The Masquerade

50 Lower Alabama Street, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA

Address:	50 Lower Alabama Street, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
Phone:	+1 404-577-8178
Site:	masqueradeatlanta.com
Rating:	4.3

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 4

Kevin Magyar

The people ripping on the masquerade sound like spoiled little kids. This venue definitely has a dive-bar feel to it, so dont go expecting the Fox. If someone had an idea of the Masquerade being a nice, new venue then being shocked at what it was like on the inside to inspire some of the hateful comments, but cmon folks! We go there to see music and have a good time. When I go to a show I go for the music of the band I like. The location or the condition of the bathroom is not going to ruin my good time. Lighten up and enjoy the music. Yes the place is kind of grimy, its a damn remodeled flour mill! I like that part about it, it is old and they kept much of the original look to the place when they made it into what it is today. It has a dive bar feel, which I love, and if you are not fond of those places, then prepare yourself. The mens bathrooms are definitely not sparkling clean but they are exactly what you would expect at dive bar concert venue (graffiti and stickers on the wall, broken mirrors, damp floor, etc). Yes it can get a little hot at a CONCERT that is INDOORS. If you dont want to get uncomfortable stay in your car and listen to your ipod. If you want to have fun and dance around with hundreds of others, you are probably going to sweat. I went last night for the second time in 3 weeks and the temperature was very comfortable when we showed up. Of course it got hotter when everyone started moving around. $3 domestics on tap as long as the kegs hold out, which is a damn good deal if you ask me. Other drink prices are on par for every other bar in Atlanta. If you dont like paying for moderately overpriced drinks, then do go out drinking anywhere in Atlanta. You will more than likely see a bunch of people with completely different styles than your own. If that is a bad thing to you, then you should probably just stay in your bubble for the rest of your life. Further, depending on which show you attend you might meet some people who take part in certain "indulgences" you may not agree with, but it aint no private show so deal with it. If you are sensitive to any kinds of smoke you might want to bring your SARS mask. Last night there was a real drunk guy in the audience but everyone just made a buffer zone around him and let him be or just helped him keep his balance. I would have appreciated if the bouncers took note this kid was too drunk, but rather than stewing about it I moved to another spot and enjoyed myself. My one and only complaint was the service at the bars. They seemed way understaffed and while very friendly, the bartenders did not seem very experienced. I know its tough trying to serve 50 people who all want a drink at once, but it seemed slow either way. Also I think it is fun when the floor bounces. I have just an inkling the folks at the Masquerade just maybe had an engineer to build that floor in expectation of the weight that was going to be pressed upon it. Overall it is a solid place to see a show and the smaller areas allow for a very intimate concert. Have fun!

A Private User

This place is awful. Its in a sketchy part of town, its an old, run-down building, and theres a parking lot about a quarter-mile down the road, with a poorly-lit sidewalk in between. I only go here because its the only venue in Georgia where the metal bands I listen to actually come. The bar inside is terrible, beer is 3 dollars on tap, and about 6 dollars for just an individual beer. The wooden floor in the place seems like its always about to collapse, in fact one of the stairways in there collapsed several years ago. Not surprising, seeing as the building has been around since the early 1900s. The foods pretty good, the hamburgers are about $5.50 which is not that bad, but they are kind of small. The french fries were decent, not the best. The soft drinks were terrible. Most people just get beer there anyway but its terrible if youre under the drinking age because they have a soda machine which makes it watered down and it doesnt even taste like a soda. The acoustics in there arent that good, especially since mostly metal or hard rock bands play there. The bathrooms are disgusting and covered in graffiti, and the floors are filthy. You always run into sketchy people there, I had this guy tell me all about his experience with Satan and cutting himself. Half the people in line are trailer trash, and drunk people constantly bother you. The bouncers are usually really nice, but theyre not very useful with huge crowds. I was just at a concert the other night and this guy started a fight and it ended when someone basically knocked him out, and the bouncers didnt get there til like 5 minutes later. Theres nowhere to sit down in there except for a couple chairs in the back which are always taken immediately. Some people brought their toddlers there, which was an absolute mistake. The kids had no idea what was going on, mainly because they couldnt see the stage, the crowd was packed in and people were getting way too rough, and the air was filled with secondhand smoke, both cigarette smoke and other substances. The only reason you should even consider going here is if theres a band you absolutely have to see that is not coming to any other venues.

A Private User

I have been coming here since the early 90s. It used to be a great venue to see bands bury in the last 5 years or so, the place had gone down hill. Only reason I still go is because its the only place certain bands play at. They pack the small rooms out instead of moving to a bigger room. The staff treat you like youre a moron. Dont stand here, dont do this, dont do that. I wax trying to quit smoking with an electronic cigarette, which is legal to use in an air port. They said if I wanted to use it, I would have to go outside with the other smokers. Im trying to stay away from smoke and they are making me stand in the middle of it. Reason they gave me, if others saw the vapor from the e cig, then they would think its ok to smoke inside. They got mad when I said that just means you will have to do your job then. Apparently you can not stand on the platform by the door by fire marshall orders. The platform is 10 wide, so you are not blocking the exit. But last time I was there a guy stood there for the entire show. Turned out it was an off duty staff member. If he is off duty then he should ber on the floor with everyone else. The bouncers are INCREDIBLY RUDE and have a greater than thou attitude. It was gonna be tore down several years ago for the atlanta belt way, I wish they would do it already.

Andy Burns

Its not that bad. I read a lot of reviews and thought Id share a down-to-earth one. I came from out of town and had never laid eyes on the place. Honestly, the exterior looks scary but that doesnt do the interior justice. The temperature indoors wasnt as hot as people made it sound, but I did break a sweat just standing around watching the show. I go to a lot of concerts and it was no warmer in there (in August!) than any other concert floor Ive been on. Bartenders were nice and to my surprise it *was not* just a cash bar. Bouncers were also polite. The sound from the band I came to see was good (sound really depends on the band and equipment anyway). The building was said to be an old flour mill; a real gem of history in an old city. And believe it or not, some work has gone into it to keep it standing safely. In the upper level, you can feel the floor shake when the show takes off and people jump around. Speaking of people: there were some freaks there. Not everyone, but a lot. I find it hard to believe they all worked at Hot Topic, so I was worrying if they were all there then who was manning the local tattoo/piercing and head shops? Parking isnt so great, but we lucked out and found a space on the small side-street running down the building.