El Rey Theatre

The El Rey sits on Wilshire in the Miracle Mile, between La Brea and Fairfax, where Burnside and Dunsmuir meet the boulevard. Its neon vertical sign and wraparound marquee light up the block every show night. Clifford Balch designed it as an Art Deco movie house in 1936. It showed films for more than 50 years, switched to live music in 1994 and is a registered Historic-Cultural Monument.

Inside, there's one general admission floor with a big chandelier hanging over it and a red curtain behind the stage. Some nights are seated, and a few shows sell VIP table seats, which the ticket link spells out. Goldenvoice puts its name on the marquee, and the calendar leans toward touring indie, alternative and electronic acts a step or two before they move up to bigger rooms.

Doors usually open an hour before the listed start. After your ticket scans, you can't leave and come back, and any bag over 14 by 14 inches stays outside. The bar sells food and drinks (21 and over for alcohol), and concessions are cashless, while the box office takes cash or a card. If you want a real meal first, the venue sends people to El Cartel next door.

Parking takes a bit of planning. The venue lists three self-park lots along Wilshire, and the one at 5455 only takes cash and shuts half an hour after the last song. Valet is out of service for now. The side streets are residential and need a permit decal, so read every sign before you leave the car. The Line 20 bus stops right at Wilshire and Dunsmuir, and the El Rey itself suggests a rideshare for this part of town.