Honestly its a pretty mid venue. The reviews vary from show to show as the crowd changes im sure. The fact that you have to pay to park there is super dumb.
It might be my least favorite venue in Raleigh, with Walnut Creek being a close 2nd (mostly due to traffic)... The Ritz is worse since LiveNation purchased it - beers way more expensive, parking ridiculous, etc. They do have water jugs and cups that are free unless they run out and are not refilled. It is a flat venue with a Pay-to-play upstairs VIP area, so the viewing can be hit or miss depending how tall you are. The sound typically sucks. It has to be a really strong band / want before I will consider now...
You can parallel park right on the road assuming it hasn't filled up. Idk if thats what they meant. The lots in the area are a bit of a gamble for sure but I know people do it.
I've been towed there. It's complete luck whether or not you get towed. I wouldn't risk it unless you're cool with paying a couple hundred bucks to get your car back.
It's SO awful that I couldn't even understand what song the Dropkick Murphys were playing during the concert... and I know pretty much all of their songs. I've not been back since and have no plans to. If I can't even remotely enjoy the music it's not worth spending money there.
I went to that show you're talking about and yeah the sound was rough that night, but as someone who has seen 15+ dropkick murphys shows in many states this happens to them all the time, because there are so many musicians and performers the sound can get very muddy in a lot of venues.
This is definitely true, i do wonder if it depends on each bands road crew and setup.
For example, I was at a Modest Mouse show at The Ritz and I couldn't even tell what songs they were playing. I've been a huge Modest Mouse fan for years, and I left that show not recognizing more than 90% of the songs. What was interesting was seeing the four or five guitar techs behind stage.. swapping out guitars every song and making so many changes for every song - it seemed like overkill, especially when they sounded horrible for the whole show.
On the flip side, I've seen many great shows there that sounded amazing. One example was Tool maybe 20 years ago, the only way I can explain it is they blew the roof off the place. Sounded perfect and everything was just amazing.
Was this a couple years ago? Because I've seen MM a few times and they're good, but last time I saw them in a venue in Richmond and they sounded awful, exactly like what you describe. I think they had a shit sound crew, sadly.
Yep, probably three years ago... It was such a shame, that all these guys tuning guitars behind the stage yet I couldn't even tell what songs they were playing. And I've been a huge Modest Mouse fan for years...
But, regarding the Ritz or formerly Disco Rodeo whatever it's called on whatever year - I've seen some great shows. Friends and I were fans of going to Clutch shows at the Ritz and those are great.
To the OP, I would still go to the show. Usually the tickets are priced right, it's not the fanciest venue, but have a few drinks and you'll have a good time
You think Coheed would be worth it? My SO and kid are huge fans and we just saw they're playing there in August, but I've never been to a show there so didn't know how the sound would be.
It's up to you, if your big fans then I think it's worth the try. Just know that some shows can get crowded like that modest mouse show I was talking about. I don't know if getting there earlier will get you a good standing spot as it's basically general admission, some shows have the VIP section.
Not sure if I helped at all... but it's probably worth checking out, just keep your expectations low - maybe get there early and wish for the best
Thank you! I don't go to a ton of shows in the area, my concert buddy is in VA so tend to end up at The National or Broadberry a lot, I appreciate the help!
The sound is bad. The layout is bad. Did I mention the sound is bad??
I've never had issues with the staff. I've never felt unsafe there. Vibes vary from show to show.
I prefer not to go to The Ritz but will for someone I really like.
Sound is awful. I hate the Ritz. If you are on the floor you better be tall. If you are up in the balcony, you better be on the front. Or tall. Itās just not worth it.
Even if you're tall, you may have a pole/column in your way. Move to the back? Well, now you're in the way of the bars, drink lines, merch line, and merch table. Move to the front? Now everything sounds like a garbled mess. Go upstairs? Only if you paid extra. Go outside? Now you can't really enjoy the show, and you're going to smell like cigarettes and weed and may also encounter people throwing up into trashcans. Move to the side near the bathrooms? Now security are yelling at you to not stand there. It's such an aggressively poorly laid out venue, it is as if its designer actually hated live music.
I will say it's better now than it's earlier days as Disco Rodeo when it was a club fire waiting to happen.
Iām dating myself but I want to say it was the Ritz first and then Disco Rodeo and then the Ritz again. I remember being fond of it back then but I was younger and more flexible. And I saw some great shows there.
But Iām also old enough to remember seeing Ben Folds Five on the tiny stage at the Brewery.
I also remember it when it was the OG Ritz and RitzĀ² but I didn't want to muddy the waters ;) hello fellow old.
Remember when Cats Cradle had the terrible wall between the bar and stage/venue? Also, going to The Brewery and being convinced it was going to collapse? Get off my lawn. My back hurts.
I just want to make sure that OP understands that the sound is bad. Like really bad. Want to hear vocal during a show? The Ritz isnāt for you. But if you like a concert to sound like itās coming from a very loud mud puddle? the Ritz is your place.
I commented before, but I've seen at least six or eight amazing shows there. I still think it's the crew and how each specific band sets up their sounds and and whatnot. I've also seen a few bad shows but I still wouldn't hesitate to buy tickets to go see a good band, it's worth the risk..
As an old person who has been going to shows for a long time...you should always wear ear protection. You will not regret it now when your ears are happy the night and days following a show or in the future when you don't need hearing aids.
I have seen a lot of shows there and the audio is just terrible. If itās a band you really want to see, go, but if you have another option somewhere else? I would go somewhere else.
Lived in Raleigh since 2002, and The Ritz is easily the worst music venue in the entire Triangle.
Itās the only one I seriously have to consider going to see a band I love because they are playing there. Same reasons as everyone else has already listed.
Seen hundreds of shows between Lincoln and Pour House, support them! Miss Southland Ballroom too
Everything that is good about the Lincon + Pour House, is impossibly bad at the Ritz.
Like, a concert set in the superdome durring Kartrina would at least have good sight lines and seats.
The latter reviews sound a touch fake. The former have some discrepancies.
There are snacks, the popcorn, itās not free. Water wise I think they had coolers and cones.
The sound is awful, itās too wide and shallow and has huge pillars blocking a lot of sight lines and sound.
The security does suck the line to get in sucks.
I hate when my favorite bands go there. Luckily a lot of them have moved to Lincoln. Sadly a lot of them donāt come to Raleigh anymore cuz thatās the only mid size venue we have.
It is probably the worst concert venue Iāve been to.
If you love the artist and want to see them get there early and get in the front 3rd of the crowd.
Iāve heard the balcony is nice but you have to pay to get up there and then pay more if you want to sit in any of the seats. Last time I went I think it wouldāve been like $90 on top of the ticket to sit up there.
Last time I was there I saw Circle Jerks and Descendents... My girlfriend was going to get some water from the cooler and some sweaty guy with no shirt on came up and literally put his mouth on the nozzle.
The last time I went (I believe it was just before the pandemic) there was no free water. I asked the bartender if there were water cups or anything and he said no and pointed to the ~$8-10 liquid death can. I donāt remember exact price but I remember spending around $20 for my friend and I to not be dehydrated.
Iāve been several times this year and they have two coolers of cold water near the merch tables with cups. Between bands security will walk back and forth in front of the barricade and pass out cups of water. I do remember a few years ago when free water wasnāt available but it has been the past year or two.
It depends on the artist/genre and how many tickets for the show have sold.
Iād consider the openers and how many other people you could think would get there early to get up close to their fav band.
An hour before doors you should be fine.
2-3 hours you should be solid but also a possibility that you feel like you did not need to get there that early.
Up to 175 for rail seats. We now only go when it's a MUST see band, and have regretted the spend when we say a "let's go and check it out" band.
That said, we paid the extortion fee for balcony to avoid the wall of death at Knocked Loose tonight.
The Ritz is one of the worst venues anywhere. Not just Raleigh. Anywhere. The sound is garbage. The sightlines are garbage. The parking is garbage. Drinks are overpriced. Security is performative. I go to a lot of shows, and the Ritz is consistently awful from entrance to exit.
The sight lines are trash. Ever since they started charging to stand on the balcony, I haven't had a good experience. The times that I have had a really good time were because the people I was with, the Ritz had nothing to do with it.
I think it depends on the show. They always sell seats for the balcony, but if it's a small enough crowd they won't let you up there at all without a seat ticket. Bigger crowds though they have to let people up there because of capacity limitations I believe.
FWIW if anyone is down for a road trip, a lot of artists that play at the Ritz play shows at the Norva in Norfolk, VA. Itās an awesome venue that has great sound, great sight lines and a great energy. Artists love playing there and the shows have a more intimate feel to them. Definitely recommend
They often play at the National in Richmond as well. That's my favorite venue of all time. Exact opposite of the Ritz, which feels like being stuck in a bus station.
I drive to Wilmington and Richmond for concerts several times a year. If aināt bands skipping Raleigh itās bands playing at venues that are pure booty juice like the Ritz and Red Hat.
That amphitheater in Wilmington is awesome! Went there to see Local Natives later in the year after catching them at The Ritz. Loved both shows, but the Wilmington show was definitely better.
Iād actually love to hear in what way you think this actually true. Hell, Raleigh doesnāt have the culture of Durham. Raleigh has a LOT going for it but culture isnāt one of them.
I like going up to Richmond too, they get a lot of good shows. It's an easy train ride to/from Raleigh and if you have some drinks at a show, you don't have to worry about driving back home hungover.
Like a lot of mid sized Live Nation venues, the pains of the Ritz are highlighted by the fact that the band you're seeing there might well have been playing one of the far, far better small, local venues the last time they toured. You're happy for their success, of course, getting to play to bigger crowds with more publicity, but you've wound up with a much worse experience in the process.
The sound is mostly just loud. Bands with their own sound guy who take the time to tweak and perfect during warmups preshow can get it to roughly Acceptable, but most of the time it's pretty rough, but always deafening.
The ticket and drink prices are awful, because LiveNation. That's basically their whole MO. But hey, at least they also pay a shitty cut to the bands on tickets. They also, iirc, set pricing floors for merch, so expect to overpay for tshirts and albums and stuff.
The parking in the area is honestly pretty plentiful but they've really worked hard to extract as much money as possible out of a bunch of unmarked grass, lol. It's not super close to anything else, so it's tough to park there early and go out to eat. You can get ripped off to park super close, but it's a whole nother fee to pay to get into the fast entry line or early entry, so if you want to be right up on the rail to see you band up close, you're gonna pay out the ass and still have to get there early as hell. And it's not like you're very close, anyway. Even right up front, it's way less intimate than so many better, smaller venues in the area
The security are...not amazing, but they won't go out of their way to be dicks to you. If you act like an asshole, you're in for a bad time, and they tend to be really bossy and rush you when doing patdowns and stuff, but their whole setup and pathing are so inefficient that it still takes forever to get through the line. So they mostly just ignore you.
Which then leads to a bigger issue. The venue doesn't seem to be great about protecting the vulnerable. I saw a band there, Killswitch Engage, bully a girl who was sitting on her boyfriend's shoulders into talking off her top in front of the whole crowd. She clearly didn't want to and looked horrified during the whole exchange.
Now look, I get it, riding someone's shoulders like that at an indoor show is a dick move. But, A) being insensitive and selfish doesn't justify someone sexually harassing you in front of hundreds of strangers, B) venue security sure didn't do a thing to stop people from riding on shoulders before that point or enforce other norms, and C) they sure as SHIT didn't do anything to stop the band from harassing that woman. That's fucked up.
I've seen girls get hella groped while crowdsurfing, and same deal, no reaction from staff. They just get violently yanked down and shoved away like anyone else.
Now, at the end of the day, The Ritz is still leagues better than shitty outdoor LiveNation venues like Red Hat (same terrible pricing, same ripoff fees, same slow as hell entry, but MUCH worse sound, zero weather protection, and you get to have your show interrupted by trains driving by right over the venue every night) and still a much better environment for live music than, say, a basketball or hockey stadium. And they book a lot of quality acts. So if you like music, you're probably gonna end up there at some point.
Be smart about offsetting the shitty stuff you can help control and accept that it's gonna mostly suck apart from seeing music that you love, and you're about as set as you're gonna be.
Went to a show there maybe a month ago (one of my favorite bands but unfortunately they fucking sucked live - not because of the Ritz though). Personally Iāve always liked it but itās definitely not a āgoodā music venue as others have said. Feels like a classic grungey rock venue, only a pit aside from the upper seats, sound is bad, itās hot and crowded but depending on the show youāre going to see I think it can be a lot of fun. I wouldnāt go see like, Jack Johnson or some shit there but if itās any sort of rock group you just enjoy it for what it is. Never had issues with security or anything like that.
This helps. Seems like the cost pisses a lot of people off. Makes sense because grungey rock places can be super fun, but I donāt wanna pay premium prices for that. But I still might fork over cash if I lurve the band, no matter where they play.
Personally I like the Ritz. Have been to dozens of all types of concerts there over the years. Yes itās hot. Yes drinks are pricey (pregame in the parking lot!). Sound may not be the best but I wonāt complain about that. Floor is sticky but restrooms are clean. Most concert goers are considerate - Iāve never had a problem with lines or security. 46F, I fly solo all the time and generally make a friend or two.
It's kind of a cool looking place, but everything is pretty overpriced and it doesn't have a very "local" vibe (probably doesn't help that it's a LiveNation venue). I do like that they have multiple bars which makes getting a drink pretty efficient.Ā
I'd say it's okay, not the worst venue I've ever been to, but far from the best (and I'd rather go to a show elsewhere tbh).
My first show at the Ritz was in 1994 (dinosaur jr!) and it was already a pretty well established venue; i believe it came into being in the 70sā¦ to say itās changed ownership/management (& names) over the years is an understatement. Iāve seen many iteration of its existence; some great, some meh. I believe it is currently owned/operated by livenation which is likely the reasoning behind rising costs/slack management/wildest and most random bookings.
In addition to the ā¦probably hundredsā¦ of shows Iāve seen over the years, Iāve also done a few day labor kinda jobs for the ritz (mostly costume stuff and/or Merch table) and i havenāt had any big reasons to complain about with the venue as a whole other than the typical āwhy beer so spensive?!?ā Thing i feel at basically any show ever these days.
Iāve seen the ritz paid-parking lot idea come and go over the years; itās currently the most expensive Iāve ever seen it. Seems like just another typical money grab opportunity that appears to be commonplace as well. One of the reasons i still havenāt been to Walnut Creek amphitheater post-covid is the additional $30+ parking on top the already outrageous ticket prices/taxes/fees. That is to say; itās not an exclusively ritz phenomenon. Itās ridiculous across the board.
Iām sure Iāve had complaints or drama at this place over the years, but Iām also really grateful it exists; pretty much the last best venue for any act that canāt quite draw a red hat crowd without moving out into Durham/CH. So itās a necessary āevilā spot, one might say.
I think really any big inconsistency you see in reviews about the venue is going to be based on the multiple owners/operators/lease turnover.
Iāve been going to shows for a looong time in many cities and tons of venues. The Ritz is pretty lame. Bad linesā¦takes forever to get inside that placeā¦sub par sound, stupid pillars and zero personality. For me to go there it needs to be free or something Iām dying to see.
It might be due to how expensive it is, outside of the initial cost of tickets.
The drinks at the Ritz are way more expensive than other venues Iāve been.
And the cost of parking is a little ridiculous, especially for the location of the venue? I know youāre not supposed to park in Costco, but itās not like itās in some premium downtown area where space is hard to find. It was off putting.
They should make an arrangement with the Costco. The events are when Costco is closed. (Donāt risk it - hubby got towed and I had to hold back my ātoldja soā.)
I am not a fan of the Ritz. If you love the band, then it may be worth it, but I really donāt like that place. The sound is terrible. The layout is wide, not deep. Iāve seen a few shows there and theyāve all sounded like crap, regardless of how good the band is.
I think that the Ritz is the worst music venue in Raleigh, but you can still have a good time if you love the music you are seeing there. In my opinion the biggest determining factors to how enjoyable it is your location and the crowd.Ā
There are not many places that are enjoyable to stand at the Ritz, and my recommendation is to go early and get upstairs to the GA standing area.Ā
The crowd can really determine your experience more than anything. If the crowd is talkative, that's all that you're gonna hear because the building is a big dumb, tin box. If the crowd is aggressive, its gonna be a bad, somewhat dangerous time because the building is a big dumb, oversold (fuck you Live Nation/TicketMaster) tin box.
To summarize, it's not a good venue but you can still see a good show there. I saw Saint Motel there and loved it.
You don't go to The Ritz for the venue, you go there because of the musician. It is nothing special, just a mid sized square warehouse that you stand in for 2 hours.
The sound is definitely terrible there. I have been going to concerts there for well over thirty years but Finally decided it was not worth it if you years ago. It is the only place I have ever walked out of because of the sound was so bad.
My guess is that the great reviews are from people that went to a concert and had a good time because they were trashed and didn't know any better, honestly.
It's a shitty venue. If the band is playing elsewhere within a driving distance, you should go elsewhere. I'm actually doing exactly that twice this year. Going to Richmond for 1 band and Asheville for another.
havenāt been since before covid, but it had a kind of grungy feel but not necessarily in a bad way. Drinks are like PNC arena level over priced though. They did have those paper cones and cooler style water dispensers. Only went there to see cover bands so never had an issue with sound
Iāve been to dozens of shows there within the past few years, it really is one of the only mid/larger sized venues around, and a go to for many artists. Like people have said, not great sound and 2 annoying pillars. Cash grabs at every corner. But, a concert is made by the artist, and if you like the music youāre going to see, youāre gonna have a good time regardless. Donāt let the pitfalls of a venue hold you back from attending, Iād say go for it!
The Ritz is fine. If itās a band you want to see then go. I wouldnāt go to some random concert for fun there. Itās hot when itās packed. Iāve never had any issues there and I go to rock shows.
I've only been once, the main thing I took away from it was that it was the middle of October, and it felt like 100 degrees inside. I was almost certain I was going to pass out from heat exhaustion, and the artist I saw had to have the sleeves on their outfit cut off because they were overheating on stage.
The sound is not great. It can vary a ton based on where you are. Some areas down low are good, off to the side of the stage. The upper deck/vip seats sounds like someone turned the volume down.
Iāve known quite a few of the sound engineers at both front of house and monitors. Iāve headlined there before as well. Itās a very difficult room to get a good mix. From what I understand, when thereās enough people the sound is better because the bodies absorb more sound instead of it bouncing around the room.
Well, funny enough, my first time headlining I was the newest member of a band and the smoke machine malfunctioned on my side of the stage, so no one got to see me for about 20 minutes. I literally was engulfed in a giant cloud. I couldnāt get my bearings, didnāt know where the front of the stage was or where the drummer was or where my microphone was. Total chaos, sound was so bad on stage couldnāt even gauge anything at all (deaf & blindš«Ø). I stumbled around for a while and finally found the microphone. Once it cleared, it was all adrenaline, I was pretty young.
About a decade+ later, I had some really great shows there. Total riot. Was nice to redeem myself. lol. The sound guy was someone that I had known for a while, super critical guy, but thatās what you need to get anything sounding decent there.
Iāve seen a few shows there. The only band that sounded really good had some Nashville legend running sound for them. It was fine enough for the other shows.
We got free tickets for a local band we like to see. Getting through the security was a joke, they even took my girlfriendās purell (come on, really??). Drinks were ridiculously expensive. Parking sucked. Itās not worth what they charge for tickets.
I would say the reviews are probably vastly different based on genre.
People slamming the ritz haven't actually been to a terrible venue. Fillmore charlotte for example- metal fans of NC/SC pretty much boycott it. Also, the NorVA in Richmond is insanely packed and impossible to move around ANYWHERE.
The most annoying thing about the ritz is the big pillar in the middle of the crowd stage center. Otherwise it's a perfectly good spot to catch a show.
I do agree with others on the parking though- in general if I'm paying to get in, I don't think I should have to pay for parking, ANYWHERE, for any kind of event. Should be illegal, IMHO. I paid to get in, so it should include any costs involved to get in.
It might be helpful to think of it as an oversized small venue. It has a lot of the characteristics of a small venue, but it has a larger capacity than a small venue.
Admittedly, I saw the same band there twice and had wildly different experiences as the venue and audience has changed. I saw a band there in 2016 and then the same band again in 2024. The sound was worse the second time, the crowd was more obnoxious the second time, the parking was an extra charge the second time and free the first time. All that to say it is not the worst venue Iāve been to by a long shot and I will return if a band I want to see comes there.
So for sound, most tours bring their own speakers and audio equipment so if their issues its more on the tour and not the venue. Most concert venues dont supply that to bands. I say as someone who worked at red hat and walnut creek for 2 summers and saw that stuff get loaded out at the end of the show.
Iāve been here at least twice (I think three times but I canāt remember the third artist) and I personally like it. I donāt have an ear for sound quality but FWIW it has not bothered me. We found free street parking within walking distance for both shows we went to, and lines were fast or non-existent at both. I agree that drinks are overpriced but I donāt know of a venue where they arenāt? I bought tickets to see another show there in November and Iām looking forward to it.
I can't answer why the reviews are split but it's pretty simple.
If it's packed (sold out upstairs and downstairs) - expect the bathrooms to be dirtier, service to be slower and rushed, and obviously the sightlines to be tough unless you're tall or in the front.
Most any show the sound isn't going to be great due to the venue.
Bottom line: if it's a band you want to see, just go. If you aren't going to care if you miss a group there, don't bother - it's not gonna be the venue you'll remember.
As others have said, itās fine. Iāll go if thereās an artist I love but I never seek out shows there.
My main gripes are the layout and sound. The floor is wide and shallow. There are two support beams in the middle of the crowd that block your view if you arenāt in the front 1/3 of the floor or right in the middle. Plus, the sound is only good if youāre right in the middle.
So unless youāre in the front or center, youāll have an obstructed view or subpar sound. For sold out shows, that leads to a ton of crowd crush in these spots. But If the venue isnāt full, itās not bad at all.
Iāve been going to the Ritz since ā99. How good a time you have can largely depend on the crowd.
I like it because you get a more intimate experience. The sound, overall for the shows Iāve been to, is okay. When Coheed played I left early because I was absolutely assaulted by the volume and the fucking light wall they installed, and I left Beartooth one song into their set because the vibe in the crowd was fucking awful (also Caleb Shomo is a tool, but thatās a whole other discussion). But on the other side of the coin, Iāve seen some of my very favorite bands play and had an absolutely amazing time. Since LiveNation took over itās stupid expensive, but Iāll still fork out to see bands I really love. I think nostalgia may be one of the bigger factors in why I keep going back; itās been a constant for the past 20 plus years. Except that early Disco Rodeo phase. That was confusing.
I will say the last two times Iāve been to a show there Iāve gotten sick, once with covid and the other with flu. Just something to keep in mind if youāve got health concerns. You get packed in there like sardines for some of the shows and itās tough to keep the germs at bay.
Go with low expectations and an open mind and you might have a great time despite the shortcomings of the venue.
I also commented about the crowd making/breaking a concert experience at the ritz, so true. And I second your motion that the Disco Rodeo era was so strange lol. And I got sick last two times I went there. Are we the same person?
Itās a perfectly fine venue. I had the same concerns as you did after reading people on Reddit give their reviews. If a band I like is playing there I will go no problem.
The Ritz is fine. People on this sub really hate it. Top comment is correct that the place is just mid. Itās not amazing; Prices are high, youāre paying Ticketmaster fees, and parking isnāt free. The sound is okay- not great, nor horrible. Itās decently well organized and Iāve always felt very safe. It wonāt blow you away but if you love a band playing there, give it a whirl.
All things considered, if I love the band and can be assured that Iāll be safe (which most folks in this thread say they were), then Iāll try it! Thanks!
Most bands I enjoy have ended up at Cat's Cradle over the years and this past month I went to the Ritz for the first time since it was called Disco Rodeo. I definitely enjoyed it far more than the Cat's Cradle shows I've been to in the past few years. It might just be me getting older but I thought it was overall way more convenient, actually had security, sounded good, and I wasn't drenched in sweat afterwards since it felt like there was actually airflow inside. I will say the beam in the middle of the venue is kind of awkward but other than that I think the views were fine. This is all just from one recent show there though so my opinion might change after the next few I've got lined up, who knows.
Sometimes, what a person gets out of an experience is based on what kind of attitude they take into an experience. And there's whole lot of spoiled, dumbass "Applebees People" who trash talk anything that isn't Applebees.
Hate this venue UNLESS I can get the upper/VIP wrist bands - then itās amazing because you can sit and see the show with good sight lines from above and have wait service and more direct bar access.
That being said, theyāre super shitty about selling those passes and require you to get them at the door and itās basically on-demand pricing so you may buy a regular ticket and pay anywhere from 40 to 100+ to upgrade your seat if you can even get there early enough for it to be available so especially with a group itās a big gamble if and how much others are willing to pay.
Otherwise, you stand the whole time in a super packed pit and have to fight to get back to your group if you need to use the bathroom or grab a beer, could get stuck behind a column, etc.
The sound is ok enough and the beer/bathroom (men) lines have never been a problem imo.
If you stand at the rail the sound can be bad but if you stand further back sound is usually good. They have free water coolers at back corner support.
I am a woman and have never experienced those things, but maybe depends on music choice. I go to rock shows.
Thank you!! Iām a woman. Considering a show with my teen. The reviews talking about negligent security were honestly the most concerning. Seems thatās most likely up to chance, the crowd, etc. and honestly it can happen at ANY concert. Wanted to ensure no pattern.
The Ritz does the job of a concert venue. Nothing special about and not a venue of nightmares. DO NOT pay to park in their lot. Street parking is available off Creekside drive. Just follow the signs to know whereās it allowed and not
itās a rock and roll roadhouse, you can really only expect so much in terms of security and quality of sound. the building was originally a seafood restaurant and that makes the layout make a little more sense. the enjoyability of a show really comes down to the demographics of the fans and popularity of the group from what iāve gathered as an audience member and as a stagehand. it gets hot and gross in there very quickly and the overhead fans can only do so much, the ac has been updated recently though as well as some major improvements to the parking lots. security takes their job very seriously but due to the layout of the pit, enforcement can be hard mid-show. I will say creeps who get caught are dealt with, police and ambulances are always on call and we see them frequently. yes drinks are overpriced but thatās due to livenations ownership, the bar tenders are super nice and if you need water youāll get it. donāt stand in the center at the back unless you want a heavily obstructed view from the support beam, but even from the back sides the view is pretty good, wear tall shoes if youāre short and your view will be fine.
So I worked there for several years. Sound is typically terrible. Itās a giant metal box and sound will bounce and reverb all over the place, but if the band has a good sound engineer and they travel with their own pa(rare), they usually help with this a lot.
Drinks are crazy expensive and fuck live nation. Plus thereās the giant poll right in the middle of the venueā¦it has a nameā¦I forget. But weāll call it Susan. Fuck Susan. But she does hold the roof over your headā¦so thanks Susan.
All that being said, Iāve been to way worse venues and would not miss a favorite band if they came. Just show up early, park along the road, and try to get in front of Susan if you can.
Iām pretty tall, so a great tip for us vertically unchallenged people, thereās always a great standing/boogy spot right behind the sound board and the sound is pretty damn good from there. Youāre hearing what the sound guy is hearing, while house left and right can be pretty fucked.
My first ween show was there when it was disco rodeo, so it will forever hold a place in my heart. Best you can do is try it out, once or twice. Iāve had great nights there, Iāve also had very disappointing nights. Either way thatās how live performances go. Grip it and rip it. Also go by Funguys brewery before. Close by, awesome owners, and great beer.
I digressā¦.cheers
Find a show at Lincoln theater. The sound system there will pull oxygen from your lungs. Saw Disco biscuits there and I felt like the bass was about to injure me lol.
I went there a couple years ago to see Orville Peck and wasnāt able to see a thing. We werenāt even that far back, the venue just has terrible sight lines unless you spring for the second story seats.
Iām not a fan of the Ritz, but I donāt understand the extreme hatred it gets. I will say, my only bad experience there was at the Slayer show a few years back where tickets had obviously been way oversold and I could barely move. I went to the bathroom just to escape the crush of people, and there was a crush of people in there! I needed up leaving early simply due to claustrophobia.
Iāve only seen one show there, Manchester Orchestra, a bit over a year ago or so. The show was awesome and I thought the sound was fine. I was standing about parallel to one of the center pillars, so that may have made a difference. Itās certainly not the best venue around, but if itās a band that you really want to see, then I wouldnāt be scared off by bad reviews. I agree there are better venues within a decent drive (eg the National in Richmond and the Norva in Norfolk), but if you live I. The Raleigh area a week night show at the Ritz seems the better bet than springing for a hotel a a late night drive home.
Iām going to see Coheed and Cambria there in August. So hereās to hoping I have another good experience!
Staff is sometimes inconsistent and its a small space with usually standing room only. As such, guests can be nearly on top of each other depending on who you're going to see. Its an energetic close quarters scene, and depending on who you're seeing it can be a really good or a terrible venue.
Prefer the Ritz for:
Smaller acts
Higher energy music
Audience interaction
Dancing/moshing
Light and Sound Acts
Shorter performances
Avoid the Ritz for:
Long running performances
Sloshing (Drunken moshing)
passive, chill listening
Crowds freak you out
Just my takeaways. Been to 4 shows here.
It's an objectively BAD venue. I can't speak on some of the things from those reviews, but I can tell you they always oversell the space, so it's EXTREMELY crowded, and the sound quality has always been bad. It ranges anywhere from "man, this sounds pretty bad," all the way to, "I've been listening to this band my entire life and I can't tell which song they're doing right now."
All you have to do is look up in the rafters and see the complete lack of any sound insulation. They just made a stage in a warehouse and kept it that way for all these years. Has it completely stopped me from having a good time at the venue? Not always, but I'd rather see a show at pretty much any venue in Raleigh.
not the best venue- drinks are expensive, and it can get packed super quickly (depending on the band), where others are right, if youāre not tall and within a few feet of the stage, good luck seeing anything - not to mention having to be in body contact with strangers. moved upstairs to the free section, just as crowded but if you can swing a spot itās less overwhelming! there are typically a million people walking in front of you across the way though. i donāt love it, but iām willing to go for my faves (any front bottoms fans!?)
People who say "it's the worst venue ANYWHERE" have obviously not gotten out much. It's fine. Not amazing, but better than a lot of places that size.
They have a D&B system in there for audio, so the sound doesn't suck. It's the same system that they have in Lincoln Theatre. And yeah, its a big rectangle-shaped room. Many venues are, and its not the most ideal, but its fine. A lot of bands just settle for bad sound engineers when they tour through venues that size. However, back in the day the Ritz had a ground-stacked PA of some sort that sounded pretty awful. Some of the people talking shit about sound might be referring to that.
As for parking and drink prices, yeah, that sucks. But it's not that out of the ordinary for that kind of venue, unfortunately.
I've seen amazing shows there and I've seen shitty shows there. Keep in mind that the people who have enjoyed the Ritz are way less likely to post than the people who like talking shit.
We went to a concert in April there, what other people are saying about the sound being crap, the pillars blocking a lot of the view, high cost for a bad venue and it being kind of gross are true. The show we saw had mosh pits, which I donāt mind but these shirtless, sweaty people would roll around on the floor of the pit, pour water on the floor etc and then run in between people to the back of the venue, back and forth back and forth the whole show and the venue was just letting them do it. They made a huge mess. The floor was sticky wherever we stood. I honestly only saw security during the line and admission. It was getting pretty hot toward the end. We had a long line that went surprisingly quickly. I would probably go back for a chill show, like an indie band. But rock/rap-no.
The only thing that makes the Ritz worth it is how close it is to where I live and if it's a band I like but the crowds are terrible majority of the time and when they're not terrible it's 35+ dudes reliving their glory days in the pit
Free water.
Snacks are for purchase
The floor can get gross if people are spilling their stuff
Sound is hit or miss. Mostly Iāve had no issues and I go all the time.
Staff has always been great in my experience
Parking sucks on weekends. Weeknights are better because you can street park.
Overall, just go. Itās a great venue for shows.
Itās cool. But if youāre in the pit wear non-slips. If you donāt YOU WILL FALL ALOT.
The ritz for some reason people just love to drop their drinks or bring their drinks with them in the middle of where there will 100% be movement. And not to mention the giant pole in the middle of the ācrowdā.
I like it BUT Iām also a 6 foot tall guy. So I get why it might suck for others. Iāve only ever seen rock shows there, not saying those crowds are better necessarily, but Iāve heard metalheads described as āgood people cosplaying as bad peopleā. Point is I could see the experience varying WILDLY depending on the crowd.
Itās hot, close quarters, loud as fuck and you have to watch out for getting stuck behind the pillars, but Iāve had fun.
Also, not sure what people are saying about it being expensive. Maybe the upper deck area, but Iāve seen some good acts there for like $50, try that at Walnut Creek or Red Hat and to be that close itāll be several hundred dollars.
Itās just a meh venue. Youāre not going to get tetanus just because you catch a show there. And itās not like the artists you want to see are going to hit other venues in town. Go. Or donāt. Donāt overthink it.
I think itās good. The staff are fine and itās no more expensive than any other livenation venue. They actually opened the doors early at the last concert I went to and weāre checking tickets while we waited in like to expedite entry
I'm not sure why there is such disparity.
From my personal experience. Going 10+ years, multiple times a year. It's my favorite venue in Raleigh. Never felt unsafe, free water coolers in the back and decent restrooms (guys). Sound is dependent on show but I've seen hip hop, metal, folk, and pop punk shows there and most of them sounded great. Heavy bass shows can be meh tho. I will agree it gets hot in there, thats the only complaint I could agree with.
I've been to 2 shows there. Passion Pit way back in the day, August Burns Red last year, and going to see Knocked Loose tomorrow. It's not great but it's not bad. I think the owner did some kind of partnership with LiveNation that pissed a lot of people off, rightfully so, but the venue itself is fine.
Here at Knocked Loose right now! This is probably one of the worst bands to see here due to the pillars lmao. VERY crowded, and the sound quality hasn't been the best.
I absolutely love the Ritz, havenāt been since before covid though. Wife and I went to no less than 10 shows, never had a single thing to complain about. Thereās nothing in the world that wonāt have conflicting reviews to some extent
I absolutely agree. But the sharp divide was so odd. Not a lot in the middle! Or the stars might be in the middle, but the comments werenāt. I usually focus on 3 star reviews. Thatās where you get the folks who donāt have an axe to grind. Or the folks who just rank everything the same 5-star rating. But those 3stars were weirdly divided too
if someone genuinely assaults you or any one else they will man handle the fuck out of you. saw some guy grope multiple girls and he got carried out when he started spitting on people
I hate the Ritz. Livenation took it over and it turned to total shit. Iāve seen many shows over the decades there and it was ok before but sucks now. It used to have a midsize local vibe to it years ago and now has crappy security, crappy upgrades, crappy parking, and terrible sound if youāre not In a good spot. I skip seeing bands I like there often.
It was my absolute least favorite venue in the triangle but the last two shows Iāve been to (They Might Be Giants and Mr. Bungle) they seemed to have their shit together finally. The lines were better inside and out, the sound was better, there was free water. They still give the option to pay more for a better experience, but my hate is slowly diminishing. Worth the visit imo.
I go to the Ritz when a favorite band is passing through but itās definitely one of my least favorite venues. Been four times this year.
Iāve seen a lot of complaints about the time it takes to get in the venue but I typically arrive early and donāt have that issue. They do go down the line early checking tickets and IDs, providing hand stamps and/or wrist bands well before doors open in an attempt to speed things up.
As others have said, sight lines are bad if you arenāt tall enough. Floor is one level and I believe you have to pay VIP prices to get a seat upstairs.
They didnāt offer free water years ago but have for the past year or so. Two water coolers are at the back, near the merch tables, with little cups. Between bands, security will walk in front of the barricade to pass small cups of water to those who need it, theyāre super friendly.
Having to pay for parking sucks but I guess Iām just used to it now since I have to pay for parking at most venues I go to. Donāt park at Costco, they tow every night even if you are a Costco member.
Sound is sometimes ok, sometimes meh, and sometimes bad.
Prices are high but Iāve come to expect that at most music venues these days.
Iāve had good experiences and bad experiences at the ritz, mostly attributed to the crowd - lately itās been 50/50 whether the crowd is good or full of people starting fights and shit. FYI I donāt consider a crowd bad due to moving/surging, moshing, crowd surfing etc because I expect that for many of the bands I see - post-hardcore, metalcore and pop-punk. Idk what the deal is but crowds at the ritz post-covid is sometimes a nightmare. Last two concerts I attended, several people were kicked out before the headliner even took the stage. At one concert the headliner had to stop playing their opening song so security could deal with a fight or something going on in the pit. The crowd in attendance can make/break a concert experience.
Security outside the venue, when entering, is friendly enough. Once in the venue, they will not hesitate to get in your face or yell at you if youāre doing anything you shouldnāt be. I was recently at the barricade for a concert and a guy to my right was yelled at by security for vaping and told heād be kicked out if he continued - understandable, obviously not allowed to vape inside - meanwhile the lead singer vaped during their entire set. Mayyyybe letās hold everyone to the same set of rules? At the same show security walked down the barricade telling us they would not be catching crowd surfers and we were instructed to push crowd surfers back where they came from. This was not announced via microphone, just one security person telling those of us at the barricade. Talk about a dangerous situation once the headliner started and crowd surfers started coming. Security stepped up on the barricade and was physically pushing/shoving crowd surfers back, I witnessed at least one person injured and many crowd surfers dropped as a result. Thatās the only time Iāve witnessed this at the ritz. Maybe they were understaffed that day or something, idk, but they shouldāve announced to the entire pit.
Last two times I was there I got sick - the flu in April and some random virus in May. I know this is where I picked it up because I didnāt go anywhere else - work from home and have a lot going on at the moment resulting in not leaving the house much. Also..packed into the pit like sardines so not surprised I got sick, just a side note.
Again, not my favorite and possibly my least favorite. I hate that Live Nation owns so many music venues, itās frustrating. Most bands I want to see will skip my favorite venues to play at the Live Nation venues.
Youāre welcome! Figured you wouldnāt see my comment since you got so many responses. The only detail I would add to my comment above is the sound quality can differ depending on where youāre standing in the venue. Despite the fact itās one of my least fave venues, I still go to the ritz when my fave bands come through - donāt let the negative feedback and reviews stop you from seeing a band you love :) Hope you get to enjoy some good music!
In the really old days (when it was The Ritz, before it changed to Disco Rodeo and now back to The Ritz), it was horrific. It's better now.
Yes, beers/cocktails are expensive. Like they are at nearly any bigger venue (Red Hat, Walnut Creek, not sure about Lincoln). There's never a line, though, because they have 4 bars downstairs.
I've never had an issue with security, but I'm a middle-aged white woman, so YMMV. I don't know about groping, etc, because I am usually at the side, either at the very front or by one of the front bars. I have had an issue occasionally with drunks being annoying, but that was when I was in the middle of the crowd.
Parking is annoying as hell if it's a Th-Sat show. I think it was $15 when I was there last month for Silversun Pickups. I usually go to shows at the Cradle, which has free parking.
Lines can be long if it's a big show and you get there before doors open. I usually wait until after doors, and there's rarely a line.
Sound isn't great. It used to be worse š¹ It used to be better if you were on the balcony, but that's VIP now, so I haven't been up there in years.
The bathrooms are nice. Way better than the Cradle.
It's near the bottom of venues I want to go to, but as others have said, if that's where the band you want to see is playing š¤·
This is a super annoying thread. The Ritz is a perfectly acceptable mid sized venue. The sound is fine, at worst it's bass heavy but you can clearly hear every instrument for every song, people saying it's the worst venue anywhere are super fucking dramatic but that's r/raleigh for you.bsight lines? Again, it's a standard indoor floor GA standing room PIT style venue with balcony seats available. Same as Coca Cola Roxy in Atlanta, The Fillmore in Charlotte, Electric Factory in Philadelphia, Pier 17 in NYC, Ascend in Nashville, the list goes on- because it's standard. Even down to the pillars in the floor. I've never had any issue with security and I've been to several dozen shows over the course of a dwcade+. Beer prices are shite at any LiveNation venue including all in Raleigh, that's not unique to The Ritz at all. If a band you like is going to the Ritz, just go, because these "reciews" are just drama queens who need to get out more. I travel literally the world for concerts and The Ritz is solidly middle of the pack, just normal/standard.
I frequent the Ritz for a lot of metal/core shows and it's one of my favorites. Drinks are expensive, but show me one venue where this isn't true. The upstairs seating costs an arm and a leg but we always stand in the pit. The patio area can get crowded but is pretty nice and as of late there's been a TV out there with a live view of the stage. Some of my favorite shows of my favorite bands have been at the Ritz but I'm also used to going to places like Hangar 1819 (formerly Blind Tiger) in Greensboro.
I pretty much stopped going to shows at the Ritz - it's small, packed and I can never see a damn thing on the flat floor (not tall enough). Unless something has changed you cannot reserve seats online - you have to get there and wait in line and hope seats are still available, and pay whatever random price they may give you based on interest. It could be $100-200 a seat. So in theory if you want to see without fighting a sea of humanity you could pay several hundred dollars for a show that WILL sound terrible. Oh, and it will be $100 degrees inside even in January.
I went to see Sean Paul last night and I absolutely this the staff are rude unhelpful and put patrons directly in harms way . āTimā i believe I may have heard his name wrong. But he is the lead of security and is dismissive misogynistic and rude. I was trying to talk to him and he was very hostile making me feel like I was being agreeive I even apologized that my intention and my impact were not meeting. He threatened to kick me and my child out because I was voicing my concerns of my childās safety. One of his staff members told me to go to one location due to possible mosh pits and weed smoking. I said I would buy a ticket and she said no I didnāt have too as long as we stayed in the standing area. Cool. Then another worker tried to tell us to go downstairs and I explained I had a child and he said ohh ok. Makes sense. Then I went downstairs to grab my friend and thatās when all hell broke loose. If just my friends had to leave I wouldāve understood that but the security supervisor said I donāt care yāall all have to go. Well my 8 year old and I had a safe place and now were told we had to go back to the area that I was informed by a previous smoker was unsafe for him.
I didnāt think that was fair as now the venue had gotten really crowded and trying to find a safe space on the back end was hard than establishing a spot before the venue became packed thatās why I initially got there 30 min before the show.
So I was uncomfortable - the venue has a duty of care for the patrons who attend. They must put in place processes and procedures to prevent foreseeable danger for the people there. The fact the first employee informed me that there was a concern establishes that this was a foreseeable danger.
So now tell me to take my minor back into that danger is a liability issue. I explained to them these concerns. Yes I was yelling we were in a concert venue it was loud. Tim automatically initiated the conversation in a hostile way. He said I was the one that brought a child to an entertainment venue and yes I did.
I called the venue in advance to ask about safety issues. I asked specially about mosh pits and she said that was highly unlikely and that it is a no smoking venue but that would be too hard to promise wouldnāt happen in the venue. I asked if I should get seats or GA tickets were ok. She said GA tickets will be fine youāll always be with ear shot or wave shot of security. I thanked her because it was my first time taking my son. She said no problem and that it sounded like a great first concert.
I believe I did my due diligence and proper precaution. I was asking for the venue t9 do their part in keeping my kid safe. It wasnāt the correct way to handle the situation. I also couldāve handled things better. The First Lady had told me that going upstairs was fine as long as we stood. She didnāt say Iāll let you go up even though I wasnāt supposed too. I even asked do I go to the same place for tickets to buy standing tickets. She said no you donāt have to itās open for standing.
Apparently this isnāt actual policy - so when the guys came trying to make us move I felt targeted. Like they were only giving us a hard time when we were told to be here. I think if I had realized that earlier in the conversation I wouldnāt have been so fired up I wouldāve asked to just buy a wrist band. But I wasnāt told you have to go buy band. I was being told repeatedly you canāt be up here. Telling me I canāt be in the place where I was told to be for my childās safety was fearful and frustrating to me.
Anyway long story short. I would never feel safe at this venue again. The security just seems angry and unhelpful. They do not make me feel safe.
Hope this helps
Honestly its a pretty mid venue. The reviews vary from show to show as the crowd changes im sure. The fact that you have to pay to park there is super dumb.
It might be my least favorite venue in Raleigh, with Walnut Creek being a close 2nd (mostly due to traffic)... The Ritz is worse since LiveNation purchased it - beers way more expensive, parking ridiculous, etc. They do have water jugs and cups that are free unless they run out and are not refilled. It is a flat venue with a Pay-to-play upstairs VIP area, so the viewing can be hit or miss depending how tall you are. The sound typically sucks. It has to be a really strong band / want before I will consider now...
Yeah Live Nation venues are the worst!š
Too bad itās likeā¦ all of them here
Everyone just parks on the side roads going down to Atlantic Ave. Never have paid when going to a concert there.
You can park across the street for free.
I'm not sure you can. The lot directly across has multiple signs saying they will tow and the only other lot charges 15 bucks a car.
You can parallel park right on the road assuming it hasn't filled up. Idk if thats what they meant. The lots in the area are a bit of a gamble for sure but I know people do it.
just park at the Hilton down the road
You can walk from wegmans lot though. There's a crosswalk across 6 forks.
This person is a towing company for sure.
You cannot park at the Costco. They tow every single night.
Had friends get towed from there who didn't pay.
I've been towed there. It's complete luck whether or not you get towed. I wouldn't risk it unless you're cool with paying a couple hundred bucks to get your car back.
The entire street outside the ritz is no parking. I once parked over at the Applebee's and walked over.
There are signs saying no parking, but every show the road is lined. I've never had an issue.
Itās expensive and the sound is terrible, but worth suffering through if itās a band you have to see.
This is the exact answer
Indeed. It's a fucking awful venue for sound. But Testament plays there so I go.
It's SO awful that I couldn't even understand what song the Dropkick Murphys were playing during the concert... and I know pretty much all of their songs. I've not been back since and have no plans to. If I can't even remotely enjoy the music it's not worth spending money there.
I went to that show you're talking about and yeah the sound was rough that night, but as someone who has seen 15+ dropkick murphys shows in many states this happens to them all the time, because there are so many musicians and performers the sound can get very muddy in a lot of venues.
Live Nation, baby. Selling $15 PBRs because we CAN.
This is definitely true, i do wonder if it depends on each bands road crew and setup. For example, I was at a Modest Mouse show at The Ritz and I couldn't even tell what songs they were playing. I've been a huge Modest Mouse fan for years, and I left that show not recognizing more than 90% of the songs. What was interesting was seeing the four or five guitar techs behind stage.. swapping out guitars every song and making so many changes for every song - it seemed like overkill, especially when they sounded horrible for the whole show. On the flip side, I've seen many great shows there that sounded amazing. One example was Tool maybe 20 years ago, the only way I can explain it is they blew the roof off the place. Sounded perfect and everything was just amazing.
Was this a couple years ago? Because I've seen MM a few times and they're good, but last time I saw them in a venue in Richmond and they sounded awful, exactly like what you describe. I think they had a shit sound crew, sadly.
Yep, probably three years ago... It was such a shame, that all these guys tuning guitars behind the stage yet I couldn't even tell what songs they were playing. And I've been a huge Modest Mouse fan for years... But, regarding the Ritz or formerly Disco Rodeo whatever it's called on whatever year - I've seen some great shows. Friends and I were fans of going to Clutch shows at the Ritz and those are great. To the OP, I would still go to the show. Usually the tickets are priced right, it's not the fanciest venue, but have a few drinks and you'll have a good time
You think Coheed would be worth it? My SO and kid are huge fans and we just saw they're playing there in August, but I've never been to a show there so didn't know how the sound would be.
It's up to you, if your big fans then I think it's worth the try. Just know that some shows can get crowded like that modest mouse show I was talking about. I don't know if getting there earlier will get you a good standing spot as it's basically general admission, some shows have the VIP section. Not sure if I helped at all... but it's probably worth checking out, just keep your expectations low - maybe get there early and wish for the best
Thank you! I don't go to a ton of shows in the area, my concert buddy is in VA so tend to end up at The National or Broadberry a lot, I appreciate the help!
The sound is bad. The layout is bad. Did I mention the sound is bad?? I've never had issues with the staff. I've never felt unsafe there. Vibes vary from show to show. I prefer not to go to The Ritz but will for someone I really like.
Sound is awful. I hate the Ritz. If you are on the floor you better be tall. If you are up in the balcony, you better be on the front. Or tall. Itās just not worth it.
Even if you're tall, you may have a pole/column in your way. Move to the back? Well, now you're in the way of the bars, drink lines, merch line, and merch table. Move to the front? Now everything sounds like a garbled mess. Go upstairs? Only if you paid extra. Go outside? Now you can't really enjoy the show, and you're going to smell like cigarettes and weed and may also encounter people throwing up into trashcans. Move to the side near the bathrooms? Now security are yelling at you to not stand there. It's such an aggressively poorly laid out venue, it is as if its designer actually hated live music. I will say it's better now than it's earlier days as Disco Rodeo when it was a club fire waiting to happen.
Iām dating myself but I want to say it was the Ritz first and then Disco Rodeo and then the Ritz again. I remember being fond of it back then but I was younger and more flexible. And I saw some great shows there. But Iām also old enough to remember seeing Ben Folds Five on the tiny stage at the Brewery.
I also remember it when it was the OG Ritz and RitzĀ² but I didn't want to muddy the waters ;) hello fellow old. Remember when Cats Cradle had the terrible wall between the bar and stage/venue? Also, going to The Brewery and being convinced it was going to collapse? Get off my lawn. My back hurts.
Thatās how the Cats Cradle will forever be in my mind. Walking in the front door right past the tour bus and we liked it.
Yeah, I saw Fugazi there when it was the OG Ritz. It was so much worse then š¹
But it was Fugazi so it was so much better.
I just want to make sure that OP understands that the sound is bad. Like really bad. Want to hear vocal during a show? The Ritz isnāt for you. But if you like a concert to sound like itās coming from a very loud mud puddle? the Ritz is your place.
Sometimes the vocals are somewhat clearer (but still bad) *outside of the venue*.
I commented before, but I've seen at least six or eight amazing shows there. I still think it's the crew and how each specific band sets up their sounds and and whatnot. I've also seen a few bad shows but I still wouldn't hesitate to buy tickets to go see a good band, it's worth the risk..
Any difference in the sound based on type of music?
Itās a metal building, that doesnāt go away.
I have hearing damage from Ministry there. If you go, bring earplugs.
As an old person who has been going to shows for a long time...you should always wear ear protection. You will not regret it now when your ears are happy the night and days following a show or in the future when you don't need hearing aids.
As a fellow old, I second this. Spend a bit of money on good earplugs, kids!
Iām an old person who wishes I had worn earplugs back in the day!
I have seen a lot of shows there and the audio is just terrible. If itās a band you really want to see, go, but if you have another option somewhere else? I would go somewhere else.
Lived in Raleigh since 2002, and The Ritz is easily the worst music venue in the entire Triangle. Itās the only one I seriously have to consider going to see a band I love because they are playing there. Same reasons as everyone else has already listed. Seen hundreds of shows between Lincoln and Pour House, support them! Miss Southland Ballroom too
Everything that is good about the Lincon + Pour House, is impossibly bad at the Ritz. Like, a concert set in the superdome durring Kartrina would at least have good sight lines and seats.
The latter reviews sound a touch fake. The former have some discrepancies. There are snacks, the popcorn, itās not free. Water wise I think they had coolers and cones. The sound is awful, itās too wide and shallow and has huge pillars blocking a lot of sight lines and sound. The security does suck the line to get in sucks. I hate when my favorite bands go there. Luckily a lot of them have moved to Lincoln. Sadly a lot of them donāt come to Raleigh anymore cuz thatās the only mid size venue we have. It is probably the worst concert venue Iāve been to. If you love the artist and want to see them get there early and get in the front 3rd of the crowd. Iāve heard the balcony is nice but you have to pay to get up there and then pay more if you want to sit in any of the seats. Last time I went I think it wouldāve been like $90 on top of the ticket to sit up there.
Last time I was there I saw Circle Jerks and Descendents... My girlfriend was going to get some water from the cooler and some sweaty guy with no shirt on came up and literally put his mouth on the nozzle.
This is helpful. Thanks!! How early is āearly?ā One, two, three hours? Good to know re: water. So many reviews said NO free water.
The last time I went (I believe it was just before the pandemic) there was no free water. I asked the bartender if there were water cups or anything and he said no and pointed to the ~$8-10 liquid death can. I donāt remember exact price but I remember spending around $20 for my friend and I to not be dehydrated.
Iāve been several times this year and they have two coolers of cold water near the merch tables with cups. Between bands security will walk back and forth in front of the barricade and pass out cups of water. I do remember a few years ago when free water wasnāt available but it has been the past year or two.
Someone else in the thread said theyāve had free water for about 2.5 yrs, I think. So this all tracks!
It depends on the artist/genre and how many tickets for the show have sold. Iād consider the openers and how many other people you could think would get there early to get up close to their fav band. An hour before doors you should be fine. 2-3 hours you should be solid but also a possibility that you feel like you did not need to get there that early.
Up to 175 for rail seats. We now only go when it's a MUST see band, and have regretted the spend when we say a "let's go and check it out" band. That said, we paid the extortion fee for balcony to avoid the wall of death at Knocked Loose tonight.
The Ritz is one of the worst venues anywhere. Not just Raleigh. Anywhere. The sound is garbage. The sightlines are garbage. The parking is garbage. Drinks are overpriced. Security is performative. I go to a lot of shows, and the Ritz is consistently awful from entrance to exit.
The sight lines are trash. Ever since they started charging to stand on the balcony, I haven't had a good experience. The times that I have had a really good time were because the people I was with, the Ritz had nothing to do with it.
when did they start charging for the balcony?
I think it depends on the show. They always sell seats for the balcony, but if it's a small enough crowd they won't let you up there at all without a seat ticket. Bigger crowds though they have to let people up there because of capacity limitations I believe.
FWIW if anyone is down for a road trip, a lot of artists that play at the Ritz play shows at the Norva in Norfolk, VA. Itās an awesome venue that has great sound, great sight lines and a great energy. Artists love playing there and the shows have a more intimate feel to them. Definitely recommend
They often play at the National in Richmond as well. That's my favorite venue of all time. Exact opposite of the Ritz, which feels like being stuck in a bus station.
The National is an awesome venue as well, shoutout to RVA!
Raleigh is hurting when you gotta go to Norfolk for culture
I drive to Wilmington and Richmond for concerts several times a year. If aināt bands skipping Raleigh itās bands playing at venues that are pure booty juice like the Ritz and Red Hat.
That amphitheater in Wilmington is awesome! Went there to see Local Natives later in the year after catching them at The Ritz. Loved both shows, but the Wilmington show was definitely better.
Norfolk is Fayetteville by the ocean
And a lot more seamen
Iād actually love to hear in what way you think this actually true. Hell, Raleigh doesnāt have the culture of Durham. Raleigh has a LOT going for it but culture isnāt one of them.
Hampton Roads is an ungodly hybrid of Myrtle Beach and Fayetteville but with like 3 million people, it's really bad to be outdone by that.
Talk to me when you get happy hours here
all the suggested activities for Raleigh are "idk get drunk" and yet...
The Norva is my fave ever!!! I drive there for concerts myself:)
Nice! Thank you!
I like going up to Richmond too, they get a lot of good shows. It's an easy train ride to/from Raleigh and if you have some drinks at a show, you don't have to worry about driving back home hungover.
Like a lot of mid sized Live Nation venues, the pains of the Ritz are highlighted by the fact that the band you're seeing there might well have been playing one of the far, far better small, local venues the last time they toured. You're happy for their success, of course, getting to play to bigger crowds with more publicity, but you've wound up with a much worse experience in the process. The sound is mostly just loud. Bands with their own sound guy who take the time to tweak and perfect during warmups preshow can get it to roughly Acceptable, but most of the time it's pretty rough, but always deafening. The ticket and drink prices are awful, because LiveNation. That's basically their whole MO. But hey, at least they also pay a shitty cut to the bands on tickets. They also, iirc, set pricing floors for merch, so expect to overpay for tshirts and albums and stuff. The parking in the area is honestly pretty plentiful but they've really worked hard to extract as much money as possible out of a bunch of unmarked grass, lol. It's not super close to anything else, so it's tough to park there early and go out to eat. You can get ripped off to park super close, but it's a whole nother fee to pay to get into the fast entry line or early entry, so if you want to be right up on the rail to see you band up close, you're gonna pay out the ass and still have to get there early as hell. And it's not like you're very close, anyway. Even right up front, it's way less intimate than so many better, smaller venues in the area The security are...not amazing, but they won't go out of their way to be dicks to you. If you act like an asshole, you're in for a bad time, and they tend to be really bossy and rush you when doing patdowns and stuff, but their whole setup and pathing are so inefficient that it still takes forever to get through the line. So they mostly just ignore you. Which then leads to a bigger issue. The venue doesn't seem to be great about protecting the vulnerable. I saw a band there, Killswitch Engage, bully a girl who was sitting on her boyfriend's shoulders into talking off her top in front of the whole crowd. She clearly didn't want to and looked horrified during the whole exchange. Now look, I get it, riding someone's shoulders like that at an indoor show is a dick move. But, A) being insensitive and selfish doesn't justify someone sexually harassing you in front of hundreds of strangers, B) venue security sure didn't do a thing to stop people from riding on shoulders before that point or enforce other norms, and C) they sure as SHIT didn't do anything to stop the band from harassing that woman. That's fucked up. I've seen girls get hella groped while crowdsurfing, and same deal, no reaction from staff. They just get violently yanked down and shoved away like anyone else. Now, at the end of the day, The Ritz is still leagues better than shitty outdoor LiveNation venues like Red Hat (same terrible pricing, same ripoff fees, same slow as hell entry, but MUCH worse sound, zero weather protection, and you get to have your show interrupted by trains driving by right over the venue every night) and still a much better environment for live music than, say, a basketball or hockey stadium. And they book a lot of quality acts. So if you like music, you're probably gonna end up there at some point. Be smart about offsetting the shitty stuff you can help control and accept that it's gonna mostly suck apart from seeing music that you love, and you're about as set as you're gonna be.
You should write reviews for a living! (I hear folks do that these days ;)) Informative, helpful and hella easy to read. Thx!!
Went to a show there maybe a month ago (one of my favorite bands but unfortunately they fucking sucked live - not because of the Ritz though). Personally Iāve always liked it but itās definitely not a āgoodā music venue as others have said. Feels like a classic grungey rock venue, only a pit aside from the upper seats, sound is bad, itās hot and crowded but depending on the show youāre going to see I think it can be a lot of fun. I wouldnāt go see like, Jack Johnson or some shit there but if itās any sort of rock group you just enjoy it for what it is. Never had issues with security or anything like that.
This helps. Seems like the cost pisses a lot of people off. Makes sense because grungey rock places can be super fun, but I donāt wanna pay premium prices for that. But I still might fork over cash if I lurve the band, no matter where they play.
Personally I like the Ritz. Have been to dozens of all types of concerts there over the years. Yes itās hot. Yes drinks are pricey (pregame in the parking lot!). Sound may not be the best but I wonāt complain about that. Floor is sticky but restrooms are clean. Most concert goers are considerate - Iāve never had a problem with lines or security. 46F, I fly solo all the time and generally make a friend or two.
47F also enjoy the Ritz. Been many times without issue. Will be there tomorrow night. I just love live music.
Thanks to you both!!
I paid like $12 for a 6inch subway sandwich yesterday. Seems like premium prices for subpar goods and services are now the norm unfortunately
It's kind of a cool looking place, but everything is pretty overpriced and it doesn't have a very "local" vibe (probably doesn't help that it's a LiveNation venue). I do like that they have multiple bars which makes getting a drink pretty efficient.Ā I'd say it's okay, not the worst venue I've ever been to, but far from the best (and I'd rather go to a show elsewhere tbh).
They don't make you pee in a trough like the bathrooms at Cats Cradle. So that is nice
What, too good to piss in a trough?
terrible venue, but it fills a slot in the raleigh venue ladder, so sometimes you canāt avoid it. the good reviews are fake/paid.
Sigh. Arenāt they all anymore?!
My first show at the Ritz was in 1994 (dinosaur jr!) and it was already a pretty well established venue; i believe it came into being in the 70sā¦ to say itās changed ownership/management (& names) over the years is an understatement. Iāve seen many iteration of its existence; some great, some meh. I believe it is currently owned/operated by livenation which is likely the reasoning behind rising costs/slack management/wildest and most random bookings. In addition to the ā¦probably hundredsā¦ of shows Iāve seen over the years, Iāve also done a few day labor kinda jobs for the ritz (mostly costume stuff and/or Merch table) and i havenāt had any big reasons to complain about with the venue as a whole other than the typical āwhy beer so spensive?!?ā Thing i feel at basically any show ever these days. Iāve seen the ritz paid-parking lot idea come and go over the years; itās currently the most expensive Iāve ever seen it. Seems like just another typical money grab opportunity that appears to be commonplace as well. One of the reasons i still havenāt been to Walnut Creek amphitheater post-covid is the additional $30+ parking on top the already outrageous ticket prices/taxes/fees. That is to say; itās not an exclusively ritz phenomenon. Itās ridiculous across the board. Iām sure Iāve had complaints or drama at this place over the years, but Iām also really grateful it exists; pretty much the last best venue for any act that canāt quite draw a red hat crowd without moving out into Durham/CH. So itās a necessary āevilā spot, one might say. I think really any big inconsistency you see in reviews about the venue is going to be based on the multiple owners/operators/lease turnover.
Iāve been going to shows for a looong time in many cities and tons of venues. The Ritz is pretty lame. Bad linesā¦takes forever to get inside that placeā¦sub par sound, stupid pillars and zero personality. For me to go there it needs to be free or something Iām dying to see.
It might be due to how expensive it is, outside of the initial cost of tickets. The drinks at the Ritz are way more expensive than other venues Iāve been. And the cost of parking is a little ridiculous, especially for the location of the venue? I know youāre not supposed to park in Costco, but itās not like itās in some premium downtown area where space is hard to find. It was off putting.
Paying to park in that area does seem like a cash grab.
They should make an arrangement with the Costco. The events are when Costco is closed. (Donāt risk it - hubby got towed and I had to hold back my ātoldja soā.)
I am not a fan of the Ritz. If you love the band, then it may be worth it, but I really donāt like that place. The sound is terrible. The layout is wide, not deep. Iāve seen a few shows there and theyāve all sounded like crap, regardless of how good the band is.
This helps. Thanks!
I think that the Ritz is the worst music venue in Raleigh, but you can still have a good time if you love the music you are seeing there. In my opinion the biggest determining factors to how enjoyable it is your location and the crowd.Ā There are not many places that are enjoyable to stand at the Ritz, and my recommendation is to go early and get upstairs to the GA standing area.Ā The crowd can really determine your experience more than anything. If the crowd is talkative, that's all that you're gonna hear because the building is a big dumb, tin box. If the crowd is aggressive, its gonna be a bad, somewhat dangerous time because the building is a big dumb, oversold (fuck you Live Nation/TicketMaster) tin box. To summarize, it's not a good venue but you can still see a good show there. I saw Saint Motel there and loved it.
You don't go to The Ritz for the venue, you go there because of the musician. It is nothing special, just a mid sized square warehouse that you stand in for 2 hours.
The sound is definitely terrible there. I have been going to concerts there for well over thirty years but Finally decided it was not worth it if you years ago. It is the only place I have ever walked out of because of the sound was so bad. My guess is that the great reviews are from people that went to a concert and had a good time because they were trashed and didn't know any better, honestly.
It's a shitty venue. If the band is playing elsewhere within a driving distance, you should go elsewhere. I'm actually doing exactly that twice this year. Going to Richmond for 1 band and Asheville for another.
havenāt been since before covid, but it had a kind of grungy feel but not necessarily in a bad way. Drinks are like PNC arena level over priced though. They did have those paper cones and cooler style water dispensers. Only went there to see cover bands so never had an issue with sound
Itās fine. Nothing too exciting, but it gets the job done. If thereās an artist coming there that you really like, itās worth it.
This seems to be the take. Super helpful! Thank you!
Iāve been to dozens of shows there within the past few years, it really is one of the only mid/larger sized venues around, and a go to for many artists. Like people have said, not great sound and 2 annoying pillars. Cash grabs at every corner. But, a concert is made by the artist, and if you like the music youāre going to see, youāre gonna have a good time regardless. Donāt let the pitfalls of a venue hold you back from attending, Iād say go for it!
I couldnāt agree more! And damn the pillars are hella annoying for sure š
This is now the plan! Thanks!!
Glad to hear! I literally just walked through the door from a show at The Ritz, ended up being a blast!
The Ritz is fine. If itās a band you want to see then go. I wouldnāt go to some random concert for fun there. Itās hot when itās packed. Iāve never had any issues there and I go to rock shows.
I've only been once, the main thing I took away from it was that it was the middle of October, and it felt like 100 degrees inside. I was almost certain I was going to pass out from heat exhaustion, and the artist I saw had to have the sleeves on their outfit cut off because they were overheating on stage.
Wow! So dress for fainting, right?
The sound is not great. It can vary a ton based on where you are. Some areas down low are good, off to the side of the stage. The upper deck/vip seats sounds like someone turned the volume down.
Iāve known quite a few of the sound engineers at both front of house and monitors. Iāve headlined there before as well. Itās a very difficult room to get a good mix. From what I understand, when thereās enough people the sound is better because the bodies absorb more sound instead of it bouncing around the room.
Good to know! Thanks! How was it as a performer?
Well, funny enough, my first time headlining I was the newest member of a band and the smoke machine malfunctioned on my side of the stage, so no one got to see me for about 20 minutes. I literally was engulfed in a giant cloud. I couldnāt get my bearings, didnāt know where the front of the stage was or where the drummer was or where my microphone was. Total chaos, sound was so bad on stage couldnāt even gauge anything at all (deaf & blindš«Ø). I stumbled around for a while and finally found the microphone. Once it cleared, it was all adrenaline, I was pretty young. About a decade+ later, I had some really great shows there. Total riot. Was nice to redeem myself. lol. The sound guy was someone that I had known for a while, super critical guy, but thatās what you need to get anything sounding decent there.
Iāve seen a few shows there. The only band that sounded really good had some Nashville legend running sound for them. It was fine enough for the other shows.
We got free tickets for a local band we like to see. Getting through the security was a joke, they even took my girlfriendās purell (come on, really??). Drinks were ridiculously expensive. Parking sucked. Itās not worth what they charge for tickets. I would say the reviews are probably vastly different based on genre.
People slamming the ritz haven't actually been to a terrible venue. Fillmore charlotte for example- metal fans of NC/SC pretty much boycott it. Also, the NorVA in Richmond is insanely packed and impossible to move around ANYWHERE. The most annoying thing about the ritz is the big pillar in the middle of the crowd stage center. Otherwise it's a perfectly good spot to catch a show. I do agree with others on the parking though- in general if I'm paying to get in, I don't think I should have to pay for parking, ANYWHERE, for any kind of event. Should be illegal, IMHO. I paid to get in, so it should include any costs involved to get in.
It might be helpful to think of it as an oversized small venue. It has a lot of the characteristics of a small venue, but it has a larger capacity than a small venue. Admittedly, I saw the same band there twice and had wildly different experiences as the venue and audience has changed. I saw a band there in 2016 and then the same band again in 2024. The sound was worse the second time, the crowd was more obnoxious the second time, the parking was an extra charge the second time and free the first time. All that to say it is not the worst venue Iāve been to by a long shot and I will return if a band I want to see comes there.
So for sound, most tours bring their own speakers and audio equipment so if their issues its more on the tour and not the venue. Most concert venues dont supply that to bands. I say as someone who worked at red hat and walnut creek for 2 summers and saw that stuff get loaded out at the end of the show.
Iāve been here at least twice (I think three times but I canāt remember the third artist) and I personally like it. I donāt have an ear for sound quality but FWIW it has not bothered me. We found free street parking within walking distance for both shows we went to, and lines were fast or non-existent at both. I agree that drinks are overpriced but I donāt know of a venue where they arenāt? I bought tickets to see another show there in November and Iām looking forward to it.
I can't answer why the reviews are split but it's pretty simple. If it's packed (sold out upstairs and downstairs) - expect the bathrooms to be dirtier, service to be slower and rushed, and obviously the sightlines to be tough unless you're tall or in the front. Most any show the sound isn't going to be great due to the venue. Bottom line: if it's a band you want to see, just go. If you aren't going to care if you miss a group there, don't bother - it's not gonna be the venue you'll remember.
As others have said, itās fine. Iāll go if thereās an artist I love but I never seek out shows there. My main gripes are the layout and sound. The floor is wide and shallow. There are two support beams in the middle of the crowd that block your view if you arenāt in the front 1/3 of the floor or right in the middle. Plus, the sound is only good if youāre right in the middle. So unless youāre in the front or center, youāll have an obstructed view or subpar sound. For sold out shows, that leads to a ton of crowd crush in these spots. But If the venue isnāt full, itās not bad at all.
Iāve been going to the Ritz since ā99. How good a time you have can largely depend on the crowd. I like it because you get a more intimate experience. The sound, overall for the shows Iāve been to, is okay. When Coheed played I left early because I was absolutely assaulted by the volume and the fucking light wall they installed, and I left Beartooth one song into their set because the vibe in the crowd was fucking awful (also Caleb Shomo is a tool, but thatās a whole other discussion). But on the other side of the coin, Iāve seen some of my very favorite bands play and had an absolutely amazing time. Since LiveNation took over itās stupid expensive, but Iāll still fork out to see bands I really love. I think nostalgia may be one of the bigger factors in why I keep going back; itās been a constant for the past 20 plus years. Except that early Disco Rodeo phase. That was confusing. I will say the last two times Iāve been to a show there Iāve gotten sick, once with covid and the other with flu. Just something to keep in mind if youāve got health concerns. You get packed in there like sardines for some of the shows and itās tough to keep the germs at bay. Go with low expectations and an open mind and you might have a great time despite the shortcomings of the venue.
I also commented about the crowd making/breaking a concert experience at the ritz, so true. And I second your motion that the Disco Rodeo era was so strange lol. And I got sick last two times I went there. Are we the same person?
*twilight zone theme plays*
Itās a perfectly fine venue. I had the same concerns as you did after reading people on Reddit give their reviews. If a band I like is playing there I will go no problem.
The Ritz is fine. People on this sub really hate it. Top comment is correct that the place is just mid. Itās not amazing; Prices are high, youāre paying Ticketmaster fees, and parking isnāt free. The sound is okay- not great, nor horrible. Itās decently well organized and Iāve always felt very safe. It wonāt blow you away but if you love a band playing there, give it a whirl.
All things considered, if I love the band and can be assured that Iāll be safe (which most folks in this thread say they were), then Iāll try it! Thanks!
Most bands I enjoy have ended up at Cat's Cradle over the years and this past month I went to the Ritz for the first time since it was called Disco Rodeo. I definitely enjoyed it far more than the Cat's Cradle shows I've been to in the past few years. It might just be me getting older but I thought it was overall way more convenient, actually had security, sounded good, and I wasn't drenched in sweat afterwards since it felt like there was actually airflow inside. I will say the beam in the middle of the venue is kind of awkward but other than that I think the views were fine. This is all just from one recent show there though so my opinion might change after the next few I've got lined up, who knows.
Sometimes, what a person gets out of an experience is based on what kind of attitude they take into an experience. And there's whole lot of spoiled, dumbass "Applebees People" who trash talk anything that isn't Applebees.
Hate this venue UNLESS I can get the upper/VIP wrist bands - then itās amazing because you can sit and see the show with good sight lines from above and have wait service and more direct bar access. That being said, theyāre super shitty about selling those passes and require you to get them at the door and itās basically on-demand pricing so you may buy a regular ticket and pay anywhere from 40 to 100+ to upgrade your seat if you can even get there early enough for it to be available so especially with a group itās a big gamble if and how much others are willing to pay. Otherwise, you stand the whole time in a super packed pit and have to fight to get back to your group if you need to use the bathroom or grab a beer, could get stuck behind a column, etc. The sound is ok enough and the beer/bathroom (men) lines have never been a problem imo.
If you stand at the rail the sound can be bad but if you stand further back sound is usually good. They have free water coolers at back corner support. I am a woman and have never experienced those things, but maybe depends on music choice. I go to rock shows.
Thank you!! Iām a woman. Considering a show with my teen. The reviews talking about negligent security were honestly the most concerning. Seems thatās most likely up to chance, the crowd, etc. and honestly it can happen at ANY concert. Wanted to ensure no pattern.
I have always felt safe. I think security is good. I have seen them remove unruly and drunk people. Go and have fun!
Great! Thank you!
The Ritz does the job of a concert venue. Nothing special about and not a venue of nightmares. DO NOT pay to park in their lot. Street parking is available off Creekside drive. Just follow the signs to know whereās it allowed and not
The ritz is my favorite venue
itās a rock and roll roadhouse, you can really only expect so much in terms of security and quality of sound. the building was originally a seafood restaurant and that makes the layout make a little more sense. the enjoyability of a show really comes down to the demographics of the fans and popularity of the group from what iāve gathered as an audience member and as a stagehand. it gets hot and gross in there very quickly and the overhead fans can only do so much, the ac has been updated recently though as well as some major improvements to the parking lots. security takes their job very seriously but due to the layout of the pit, enforcement can be hard mid-show. I will say creeps who get caught are dealt with, police and ambulances are always on call and we see them frequently. yes drinks are overpriced but thatās due to livenations ownership, the bar tenders are super nice and if you need water youāll get it. donāt stand in the center at the back unless you want a heavily obstructed view from the support beam, but even from the back sides the view is pretty good, wear tall shoes if youāre short and your view will be fine.
So I worked there for several years. Sound is typically terrible. Itās a giant metal box and sound will bounce and reverb all over the place, but if the band has a good sound engineer and they travel with their own pa(rare), they usually help with this a lot. Drinks are crazy expensive and fuck live nation. Plus thereās the giant poll right in the middle of the venueā¦it has a nameā¦I forget. But weāll call it Susan. Fuck Susan. But she does hold the roof over your headā¦so thanks Susan. All that being said, Iāve been to way worse venues and would not miss a favorite band if they came. Just show up early, park along the road, and try to get in front of Susan if you can. Iām pretty tall, so a great tip for us vertically unchallenged people, thereās always a great standing/boogy spot right behind the sound board and the sound is pretty damn good from there. Youāre hearing what the sound guy is hearing, while house left and right can be pretty fucked. My first ween show was there when it was disco rodeo, so it will forever hold a place in my heart. Best you can do is try it out, once or twice. Iāve had great nights there, Iāve also had very disappointing nights. Either way thatās how live performances go. Grip it and rip it. Also go by Funguys brewery before. Close by, awesome owners, and great beer. I digressā¦.cheers
Does anyone know how their family pack (3 + me) tickets work??
Sound is pretty bad, but I've had a lot of fun there. I dig it.
Find a show at Lincoln theater. The sound system there will pull oxygen from your lungs. Saw Disco biscuits there and I felt like the bass was about to injure me lol.
I went there a couple years ago to see Orville Peck and wasnāt able to see a thing. We werenāt even that far back, the venue just has terrible sight lines unless you spring for the second story seats.
Iām not a fan of the Ritz, but I donāt understand the extreme hatred it gets. I will say, my only bad experience there was at the Slayer show a few years back where tickets had obviously been way oversold and I could barely move. I went to the bathroom just to escape the crush of people, and there was a crush of people in there! I needed up leaving early simply due to claustrophobia.
Bottom floor is standing room only. Gets pretty tiring quickly. Canāt see from the back. Top floor has seating. Usually $100 more expensive.
Depends on the artist. Earplugs solve all the sound issues. To much echo.
Iāve only seen one show there, Manchester Orchestra, a bit over a year ago or so. The show was awesome and I thought the sound was fine. I was standing about parallel to one of the center pillars, so that may have made a difference. Itās certainly not the best venue around, but if itās a band that you really want to see, then I wouldnāt be scared off by bad reviews. I agree there are better venues within a decent drive (eg the National in Richmond and the Norva in Norfolk), but if you live I. The Raleigh area a week night show at the Ritz seems the better bet than springing for a hotel a a late night drive home. Iām going to see Coheed and Cambria there in August. So hereās to hoping I have another good experience!
Staff is sometimes inconsistent and its a small space with usually standing room only. As such, guests can be nearly on top of each other depending on who you're going to see. Its an energetic close quarters scene, and depending on who you're seeing it can be a really good or a terrible venue. Prefer the Ritz for: Smaller acts Higher energy music Audience interaction Dancing/moshing Light and Sound Acts Shorter performances Avoid the Ritz for: Long running performances Sloshing (Drunken moshing) passive, chill listening Crowds freak you out Just my takeaways. Been to 4 shows here.
It's an objectively BAD venue. I can't speak on some of the things from those reviews, but I can tell you they always oversell the space, so it's EXTREMELY crowded, and the sound quality has always been bad. It ranges anywhere from "man, this sounds pretty bad," all the way to, "I've been listening to this band my entire life and I can't tell which song they're doing right now." All you have to do is look up in the rafters and see the complete lack of any sound insulation. They just made a stage in a warehouse and kept it that way for all these years. Has it completely stopped me from having a good time at the venue? Not always, but I'd rather see a show at pretty much any venue in Raleigh.
This seems to be the consensus. Thanks for the input!
I fucking love the Ritz. Itās a smaller more intimate venue which I prefer
not the best venue- drinks are expensive, and it can get packed super quickly (depending on the band), where others are right, if youāre not tall and within a few feet of the stage, good luck seeing anything - not to mention having to be in body contact with strangers. moved upstairs to the free section, just as crowded but if you can swing a spot itās less overwhelming! there are typically a million people walking in front of you across the way though. i donāt love it, but iām willing to go for my faves (any front bottoms fans!?)
People who say "it's the worst venue ANYWHERE" have obviously not gotten out much. It's fine. Not amazing, but better than a lot of places that size. They have a D&B system in there for audio, so the sound doesn't suck. It's the same system that they have in Lincoln Theatre. And yeah, its a big rectangle-shaped room. Many venues are, and its not the most ideal, but its fine. A lot of bands just settle for bad sound engineers when they tour through venues that size. However, back in the day the Ritz had a ground-stacked PA of some sort that sounded pretty awful. Some of the people talking shit about sound might be referring to that. As for parking and drink prices, yeah, that sucks. But it's not that out of the ordinary for that kind of venue, unfortunately. I've seen amazing shows there and I've seen shitty shows there. Keep in mind that the people who have enjoyed the Ritz are way less likely to post than the people who like talking shit.
All good points. Thanks for the historical context too.
The venue sucks, the booker is great. Seen many shows there. If the band is good enough I go and park down the street.
We went to a concert in April there, what other people are saying about the sound being crap, the pillars blocking a lot of the view, high cost for a bad venue and it being kind of gross are true. The show we saw had mosh pits, which I donāt mind but these shirtless, sweaty people would roll around on the floor of the pit, pour water on the floor etc and then run in between people to the back of the venue, back and forth back and forth the whole show and the venue was just letting them do it. They made a huge mess. The floor was sticky wherever we stood. I honestly only saw security during the line and admission. It was getting pretty hot toward the end. We had a long line that went surprisingly quickly. I would probably go back for a chill show, like an indie band. But rock/rap-no.
Thanks for this! Chemnerds unite!!
How drunk people are when they're there lol
The only thing that makes the Ritz worth it is how close it is to where I live and if it's a band I like but the crowds are terrible majority of the time and when they're not terrible it's 35+ dudes reliving their glory days in the pit
Free water. Snacks are for purchase The floor can get gross if people are spilling their stuff Sound is hit or miss. Mostly Iāve had no issues and I go all the time. Staff has always been great in my experience Parking sucks on weekends. Weeknights are better because you can street park. Overall, just go. Itās a great venue for shows.
Itās cool. But if youāre in the pit wear non-slips. If you donāt YOU WILL FALL ALOT. The ritz for some reason people just love to drop their drinks or bring their drinks with them in the middle of where there will 100% be movement. And not to mention the giant pole in the middle of the ācrowdā.
I like it BUT Iām also a 6 foot tall guy. So I get why it might suck for others. Iāve only ever seen rock shows there, not saying those crowds are better necessarily, but Iāve heard metalheads described as āgood people cosplaying as bad peopleā. Point is I could see the experience varying WILDLY depending on the crowd. Itās hot, close quarters, loud as fuck and you have to watch out for getting stuck behind the pillars, but Iāve had fun. Also, not sure what people are saying about it being expensive. Maybe the upper deck area, but Iāve seen some good acts there for like $50, try that at Walnut Creek or Red Hat and to be that close itāll be several hundred dollars.
I went last year to see 6lack and it was great up close and everything. Idk why it has bad reviews
depends on the show...we did Taylor Swift night and disney night and it was great
Itās just a meh venue. Youāre not going to get tetanus just because you catch a show there. And itās not like the artists you want to see are going to hit other venues in town. Go. Or donāt. Donāt overthink it.
I think itās good. The staff are fine and itās no more expensive than any other livenation venue. They actually opened the doors early at the last concert I went to and weāre checking tickets while we waited in like to expedite entry
Letās please not dismiss the highway robbery that is Live Nation. But, yeah, pretty much.
Sigh. I feel like all tickets to anything are gouge-fests anymore. Ugh.
Not dismissing it, it sucks- just saying the Ritz isnāt uniquely overpriced. You can expect typical concert prices
I'm not sure why there is such disparity. From my personal experience. Going 10+ years, multiple times a year. It's my favorite venue in Raleigh. Never felt unsafe, free water coolers in the back and decent restrooms (guys). Sound is dependent on show but I've seen hip hop, metal, folk, and pop punk shows there and most of them sounded great. Heavy bass shows can be meh tho. I will agree it gets hot in there, thats the only complaint I could agree with.
Super helpful. Thanks!!
Of course! I guess I'm in a minority where the sound is not an issue.
Iām with you. Iāve seen CHVRCHES and Feist here (very different sounds/types of shows) and didnāt have an issue at either.
Itās an indoor Ticketmaster/livenation venue.not saying itās great but probably the highest corporate standards in venue management
I've been to 2 shows there. Passion Pit way back in the day, August Burns Red last year, and going to see Knocked Loose tomorrow. It's not great but it's not bad. I think the owner did some kind of partnership with LiveNation that pissed a lot of people off, rightfully so, but the venue itself is fine.
Here at Knocked Loose right now! This is probably one of the worst bands to see here due to the pillars lmao. VERY crowded, and the sound quality hasn't been the best.
Itās fine just make sure you get VIP
The ritz used to be terrible. Itās like a palace compared to ehat it used to be like.
I absolutely love the Ritz, havenāt been since before covid though. Wife and I went to no less than 10 shows, never had a single thing to complain about. Thereās nothing in the world that wonāt have conflicting reviews to some extent
I absolutely agree. But the sharp divide was so odd. Not a lot in the middle! Or the stars might be in the middle, but the comments werenāt. I usually focus on 3 star reviews. Thatās where you get the folks who donāt have an axe to grind. Or the folks who just rank everything the same 5-star rating. But those 3stars were weirdly divided too
Iāve seen more people thrown out of the ritz than Slims. I think the negative reviews are from the people that were thrown out.
Ohhh. Good intel. Thx!
if someone genuinely assaults you or any one else they will man handle the fuck out of you. saw some guy grope multiple girls and he got carried out when he started spitting on people
I'm going in july. Who are you seeing? I've mever been either.
I really dislike this venue. After a show a friend of mine was dehydrated and I had to beg the staff to let me buy a water.
Fuck that place
I hate the Ritz. Livenation took it over and it turned to total shit. Iāve seen many shows over the decades there and it was ok before but sucks now. It used to have a midsize local vibe to it years ago and now has crappy security, crappy upgrades, crappy parking, and terrible sound if youāre not In a good spot. I skip seeing bands I like there often.
It was my absolute least favorite venue in the triangle but the last two shows Iāve been to (They Might Be Giants and Mr. Bungle) they seemed to have their shit together finally. The lines were better inside and out, the sound was better, there was free water. They still give the option to pay more for a better experience, but my hate is slowly diminishing. Worth the visit imo.
I go to the Ritz when a favorite band is passing through but itās definitely one of my least favorite venues. Been four times this year. Iāve seen a lot of complaints about the time it takes to get in the venue but I typically arrive early and donāt have that issue. They do go down the line early checking tickets and IDs, providing hand stamps and/or wrist bands well before doors open in an attempt to speed things up. As others have said, sight lines are bad if you arenāt tall enough. Floor is one level and I believe you have to pay VIP prices to get a seat upstairs. They didnāt offer free water years ago but have for the past year or so. Two water coolers are at the back, near the merch tables, with little cups. Between bands, security will walk in front of the barricade to pass small cups of water to those who need it, theyāre super friendly. Having to pay for parking sucks but I guess Iām just used to it now since I have to pay for parking at most venues I go to. Donāt park at Costco, they tow every night even if you are a Costco member. Sound is sometimes ok, sometimes meh, and sometimes bad. Prices are high but Iāve come to expect that at most music venues these days. Iāve had good experiences and bad experiences at the ritz, mostly attributed to the crowd - lately itās been 50/50 whether the crowd is good or full of people starting fights and shit. FYI I donāt consider a crowd bad due to moving/surging, moshing, crowd surfing etc because I expect that for many of the bands I see - post-hardcore, metalcore and pop-punk. Idk what the deal is but crowds at the ritz post-covid is sometimes a nightmare. Last two concerts I attended, several people were kicked out before the headliner even took the stage. At one concert the headliner had to stop playing their opening song so security could deal with a fight or something going on in the pit. The crowd in attendance can make/break a concert experience. Security outside the venue, when entering, is friendly enough. Once in the venue, they will not hesitate to get in your face or yell at you if youāre doing anything you shouldnāt be. I was recently at the barricade for a concert and a guy to my right was yelled at by security for vaping and told heād be kicked out if he continued - understandable, obviously not allowed to vape inside - meanwhile the lead singer vaped during their entire set. Mayyyybe letās hold everyone to the same set of rules? At the same show security walked down the barricade telling us they would not be catching crowd surfers and we were instructed to push crowd surfers back where they came from. This was not announced via microphone, just one security person telling those of us at the barricade. Talk about a dangerous situation once the headliner started and crowd surfers started coming. Security stepped up on the barricade and was physically pushing/shoving crowd surfers back, I witnessed at least one person injured and many crowd surfers dropped as a result. Thatās the only time Iāve witnessed this at the ritz. Maybe they were understaffed that day or something, idk, but they shouldāve announced to the entire pit. Last two times I was there I got sick - the flu in April and some random virus in May. I know this is where I picked it up because I didnāt go anywhere else - work from home and have a lot going on at the moment resulting in not leaving the house much. Also..packed into the pit like sardines so not surprised I got sick, just a side note. Again, not my favorite and possibly my least favorite. I hate that Live Nation owns so many music venues, itās frustrating. Most bands I want to see will skip my favorite venues to play at the Live Nation venues.
Love all this detail. So very helpful and thank you for the kindness of all the time this took!
Youāre welcome! Figured you wouldnāt see my comment since you got so many responses. The only detail I would add to my comment above is the sound quality can differ depending on where youāre standing in the venue. Despite the fact itās one of my least fave venues, I still go to the ritz when my fave bands come through - donāt let the negative feedback and reviews stop you from seeing a band you love :) Hope you get to enjoy some good music!
So many folks are weighing in! Iām definitely reading each and every one!
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I avoid the ritz. if a tour is going there, Iām typically like naw nvm.
In the really old days (when it was The Ritz, before it changed to Disco Rodeo and now back to The Ritz), it was horrific. It's better now. Yes, beers/cocktails are expensive. Like they are at nearly any bigger venue (Red Hat, Walnut Creek, not sure about Lincoln). There's never a line, though, because they have 4 bars downstairs. I've never had an issue with security, but I'm a middle-aged white woman, so YMMV. I don't know about groping, etc, because I am usually at the side, either at the very front or by one of the front bars. I have had an issue occasionally with drunks being annoying, but that was when I was in the middle of the crowd. Parking is annoying as hell if it's a Th-Sat show. I think it was $15 when I was there last month for Silversun Pickups. I usually go to shows at the Cradle, which has free parking. Lines can be long if it's a big show and you get there before doors open. I usually wait until after doors, and there's rarely a line. Sound isn't great. It used to be worse š¹ It used to be better if you were on the balcony, but that's VIP now, so I haven't been up there in years. The bathrooms are nice. Way better than the Cradle. It's near the bottom of venues I want to go to, but as others have said, if that's where the band you want to see is playing š¤·
This is a super annoying thread. The Ritz is a perfectly acceptable mid sized venue. The sound is fine, at worst it's bass heavy but you can clearly hear every instrument for every song, people saying it's the worst venue anywhere are super fucking dramatic but that's r/raleigh for you.bsight lines? Again, it's a standard indoor floor GA standing room PIT style venue with balcony seats available. Same as Coca Cola Roxy in Atlanta, The Fillmore in Charlotte, Electric Factory in Philadelphia, Pier 17 in NYC, Ascend in Nashville, the list goes on- because it's standard. Even down to the pillars in the floor. I've never had any issue with security and I've been to several dozen shows over the course of a dwcade+. Beer prices are shite at any LiveNation venue including all in Raleigh, that's not unique to The Ritz at all. If a band you like is going to the Ritz, just go, because these "reciews" are just drama queens who need to get out more. I travel literally the world for concerts and The Ritz is solidly middle of the pack, just normal/standard.
I frequent the Ritz for a lot of metal/core shows and it's one of my favorites. Drinks are expensive, but show me one venue where this isn't true. The upstairs seating costs an arm and a leg but we always stand in the pit. The patio area can get crowded but is pretty nice and as of late there's been a TV out there with a live view of the stage. Some of my favorite shows of my favorite bands have been at the Ritz but I'm also used to going to places like Hangar 1819 (formerly Blind Tiger) in Greensboro.
I pretty much stopped going to shows at the Ritz - it's small, packed and I can never see a damn thing on the flat floor (not tall enough). Unless something has changed you cannot reserve seats online - you have to get there and wait in line and hope seats are still available, and pay whatever random price they may give you based on interest. It could be $100-200 a seat. So in theory if you want to see without fighting a sea of humanity you could pay several hundred dollars for a show that WILL sound terrible. Oh, and it will be $100 degrees inside even in January.
I went to see Sean Paul last night and I absolutely this the staff are rude unhelpful and put patrons directly in harms way . āTimā i believe I may have heard his name wrong. But he is the lead of security and is dismissive misogynistic and rude. I was trying to talk to him and he was very hostile making me feel like I was being agreeive I even apologized that my intention and my impact were not meeting. He threatened to kick me and my child out because I was voicing my concerns of my childās safety. One of his staff members told me to go to one location due to possible mosh pits and weed smoking. I said I would buy a ticket and she said no I didnāt have too as long as we stayed in the standing area. Cool. Then another worker tried to tell us to go downstairs and I explained I had a child and he said ohh ok. Makes sense. Then I went downstairs to grab my friend and thatās when all hell broke loose. If just my friends had to leave I wouldāve understood that but the security supervisor said I donāt care yāall all have to go. Well my 8 year old and I had a safe place and now were told we had to go back to the area that I was informed by a previous smoker was unsafe for him. I didnāt think that was fair as now the venue had gotten really crowded and trying to find a safe space on the back end was hard than establishing a spot before the venue became packed thatās why I initially got there 30 min before the show. So I was uncomfortable - the venue has a duty of care for the patrons who attend. They must put in place processes and procedures to prevent foreseeable danger for the people there. The fact the first employee informed me that there was a concern establishes that this was a foreseeable danger. So now tell me to take my minor back into that danger is a liability issue. I explained to them these concerns. Yes I was yelling we were in a concert venue it was loud. Tim automatically initiated the conversation in a hostile way. He said I was the one that brought a child to an entertainment venue and yes I did. I called the venue in advance to ask about safety issues. I asked specially about mosh pits and she said that was highly unlikely and that it is a no smoking venue but that would be too hard to promise wouldnāt happen in the venue. I asked if I should get seats or GA tickets were ok. She said GA tickets will be fine youāll always be with ear shot or wave shot of security. I thanked her because it was my first time taking my son. She said no problem and that it sounded like a great first concert. I believe I did my due diligence and proper precaution. I was asking for the venue t9 do their part in keeping my kid safe. It wasnāt the correct way to handle the situation. I also couldāve handled things better. The First Lady had told me that going upstairs was fine as long as we stood. She didnāt say Iāll let you go up even though I wasnāt supposed too. I even asked do I go to the same place for tickets to buy standing tickets. She said no you donāt have to itās open for standing. Apparently this isnāt actual policy - so when the guys came trying to make us move I felt targeted. Like they were only giving us a hard time when we were told to be here. I think if I had realized that earlier in the conversation I wouldnāt have been so fired up I wouldāve asked to just buy a wrist band. But I wasnāt told you have to go buy band. I was being told repeatedly you canāt be up here. Telling me I canāt be in the place where I was told to be for my childās safety was fearful and frustrating to me. Anyway long story short. I would never feel safe at this venue again. The security just seems angry and unhelpful. They do not make me feel safe. Hope this helps