I was up in the Portland area this past weekend for a little weekend getaway and did the brewery tours and brew pubs all day and wanted to find a place with some live music at night. Not being too familiar with the area I took to see what I could find online and saw a good few places, but was looking for some rock or country. I was sold on the reviews.
It was about a $20 cab ride there from our hotel in Scarborough. Living in the suburbs of Boston, I like to ride the T when possible. I only like taking taxis back after a night out when you know your gonna get it on, and don't want a long commute to kill the mood, which has happened. We each paid one way, so that was good.
Geno's is cash only, and they do have a ATM there. Â I hate using any ATMs other than Bank Of America due to the fees, Â which would equal the price of a drink most places. Â There was a $5 cover and we went in and went right to the bar. Â
I wanted to blend it at first, the crowd was a mix of hippies, Â hipsters w scarfs, a few I hate the world and my parents and wear ''kill people not dope'' jackets, college kids and a few groupies, Â so I ordered a PBR. Laura got a rum & coke. Â
The set up is pretty neat, you walk in the club and the bar is to the right, a pool table, jukebox and Foosball table to the left, with the stage and seats straight ahead. Â Pretty chill. Not a big place, but a decent intimate size.
We moved to the seating area for the show. Â I had enough beer for the day and went with Three Olives Dude on the rocks, and a few Stoli Raspberry w sprite. The drinks were very strong, Â I can usually put one down in a matter of minutes, so I was impressed. Each drink was around $6.50, pretty good in my book for good vodka. Â The bartender was a nice older woman. Surprised there wasn't a young babe working, but I'd take a strong drink over a hot bartender any day. Â On second thought...
The first band up was very good. It had a lead female singer who was very attractive and had a great voice. The rest of the band was guys in their 30's or 40's it looked like. She belted out a great Alanis Morrisette cover. The band after her, who was the headliner was OK, I was more impressed with the other band. Â But still decent.
Next time I am up in the Portland area, I will be sure to check Geno's out again, Â great spot, and everyone there was great.
I wanna give Geno's 5 stars. I really really do. Geno has got killer line ups (not just a rock club friends), cheap, strong drinks, and the best ladies room in town. In fact, I'd say half the time I go to Geno's I end up spending half the show in the bathroom with some of Portland's raddest ladies. But the sound system is shit, and if the band doesn't know how to work with it, or isn't heavy enough for you to not care, it can be really hard to enjoy the show. Also, it's always too cold or too hot. Some how it's still one of my favorite venues in town. Go figure.
Review Source:This place is not terrible for seeing shows. I saw Bryan MacPherson at Geno's in May of last year. The sound was decent and the staff were nice enough.
If you're disabled like I am, though, you need to plan ahead before going here. The bathroom stalls aren't big enough to fit a wheelchair into. The terraced floors have steps between them, no ramps, so unless you have a friend who is willing to help you get closer to the stage, you have to watch from the very back of the room where the bar and the pool table sit. It gets loud and overcrowded.
My advice, if you live in Portland and like to go to shows, is to pester Geno's about getting accessible or talk to your favorite bands and performers about playing other places in Portland with better facilities. Personally, I recommend The Space Gallery.
This place gets five stars based on the layout of the club and its location. Â Layout: Â The club is built in levels so there's the pit, some steps up to an area with tables, and more steps up to the bar,which is in the same room as the band so you won't miss anything when you go get a beer. There's a good view available from pretty much anywhere due to the terraced levels, and lots of sitting spots on bar stools, at tables, at benches along the wall and even on the steps down to the pit. Â Very comfortable to spend several hours here. Â I only wish other clubs would learn from this, especially in terms of terracing or sloping the viewing area and adding more seats for those of us who can't comfortably stand for 4 hours at a time.
Location: Â The club is located in the "arts district" close to a lot of old book and record shops, cafes, and restaurants so it's easy to get something to eat or kill some time before a show, especially if you came in from out of town. Â There are also hotels and B&B's very close to the club so if you need to stay overnight before heading back to Boston or wherever, you can probably get a room within walking distance, and the neighborhood is OK for walking at 1 in the morning. Â Again, a contrast to the clubs I'm used to which are in the middle of nowhere, have no hotels close by, nothing decent to eat and a ton of shady characters after dark.
Other stuff: Â Beers are under five dollars and feature some nice regional selections. Â Sound was good at the show I saw. Staff were nice, though one guy seemed to be doing all the work.
I truly love this place and have for a long time.
Before it was Geno's it was the infamous Skinny, which ruled tits.
The building was originally a porn theater, therefore it has slanted floors toward the stage that have now been tiered for safety and constant great view from any where in the building.
And the staff here are pure pleasure, they might throw you off at first with their very dry sarcasm but they will convince you of their "awesomeness" when they pour your lovely and inexpensive bevie.
And PBR is always cheap, icy and plentiful here.
Cool little stage, doorstaff and soundguys are awesome as well.
Always great music due the wonderful bookers.
Locals sometimes bitch about this place but they are just taking it for granted, you wont find a great venue like this in a lot of other burgs.
So shut your hole scenesters and enjoy the show!
You won't find a better jukebox in town. Foosball and a bar-sized pool table... and the bathrooms will not make you puke although some of folks you may meet within them might make you puke. ;)
Geno's is a very cool club in Portland that could be comparable in vibe to The Middle East in Boston, but with better use of space ( Geno's is terraced, so you can stand in the back and still be able to see the band). All the key elements of a good punk club are there: pool tables, cheap PBR and sundry other drinks, rock n' roll ephemera on the walls.
The night Boyfriend and I went, we got to see an excellent band called The Pubcrawlers and though the crowd was smallish compared to Boston events, the vibe was very high energy and....nice? Are hipsters nicer and more approachable in Portland? Maybe, just maybe, or maybe that's they type o' crowd Geno's attracts.
There is also an adequately sized dancefloor, so you can pogo or skank with that  motorcycle boot-clad  hottie to your heart's content and not trip over anyone in the process.
Oi!
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