Lincoln Theatre

I'm just going to say it-I like this venue better than Cat's Cradle.  It actually feels like a venue rather than a big room with a bar in the back.  It is the right size for most artists that I want to see and gives it a concert feel with the main floor, places to stand on the sides and a balcony.  I recently saw Shiny Toy Guns et al there and was impressed with the flow, the stage and the ability to get up front without getting some kicks.  The only negative would be the sound system seemed a little wonky at times.  I was in the third row and still couldn't hear part of a few solos so definitely that needs to be addressed.

The bar is hopping but the staff manage to keep things moving and I never had to wait very long to get served.  They only serve beer but pretty good beer at least.  The bathrooms are atrocious but never really a long wait for that either.  Or everyone was holding it.

They have a nice foyer where the bands can put out the memorabilia and often you'll find the after a set so you can say hi. (kicks self for being too shy).

Parking was a snap-large parking structure across the street and easy to find off the interstate if you aren't from Raleigh. Hope to go back again soon.

I gave the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro 5 stars, I think it's mostly due to nostalgia, since most of the memories of my misspent youth were made there.

Now, for the Lincoln.  It's a GREAT venue, what it may lack in my nostalgic eyes, it makes up for in sheer acoustic quality.  I've seen acts as various as Clutch, Hank Williams III, Fiery Furnaces, and Hanzel und Gretyl here, the Lincoln pulls acts that are HUGE in their respective genres, and it's a good sized general-admission venue with, I'll say it again, GREAT acoustics.

If you see that a band you like is playing here, make it a point to go see them, you'll not be sorry.

Recently saw Minus the Bear at Lincoln Theatre; great show, great crowd atmosphere!  The venue itself is pretty relaxed, along with decent prices on beer, accessible/clean bathrooms and stadium seating so getting a good view was easy.  The staff was very cool and seemed to appreciate us being there rather than the usual entitled jerks most places have.  Parking is easy and there are tons of cool places to eat/drink before and after the show.  The bands that they are lining up are much better in quality than in the past.

Two complaints that lead to the 3 stars instead of 5:
The sound was just too loud to endure over 4 hours... not sure why, it's a small place, easy to adjust the pa, maybe they want your ears to ring when you leave, lol!
Secondly, the headliner was supposed to start at 8... they didn't hit the stage until almost 10.  We stood through 2 hours of sucky bands and stage resets when we could have been at a restaurant, bar or at a friends place.  It was a freaking Monday night, ha!  

There are easy fixes if they care...We'll definitely go back for the right band