Real Athletics Review

Sound quality is great! Atmosphere is killer! Wish I could go more, but I live in WI.

Really fun venue. The staff was bringing their A game the whole time. Whether it was escorting roudy people out or keeping people who are overheating and or overdosing from dying. Great night

Great concert venue, occasionally issues with crowding and finding a good view but usually you can squeeze your way in

Lots of great bands have played here, but of course you knew that already. Not my favorite place to see live music, but that still doesn't keep me from checking out who plays here on a monthly basis. Drinks are expensive. Shows can get crowded, but yet I still find room to dance, albeit in a small space. This place does not try to cater to your tastes. Your experience here completely depends your own determination to have fun. If you came to get down no matter what, the potential is here to do just that.

One of the best sounding venues I've been to. Perfect size with enough room for casual listeners vs pit. Easy to get to and good location.

They force the tour truck drivers to park in their garage and won't let them use their generators. They let scum smoke cigarettes but generators cannot run. I can hear everything, I can cool my cab, and cannot sleep. This just puts an over-tired trucker back on the road. This place is a dump, the stagehands are lazy, and the staff just don't get it. Also they do not have showers for the touring acts. What a hole!

Absolutely stunning venue in terms of staff, sound, sightline, and history. A must stop for Minneapolis! The history of this venue is amazing as you can see from the stars on the wall from some of the past performers. It s a family owned club that treats staff with respect. This is also the venue much of Purple Rain was filmed in.

Love how many great bands come to this venue, but it's still,not too big.

Still a great club after all these years. Great sound, drinks and staff!

Great venue; iconic and timeless. You can't top the "atmosphere" of this place.

Terrible customer service. None actually. We paid for tickets, which we had in hand, and were denied entry because one of us didn't have the "proper ID" to get in the door. I actually had 2 state-issued IDs on me with my birthday, which is what their website lists under FAQ as appropriate forms of ID to gain entrance to their precious club.

The moronic door man claimed that the law was that the ID had to be a photo ID, so the law's the law apparently. No picture ID, no entry. Whaaaat!? I didn't have my driver's license on me because I had just renewed it, so only had the yellow paper ID. Not good enough. Even though that policy is new to me, I can take the blame for the oversight. I forgot my discarded, invalid driver's license at home. (I will also add that this policy is nowhere to be found on their website). Why not just go home and fetch it? Normally that would make perfect sense, but we live almost an hour away, so needless to say that wasn't in the cards. You'd expect some level of understanding from people in the service industry for an oversight like this, right? WRONG. So, they showed no understanding, wouldn't let us in, but at least I should be granted a refund, right?

NOT EVEN A REFUND WAS OFFERED!!! AND WHEN I ASKED FOR ONE AND TO SPEAK TO THE MANAGER THE TROLL OF A DOOR MAN REFUSED TO LET ME SPEAK WITH HIS SUPERVISOR AND ACCUSED ME OF HAVING AN ATTITUDE TOWARDS HIM.

AVOID THIS CLUB AT ALL COST UNLESS THEY REPRIMAND OR TEACH THE TOOL WHO TAKES THE TICKETS HOW TO DO HIS JOB.

I WILL BE SURE TO POST ANY AND ALL APPLICABLE UPDATES TO THIS REVIEW.

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MANAGEMENT IS STILL REFUSING TO ISSUE A REFUND OR AN APOLOGY!

UPDATE - Management responded with a rude email stating that I didn't have the correct identification to enter. Would the manager know that for certain when his communication with the moronic door man consisted only of grunts and vague gibberish over a radio? He did not bother to look at any of my IDs at the venue. His email response also included a link to the FAQ page of their website where their rules were buried where no one could find them. Here they are:

WILL I NEED AN ID TO ATTEND AN EVENT AT FIRST AVENUE? WHAT FORMS OF ID ARE VALID?

Yes, you will need an ID to enter the venue during 18+ and 21+ events, and also to claim will call tickets. Acceptable forms of ID are:

Valid, State-issued, Driver's License (not clipped)
Valid Passport
Valid, State-issued, Identification Card
Valid Learner's Permit
If you don't have one of the above, acceptable combinations of IDs:

Valid Yellow Papers from the DMV and a Clipped/Invalidated State ID/License/Permit

So, I had on my person 2 state-issued ID cards, but because neither of them had a photograph, I was denied entry. Tell me where in these rules does it state that you need a PHOTO ID?!?! And again, if this is a state law, it is a terrible one. I don't drink, so why do I need to verify that I am 21? Or even 18 for that matter!? I have gray in my beard. You'd think that would be proof enough that I am over 18. This is totally a law about alcohol. If you're under 21, they put a wristband on you so you can't order at the bar. The lack of common sense to refuse a paying customer to enter, with the simple solution that he/she just not be given a wristband, is mind-boggling. But like I said, you're always entitled to a refund. Oh wait. NOPE.

Always a pleasure to come to such an old school environment where the great experience

Feist time here. Turnpike troubadours. Loved the band. Loved the atmosphere. Loved it all. I can't wait to come back!!

This place will ruin other venues for you... It hard to capture what 1st Ave means to MN and the music community in general. We go to 10+ shows a year here and whether the band delivers or not you can always count on the venue and its staff to be top notch.

The set up and sound quality is ideal for concerts and a great time... and the beer selection is the epitome of Minneapolis

The upper tier and floor access to the stage make for a great gig. Loved the front row then took a break and hit the upper bar. Watch your coat and hat losers tried to make off with mine while getting a drink.

Great sound,great show but be prepared to stand for the whole show. No seating.

Personally love first Ave/7th St entry for live shows

Great venue. Younger staff is edgy so watch your step. Staff veterans are great, cool calm collective and courteous. Real professionals.

Great venue is always something going on there, lots of things to see outside and inside. It is great to see how many artist have played there.

Always a great show at First Ave. Looking forward to the next one.

The venue itself is good and obviously it's worth it's time to go to at least once.

4 stars with a bit of hesitation. Been going here since I was a teen in the early 90s, and remember a much different venue. While the new First Ave (since re-opening) seems cleaner, shinier, and a little more streamlined than its previous incarnation, it has simply lost the edge. But, maybe that's the point.

This is downtown Milquetoast-apolis. If you want edgy stuff, you go to Triple Rock, Turf Club, Hexagon, or Cabooze now. Or, a basement show. (Remember those?) First Ave is for nostalgia. Alt-pop. You Tube sensations. Pandora hit masters. And, that's just the world we live in now. Album sales aren't the thermometer anymore.

Also keep in mind that Minnesota still is "fly-over country", as someone succinctly put it a few years ago. Our awkward Minnesota nice and obsession with local will always reign in place of a cutting edge music scene.

Remember when Jane's Addiction played the 7th St. Entry? And Nirvana? You missed out.

Well, if you have nothing but bad memories of the place, take comfort: the acoustics do still suck, and the mediocre drinks have typical downtown price tags. If you're drunk here now, its cause you can afford to be!

I went at rush hour, and it took me a lot of time to get through

Love the music. Always feel that I can't hear the vocalist clearly. And the beer is expensive!

Awesome venue. Very intimate. Was able to be so close to one of my most favorite artists ever! Ayla Nereo. Check her out!

It's First Avenue. Prince. Husker DU, The Replacements, Bob Dylan.
What else is there to say? This place is iconic. If you've never been here, you need to attend a concert here.

Club that Price performed at in the film PurpleRain

Access place to Target Field, Loews hotel and Jack links

Check out a show here and you will be back shortly after - it s a great venue! You can see from most all angles and usually sneak up to the stage.

Iconic MPLS club for live music. Saw The Blank Angels--awesome!

What can you not like about First Ave... There is little to no seating and you want to line up early to get a good spot and the good acts will fill the place. They have enough bars so there is never a long wait in line and the sound system is great.

One of the best, longest standing music venue in the twin cities.

Obviously iconic music venue. Still one of the best places to see a live performance!

If you're looking for THE place to catch a show in Minneapolis, First Ave is your destination. While not the largest of venues, it pairs a nice level of intimacy with great sound to give you a night to remember. I've seen a couple of shows here and I have not been disappointed. Make sure to find your favorite artist on the wall outside, as most notable bands have been here at some point in their careers.

Great place! Very fan friendly! Highly recommend!

nothing but love... even though i was inches from being puked on.

My first time at First Avenue was so awesome!!! I recommend taking the train or uber since it is next to Target center. Plenty of places to eat near by! I would go at least an hour ahead for waiting in line for concerts. I'm not sure if it is still a wait if it not a sold out concert. It foes get cramped in the standing area so have patience and if your not one for feeling a pit then dont be in the pit area. Go with more than 2 people I would suggest. There is a coat check you can use but I didnt bring a coat and it was more enjoyable to not have to worry about it. Also avoid bringing a purse. Ladies, 100% you do not need to lug that around at First Ave.

Iconic venue with some of the greatest live shows of the Minneapolis music scene. Oh, and national and international acts as well!

First Avenue is almost always a great venue to attend some Super Stellar shows! Also, it usually has a fun and exciting atmosphere to just sit with a friend or 2 or 3, and enjoy some good conversation and each others company.

Such a cool venue. It was chilly waiting outside for the doors to open, but so worth it! The staff was friendly and fast... the drink prices were reasonable... the bass was a little loud for my taste, but the show was amazing!

Exceptional sound quality and plenty of space. I visit anytime there's good talent in town.

Went to the Janis Joplin tribute. Not a bad venue at all. Easy to get to by light rail.

First Ave already has all the stars it needs and more

Great club, but noise travels and people talk way too much at concerts these days. There is also the issue of very little seating and I'm done with my days of standing at concerts.

Have been wanting to stand on that floor and watch a show since 1984. Got my wish, and was blown away. Taken back to those days of Prince, but also floored by all the stars outside - Fugazi, Sisters of Mercy, amazing.

Celebration tribute to "Prince" the artist. Sang and anced the night away!

Great historical club! Atmosphere, atmosphere, music, new and old groups, singers and entertainers.

You haven't been to a show until you've been to 1st Ave