Whisky a Go Go

Whisky a Go Go has stood on the corner of Sunset and Clark Street since January 16, 1964, and the red building with black awnings at 8901 Sunset Blvd is about as easy to find as anything on the Strip. Johnny Rivers headlined opening night. The Doors later worked as the house band, playing seven nights a week, and the club's own history claims the go-go dancer was born here, dancing in glass cages hung over the room.

It's still a rock club at heart. Touring metal and punk bands share the calendar with long bills of local acts, and some nights you'll catch four or five groups for one ticket. The main floor is open in front of the stage for dancing, with a bar on the ground level and balcony seating upstairs. There are seats on both floors, though how many depends on the show.

The building opens at 6 PM and stays open until 2 AM, but door times for shows shift from night to night, so check the calendar before you head over. Unless a listing says otherwise, every show is all ages. If you're planning to buy at the door, bring cash. The box office doesn't take cards, though there's an ATM inside if you forget.

For parking, the club points people to a valet lot right behind the building, reached from the alley off Clark Street. Street spots on the side streets are tight on show nights, and the hills climb steeply north of Sunset. The Roxy is a short walk west, so it's easy to see a band at one and finish the night at the other.