Los Angeles’ Best Local Music Venues

Los Angeles is never short of musicians or music venues. Fans of all musical tastes and genres are treated right by LA’s range of musical talent and can easily find exciting live performances on any day of the week. Here is our favorite experiences discovering LA area music venues, bars and people that put on a variety of fun shows, host amazing up-and-coming bands that connect with the local crowd.

In This Article:

The Sardine: A New Addition to the South Bay Rock Tradition
Lick n’ Dip: The All-Night Underground Playground
Viper Room: ‘Sunset’s after Sunset’
The Gaslite: The Karaoke Island
Alex’s bar: Just Neighborly Love
A South Bay Inside Perspective

The Sardine: a new addition to the south bay rock tradition

The South Bay Or ‘harbor area’ has grown some of the the most recognized names in rock and punk history. From Sublime to Blackflag, locals take pride in their Rock n’ Roll hall of famers and the music tradition lives on within the territory.

A growing venue in town, The Sardine is tucked away on 11th street and Pacific Avenue in San Pedro and was founded around 2019-2020. This electric venue attracts a diverse crowd and offers an up-close experience with talented artists mostly playing punk rock but is no stranger to other genres like electronic music or country and other live acts. Local bands love to play here and other bands touring are excited about the energy some crowds bring!

Recently, bands such as Clown Sounds, FYP, Slaughterhouse, Coma Twins, Tables Turned, among many others, have turned up the volume at “The Dean”, as the locals like to call it. The staff and ownership are equipment savvy and active on-site to help bands prepare for shows with audio checks, ticketing, security and beforehand with promotion and event planning.

Clown Sounds’ lead singer, Todd, helped start the Sardine and Recess Record Ops from early on. This is probably why you can find clown flair around the whole bar. Here bands like playing all kinds of Rock n’ Roll, and to play it loud!

Ryan, a Sardine Bartender and sound tech, also plays in multiple local bands as a drummer or singer. When asked which band he preferred to play in, he replied that he “likes them all, but is excited to bring some country music to “The Dean” in summer 2023 with his group The Golden West. Ask him for the sardine special, a can of sardines with saltine crackers (actually a menu item).

What makes The Sardine stand out is that anyone, regardless of music taste, can stop by and connect with the artists and the owners. Recess ops and the Sardine hosts an open dialogue LA area music and invites artists to stop by and even preform live!

Lick N’ Dip: all night underground playground

Nothing describes ‘Local Los Angeles Music’ better than one word.. “Variety”. Things move, people change; that’s why you got to stay up with local promoters. You can find any type of music in LA and it is pretty obvious to anyone looking from the outside in. Unfortunately, on the inside LA can be exclusive, underground and VIP. At the heart of “Local” in lies the locals. Many local music events are privately promoted and have limited room. To turn out a big crowd, local promoters work with different locations to scope prime event opportunities that could prove to be extraordinary real estate for a live show. For this reason, we got to show some love for those who are setting up shop all over LA’s network of rooftops, warehouses and parks.

Lick N’ Dip is a raver’s best friend. If you are into EDM, Dubstep or any type of electronic dance music you have to Follow and Like Lick N’ Dip, on Instagram @lickndipevents. Shows at Lick N’ Dip Venues are always lively and full of entertainment. This local rave scene obsession spans from West Hollywood to Downtown LA. Collaborating with local businesses they are able to offer a variety of spaces that make their locations dynamic and interesting.

The reality is that if you want to take part in any of the local music scenes in LA you are going to have to do some valuable, on your own searching to find what crowd fits your vibe and what music gets you moving. Like the Sardine, Lick N Dip events are easily accessible and a lot of the time free, often turning this local scene into a house party stretching around the block. In conclusion, if you want to meet more like-minded ravers and explore other options in town this is a perfect place to start!

The Viper Room: ‘Sunset’s after Sunset’

Established by actor Johnny Depp, The Viper Room is a legendary Sunset Strip venue known for its rock and alternative music. It has hosted both well-known bands and up-and-coming acts, and its intimate setting provides an immersive experience.

The Viper room is one of LA’s best known small music venues, and it definitely lives up to its name. Depending on the night the line can stretch around the sunset strip, or entering can be as simple as showing ID and paying the cover. Like all small venues, some nights will be free, others will cost you, but it is always worth it. The downstairs has a bar, and sometimes hosts a limited performance by singer song writers, or something that is scaled back for about a dozen or so listeners. These performances are always intimate and give you an up close and personal experience with the artist.

Upstairs they have a full bar with a large stage and plenty of space to sweat it out. There are some booths in the corner, but often times are taken by the bands, VIP, or those who showed up early enough if it is a packed show.

Floating about the Viper Room you will have plenty to experience and a good chance of having a great time. For this reason, locals love to stop by for a drink and connect with the artists.

The Gaslite: The Karoke Island

Situated in Santa Monica, The Gaslite is a historic music venue that has been entertaining audiences since the 1960s. The venue’s classic decor and an intimate atmosphere provide a unique experience for lovers of jazz, blues, and rock. But the fun doesn’t stop with those genres...if you can name the song and can sing the song, the Gaslite will play the song…in the form of karaoke (now’s your chance to shine like an LA star)! Throughout the years, the Gaslite has become a staple of Mid-City Santa Monica and is regularly visited by locals and tourist alike. A surprise visit was recently seen by pop start Jewel to the bar, when she got on stage and sang to an unsuspecting crowd.

Favorite Memory: Rocking Sum 41’s In Too Deep, on a Wednesday night, to a cheering crowd!

What is exciting about the Gaslite is the local love. Just ask the staff, who are regulars on stage and in the party. One thing that can be sure is that locals swear by this bar, and some of them for many years.

Alex's Bar: Just Neighborly Love

Best vibe award goes to this place. Seriously the whole place is dancin’ with the jitter bug from the time the doors open! Located in Long Beach, Alex's Bar is a beloved music venue that showcases both local talent and renowned acts. With its dive bar ambiance and rock 'n' roll vibe, it has become a go-to spot for live music enthusiasts in the area.

Best Night Out: Hopping into an 80s disco night, literally everyone sporting the grove and breaking it down like it’s the last night on Earth!

Alex’s bar seems like a great spot for all types of interests. The vibes are welcoming, and you might even end up having a drink with the bartender, who have been known to clock out and join the fun. The open dance area and inside bar have potential to host a range of music genres and crowd sizes. With plenty of space it’s no wonder the disco ball is spinning almost every night. That said, there is still a cozy feeling at Alex’s bar. There is plenty of seating inside and outside, so if you need a break, you can still relax with friends.

A sardine Perspective: Collin Shotz Shares his experieNCE

During our discovery of the Sardine, we sat down to ask a few questions about this local music scene with Collin Shotz, @collinshotzzz on Instagram.

Andrew: “Why is The Sardine important to you?”

Collin: “The Sardine represents an incredibly important home for live performance for a few different reasons. The opening of a truly independent venue in the “punk” scene has allowed for amazing shows several nights a week. Other venues don’t have this volume or the range of musical styles. Here, you will see the influence the veteran touring musicians who opened the bar/venue have. This ever-present music culture is what they wanted to bring to life and they achieved even more than this. With lots of Show Bills and portraits displaying the rock and roll legends of the South Bay around the building, you see the importance of this town’s music history. Adding in the great atmosphere of the bar and the customers who support it, everyone is a crucial part of the picture.

The city of San Pedro embraces the legacy of its musical heroes and as follows, a devoted fan base stands behind this growing venue with deep local pride. This type of venue is not seen anywhere else in Los Angeles. It’s kind of like a best kept secret in that way. The Sardine seems to grow and mold on its own with more shows, word of mouth, and a unique, down to earth, accepting environment.”

Andrew: ”So, we all grew up going to Warped Tour and listening to Blink 182. With Billboard saying Hip Hop is now music’s most popular genre, do you think rock and punk is going through a revitalization in Los Angeles or mainstream music?”

Collin: “You could say that all types of music saw a resurgence of appreciation after the pandemic. Punk and independent artists pushing genre barriers has been the lifeblood of local scenes for many years. However, venues like the Sardine cement the role of hosting these fans and talents. Their goal is to promote music more than anything else. Anybody who loves live music knows the type of positive energy these nights can give us. It’s special -- and it’s far removed from the saturation of the mainstream side of LA’s music industry.”

Andrew: “How do you see San Pedro growing as a music hub?”

Collin: “San Pedro can do a lot of the same DIY and community-based events as other bigger towns. Without the craziness of being closer to downtown LA or Hollywood, it stands out as being different. It’s straight forward and hardworking as a music scene can get, much like its town residents. Thanks to bars like the Sardine, Harold’s Place and Brouwerij West, great live shows are not hard to find. There is a wonderful variety that will continue to grow as more people realize the hidden gem of San Pedro and its music scene.”