To make a very long story short, I went to a show here with my husband last week (visiting from the Bay Area specifically to see this band). Â For some reason, we became a target for a group of about eight local guys, who proceeded to harass and tease us throughout the show. Â When one of them approached me from behind and began touching me and tried to grab my breasts, I yelled at him, and the bartender tossed the guy. Â Unfortunately, he would not toss the rest of the guys who had been harassing us and egging each other on to bother us. Â There was no security around and no visible manager to speak to. Â We had to leave the show early.
I had every intention of liking this place, but when staff don't protect women, it becomes a hostile and unsafe environment. Â Never again.
I've been to many, many concerts at this Knitting Factory because... if you live in Reno, you don't have many other options. The Knit is, essentially, the only venue of its size in town; therefore, it is the only venue in town that accommodates the majority of touring bands coming through town.
This venue has some strange design flaws. First, the entrance is actually not on Virginia Street but on the opposite end of the building in Fulton Alley. It's not really a big deal, but it is a little odd and counterintuitive. Second, the venue is rectangle-shaped, which does not allow for sound to carry well to the back of the room, nor does it provide for a good view of the stage unless you are front-and-center. They usually do have video screens projecting the show in other areas of the venue, but that sort of defeats the purpose of being there in the flesh. Still, no matter where you are in the building, the sound quality is often lacking.
When the Knit first opened, the upstairs lounge was the VIP area. Now, that space is for those 21 and older, and the VIP space is located downstairs, stage left. It's not a very good spot and certainly not worth paying extra.
That said, the Knit is a good-sized venue, and it's good to have one in Reno. It's small enough to create an intimate experience with the bands, and it's big enough to accommodate some better-known acts with more theatrical stage productions. The staff and security are also great and attentive.
Since I don't live in Reno (I live in Las Vegas), I didn't know anything about the concert venues up there. I heard a radio commercial & picked up tickets to the Halestorm (preceeded by Eve to Adam & In This Moment) show a couple weeks ago while I was up there. So, for the good & bad...
Venue floorplan is HORRIBLE! It's long and narrow, which means the majority of attendees cannot even get a glimpse of the stage. I know I don't go to concerts to watch it on a tiny little TV screen. The first floor is so crowded that once in the door, it was a bear trying to get to the bar. The bartenders were so rude, too! The Over-21 lounge upstairs looked nice. But, again, good luck trying to see anything. Â I was lucky, though. There was a small group that went together & a couple of them let me wiggle up to the rail so I could see the bands play a few songs. The bar and bartenders up there were great! Not knowing the area, it took me forever to find a place to park. I ended up at a casino parking garage a few blocks away. I wasn't impressed that the entrance was in an alley. But, the will call lady was really nice. I really enjoy the more intimate venues, but this place was not for me.
Both good and bad. Gave it two stars for one reason only. Which will be at the bottom. First the good.
1. Small venue so you will always be able to hear (and if you are tall - see).
2. Bar staff are friendly and attentive.
Now, the bad:
1' Getting good sound is a gamble both with well known bands and local "I've never heard of these guys" bands.
2. Security sucks. They do not enforce the no smoking rule but enforce access like crazy. Do not step outside the venue doors to get fresh air because the entire place is filled with pot and cigarette smoke during that crapy opening band to get a bit of fresh air to breathe because they will not let you back in at all! Yet, they allow all that smoke to happen when it is supposed to be a non-smoking venue. (This behavior happens at all ages shows too mind you. Thanks for getting my kids high!)
3. Next, if you stand right next to the stage be prepared to have drinks and other things (I try not to think about it too much) spilled on you from the top deck railing. (could have been easily fixed with a simple shelf for these people to set drinks on where they could not spill on people below or a second barrier so people could not hang their arms over to spill drinks on people below)
The simple truth is if there is a band coming there that I really want to see, I will go. If they are playing at CommRow or The event center or any of the Reno or Tahoe casinos as well, I will skip the Knitting Factory and see them at the other venues.
Went to a Primus gig here back in March. Great sized venue to see one of my all time favs in a more intimate setting. They got beer, sweat, and smoke a perfect concert combination. Line up moved quick if in need of a drink and they even had an aisle up the left side that waitress used during the show to provide liquids to the thirsty patrons.
Crowd was ok, my only beef was they didnt have a clue what the new album was all about. It seemed whenever Les played new tracks it stopped all the fans in their tracks. Obviously re-living the seas of cheese days.
PS you gotta move around or as my buddy will attest the concrete floor will get ya.
Where to begin with the love for this spot?
How about with the ease of getting tickets for any of the shows? The box office here opens at 6pm, unless otherwise stated. If you need tickets at any other time of the day, night, you can always go across the street to the Cal Neva. They sell Knit tickets 24/7.
The bar staff, are all professionals, and VERY good at what they do. It doesn't matter who's pouring - Cary, Tricia, Dena, Ann Marie, Christy, or Matt - they have you covered. This team remembers faces, and the drinks associated with 'em. Kudos to this team!
If you haven't taken the time to check out the menu The Knit has, you're missing out. I'm not a red meat eater, but I have friends who are. They've had the steaks here, and love them. If meat's not your forte, no worries. They offer salads and many other delectables that are sure to please your palate.
If there's ever a problem, with anything, ask for management. Gary is the GM, Cisco is the Asst. GM. These guys have been in the game for a while and know how to handle many obstacles that come their way. If you choose to put this place on blast on here, WITHOUT going through either of them first, then clearly you've missed out on an opportunity to enjoy the rest of your evening.
This room opened doors on 12/31/2009 and hasn't looked back. They continue to bring top notch, big names through, while offering a very intimate setting. Some of the best shows have had as little as 200 people (Sick Puppies, COLD, and Pendulum) and some shows have been stacked to the gills (Alice in Chains, Social Distortion, Michael Franti, and Skrillex).
If you still haven't been here, it's high time you check out the calendar:
<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fre.knittingfactory.com%2F&s=bfabafd07d68193d4ba03e5599f56c4fe2d49f85d6ca3283300debbfe3af207d" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://re.knittingfactor…</a>
and come see a show!
I had the pleasure of performing here this past weekend at 'Late Night Love' and I'm really impressed by the venue and the sound. Â The DJ booth was dialed in as was the guy on the mixing board. Â It's a great feeling as a performer to just be able to show up and perform, not having to worry whether a sound check was even done, whether everything is hooked up properly, and know that the promoter is passionate about his brand or club night.
The crowd is a mix of young and older (leaning toward young) and the bar staff and security were both very cool. Â Add a splash of professional go-go dancers and concert lighting and you've got a solid club experience.
If you're a fan of house, techno, etc. and are looking for a club night to get wild at, I strongly suggest you check out TheKnit on Saturday nights for 'Late Night Love'.
Reno's best concert venue, although Reno doesn't have many we have been needing a place like this! A kittle tip the downstairs bar gets crowded like crazy so use upstairs if looking to get a quick drink. I have seen performers like 311 in this small venue which only makes the experience better. My friend just went to a concert the other day for social distortion and he said that it was jammed full of people so just be ready to have to push your way to the front if your favorite band is playing here. Also Social Distortion soldout so try to get your tickets early as they do sell out.
Review Source:This is a horrible venue for a concert, unless the band is not well known and only draws a small crowd. I've been to two shows here (Reel Big Fish last year & Social Distortion a few days ago). Reel Big Fish was fine...a fun, bouncy crowd, but The Knit is WAY too small for a band like Social D, and the sound wasn't that great. I've seen them in concert at The Nugget & Grand Sierra, both of which were excellent shows with great sound and plenty of room for the crowd - unlike The Knit. My main complaint is with the security staff - they are incredibly rude and were kicking people out left and right for doing nothing. On the plus side, the bar tenders were very friendly and also generous with the pour - which is a rare thing to find at a concert. Â
Here's what happened to us...The moment the band started, the crowd went crazy. My boyfriend, who had just purchased a drink, was standing toward the back of the crowd because he likes to avoid the mosh pit areas. About 10 seconds into the first song, he was knocked over by a group of men who started charging to the front. He fell, his hat flew off, and suddenly an army of security guards hauled him outside. He had no clue why he was kicked out and the security guards were completely unreasonable when he insisted to know why he was "removed" from the show. As if this wasn't bad enough, they threatened to call the cops on him if he kept questioning why he was kicked out! We have been to hundreds of shows together, and have never seen anything like this. I plan on disputing the ticket charge with Paypal so we can get back the money for his ticket. We will never go back to another concert here.
Previously, I heard stories from acquaintances that the security staff were jerks... one person had been kicked out of a different concert after tripping over one of the humungous garbage cans near the restrooms...another was kicked out after falling onto one of the cattle guards that acts as a partition near the restroom. None of these people were intentionally trying to do anything wrong!! Of course if you do something drastic like start a fight, or act belligerent, you will get kicked out of any venue - but the security staff at this place is composed of insane testosterone junkies who can't wait to bully innocent people. Whatever you do, don't do something dastardly...like trip or fall down. They will act as though you're a high-threat maniacal terrorist.
Im mainly doing this review based on sound quality since there really isnt much to this place except for who is on stage.
Granted, I understand the person mixing the sound is just as res[onsible for sound quality as the band and quality of the PA, but the potential for really good sound is there at the Knitting Factory.
Went to see Portugal the Man. Sound was a little muddled. A friend said the bass was way too heavy.
Their sound could have been more balanced for sure.
They still rocked.
Drinks are expensive.
7 for a beer.
At venues like this, there are no specials unless a corporate sponsor is hosting.
This is one of the WORST venues I've been too and definitely won't be coming back. I came here over the weekend to see Primus and I was so disappointed in both the layout of the place and the people that worked there.
First the security at the door was confused, they took our tickets and then walked back in the place, leaving us outside. When he finally decided to return he actually asked us for our tickets (even though he took them with him). After rummaging through his pockets...tada! He found them and finally let us in.
We were escorted upstairs to the bar & restaurant where we were told they were out of food menus and they would give us one when it came available...so that's when the waiting game began. We waited about 10 minutes for a menu and then it took about 15 minutes for someone to circle back around and take our order. After placing our order it took them over 30 minutes to make one chicken caesar wrap. Once we finally got our food they proceed to "kick us out" because they needed to get the top floor ready for the show - so frustrating!
The night continued to go just as frustrating. The layout of this place is rectangular and very long so if you don't get there early and man your spot, good looking getting a glimpse at the stage. They cram over 1000 people in this small club and if it wasn't for the TV screens people would have missed the show entirely. I feel horrible for about 70% of the people that came to watch the show, there is really no good seat in the house.
Also their security is absolutely horrible, they were constantly rushing through the crowds to stop people from smoking or taking pictures. When they weren't shoving you to get through they were shining a flashlight in your eyes. We also had security shove us out of the way so he could stand in front of us and take video himself of the band that was playing. They are so unprofessional and rude.
If you plan on going to see a show here, I wouldn't recommend it especially if there's going to be a lot of people and a sold-out show because chances are you won't see anything. And I'm serious when I say it that only about 30% of the ticket holders could see anything, the rest of us were just standing around watching the TV screens. This place is super lame and I won't ever be back.
I really enjoyed this venue on my first visit here! I wasn't sure what to expect. Â It's definitely understated and a little edgy, which is part of it's charm. The atmosphere is raw & trendy, but intimate. Â Nothing fancy, but adequate. Â But, I have to say the acoustics are fantastic! Much better than the Reno Events Center. Â At least from where I was sitting it sounded amazing!
They have a wide range of shows and artists that appeal to a variety of tastes at decent ticket prices. Â You only have 2 choices for most shows as far as what type of ticket you get. Â You either stand on floor, or buy a ticket to a small "box seat" area off to one side of the stage. Â The chairs are not comfortable and they are very close together. Â
The cocktails are a bit on the pricey side for what you get in a plastic cup. Â The staff is very friendly and security was adequate for this downtown location. I will definitely be seeing more shows here.
This place rocks! Â Literally! Â I drove to Reno for the night to catch Chromeo put on an awesome show, and I wasn't disappointed! Â The girl at the front who handled the tickets was RIDICULOUSLY rude and literally rolled her eyes at us, but I wasn't going to let some girl on a power trip ruin my fun night, so we continued inside. Â The bottom floor seems to be crowded with the under 21 crowd, but upstairs holds the key to the best "seat" in the house! Â Definitely head up there for a good time. Â Besides the ticket chick, the only other negative was that I spent $50 bucks on 4 drinks of which 3 were doubles. Â But still, that's pretty expensive! Â I can't wait to head up the hill and check out another show again soon!
Review Source:The Knitting Factory is one of the only venues in the Reno-Tahoe area that consistently brings great shows for a reasonable price. Â As a result, I'm willing to come time and time again to get my music fix. Â
While the venue itself is a bit awkward (think long and narrow), the sound is killer and the staff, particularly Trisha, are amazing. Â She handles huge crowds with grace, patience and swiftness. Â Even better, she remembers what order the folks who walk up to the bar came in and she takes their drinks in order, so no one feels like they've been edged out or waited unfairly forever.
I hear good and bad about this venue, but the fact is that I love that we have a real concert house in town that affords us the ability to see a level of entertainment that normally wouldn't be stopping in Reno. I don't know as much about sound as some of the others around here, but when I go to a show I like to hear and feel it, and I always get both at the Knit. From the first show I saw there (The Roots), and the last one I made it to (Awolnation), I am always satisfied when I leave.
Review Source:My ex had a major issue with ticket counter. Â They took cash for two, but only gave us one ticket to an MMA event. Â The woman at the ticket counter may have just pocketed the money. Â Shady badness, that.
It was unclear what all of the pieces of paper my ex received meant. Â Only kind security rectified it when my ex threw a fit explaining that she had paid for two tickets, but wasn't only given one.
The entrance is around the corner on Virginia, sort of down this alley which is a bit odd, but there is quite a bit of seating so it's fairly clear what is happening if you go to some event.
The interior of the venue was set up well for the MMA event. Â The painted black largely steel surfaced, stair handrail and general style made for a good MMA event. Â While it was a little hard to see the people in the cage (as the cage was in the way, other heads were in the way and it was raised off of the floor level), there were screens to make it easier to see. Â Fighters entered through the crowd via an aisle set up and maintained well by security that let you sit near the aisle or stand near it for general admission, but made sure there was room for the fighters to enter easily.
I guess that's actually two really good marks for the security staff. Â Unusual.
After the event there was a chance to mingle with the fighters and get some drink on too.
Bathroom was upstairs, bar to the right side after entering.
The place doesn't seem to have great acoustics being a longish metal-feeling box, but it might surprise me for a concert if I go there.
The MMA experience there is good and I can't speak to other events, but it has a rough, hardcore edge during MMA events that's quite fitting.
Be wary of the what may be a thief at the ticket counter, assuming she didn't yet run away with many people's hard-earned money.
We bought our tickets for a show ahead of time, and not having ever been to this venue, we decided to spend the extra money for "reserved seating." We were incredibly disappointed to arrive and see the area designated for us. It's a small seated stage behind the crowd, off to the side. You can barely see the stage from the seats. We ended up getting great spots standing close to the stage and didn't even sit down. DON'T waste your money on the reserved seating, it's not worth the extra price!!! There is also a balcony upstairs that looked like a nice place to watch, but you'd have to claim your spot early.
This isn't the venue's fault - but a lot of the concert goers were really rude. Lots of people shoving their way to the front when the rest of us had been standing for hours for our prime viewing spots.
I would have given this place two stars, but the bar earned it an extra. The staff were really friendly and we were grateful to see a food menu after standing in line for two hours, and the food was actually really yummy, but a bit overprice of course.
I would probably rethink seeing another show here if given the opportunity.
This is an excellent Concert Venue! While celebrating my Niece, Tawny, on her 17th Birthday, we went to a show at The Knitting Factory. It was the best live show I have attended in awhile. Not only were all 4 bands great (thank you for a great line up goes to the nightclub), but the venue was great too.
My Sister and I needed seats, as she is a temporary crip, and I am permanently crippled (they call it "disabled" LOL). So, they gave us special wristbands, and seats in the VIP section. This made it possible for us not only to tag along with the teenagers, but to thoroughly enjoy a killer Rock show.
I plan to keep track of the show schedule, and return to Rock out again. It reminds me of when I was in my 20's & 30's and used to hang out often in the San Francisco Bay Area LIVE music scene. VERY COOL!
Thank you to The Knitting Factory for booking great tours and acts, and for taking good care of the Artists, too. They all enjoyed playing the venue, and thats important, it allows them to give us Fans a great show. Touring can be rough, so its nice to be taken care of when you are on the road.
After the bands played, they had a "meet the bands" area. It was so exciting for the teens (and us die hard Rockers) to not only buy a CD to support the band, but to get it Autographed, and to get to thank the Artists for a great show.
I'm giving them an extra star because we showed up for the Johnny Cash tribute show on the wrong day, and the staff were very nice to us even though we were in line and knew something was really wrong when we were the only ones not wearing nose piercings, eyebrow piercings, tats covering our necks, or baggy jeans barely covering our ass cracks. "Sweetie, tonight's a heavy metal show - your show's tomorrow night!" Â
We came back the next day, the same staff kidded us about our mistake and welcomed us back.
Not a sold-out show, so there was plenty of room to enjoy the venue. Â Great that it was no-smoking (says someone who just quit six months ago), drinks were delivered to us fast and furiously, and we loved having so many TV screens to watch the guys up on the stage when we felt like kicking back at a table in the back instead of getting accidentally stomped on by drunk dancers up front.
I have to say I was a bit nervous, having heard someone had been shot in the alley the previous week, but security seemed to be in full force and the crowd seemed to behave themselves.
This is one of the nicest concert venues I have ever been to. Â Overall it is clean and spacious and well organized, but there are two things that really made my experience here exceptional:
1) A cocktail waitress walks down in front of the stage, taking orders from those up against the rail, so that they don't have to lose their spot to get a drink. Â (Even during the show!) Â I cannot tell you how wonderful this was...I felt totally pampered.
2) Â The drinks that said cocktail waitress brought back were nice and strong...something I never, ever expected in a concert venue.
I will gladly return to Knitting Factory as soon as there is another show I'd like to see.
I was not a big fan of our concert experience here. Â It's extremely small and there were way too many people allowed in. Â They are asking for a disaster with so many people cramped into an area with only three exits. Â The design does not give you an area to get relief from the crowd. Â The concert goers were extremely rude. Â I have seen Flogging Molly in concert almost ten times in different venues and this was the worst experience I have had. Â I will not be driving two hours to come to this venue again.
Review Source:Holy melts in your mouth chicken!!! Seriuosly?? Â At a music venue? I was suprised! Let me start of by saying---Love this place!!! Even with the sometimes shitty selctions of music (Swayze? Pa-lease! Lamest choice ever). But to make up for the crap, they come in with some big names. Flogging Molly, Rob Zombie and Danzig???? Some of the best ever names to go see, and I drive here from somewhere else just to enjoy the venue and the crowd...
  But I noticed that even though the sign out front advertizes food,  there were no reviews on their food. I was glad for the sign to let me know, cause I was running late, and had some free tix. I came up here to take my best friend out since she just moved here. ANd we were hungry so decided to just eat at the show.
  We both ordered the chicken sandwich. No mayo and no bacon. (Bikini season soon, you know). I asked for a bottel of mustard to go with my what I expected to be dry sandwich. NO IT WAS NOT!!!!! That was seriously the best, plain chicken sammich, well ever!. The chef must have brined the chicken or something, cause that soft, moist and FLAVORFUL peice of meat (with swiss cheese) carried the whole dish! I didn't need any condiments or anything! I probably sound like some mental patient going on aout the chicken, but that is seriously how shocked I was. I am so excited to go back and try some other tasties on the menu. Like the Chicken Ceasar wrap, or a burger. Probably the cicken ceasar wrap. Follow up review to come...
The Knitting Factory is legit as far as I'm concerned. Â Went to see the Gabba Gabba Heys last night, and they were pretty decent. Â I'm guessing this is an all ages venue, judging by the fact that there were little kids in the mosh pit. Â It has concrete floors, so if you're all old and have back problems get the reserved seats. Â I wouldn't recommend them otherwise, as they seem to be in a crappy location, and you pay over double regular admission price. Â The bar is pretty standard, overpriced beers and all (six bucks for one Newcastle?). Â One handy feature is the coat check, just bring a couple bucks and they will hang your business up. Â Overall, a great venue with better sound than the GSR theater.
Review Source:I went there with a friend two weekends ago to see a psychic. I think her name was Terri Jay...sorry, my memory, it's not so good. Â It was a 2:00 pm show on a Sunday afternoon. We had a lot of fun! The psychic was OK. I didn't go in expecting much, but it was a different way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
They have a full bar, which was nice. The bartender was young and I got the impression he was just learning the trade, but he was very nice. We ordered some cheese fries to snack on during the show. They arrived ice-cold. We sent them back and the waitress was very apologetic about it, almost embarassed. She was nice and attentive, too. She brought us some hot fires, and they were quite tasty.
I volunteered to go on stage to talk with the psychic, and she invited me to sit down on some chairs that were set up on stage. I felt like I needed to spray them with something first. They were dirty and stained, but oh well, I had jeans on, so really, I don't think I could catch much from sitting on the chairs, Â hee.
I am a super big fan of this place. Big bar helps you get drinks quick. Staff is pretty damn friendly. The upstairs bar is also huge and allows for a great bird's eye view of the stage if you can get a spot early. Bathrooms are clean, place smells great everytime a band starts. Do they pump aroma's into the air? Also, very cool location, I love entering through the back alley. It gives it a speakeasy feeling, like you know something others dont.
Review Source:Downtown location is very convenient. Â Close to casinos, parking, etc. Â
Venue is pretty tiny, gives a really cool club vibe (2 levels). Â Upstairs is a 21 & over club. Â Not good view if you want to see the stage unless you get there early and belly up to the railing. Â Otherwise, upstairs is great if you want to drink cocktails and watch the show from a flat screen.
Downstairs gets pretty packed. Â If you can afford the extra $$ to get in the reserved seats, I recommend it. Â That section is tiny, about 10 rows of 3 seats and to the right of the stage. Â You do get wait staff service in those seats. Â
Overall, great show and I would go back there again.
I loved this place. Only a hop skip and a jump away from the Silver Legacy/Circus Circus/El Dorado compound. It puts this place centrally located in down town Reno. Aroud the corner from The Nugget so you'll have a pre/post game place.
It was A LOT larger than I expected. I envisioned somwthing that would resemble a factory that made textiles complete with looms. That's not practical for a music joint. Â A long room with high ceilings. It didn't make for the best acoustics but it was still decent. They have a full bar equipped with cheap beer like the rest it Reno. Friendly staff that have a heavy pouring hand.
The only problem I saw was the choke point behind the sound board. A lot of people in the way when you need to find the stairwell to the downstairs restroom.
I will return, soon hopefully.
Taken by complete surprise at how good this place was. Location was within a stones throw (people still use that expression right?) form the casinos, all the staff were awesome and it wasn't overcrowded for a very popular show we went to. Drinks were also super cheap which is a nice change from how many music venues corner you once you're inside. $4 for High Life tall cans is A-ok with me.
Acoustics left something to be desired but it would be hard to adjust that with a narrow space that fans out, it's science! And having the bathrooms downstairs is great but the small stairway with dim lighting seemed like a recipe for me to bust my ass a couple of times. Â
Overall all, I'd go there for any show and judging by the caliber of artists they get, I'll be back soon.
Finally went to see my first show here last night. Â I had tickets for one of my favorite bands, Reel Big Fish, in January, but ended up having to travel for work. Â I went last night, since RBF was in town again, and relived part of my youth, skanking, moshing, and singing along,
I was impressed with the venue - smaller than I expected, but well laid out. Â A huge bar in the entry area, where the merch booth and some tables were set up. Â Sound board was near the middle of the room. Â Stage seemed a little small for a club venue - looked like there were maybe 20 people across up front. Â
The upstairs 21+ balcony is impressive, as it puts you almost on top of the stage.
Security seemed pretty decent - minor pat down going in, and when there was an unruly guy in the pit, they were pretty quick to get him out of there. Â Signs say no crowd surfing, but there were at least a dozen who went up, and it looked like a simple pull them down when they get to the edge, and send them back out to the back.
The only draw back I had was I had a Bud Light downstairs and was charged 5, and then went and had one later upstairs, where I handed the bartender a 10. Â She came back with 4 singles. Â Not sure if she miscounted or what.
Overall, fun, intimate, club venue.
I was given free tickets here to see The Reagan Years and Authmentis, and it was great! Both bands kicked ass,and I had a great time.
The only thing that sucks is that the parking is non-existant  AND the alley where the entrance is always smells of urine and cheeseburgers. But if you are into that sort of thing, huzzah!
Seriously though, inside the venue is awesome, plenty of space and upstairs you can see the band with ease.
I've been here twice~ once for AFI and once for Sublime. Â My biggest problem was finding a place to park! Â We ended up parking across the river and walking for AFI. Â For Sublime, we valet parked at one of the hotels nearby. Â It was difficult to order at the bar due to the noise, but the bartenders were friendly to me. Â One of the women delivering drinks to someone in the crowd had an entire tray of beers spilled on her during Sublime and seemed to take it well... Â I imagine that happens frequently with how crowded the place gets. Â The sound quality was great, and we could see the stage pretty well. Â I do wish the layout was slightly different; it's really long, but not very wide~ you're pretty far from the stage if you're not squished in the crowd. Â There is an upstairs bar, and you can see the stage from there.
Review Source:In the latest stop in my 2010 BLACKOUT BRIGADE West Coast Tour brought me to The Knitting Factory to see Dirty Heads. Â I heard Sublime w/ Rome was going to be there to, but whatever. Â
First, will call tickets should be this easy and fast to pick-up everywhere. Â These people had it down to a science. Â Bought online, picked up in 3 minutes with a fatty line. Â Freakin' awesome. Â I also dug that this back alley is the entrance; it really set the mood for the night. Â
The sound quality was above average. Â I appreciated that it was loud, but not to the point that communication was impossible. Â It was just right. Â The balcony also allowed a totally different perspective on the festivities and had it's own bar that wasn't nearly as crowded. Â
Speaking of the bar: Â $4 tallboys of Miller High Life!! Ummm...4 please!! Â Why 4? Â Quad-fisting is an under appreciated art. Â Stack two beers and crack the top one. Â Then, grab the middle of your new Tower O' Beer and begin drinking. Â When one is finished, it is jettisoned, but WAIT! There is anther beer STILL IN YOUR HAND! Â How awesome is that! Â And as you "quad fist" that same joy is just waiting in the other hand as well. Â
Watching a kick ass dub-rock show, chatting it up with cool locals, and an all around great time was had by all.
ok so i just saw sublime with rome last night  (4/24/10) and it was simply AMAZING! best show i have ever been too!
as for the venue it has its ups and downs.
1. parking - goodluck!
2. entry- its in the back in an alley, which i like! its different and unique plus if it were in the front i think crowds would be a problem for Virginia street. also if your planning on bringing your pistol, shot gun, or machete.. you can forget about it! they wand you at the door. also it would make the line go by a hell of alot faster if you took your cell phones, keys and hand grenades out before you get to the door to be wanned.
3.will call/ticket sales- ive never acctually bought tickets at the door, we bought ours online (suggested) and the will call was fast and easy.
4.entrance- when you get to the front youll need your ticket and ID. if you are 21 (yay!) you get this nifty lil white and orange bracelet allowing you into the 21 and up areas! if you are not (boo) you get two XX on your hands.. also the two ladies checking ID's in the front, weren't very nice and I'm pretty sure they hate their jobs..
5. first floor- after you get through the front doors you are in this long room, to your right there is an outdoor smoking section, an atm ($3 fee) and some tables and chairs. to your left there are two stair cases leading to the 21 and up bar/lounge and restrooms, a place to buy shirts and cds and the sound guy. as you continue onward there is a long bar to your right with about 5-6 bartenders. then you get to the back of the front area, and to your right there is the "VIP" section which should probably be renamed the "sucker section" cause these tickets are expensive and all you get is a fold out chair in the far right of the venue. not worth it in my opinion.. then you get to the front of the stage! its a big area but gets crowded fast! but no matter where your standing on the first floor you usually have a good view of the stage.
6.21 and up bar and lounge- if you take any of the two stair cases up to  the 21 and up area you will find a large square bar surrounded by tables and benches and even a few chairs. there is a ledge to view the band but is very small and if you're planning on watching the band from up there get there early and don't plan on leaving that spot for any reason! cause your spot will not be there when you get back.. i love that it has a place to get away from all the kids but one of the perks is that they have food! a lil pricey ($10 for a cheeseburger and $6 for fries) but a nice touch none the less.. but the lounge is the place to be in-between sets. And if you don't have a bracelet don't even try to go upstairs, cause they have two bouncers that actually check!
7. bars- they have two very well manned bars (or so i thought) but in-between sets these bars are packed! so if you're going to be buying drinks i suggest you either get it before the show starts or during a performance. i had a blue moon ($6) and a rum and coke ($6) and my fiance had a sex on the beach ($6) not bad compared to other places in town. and could i just say one thing, if you're at the bar and you're buying a drink, and you get your drink and you pay for it.. PLEASE leave the bar! the 20 people behind you are not standing there to see if you like your drink or not...I can't tell you how many times someone would get a drink and then stand there OR... they try to strike up a convo with the super busy bartenders... just get your drink and walk away...
8. restrooms- I'm not sure if they have any restrooms downstairs for the kids.. but up stairs in the 21 and up section there are the cleanest largest restrooms you have ever seen in a venue.. but beware if you go in-between sets be prepared to wait in line..
9. all ages- ok so I'm going to be blunt.. if you are an over protective, shield your child from the world kind of a parent DO NOT ALLOW YOUR CHILD TO GO TO THIS VENUE UN SUPERVISED!! there are two bars, people will be drinking! girls will be wearing little more then underwear, and guys will be being guys! in every show I've been to there was profanity.. and when the bartenders are busy I'm pretty sure they are not checking for bracelets, soo odds are if your teenager looks the part he/she could probably buy alcohol here! they also have this 7 foot tall bouncer that keeps an eagle eye on the crowd and keeps everyone from getting rowdy keeping it an over all safe environment. so keep all of that in mind..
10. conclusion- this venue is AMAZING! especially if you had to go through the horrors of the new oasis, then this place is heaven! the staff was great! Â but this place is a lil small and parking is not readily available! the previous reviews below me do not do this place justice! the sound quality here is great! and the line up is pretty good to! Â reasonable drink prices, food and clean restrooms! what more could you ask for in a venue to enjoy your favorite bands! I'm really glad to have a venue like this in reno.
The best thing about the Knitting Factory is the shows it's bringing to Reno.
The sound is mediocre. It seems to be hit or miss. So there's a chance that you'll leave disappointed when the band you thought you liked sounds like crap.
It's easy to get up front if you like to be close to the stage but beware, if you're forward of the balcony you will get showered with alcohol.
Knittingfactory Reno Feb 9 at 4:43pm--Hello Angela, We noticed your comment on our Facebook page. Please send us your email address so we can get back to you regarding the matter. Thanks very much!Knitting Factory Reno
ME Feb 9 at 6:25p--Thank you for contacting me. my email is (address removed)@sbcglobal.net
STILL NO WORD
A lot of hype about the Knitting Factory has been circling around. Â This makes sense since there are rarely new music venues in lil Reno and the quality of the acts KF is bringing through. Â This is definitely a big win for Reno and a needed addition to its choppy music scene.
With this in mind, I was stoked to check out the place for the Slightly Stoopid show. Â It passed the two most critical tests - proximity and ease of getting to the bar and bathroom. Â If you're one of those who has to be up front and center, you won't agree with that assessment. Â
There were a couple of annoying things about KF. Â First, the sound was pretty bad. Â Everything was drowned out and sloppy. Â It seemed like things got better as the show went on and the soundboard folks got things dialed in. Â But in looking around, all the surfaces are hard and there is nothing to absorb sound inside. Â They really need some padding to crispen the ear candy. Â Second, the crowd was the youngest I've seen at any recent show. Â Perhaps I've officially reached grandpa status or it might have been the band's typical audience but it certainly looked like a UNR recess. Â Third, the VIP seating downstairs is silly. Â Those crappy airport screening line ropes are all that separate the section and people were cramming through and getting chased around by security. Â What's the point?
All in all, I'm sooo glad KF is here and bringing some new blood to the night scene. Â It doesn't measure up to a Fillmore or Fox Theater but I guess it's probably not supposed to.
Awesome place to see a show! It's the smallest venue I have ever been to but was great. You get up close with the band which is kick ass!
We didn't get drinks for some reason. They did have cocktail servers walking around which is cool.
The bathrooms are down a long narrow stairway which I am sure can cause drunk people to fall up or down.
The three draw backs:
1. the entrance is down an alley
2. No chairs I like to stand for a concert but like the option to sit during lame ass opening bands.
3. Parking. Now I am new to Reno so maybe we could have parked closer. We parked at Harrahs so it's not a far walk but we had to walk by some very very shady people.
All in all it was a great place to see a show! Next time we will try to get one of the few seats I am told are upstairs.
Review based on Grand Opening show: The Roots.
Pluses
-location
-21 and up bar upstairs
-Jager cart on main floor
-upcoming shows
-kitchen stays open
Minuses
- Ticket Booth + Will Call in one window = slow ticket lines
- Moving cars in Fulton Alley next to entrance
- Sound guys getting slammed by Black Thought throughout the show
The entrance is in the alley. Don't bother trying to enter on Virginia.
Overall, I expected certain logistic problems dealing with a new location, but I didn't expect the technical difficulties from an experienced venue. I love the VIP/21 and up loung upstairs.
As far as the show? I don't think Reno was ready for the Roots and Vice Versa. Hip Hop pioneers and Reno don't really belong together. Its like Rap and Country. Sure, separately they're great, but Country + Rap = CRAP. It felt like the Sparks Farmer's Market. The majority of the crowd was there just for the scene. Â
On a side note, quest love said during an awkward intentional pause in the performance that in his 17 yrs of live performances, this was the wierdest show ever. Laughter among the band memebers followed as they had all agreed. After the show, he signed a drum pad that said, "I hope 2010 is better than this show" and tossed in the crowd.
Anyway, next show for me: Reel Big Fish.
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