Having never been to the Empty Bottle to see a show, I got the chance to stop in last weekend to see Killing Joke perform. I had a great time, largely due to the fact that the staff at the EB were great hosts. Both of the bartenders and even the bouncers were extremely friendly. Such a welcome change from venues like the Metro or the House of Blues where surly looking bouncers scowl at you and treat you like vermin. I really appreciated that even though the show was sold out, customers still had room to move around in comfortably. The booze was reasonably priced too!
The only thing keeping this place form getting five stars was the layout, which was kind of odd with the small stage being in the corner, and also the sound, which was decent but not the best in the world. It's like going to see a movie at an old theater versus a newer theater. The older theater has a smaller screen and more character, but the picture and sound aren't as good. It's a tradeoff, but oh well, I still love the Empty Bottle!