Shank Hall

BF and I saw a show there yesterday. I hadn't been to Shank in years, but it hasn't changed a great deal. Door staff gets you in quickly, which is always welcome. This was a fully seated show, which was nice since the crowd leaned older.Servers and bartenders were quick and friendly. Drink prices were a little high for the basics, but that's most music venues.The sound is sweetest in the middle of the room. Bathrooms were impressively clean.

This is a great venue for small crowds under 300. Excellent sound system and sound engineer. Very clean and a great, friendly staff. The drinks seem a little steep, $10 for a screwdriver. There is a good sized stage, a lot larger than similar venues in Vancouver, Canada. There is a large dance floor, but the crowd tonight either sat at tables or stood in front of the stage, like a very po. I came 15 minutes early and found free parking right across the street.

Great old school venue. Love this place. When Brian Henneman (Bottle Rockets) was asked in an interview "What is one thing that has remained consistent in the music business over the past 30 years" his answer was "Shank Hall in Milwaukee ". Intimate place to explore underrated bands.

Intimate venue for live music. They only serve chips but encourage people to order takeout. We ordered from zaffiros which is down the street and it was pretty good! The bartending staff is friendly and there's a decent amount of seating. On street parking or lot for $3+, bathrooms are clean. Overall fun local experience. Pro tip: go to shank halls website and read about the history!

Great music hall and bar . Get really good acts and nice variety. Cool place . Great place with great sound . One of the best in Milwaukee. Be there or be square !

Some of the reviews puzzle me. How is Shank Hall a dive bar? How is $6 a drink in a music venue *expensive*?!I've been going here since it was Teddy's. Which is to say, 1982 or 3. I've seen a LOT of bands here and it's always a great time. I recently went back to see my pals The Wigs. The room is much like I remember it. It's a bit rearranged and cleared out a little to make more room, but it's still got the same great vibe.Drinks are $6. That's not a bad price for a music venue. It's really not. Don't EVER change Shank!

I sometimes find other Yelp reviewers' definition of what is a "dive" a bit odd. The term "dive" gets used a lot in Shank Hall reviews, and there's nothing divey about this place. It may be a bare-bones performance space, but it's clean as can be--the bathrooms, bar, and room look scrubbed. I've been in dives--the sorts of places where you don't want to touch anything--and Shank Hall is nothing like that.What it is is a basic space with great sound for smaller performances. The walls are painted black and lighting is low (which may give some the impression of a dive bar), but no one should feel discouraged from seeing a band they love at this venue. Drinks are reasonably priced and lines of sight are great unless you arrive late for a crowded concert.Shank Hall has a few downsides. There is no parking, so you'll need to find on-street parking (or, better yet, take the Hop to Burns Commons stop just a half-block away.) Also, don't expect this to be a quiet listening room for music--depending on the band you're coming to see, the audience can be pretty loud. (But, I saw a jazz show here recently and you could hear a pin drop it was so quiet.) The other small gripe I'd have is that Shank Hall's website doesn't say anything about seating. Some shows have seats, others do not. It would be nice when you purchase tickets to know (since standing for three hours might impact my desire to see a band at this venue.) Doors open an hour before showtime, and there are always a few seats available at the bar, so you could grab those, but they are at the back of the venue and don't have the best views. Also, it is worth noting that since Shank Hall is a bar, all shows are 21 and over. Per the website, "the only exception we will make is if you are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian during the show (they can't just drop you off). AND you have to prove they really are your parent or legal guardian." So, no showing up with your friend who's two years old and claiming they're your guardian.

I like Shank Hall. It's divey without being gross. The sound system for music is better than you get at Turner Hall or The Rave. Bartenders are slightly more than disinterested in you, but you don't usually have to go long without a drink. I will tell you this, however, every single drink is $6. Doesn't matter the draft beer, the rail mix drink, it's all $6. That means it can get expensive quickly, especially if there's two of you drinking on the same tab. Also, this place takes your ID when you start a tab. You get it back, of course, but just fair warning.

I came here to see my favorite artist - Jesse Malin I love this place to see artists that are under the radar of mainstream music. The acoustics are great here! I can always find a seat to sit down as I am not a young spring chicken. Drinks are great too and reasonable.So if you like music go check Shank Hall out!.

I've been there a couple of times, but my most recent visit was the first time I was really excited to see a concert there (The Paper Kites).I LOVE how intimate this venue is. There is literally not a bad seat in the house, since it is so small. With that being said, do not expect any frills here (not that that is a bad thing!). The focus here is really about the music. They have some high-top tables with chairs, regular round tables, seating around the bar, and the rest is standing room. You can get drinks at the bar, or there is a server walking around taking drink orders as well. Which, is actually awesome so you don't have to miss any of your show.After I left, I thought to myself I need to see more concerts there. I still can't believe how close I was - such a great way to see someone play.