a show at Livewire, and was not just pleased but super IMPRESSED! The place is super clean, the room is big but not TOO big (you can see the stage well from anywhere in the room), drinks are VERY reasonably priced, the staff is friendly, and best of all, the shows start earlier. Yes, you read that correctly! The opening band started at 7:30pm and the headliner was on at 9:15pm! And, despite what other clubs refuse to believe, people stayed on after the headliner to drink and enjoy the house music and meet the bands. I can’t praise this place enough!
Thanks for a super-​fun evening, Livewire!

This is the guy… Meet George Harbison…
This security guard is so accommodating, respectful and I would trust him to look after my teenage daughter attending concerts at the Live Wire in Scottsdale Az. Best security guard ever!!! Thank you George. You really made our concerts so much better. I can’t believe you always remember us. Unbelievable!!!

Cool venue for sure. The middle is open and their are couches and tables on the side. They ave a VIP section upstairs. We had a blast at the USO Heroes Jam. Drinks are expensive though and for some weird reason the women’s bathroom stalls are built in such a way you can not exit the stall. I can’t imagine what this looks like with ladies who have had a few too many. They must find a lot of cell phones flushed down the toilet. Ha! Rock on!

So I got tickets to see Steel Panther here, and I was a bit skeptical of going to a concert in Scottsdale, because it just doesn’t jive with me. I knew that it would be more expensive than normal, and it was. But beside it being expensive, it was nice. I like the idea with the balconies on top, and the standing access down below. Must be cool for the band as well.
So the main bar is staffed by girls that are scandalously dressed, but they wear it very well. Cute and oversexualized outfits on girls that can manage to wear them — now that is cool
So we came a whole group. Had a few expensive drinks. Watched a very cool show. And left happily. People complain about this place, and yes it is odd to see a concert in Scottsdale, because the clientele doesn’t seem to be the concert-​going-​type — but I saw nothing wrong with this place.
Will come back.

Oh my word!!! Your bar staff should be replaced with robots! Quicker, more accurate, and I’m sure a lot more courteous and willing to help you.
I guarantee you are losing $$$
Sooo much $$$
Instead it took me 15 minutes to get a drink when I walked in, despite being front and center up against the bar that whole time. I was constantly overlooked for an order, while others would walk up and get served right away. The person (female) next to me was having the same issue. The male bartender working the well on the side kept looking at both of us… probably wondering why on earth it’s taking so long for the two other bartenders to get our order.
Anyway long story short my experience was hindered within the first half hour of being on your property.
I got 4 drinks for 2 of us when I finally ordered and I would have gone back for more had I not thought it was going to take me another 15 – 20 mins. I’m not sure why it’s like this… clearly people commonly complain about this.
I guess the money you are losing is made up by not giving your guests complimentary water, another frequently seen complaint.
There’d have to be a huge/​unique name to get me back, but even then the place is small and I’m sure would get so packed that it probably wouldn’t be worth it.

If your favorite band is having a show here, you’ve gotta go. Anyone who hasn’t been here should find a show that they would be interested in and go. The acoustics are great, the décor is my favorite of any venue I’ve been to (think of an upscale mix of shabby chic, and the house of blues) go check them out.

Very happy that Livewire hosted Duke Dumont and Gorgon City recently (two separate events). I had a great experience both nights! I really like that the venue has a second story, so you can take a break from the giant dancing crowd by sneaking upstairs. By positioning the «VIP» tables and booths upstairs, the dance floor below is even larger. As expected, it is super loud during the shows. Bring earplugs if you’re worried/​bothered.
Duke was on a Saturday and the venue was completely packed. I showed up right before he went on and everyone went crazy when it started. Awesome sound, lights and graphics. I was upset that he played such a short set — only an hour, maybe a little longer. He’s only in town once a year so daaaaang, give us more (please)!!!
I showed up early for Gorgon City because I wasn’t sure when they’d go on since it was a Wednesday night. The two opening artists were excellent and it was fun to watch the dance floor fill up over the course of two dj sets and two hours. By the time Gorgon came on, the venue was full and we were ready to boogie. Because it was a Wednesday, the crowd was excellent — we were all there for the music and all on the same page. Quite different from any crowd you’ll find at a club on a weekend. Gorgon played for so long and just killed it with two live singers and a drummer. By far the best live show I’ve seen in years! Fantastic atmosphere and vibes all around.
I’m excited to see what artists Livewire will host next. Keep bringing the deep haus to Old Town, I need it, thank you!!! (Also, some of us «haus heads» work early in the morning so please schedule the weekday shows earlier than midnight! ;) Thx!)

nice place but they didn’t give me a glass of water when we asked for one. They sell bottles for $ 5 but no glass of water. That’s bullshit. If someone was the DD and wanted water, nope. Gotta buy it. If someone is very thirsty because Arizona is very hot! Nope sorry you gotta BUY a bottle for $ 5. If some one is drunk and wants to sober up, and wants some water, sry! Gotta pay!
I guess that is Scottsdale for ya!

I am avid concert goer. I’ve been to my fair share of venues in the valley, and Livewire is becoming one of my favorites due to vibe, sound system and visual capabilities.
It’s a great size, holding about 1100 people between the first and second floors, so it can attract some decent bands and acts to it grace its stage. Downstairs has an open floor/​standing layout, however I’ve seen it be more versatile with seats, tables, a runway, etc.
This place can be a concert venue or a private events venue. Upstairs you’ll find booths and seating, much like you would find in a nightclub that offers bottle service and superb viewing of whatever is happening on the dance floor and stage. You will find an adjacent patio to the upstairs bar, that allows for you to pop outside and get some fresh air.
Service is pretty quick and bathrooms are clean!
Definitely keep an eye out for acts coming though, as this place is booked with fun filled music on the regular.

Booze… Music… Dancing… Booze… Intermission… Booze… Music… Dancing… Booze
That seems to be my order of events when I go to Livewire. Been here a couple times, first time I can barely remember since this was the last bar I hit in Old Town. The last time I went it was to go back to the 80’s with The English Beat. The venue is laid out well with ample dance space and seating just off the sides for the more passive crowd. There is also seating and views on the second level accompanied by another bar as well. Being a new venue the sound is superior to other venues in the valley so if you have a band to see here it’s worth it.
Alright, now the little downside to this place. The bartenders couldn’t make a proper drink if their life depended on it. After multiple errors, I switched to bottled beer knowing it would be tough to screw that up. Sometimes places opt for looks rather than pouring talent. This is one of those places. I guess they are just trying to keep up with the other bars in the area. I might have to check out Blues Traveler in October!

One of the better local venues — new, nice, clean and not a dump (whose idea was it that music venues had to be dumps). The sound is great. Lights are great. The stage is high enough everyone can see. Lounge areas as well as the floor. The couches are a nice touch, but who wants to sit when the band is rockin’?
The only drawback is parking. It’s in the middle of the night clubs so you are competing with that scene.

Went to the In This Moment concert last night, there seemed to be a lot of confusion as to when the doors opened, some people heard 6, I thought it was 7 with the first band starting at 7:30. So we showed up at 7 to find a line that goes around the corner to the next corner and I’m sure that all the other businesses in the area appreciated a long line in front of their bars/​restaurants that wasn’t for them. The line didn’t start moving till 7:30 and by the time we got in the first band was on their last song.
The drinks are over priced and weak, you can have over priced drinks or weak ones but you shouldn’t have both. The security guys seemed a bit enthusiastic about policing the mosh pit, but I’m not a mosher so didn’t pay too much attention to it.
all my complaints are mostly service related but otherwise it’s a nice venue, good stage, great sound and light quality, and great air conditioning.

I hadn’t been to downtown Scottsdale for many years, as it’s just not my scene (I don’t drink and drive, and I’d much rather party in my back yard with a pool & BBQ). When did downtown turn into a mini Las Vegas? LOL! Ha! But, hey… I went to this place to see a concert, Michael Schenker, hard rock guitarist for Scorpions, and UFO. I thoroughly enjoyed the show and the venue. I was able to stand right up next to the stage without being pushed and shoved like a mosh pit. Again, I don’t drink & drive, so I had nothing to do with drinks, bartenders and drink prices. I’d definitely come here again if there was someone I wanted to see. It was clean, spacious, comfortable and fun.

La la love this spot for live music and networking events. Came here to watch the Black Bottom Lighters. Service is amazing even during a crazy concert and drinks were reasonable. Tons of space to get your groove on, I highly recommend getting a table so you get the best view on the second floor overlooking the crowd. Love the décor and definitely would be back for another event!

They have a huge dance floor, attentive bartenders, and a lively crowd. :)
It’s two stories with VIP booths on both levels and the dance floor on the first.
The bathrooms were nice and clean and the bar is a wrap around and pretty large. The crowd on the Saturday night we were there was in their early 20’s with some in their 30’s and 40’s. There was no cover charge for us two ladies.
So all in all, no complaints. 4 stars because it doesn’t have that wow factor that Mint or Maya has. :/

This was the place to be on Super Bowl Sunday! This spot offers a two story view, a full bar on each level with awesome bartenders (thanks for the quick service and the ear plugs! Saved my ears!), spectacular lights to create a show in itself, a wide stage so performances can be seen from afar, classy leather furniture accents, and clean restrooms!
Tonight’s performance was one you missed out on… Dillon Francis with a surprise guest star Steve Aoki and a few others! They tickled my funny bones to dance all night! ;) VIP upstairs is worth it if you need some space and a lil air away from the dance floor. And of course a closer view of the stage! Bravo Livewire!

We had a pretty good time tonight at LiveWire. We got tickets to see Jared and the Mill, one of our favorite local bands, and thought it would be great to go check out the newest concert venue in town.
The pros:
The venue itself is pretty beautiful. Big bar, multiple couch seating areas, lots of high tops and big bathrooms (with attendants). The giant eagle over the stage was really cool. We didn’t get to check out upstairs but it looked like they had booths and VIP seating up there.
The sound and lighting systems were top of the line — it sounded great and the lights integrated well into the show. They definitely know what they’re doing on that front, the band looked and sounded great.
The cons:
We were sitting on a couch and an air conditioning vent leaked right onto it (and my husband).
I paid four bucks for a diet coke. I guess it’s to be expected in Scottsdale but dang.
They had two comedians and a solo act as openers — the comedians had a really, really tough time getting any engagement from the crowd, most people continued to talk over them and it was almost painful to watch.
Overall, I think it’s more of a night club — concert venue than a concert venue — night club. Tonight, it was an interesting mix of the typical Scottsdale club goers and Jared and the Mill fans (and if it was a Venn diagram, the two don’t have a big intersection). I do think it’s a good venue for rock bands or EDM, but it wasn’t quite my slice of pie. I’m sure others really enjoyed it though.