Reverb

Recently went to Reverb for the first time to see a metal show.  This club has a lot of potential for big shows - it's huge inside, nice big square bar in the middle, actual booths, merch area.  I hope they can keep it going because it's a pretty sweet space for an out-of-the-way area.  The layout was a little weird because the show was all ages so they were doing the "segregate people who are not drinking age in a little bullpen over to the side" thing that I've seen at other PA venues.  Sucks for them, but if you're over 21, not a problem.  Aside from the fact that the female bartender was too busy chatting up some guy for 10 minutes to get me a beer, I had a good time and will probably be back.

The neighborhood around the place does not look great, but I wasn't too fazed because (a) the place has its own humongous and fairly well-lit parking lot, so you don't have to go parking on the street or worse yet, a side street, and (b) the night I was there, one or two large male club employees were sitting outside the door all night, which would tend to ward off any hassles that might otherwise happen in the parking lot.  Also, to be honest, if you have spent time in Philadelphia or DC like I have, Reading just doesn't look that bad.  Don't do anything stupid like walk around the 'hood and you should be just fine.