I've been attending this venue since my early teens, and although it's more than a bit cramped, it's special in many ways -- the personal atmosphere is apparent (no barricade between crowd and stage) but also rough. If you're not a fan of direct contact or the pushing and shoving of being at a music show, then you're going to hate it. But if you enjoy getting into it and having fun...then it's perfect. My only real complaint is the lack of air circulation and air conditioners. If you're short like me, then you will have a hard time catching your breath or cooling off, because when your head hardly meets the shoulders of the people around you, there is no fresh air being circulated and it makes it difficult to breathe, so having an air conditioner helps a lot, but they only have one...and I hate having to travel back to the same spot to get some air -- Â In effect, I tend to become dehydrated quicker, causing me to spend more money than I'd like to to on water.
Minus that problem (which is only a relevant issue if you're smaller) it's a wonderful place with a wonderful staff who book some of the greatest bands in the scene (caters to a variety of genres). I definitely recommend giving this place a chance. It's also friendly to all ages, so you can bring your kids/parents/etc!
It's funny because the other reviews mention how there are many high school and middle school kids, and how it sort of "ruins" the atmosphere... and I totally thought I wouldn't mind high school and middle school kids at a venue... but to be honest, it's really weird. I felt super old and I'm only in college. Most of the people were really young and it was strange--I felt out of place. I don't care about a venue having alcohol, so it wasn't that really. When I first pulled in, about an hour before the show, there was about 2 dozen preteen and teen kids hanging outside the venue. Then a few of them drive up in these fancy sportscars and they don't even look old enough to drive.
I was in the mosh pit, but I was at the end of it towards the wall and almost all the way in the corner, so I didn't experience it being "super hot" like other people mentioned. If I was further away from the wall, I bet I would definitely agree with them. I saw some people (like small girls who are 4 foot tall) just being smothered by other taller, bigger people in the mosh pit and I have no idea how they could breathe in there, because even where I was towards the wall, I would try to go on my tippy-toes to get a gasp of air away from everyone's sweat and breathing. It was a super crowded mosh pit to the point where you couldn't even push anyone because we were literally shoulder-to-shoulder back-to-back.
I also wasn't impressed with the sound system. It had a fuzzy over-layer.
It also was annoying because not only was the show late to start, but also they let us in over an hour late, and usually I am not impatient--but I had to pee so bad. I got out of line to ask the guy if I could use the bathroom real quick and he said he "wasn't allowed to let me". But that's sort of paradoxical considering that this was an hour after they were supposed to let us in. I feel like the place is just run by a bunch of laid-back punk people, and they don't care how late anything is (which makes sense--what do you expect from punks).
One thing I did appreciate though, is that they sell earplugs for 1$. Those earplugs saved my life listening to the opening bands, which I did not enjoy. Thank you, earplugs for saving my ears from the awful music!
I'm not planning on going back, especially that the venue is such a far drive from me, but I enjoyed the night to the best of my ability.
BOTTOM LINE: I know of other venues that house punk shows with less crowded crowds and older people, and better sound quality, and *slightly* more reliable entrance times.
Good ole Chain Reaction. Â I've been coming here for 15+ years. Â There have been good times and bad times. Â Some great bands, and some terrible ones as well. Â It's a small place, but the sound is ALWAYS awesome. Â It does seem like a different place since Christian passed, but Chain will forever be one of the greatest venues to see a band.
Review Source:It's been awhile since I've been to Chain Reaction. The last show I saw was a secret Myspace Show for Senses Fail. I've seen emo, punk, and ska bands at Chain Reaction. Saw the Ska Is Dead tour here with Mustard Plug and Buck0Nine.
The greatest thing about Chain Reaction is the low price and small size of the venue. For live music, I love small venues. If its less than 200 people, I call it a show. Anymore and it's a concert. As others have mentioned, it does get extremely hot inside.
Overall, Chain Reaction is the perfect place to see small bands before they get big or big bands at a cheap price.
I've come to Chain Reaction a ton of times since I first started going to shows in my early teens (right after they changed the name from Public Storage). They book a lot of unknown and local bands, and the tickets are usually dirt cheap. I can remember saving my lunch money in high school to come here on the weekends to see a show for $8. And I've even gotten lucky and seen some bigger name punk/indie bands (the Movielife, the Lawrence Arms) here, in this super-small, intimate venue. There's a ton of parking out front, so if you're like me and get to shows really early, you don't have to worry about finding someplace to park (and most of the surrounding businesses are dicks to kids attending shows, so you wouldn't want to park anywhere else anyways).
There's only really two downsides I can think of for Chain Reaction:
- It's an all ages club, so there's no booze. I didn't care when I was younger, but now that I'm old enough to not be worried about tearing it up in the pit, I'd like to be able to have a couple beers at a show. At least there's a smoking area by the entrance..
- This place gets super hot once the bands start playing and the crowd starts moving. I read another Yelper compare it to a sauna, and he wasn't kidding. It starts to get hard to breathe in this place during shows.
Overall, Chain Reaction is a pretty fun place to go to a show. Most Orange County kids I know have been to this place at least a handful of times, and it will always hold a special place in my heart.
Unfortunately, Orange County doesn't have too many all ages music venues. Â Ultimately, young folks end up coming to Chain Reaction, because they can. Â The same goes for bands in the area.
MUSICIAN'S POINT OF VIEW
Great artists come to play here as well as many local bands. Â As a gigging musician, I think the presale is a little high for a venue with very few accommodations, but I've never been hassled about not selling enough tickets come show night.
You keep your gear in the car until your set time and then load in and sound check right before you're on. Â This is both good and bad. Â Since they have their own lot it's easy to park right in front and carry everything.
They have an area set up towards the back of the venue for merch.
FAN'S POINT OF VIEW
I"ve been to many shows here in the past from when I was a teenager through now. Â The sound quality is sometimes really poor, but it varies. Â The entire show experience depends on the band. There are restrooms and a smoking area with benches outside. Â Depending on the genre of the evening, the scene can be really mellow or really intense. They sell some soft drinks and candy, etc. but it's a little over priced. Â There are also no ins & outs. Â Anyone can take pictures or video. Â
It's a great place to go to support your favorite bands. Â Shows are intimate since it's such a small venue. People come for the music.
Pros:
--Occasionally, really good bands will play here.
--Tickets are usually dirt cheap.
--The place is small so, even from the back, you've usually got a good view of the stage.
Cons:
--It's SOOOOO damn hot in here it's ridiculous. Â No, I mean hot...like really, REALLY hot. Â Like a damn sauna or a sweatlodge or something!
--It's all ages so...yeah, no booze. Â :(
--It's all ages so...yeah, tons of high school scenesters and poseurs who think they are hip n' hardcore because they snuck half a pack of cigarettes out of their mom's purse this afternoon.
Still, if a good band is playing the pros slightly outweigh the cons, so go to the show.
This venue is better in my memories.
I used to go here as a high schooler to support local bands.
I didn't catch onto how disgusting it is/how crooked it is until years later.
It's a place where most bands have played starting out.
It's essentially a dimly lit cave with a low stage.
The walls literally sweat from the condensation created by a packed room of sweaty teens.
Oh, Chain Reaction, I remember the days when i would get all dressed up and go here. When I was 14 I would lace up my corset and beg my mom to drive my friends and I there, it was the cool thing to do, I guess.
Earlier this year, I went back to support a band i knew. Now, I hadn't been there in years, so i guess I was expecting it to be as awesome as it was when I was 14.....
Bummer. I saw little versions of my former self running around EVERYWHERE. This was a very disturbing sight. Oh, man. I will never go back.
Chain Reaction, it was fun. We had our good times. Thank you for being there when i was young and had no life. However, we should see different people.
In all seriousness, don't go here if you are over 16. Believe me.
What a shithole.
Let's list some observations:
- No Security: unlike Das Bunker, Key Club, HOB, The Grove, etc., which all have some kind of ghetto security measure to make sure you're not a dumbass with a weapon, this place denies its ghetto-ness. Well, I hate being subjected to stupid searches, so this is a plus for this venue.
- All Ages: fuck, this sucks. It sucked even when I was under 21. The crowd here is all high school kids. Hipsters galore. Sideswept hair, ear gauges, skinny jeans, herp derp "deathcore is so br00tal" skater idiots EVERYWHERE. Even for real metal shows! I mean, it's one thing for these breeeeee-loving little selfish fuckers to just show up; it's another thing for them to jump on and kick my head. They have no regard for other people. Those "No Stagediving/Crowdsurfing/Moshing or you will be kicked out" signs on the walls might as well be taken down. No one gets punished for doing these things at all.
- Small Space: I mean, tiny. It's an elongated room with a dirty little "stage" (if you see this "stage" in person, you'll know why I'm quoting "stage"). Plus, the owners are so freaking cheap. No air conditioning! I just saw Animals As Leaders here, and when the amazing Tosin Abasi is sweating so much that he complains his guitar feels like a Slip-N-Slide, you know your venue is a shithole.
- Decent Prices: most prices are under $20 here. Very affordable. However, I've noticed that their online vendor Vendini has recently morphed into Evilmaster in terms of its fees. I remember three years ago when I saw The Faceless and Neuraxis, the ticket was $13 with a $1.96 ticketing operations fee. The Animals As Leaders show cost me $13 with a $4 per ticket service charge AND a $2 order processing fee per order. Bullshit. Still, it's one of the few places left where you can get tickets for cheaps.
- Shitty Sound: the acoustics in here are horrible. They should get a new sound guy because the one they have now clearly doesn't know what the fuck he's doing. And while they're at it, they should stop playing the most abhorrent, ear-raping filler music in between set changes. Playing nothing at all would be a huge improvement.
To wrap up, don't expect this place to blow your mind. This is a cheap hole where you can occasionally catch a good band. Oh, and free parking. That's nice, I suppose.
Alright, after skimming through all reviews, it's time to put in my 2 cents.
Chain Reaction, What can I say? I've been going here since I was a teenager, and I had some of the best (and life changing) moments there. From meeting some of my closest friends to seeing my absolute most favorite bands here (Big D and the Kids Table, Streetlight Manifesto, National Product, Suburban Legends, The Aquabats, and others), this venue will always hold a special place in my heart. Say what you will, hate it or love it, Chain played an essential role in my music life.
Nevermind the crowd or the heat (ok, yeah, there has been countless shows that I came out of there soaked, but that from dancing and skanking from all the ska shows), I can appreciate the punk rock aesthetic this place offers. (Even though under the new booking guy, there's not much of that anymore. Hence why I didn't give it a full 5 stars). The shirts on the walls proudly displays the past bands they had in the past and the stickers/graffiti everywhere is like art.
This place was the breeding ground of my music scene existence (Mostly the Ska scene. This place used to be THEE venue for it and hopefully ,it will someday return. ) The parking lot is like a social ground after the shows. I met my closest friends and heroes there. Had cake fights and dance offs there.
+intimacy
+Really good shows if you look hard enough
+good place for bands starting out
+Denny's right around the corner
- Security on their bad days
- No ins and outs
- Lack of variety nowadays
- Lack of good shows to go to anymore
- Parking during popular shows
I love Chain Reaction...it has always remained the same and I have been going here for the past 5 years or so. Its a great place for people of all ages. I have been to shows where I see kids as young as 5 years old to adults over 40 who still have the urge to rock out!
So it's a great venue for everybody and they always have a diverse set of genres to tickle every one of your musical fancies! I went to my first show here and I have been going ever since. It's a dingy place but it doesn't even matter...it's reminiscent of a cool underground hangout and I totally dig it. The prices are always great and the music is awesome! Like I said, anybody would find a genre that they like here. It's also neat because it's a very small venue so you can hear the music loud and clear, and you have easy access to meeting different band members, and they are usually very chill and friendly. They often encourage fans to come and talk to them. It's all about the music, and this is a great place for that.
Chain Reaction never changed. Seven years since the last time I was at Chain Reaction and the place looks, feels and smells the same (oh, the sweet smell of cigarette smoke, sweat and adolescence). Â Coming back to Chain Reaction is like walking the halls of your old high school and all the band t-shirts up on the wall are pictures of the alumni. Fancy seeing you here, Hippos t-shirt.
Came here last night for a Japan Benefit show and walked in at the right time. Melee was two songs into their set and I felt overwhelmed with nostalgia. I had a shit eating grin on my face the whole time and was constantly checking the door in case a familiar face from back in the day walked in (I'm talking about you Jinra I. and Annie T.) But alas, after Melee's set, the house lights turned back on and I realized just....how....old....I.....am.
Quick, I need a beer.
Oh wait.
Another sign that I'm old: Standing in the crowd during a ska show (shout out to Suburban Legends). Yes, you'll see me writhing and shaking. But not because I'm skanking or dancing (although, Suburban Legends is very dance-worthy music), it's because the music is too loud and I'm suffering heart arrhythmia. My boyfriend and I skadoodled (get it?) halfway through the ska set and immediately went somewhere where I could get a beer to help soothe my headache.
It's hard to imagine that Chain Reaction used to be smaller than it is now. It's hard to imagine I used to go to shows 3x the capacity last night. It's hard to imagine that it's still stuffy in there and parking still sucks. It's hard to imagine that so many years have passed but nothing about Chain Reaction has changed except for me.
Chain Reaction, never change.
First time coming to the chain reaction and have to say its a pretty good all ages venue. I came here with friends to see TSOL.
This venue is just perfect for punk rock bands not to big or too small for a venue. All drinks and candy are super cheap everything under $3. I like how the inside of this place is decorated with lots of bands t-shirts all over the walls. I have to say out of all the venues i been to this one has the cleanest restrooms lol! The chain reaction has a pretty big cool patio in the back to cool off after been in the pit. Parking lot is free not to big but good size.
Glad i came here for the first time and seeing TSOL was right up in front till it got crazy got to get up on stage and sing with them for a few seconds then stage diving off into the crowd lol. Me and my friends yes we all got injured to the last song but it was all good punk rock. All in all good venue to see some good punk rock bands will be back many times again.
Oh Chain Reaction. I used to spend many a night here. My husband (then boyfriend) played and attended so many shows here, I knew the place like the back of my hand.
Parking sucks unless you get there early. Its hot, crowded (even after the remodel). The sound is never quite right, and the bathrooms are disgusting.
But its small, intimate, and cozy. Its all ages, so you can bring your little sister. Prices are cheap, and it can make for a fun night.
This is one of my favorite all age venues for some good live music. I have only been here to see Drop Dead Gorgeous but I know Im going to come back soon. They have a show almost every week and they range from well known artists to nobodys, it just depends.
The inside is super legit, it seems like your in some seedy run down venue in Hollywood. They have stickers and shirts all over the walls and the inside is small so no matter where you are your super close to the stage and the band. The band is also not super high up so it feels more personable and like your close to your favorite artists. I also love that they have a few benches to chill on whenever you get tired of standing.
Other positives: The bands set up fast unlike some venues where you end up waiting 30 mins for a new band to come onto the stage and also most shows are only $10-17. =).
The outside is only a parking lot but they are chill with you coming in and out for some fresh air.
Neg: Since its all ages you will run into those little wanna be scene girls who are like 14...pretty gay, wish this could at least be 18+ but there are not many young-ins so no biggie
This is where I lived the good life every weekend of highschool. No matter what artists/band you like, they eventually came around. There were always too many shows and such little time. I'm shocked at the artists that still come around and play. Bands that have headlined amazing tours, and play over the radio, and you can still pay 10 bucks to see them in a small venue and not through video screens cause you're too damn far away. The intimacy of it all is what draws me into this place. You can actually see everyone strum their guitars, slap the bass, and double bass pedal. This is a real performance!
Hands down this is my favorite venue of my life. Perhaps because this was the start of my music days. Yeah, the place is run down looking, but it just adds to the atmosphere of the music scene. It's just raw. The place doesn't even have air conditioning for pete's sake, and in the middle of summer in Anaheim it can get a good 90 degrees in there or more, but I'm down to get a little dirty for some good tunes.
They don't serve alcohol here, but if you can't have a good time at a show unless there's a drink in hand then maybe you're not here for the music. Look, nothing against enjoying your drinks, but I kind of like that maybe there's one place I can enjoy a band where I don't have to worry about a sea full of drunk people getting in the way. There's so many other scenes and many other venues, let this be what it is, and allow "ALL AGES" to come and appreciate the music for what it's worth. It's for the good of everyone.
So all in all, whether you're barely 16 or well in your retired years. Shows here can have an eclectic mix of people. It's awesome to have all generations come together and rock out.
Chain Reaction was great when I was in High School, now I just feel like the oldest person in the room.
You can see great bands here for cheap. I love this venue because though it's full of underage kids, they are usually super excited to see all of the bands on the bill, including the openers.
Keep up to date with their website and you can sometimes catch big bands stopping by this small venue.
I usually avoid this venue during the summer because once it's packed, there is little ventilation and it gets HOT... But for the price, it's still usually worth it.
I hate this place....I really do....
I remember being young and wishing I could burn this place down...
So I am sure you are asking yourself....Why write a review?! WHY?
I'll tell you why...because during a time when Orange county caught alot of crap for being bro'd out....for a time when there seemed to never ever be anything going on in our part of town...for a time when hell if you wanted to see anything fun...you had to go out to l.a....
there they were....The Chain Reaction.....or as most of us knew it...the Lame Reaction....playing punk rock shows..and bringing in bands...whom would bring me here like a moth to flame...and cursing every minute of it....but why am I gonna pass up something so close!
they didn't serve booze...that doesn't stop us from being DOA...sorry i mean Drunk On Arrival...which is usually a no no..from time to time a friend or 2 would not be allowed in because of it...
I remember the people they used to hire for security which seemed to be like 1 guy and a few of his friends hanging out in front...feeling pretty cool because they were the bouncers at an all ages music venue...where the guys tried to maintain a composure of i'm too cool for this place..and the girls ran around giggling and ready to be picked up by mom after the show.
gah!...I really get choked up when i think about the times there hanging out with my pals in the parking lot...trying to spend as little time inside as possible...and by choked up...i mean i think I am gonna throw up...
fights with strangers....fights with the bouncers....trying to smoke pot in the smoking area only to get rolled out, my friend going there and seeing his girlfriend with some other dude there..rumble in the parking lot...i never seen a little guy fly over a car to punch someone in the face so fast before! hahaha...
but there you are...a beacon of hope for the hopeless i guess.....
stay in business Lame Reaction...someones gotta give these kids a place to practice being punk...heh.
to be fair I have not been here in ages...I am now 33....
but it must have been something...cause I still remember it...so because of that you get 1 star above 2...
I love Chain. I spent most of my angsty teen years here.
Pros:
- They often headline great bands.
- Tickets are fairly cheap.
- You can often be very intimate with the bands, seeing as there's no barrier between the audience floor & the stage. Sometimes people even sit ON the stage with the bands.
Cons:
- ABSOLUTELY NO VENTILATION WHAT-SO-EVER. I pretty much died from heat exhaustion and almost drowned in my own (& other peoples, ew) sweat.
- Their bathrooms are DISGUSTING. I've only forced myself (from fear of wetting my pants) to use the ladies restroom once or twice. Immediately after peeing, i'm paranoid I might've contracted hepatitis.
Tips:
- I recommend everyone to use the restroom before leaving your house.
- Hang out after the shows, the bands will usually be around.
- Sometimes there are posters hanging on the walls, if there's one you like, don't wait till the end of the show to grab it. It's a frenzy at the end and you don't want to end up fighting over a shredded Kevin Devine poster like I did.
This is a tale of a boy who grew up.
Chain Reaction was a mecca for me and my friends from 1999 to around 2002. Â I was a ska kid. Â I played in a ska band and alot of my friends were ska kids or played in a ska band. Â At the time there were a bunch of ska bands, from kids in high school to touring bands that we could look up to. Â There were message boards and a real scene. Â All of us loved going to chain where we could be ourselves, skank, wear checkers and listen to our favorite ska and pop punk bands. Â
What fun we had. Â I remember the "mosh" pits, playing sex dice in the alleyway, the red slurpees, the cute snack bar girls, the competition between all the local bands, (i remember this one guy who had an 80's band because he played keytar and he bragged about getting a manager, but then the next week, the band broke up....hilarious). Â There were some cool people, some complete assholes. Â Oh yea, consistently checking the time or awaiting the dreaded phone call from my mom "WHERE ARE YOU, ITS LATE ARE YOU COMING HOME??"
I started listening to other bands in high school too, my friend introduced me to shellac and q and not u and I reaized theres more underground music than I knew. Â Before, I thought punk rock was all about mohawks, chains and stylized text. Â
I realized that in the underground rock world, there are 2 camps. Â Theres the more experimental/indie rock camp. Â These are bands that play at coachella, sxsw and are reviewed by pitchfork and the like. Â Then theres the warped tour/AP camp. Â You had to pick your side. Â You couldn't really straddle both. Â When my friend planted the shellac inside me, I started to get into those types of bands. Â It really began to take off in college. Â I stopped listening to ska bands.
My friends took me last to chain reaction in 2003, during my first year of college. Â When I got there, I realized I was a different person. Â The bouncers seemed like a bunch of steakheads and everyone seemed younger than me. Â I didn't care for the music anymore and I didn't have anything in common. Â I had changed, and chain reaction didn't offer me anything.
the last ska show I went to was a few years later, my first one in 3 years, at the grove because my friend got me a free ticket. Â I saw people I hadn't seen in many years. Â People I looked up to when I was 16. Â I was 21 at the time, and they were still the same. Â I really had changed.
I give chain 3 stars because of its memory, but it is a place I will never ever return to. Â Not because I was treated badly or I don't like the decor, but it just doesn't fit me anymore.
Dude so many memories at this place.
The mosh pits that would break out. This place was there through all my musical phases. Whether they were good or not, that is another question.
This place is a mecca for the local folks.I cannot imagine anyone from the area NOT come to this place at least once.
The entry way of the place always smells like urine as do the bathrooms. My suggestion is to not go to the bathroom. I never did pee in that establishment.Go to Denny's down the block and pee there first.
Audio has always sucked and if you have sensitive ears I suggest you bring some plugs. Every single time I exited that place my ears were ringing for two days in a row.
With all that said, I grew up with this place and even though there was a love - hate relationship with Chain, it is a must for the young locals.
I never thought I had a problem with alcohol until the first time I visited Chain Reaction after I turned 21. I walked in and headed straight to the snack counter and immediately turned white as a ghost. N-n-n-o alc-c-cohol? Ummmm...what are those things in the plastic bottles? I strained my sober eyes and sounded out, "Peeepsiii?"
The I stood there with my two dollar bottle of Pepsi trying to bob my head to the music. But I soon realized, I can only successfully bob my head to local pop punk bands if I'm buzzed or 19...or both. Especially both
But, it's a case of "it is what it is." And what it is is a pretty decent all ages venue. Decent enough acoustics...but wait, the memories are all coming back to me now. This is getting decreased to two stars. Yep - there was the Superdrag show when my buddy Sam passed out due to heat and an overwhelming amount of people. There was the Ozma show where I couldn't hear anything because of the god-awful acoustics. There was almost every crowded show here when there are 16-year-old douchebags pushing people around in the audience.
So, yeah...it is what it is. And it is shitty. Two stars for nostalgia's sake.
I've seen a lot of shows here, and only a couple of them have been awesome. Â My new years resolution is to only go to shows here when it is a band that I REALLY want to see, I feel far too old when I go here. It's really a shame that there are so few good music venues in Orange County.
As an all ages club, it's cool for the 14-20 crowd, but for the rest of us, eh.
The bathroom is dirty and has no locks on the stall doors and NEVER has soap to wash your hands with. There's a small smoking yard on the side that is "outside" but it's up against another wall of another building so it's cramped.
It's miserably hot in the summer time.
Doesn't allow "in and outs" most of the time, so it really isn't fun if you need to take a break for some fresh air between bands or there is a  band you don't want to watch....the only saving grace I've ever had while going to this venue has been when I have been lucky enough to have a wristband and I'm allowed to roam in and out freely. Otherwise, it's like torture, especially when it is sold out.
Other than that, the sound isn't usually terrible, if you pick the right place to stand, and recently they've upgraded to some TVs strategically placed so you can see the show even if you are standing on the side of the stage behidn that little retaining wall (which I prefer because I don't like the idea of having nowhere to go if a fight or mosh pit breaks out)
Only been there once, had a really awesome time. Doesn't look like an area where a music venue would be, and smells funky when you're walking up to it. I like it already.
Most of the other bad reviews are complaining about the crowd. I'm a bit private and I don't really pay attention to other people at shows unless I know them, so don't ask me about that. I'm over 21 and I didn't care that this place is all ages, it didn't make it any less fun. Fairly intimate setting for a show with a smaller stage, and when I went the sound system was set up pretty good, but it could have been a little better which is why I'm taking a star off. It was better than seeing a show at some crappy dive where you need cheap beer just to enjoy yourself. They have a big merch area in the back, big bathrooms (with no soap and no paper towels), and a little stand where you can get waters and stuff. There is an outside area with benches where you can go chill in between sets, smoke and relax and just talk or whatever.
Can't find anything bad to say really, because parking wasn't an issue when I went and tickets were super cheap, you can buy them online too. I do dislike one thing it's that they don't let you come out once you've gone in, so don't leave your cigs or jacket in your car if you want them. I still had an awesome time and I would go there again for another show if they book a band that I like. If you go for the music then it's not really hard to like this place, it's not missing much. Helps if you have really good company, too :)
Come on, you can't really hate on this place. This was THE place to go to when you were in high school. Don't even deny it. I have fond memories of Chain.
Yes, the place smells like butt. Yes, the restroom makes you want to hold it until you get home at 1 AM. Yes, there's absolutely no ventilation so instead of breathing in air, you breathe in water vapor from all the sweat in the air. But it's awesome.
I have so many memories.
- I remember Taken's last show and how packed the pit was. I remember getting crushed so hard up against the stage that I said eff it, climbed up on the stage, and watched the show from there. I remember later contracting mono from sharing one water bottle with all the strangers in the front.
- I remember playing so many shows with my band, selling out the place, and feeling so awesome hearing other kids call out, "RANDALL MOSS!" to me. Seriously felt like I was on top of the world.
- I remember the halloween show when we played with Erase Errata and Q and not U, and it being the most intense night of dancing, ever.
- I remember Name Taken playing so many shows, and then their reunion show. That show is on my top 5 shows of all time.
- I remember playing with Say Anything, before Max Bemis got hugely famous. Say Anything actually opened for us back then.
Sure, now that I'm older, there are definitely better venues to go to. What does it, though, are the memories. So many awesome memories. I can't give this place anything less than five stars.
This place was fine when I first went to college (the joys of starting at age 17).
The last show I went to here had Suicidal Tendencies headlining, with some teeny ska group that had half of a highschool in attendance opening. All the kiddies left after ST went on stage. There were only 3 people left in the place when they started playing, which kinda sucked, but it gave plenty of room to skank.
So yeah, If you go and are over the age of 18, there is something wrong with you, but for a venue for youngin's it's hard to pass this one up.
How dare I give Chain Reaction 5 stars! This place is horrible!
- Sound sucks
- The kids really suck
- 99% of the bands that play suck
- Prices suck
- Staff sucks
- Location sucks
- Parking sucks
But I used to play here a lot. And we would sell it out. And they would buy us decent pizza. And we would sell a few grand worth of T-shirts to the kids I hated. And the club would give us a few grand for playing. And my rent would be paid for months, just from playing one show at a place I hate.
Totally tits.
Chain Reaction is what I call the "Yuppified Gilman Street of Southern California".
While I appreciate it's value to the youth of Orange County as a place where they can go see some untapped independent music talent, it's got a few hitches...
- All their shows are all ages. This usually means if you're over 21, you will probably feel like the oldest person there.
- They don't sell any alcohol.
- It's often overcrowded and hot (mixed in with a smell that I only can say that it reminds me of High School Physical Education). When you want to escape the heat, there's an outside area. Too bad it's filled with tons of under-aged smokers and the walls are covered with bubble gum!
I try not to venture out and go to shows at CR but if it's a band that I really dig (RX Bandits), I'll come out and endure the romper room for a night.
But otherwise, I avoid this place...
One star for being another crappy venue in california.
The other four stars are for bringing music to the kids.
I've been coming here since I was, hmm, 13, 14? Which even for this place isn't seen as young.
You grow up at chain, the first bands I saw were indy-pop bands and I slowly progressed into the hardcore scene and now mostly back out of it. But, man, the pits at chain are always fun and always a little brutal. I've been kicked out for getting in a fight once, (I put some douche in a headlock and then continued to bang on his head. In less than three seconds I had his whole "crew" which included a big black guy and a fat chick dogpiled on me and kicking. And while i took the one kid out my football-star best friend saved my ass by taking out the other 8, no joke. Oh, by the way, I was moshing for my FRIENDS BAND. ridiculous, but it makes for good stories) and also was called up to play guitar for a blink 182 cover by another one (mind you, it was Cute Is What We Aim For, but hell, I was there to impress a girl and i think i did alright.)
The merch table is where you meet the cute women, and the smoking section is where when you turned 15 you put your myspace URL on the wall. This place takes a little piece of you and keeps it, and when you recognize the stickers you put on the walls, you know this smelly little dive piece of shit is home.
The place is small, ventilation blows and the sound isn't always the best here but there's just no way I could drink a bottle of haterade for this place. Some of the best shows I've ever seen in life (before I turned 21/realized other venues for live music existed) were here. And isn't it nice to know that there's somewhere the underage crowd can go to instead of causing some other ruckus elsewhere?
Thanks for the memories Chain Reaction!
Oh my. Â This place was not at all what I was expecting when I saw OK Go in 2005 while visiting my friend in Anaheim. Â It's small, cramped, stuffy, and I have a feeling they sell way more tickets than bodies can fit in the place. Â The design is rather awful. Â There are giant posts in several areas, making it near impossible to see. Â The ventilation is terrible, and you leave the place completely covered in sweat, whether you're jammed up against people or not.
On the plus side, OK Go put on an awesome show.
The venue is small and provides for intimate live shows, but it's not very well ventilated so it gets very stuffy and hot. Expect to sweat. Â It's small, which can be a plus [in the case of Detroit bar and Spaceland], but it's bordering claustrophobic.
If you don't mind being surrounded by highschool scensters, check this place out. Sometimes it's worth it. Plus, the parking is free, but it can be a pain to find it sometimes if you don't show up early.
Chain Reaction is a place for Orange County kids to get dropped off by their parents. If you have a license, you're too old to be coming here.
Bands on tour make their way to LA too, there's no need for anyone to go to Chain. The sound's terrible, the place is dirty, rotten and smelly.
As for the "service" from the staff, if you can call it that, it's minmal to none. But they have to babysit emo boys and girls all night, so they have every right to be mad at the world.
Back in the early 1990s when I was in high school, this was a fun place to go to hear new and upcoming bands without getting in trouble. I saw a few good bands here (the Aquabats and MXPX) that made the experience worth it.
Yes, the place is hideous (is it still in a cave-looking venue?) and there are a gazillion wild teenagers...what more could you ask for as a 15 year old wanting to "go out on the town" without a driver's license or fake ID?
Needless to say, I haven't been back to this place since I was 17 but still, it was fun for a kid growing up in borrrrring Orange County. And hey, it's better than hanging out in a mall!
4 stars for high school students interested in frequenting the place, 0 stars for adults interested in it!
oh my, the memories. I spent many nights here in my high school years stalking I mean admiring bands such as Midtown, The Ataris, and The Pharmaceutical Bandits (before they were called RxB). It was the place to be and be seen. I remember way back when they had some old couches to lounge on. Fun times.
This is a great place to go if you're under 18. It's safe and the staff does a good job making sure no one does anything too stupid. They have good shows.. they get popular bands. However, if you're older than 18, this really isn't such a fun place to go anymore. You'll feel old! I know I do! It's defintely geared towards the young kids but I think that's great, they need a place like this.
Last time I went, I truly could not find a single parking spot anywhere within a 2 mile radius of the place. Their lot was full as always, the Denny's will tow, and every other space was taken. Watch out for that.. and the residential areas nearby are pretty shady. The Chain security guard eventually let me double park because I begged him, but it's not a situation I would want to experience again. Go early to avoid this mess.
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