The key to the Trocadero is in the details: the way the parquet floor seems to wobble slightly as the crowd jumps up and down, the intricate red design on the decorative curtain, the Christmas lights that hang from the side balconies. These details don’t “make” the Trocadero as a venue — the bands do that, of course. What the details do instead is foster a distinct atmosphere, an atmosphere that puts other, less ornamental venues to shame.
The Trocadero clearly flaunts its visual appeal. It is remarkably well–maintained, lacking the grit of most traditional rock venues such as the Electric Factory. The Troc works for old-fashioned aesthetics instead of beer–stained concrete, a quality that is reminiscent of its initial creation; it was built in 1870, as the Arch Street Opera House. From the grandeur of these beginnings the Troc went through numerous changes; it was refashioned as a Burlesque theatre, an art house and a dance club before it was finally cast as a concert hall in the 1980s.
As a concert hall, the Trocadero has become one of the city’s most notable, playing host to a wide variety of alternative rock and hip–hop acts, as well as a constant stream of metal bands. And though is has a capacity of 1,200, the Troc maintains a sense of intimacy by compounding a relatively small main floor with a relatively large, bench–lined balcony. This coziness accentuates the small things, the detailed elements that elevate the Trocadero from simply another mid–sized venue to a distinct musical experience.
Address: 1003 Arch St.
Website: www.thetroc.com
Upcoming shows: Nevermore, Rusko, The Walkmen
