This place is run down & kinda trashy, but it has a special place in my heart. Â I just like the "real people" feel to it, even if (contradicting, I know) it has a lot of the hipster nonsense associated with it. Â There are a lot of good acts that come through and reasonable ticket prices in a small venue. Â I saw Deerhoof here a few years ago--great concert for $20 or so. Â I missed Smashing Pumpkins coming through...*sad*. Â I got to play a show here a few years back and thought it was a good experience. Â Overall, pretty cool.
Review Source:EXCELLENT CONCERT VENUE! Very small and intimate concert venue. Can watch great acts here and meet the artists in the back. There is artwork all along the walls and I love it. Very divey bar esque but for a $10 ticket, nothing beats it. I highly recommend this place especially if you like small shows.
Not much food or drink options in the venue.
Street and garage parking only.
A good venue, but a dry one--don't you dare bring in a blunt, they will find you, and yes, they will take your blunt (even if you just started chiefing it). Â They are pretty much smoke nazis here, the security guards look for any traces of smoke and will trace it back to your exhaling mouth with their flashlights.
That said, there are still some good shows that come to the Phoenix. Â I saw Andre Nickatina and Yukmouth here in January, which was rad. Â The only bummer was that all the rappers got to smoke a shit ton of blunts and joints on stage, yet no one in the audience was allowed to. (note: sorry if I sound butthurt about the blunt thing)
There are no actual seats, so wear shoes that aren't going to wreck your feet-- chances are you will be standing for quite a while. Â If you are short, make the best of it and try to get closer to the stage so you can get some good views. Â The sound is pretty good, and it's a fun place for the underage crowd. Â Sometimes the shows aren't super crowded, making the experience even more intimate/awkward. Â It's grimey, but hey, it's got character.
They do search you pretty darn well before you can enter, so keep that in mind before you bring in anything that might be confiscated or taken away...
My last time at The Phoenix I saw PRIMUS live! Epic show. This venue rocks. Back in the day this was a great movie theatre - I used to go to the movies here when I was a kid - the last movie I can remember seeing here was one of the Star Wars films. The Phoenix is a good, smallish, live music venue now. Good times here, with a good peaceful fun loving crowd.
Review Source:I've been coming to shows here for-damn near-ever and it's still one of my favorite venues. I can't remember how many shows I've seen here but there isn't a bad "seat" in the house. The sound is always good I've found, it's a nice, intimate venue to get close to the band real easy. Max capacity of 800 so if it's a band that you're thinking about seeing either here or the Great American Music Hall, see em at the Phoenix cuz you'll get right up close.
This is a dry venue, you've been warned. Most shows I've been to allow ins-n-outs so you can run across the street to Volpi's and get a shot & a beer in the speakeasy (a must-do regardless) between sets.
During the day the Phoenix is a place for kids to hang out and, at one time, ride the half-pipe. I busted my ass on that thing a bunch of times in a previous life, it was sad when they made Tom take the ramps down. I've talked to many people about the rumors of the Phoenix being haunted and I've heard people adamantly say "yes" and "no". Who knows for sure? It's definitely a cool place with its own energy regardless. You gotta check it out if you've ever been a fan of punk music.
Completely forgot about this place, since it is nearly 400miles away from my house.
I caught Tsunami Bombs last concert here with my cousins in what was suppose to be a turn around trip and ended up being a overnight stay up in norcal.
It was pure fun!
We arrived early to the concert and decided to walk around the neighborhood. Walking around I realized this was a small sleepy town which is famous for producing Miss Winona Ryder herself! *fun fact!*
Fast forward to the concert starting up in what used to be an condemned theater with graffiti everywhere and skateboarding ramps lined up against the walls.
From what I could remember is the mosh pit that a guy with a broken foot jumped into, my deafness after the concert that lasted a day and a half, lots of sweat, and Tsunami Bombs last farewell!
Good times, Good times
My fiance' used to go to this palce alot "back in the day" so when we found out a band we like was playing there, he was really excited to go. Yes it was a long drive from where we live but we dont mind going far for great music. We get there and it's a dump! I know these days we have to be lucky that there are even small venues open, but jeeze can you guys at least clean the bathrooms once in while. they where gross and there wasn't any soap. For a place that looked as grody as this one make sure to bring hand sanitizer. The only reason i gave it 3 stars and its saving grace was becuase we got to see a few great bands for 10 bucks and the sound quality is actualy good for a venue that looks like this.
Review Source:Saw Against Me! here, and was pretty stoked to see them at a small venue.
Overall, the place is cool. reminds me of the Gilman but a bit bigger. I was definitely overcome with the fear that the place might catch on fire and I would be trapped with a lot of sweaty 18 year olds, but thats part of the fun right?
And yes, its all ages and they dont serve booze so keep that in mind, if you're over 21 you're going to feel like you're seeing a show on sesame st!
But hey, no complaints. The sound was good and the show was amazing!
Great local venue with history, charm, and good acoustics. Â Plus, some really good bands come to this small theater. Â This review is for the Young Liver, Flatliners, and Against Me! show.
General Info
No bar
The floor is standing room only, but the balcony has open seating. Â
No bar
Street parking only
No bar
No in and out privileges
Did I mention no bar?
I know, I know, this is a safe place for kids. Â But there were so many teens getting drunk in the alley outside of the theater, you have to wonder if this policy really deters the behavior? Â They should get a liquor license and make some extra revenue! Â There are plenty of great places around the theater to drink before a show if you are of legal age. Â
The venue is intimate, which is cool. Â The place needs a good scrub, but I guess that adds to the charm. Â Solid venue, well worth the drive.
When I think Phoenix Theater I think ravers, glowsticks, trance music  and skateboard ramps.
I went to some of my earliest raves at the Phoenix...back around 2000-2001 when raving was popular but not quite as mainstream as it is today.
I couldnt believe at the time that I was going to Petaluma for a rave. Â You don't usually think of Petaluma as a rave town...you know its up there with Vallejo and Tracy when it comes to that stuff...
Many Harmony and Electric Nerve parties later I really do think it was one of the better spots for our all-night parties. Â The security was SUPER strict...I remember them spending extra time searching people to make sure that the party was a safe one. Â You could listen to one type of music in the little front room and then go up to the balcony to check out the crowd in the main room and then go wade through hundreds of people on the main dance floor. Â And if you felt like it you could run up the skateboard ramps and sit on the top...kinda hard to do if you were in colorful fuzzy pants. Â I remember these obnoxious signs on the wall waring about selling GHB...really? Â Who takes GHB at a rave? Â Get with the program people...
There was many a night when you could find me on one of the couches in what we considered the "chill room" to the right of the main stage...seriously the Phoenix has a special place in my heart when I think back to my early rave days. Â
I remember the Petaluma Police Department gave us a hard time all the time. I guess they probably knew what was really going on inside...lol.
:0)
Came here to see the Pumpkins! This is a pretty cool little theater. Â You get that really nice, intimate feeling with the concerts here because it's so small :-) Â The staff was friendly, however I do think they could have handled the will-call/ticket lines differently *sigh* But the show was great and I had a good time!
Review Source:Tom Gaffey has been hosting and watching out for teenagers at the Phoenix Theater for over 20 years. I was a college student when I lived in Petaluma in the '80s. I remember lots of talk about drugs and alcohol at the Phoenix and it came close to being shut down many times. However, the talk was out of fear and misunderstanding, not validity. A good thing doesn't end easily and I'm so gratified to see it has not only survived but appears to be flourishing. The community of Petaluma should support and be grateful for Tom Gaffey and the Phoenix.
Review Source:This place is legendary. I think during the daytime it's a place for kids to hang out, but the rock shows here are to die for. It looks like shit, but you gotta know the stories about the shows at this place. I got to come here in January to see my favorite band AFI make their first return here in 9 years.
Such a great spot for a great punk show that you won't find anywhere else around here. As the quoted description on their web site says, it is the "last legitimate rock venue in the North Bay."
Great bands such as The Ramones, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, The Distillers, and Sublime have played great shows here..
Long live the "days of the phoenix"!!!!!
Oh days of the phonix, well back in my day lol it was dirty, eventful and always had a buddy working the door. Tom G is the man though for sticking behind this place for so many years. Without him and this place i believe a lot more random acts of crime and or other things may have occured around town. Â Its also pretty sweet that once in a blue moon you can catch a big act here in a small venue area.
Review Source:I love this club and happily drive from Sacramento to come to shows here as often as I can. The sound is pretty decent, there is a lot of space, and backstage is always fun. They consistantly book great line-ups with bands you don't normally get to see, and the stage is huge so the bands are really able to give the audience a great show. The Phenomenauts and Epoxies are some of my favorite bands to see here.
The one drawback is the bathroom. $12-$15 cover for shows and you can't keep toilet paper stocked and can't buy paper towels or soap? Come the fuck on!
Although I haven't been to many shows here in recent years, this place is always going to have a special place in my heart. It's dirty, drunk underagers puke in the bathrooms, there is never any toilet paper, it's loud, it's stunky. BUT... as other Yelpers have mentioned this is truly one of the last places in the North Bay that kids can come and be who they are and have a great time without their parents worrying. Good shows do come here periodically which is awesome. We saw Too Short about this time last year which was actually pretty fun. Cheers to the Phoenix! Keep this place alive and going forever!
Review Source:Want to see a good live garage band at a good price? Come here. It has skate ramps, a second floor, couches. You name it. It is the perfect place for a local theater.
Some of the crowd you may not get along with, but it shouldn't be a bother if you go with friends.
Sometimes even big names perform here. Oddly Hilary Duff even has.
Note: This is as good as it gets for kids under 18 in Petaluma that aren't involved in a lot of extracurricular activities.
That being said it was always my goal as a 15 year old to go here. But my mom was skeptical. A lot of her clients hung out here (she was a LCSW for the county) and so she heard there were a lot of drugs, alcohol and the like being passed around. Sure it was a bastion for kids who had nothing better to do but skateboard and look like they were punks. But whatever! I wanted to ROCK!
I believe my first visit here was to be indoctrinated into the wonderful world of RHPS. That's right bitches, this is where I lost my VIRGINITY! And it was a great show. It was also the second to last show of Indecent Exposure and their Frank who had been performing for more than 15 years. Every other show I'm seen doesn't even compare, including the ones I've been in. But trust that when I am on that stage, it is only a hope that I can be as good as them. There is something truly awe inspiring about well done camp.
From then on, I went with fair regularity seeing friends shows and supporting the local garage band seen until all my friends moved, dropped out or GEDed out. Why did I stop when they left? Well all my other friends had extracurricular activities. They also had parents that went out of town and had well stocked liquor cabinets.
The Phoenix is everything you want wrapped in a dirty, grimey Punk atmosphere.
You know, they say that this was the last place that Perfect Bradley from Sublime played before his fatal overdose. That story alone would be enough to bring any music slave into this dive.
It truly IS a dive - no seats, no red carpet, you walk in and ponder if you should have brought YOUR skateboard too, it's your Last Punk Outlet and holds true to it's roots.
Bands break out here, die here and breathe here. The Phoenix is an institution and I am happy to support it's every fiber. Rock the fuck on Motha Fuckers.
What can you say about this place? It's a shithole. Always has been. Always will be. But I spent most of my teen years migrating to shows here on the weekends, and later playing a handful of shows with some different bands. The sound system is surprisingly great, if you've got the right guy helming the soundboard.
The place is a rotting decrepit pit is often taken over by a bunch of derelict skate punks and is run by a half-crazy cab driver. But for those who grew up around hold a special little spot in the bowels of our heart for The Ol' Phoenix Theater.
I used to spend so much time here.
Smoking cigs. Â Watching shows. Â Just sitting out front. Â Jaxon (my other dog) and I would hang out front and he would attack the skaters shoes.
I saw so many good shows here, and so many bad shows. Â
Lots of clique-i-ness and drama...a few fights...met my first boyfriends here. Â
When you're all alone upstairs it's kinda very creepy. Â Backstage is cool. Â The basement is freaky. Â They got skate ramps...and a drinking fountain with some of the coldest water around.
This place is fucking rad. Â I have seen some AWESOME shows here, and was even able to go backstage and meet deerhoof because my best friend's husband works security. Â NIIIICE. Â
The sound has always been good, the bands are good, the crowd is good, and there are skate ramps everywhere that you can sit on and watch the show.
It's also easy to sneak in booze here. Â And there is always some local rock star hanging out whom Natalye S usually seems to know. Â
Good times at the Phoenix
november 24, 1995. i played my first show here at the phoenix. on the bill was, me n mark, skillet, caffeine, and the wobblies. my old band 26 mph opened, i had just turned 15 and it was the greatest night of my life.
before then i almost lived here. not everyday like a lot of kids back then but between 1994 and 1997 i was there almost every weekend. didn't matter who was playing back then, although 90% of the time it was ska, but a couple hundred kids would show up to almost anything.
and then there's Tom Gaffy, the greatest thing that ever happened to the angst ridden youth of the area. his kindness and dedication to keeping music alive helped so many like me. he fought off countless attempts to shut down the place by various organizations. i've actually been to 3 different final shows at the phoenix. the building itself is pretty cool. back in the day there was lots of hidden spots in the basement and way up in the attic that were fun to explore.
gwar played here 3 or 4 halloweens in a row, every giant ska band from the 90s played through here, sublime played there last show ever here, primus started every single tour at the phoenix, every mike patton band played here many times.
i'm too old to hang out here, damn kids, but i always say hi to Tom when i'm in town and i still can't believe he remembers me. and you should ask Tom to tell you one of many stories of him falling off the balcony, priceless.
Oh, the Phoenix Theater. When we were young and shone like the sun.
I suppose I'm now officially too old to grace its halls. But Tom Gaffey and the Phoenix: you made 'luma a transient little beacon of cool growing up in the agricultural backwaters of the North Bay- a place where we were too underage to drink wine and too broke to enjoy the haute cuisine. The Phoenix made us feel like we had our own thing going for those desperate, heartbreaking years, ages 14-20.
Now, broker than I was then - when at least mom guiltily dispensed some cash- I am expected to drink $11 cocktails in "lounges" and upscale bars in the city with the other young professionals. Makes me nostalgic for the zitty little skaters and scary bathroom bitches that this place had.
Shot my first concert here and found that the building itself is a great place to photograph. Later that night I found out that Petaluma is the Chicken Capital of the US. Great place to go if you're in your young teenage years and would like to see some great live shows. Other than that I can't say much else about the place.
Review Source:this and deaf dog were my saving graces while growing up in petaluma...
all i have to say is thank god for tom gaffey.... he is one wonderful person and i'm glad that i was able to enjoy the amazing place he has kept up over the years for the people (especially the teens) of petaluma.
The best thing in Petaluma if you are between the ages of 13-20. When I was a teenager there just wasn't  anything to do or anywhere to go that was safe or sane.  Tom single-handedly raised several generations. Â
Here's my Phoenix history lesson:
When I was 8, my parents took me here to see  a new science fiction movie called Star Wars.
I few years later I saw my first theater production, Auntie Mame.
As a teenager, I played a lot of video games and saw a number of rock concerts. Bands of note include (some I didn't see, but I remember seeing their names on the marquee): Â Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana, Green Day, Mr. Bungle, Metallica (the Enter Sandman album secret release concert-- played under an alias), Ice T.
I'm glad it's still rockin'
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