Rialto Theatre — Attraction in Tucson

Alright.. there's "come on..." "I get it but.." and "that's ironic" in this review

Drove from Flagstaff (5 hours) and $280 on tickets for Alestorm on April 15th.

First, rules for the venue. No sharpies? The last time I met Alestorm after a concert, I regretted not having a sharpie. They won't let that in. And no carabineers? My husband works on cars and needs that for separate key groups. The lines did move swiftly though. I'm not from Tucson but their soda tasted like there was dirt in it.

Ok.. at fault here but hear me out: Brought in a plastic flask as every single venue alcohol prices are expensive AF. Took shots a bit early when the lights were still on and got caught. Security took the flask away and thought that was that, oh well. Then they came back, dragging my husband and I out of the venue to kick us out. I'm assuming the head security guy was informing everyone about what happened and he was all, "I saw him give her liquor!" Like I was underage or something. I shouted that I was 34 and my husband is younger than me (he's 26 and I did have my 21+ bracelet on). Head security guy looked baffled and had to change to the story of bringing a flask into the event. My husband was able to get me back into the venue to watch the show and they allowed him to chill in the smokers area to listen.

We weren't intoxicated at all comparing to the other patrons that were literally stumbling around. We had that one sip and they acted like we crashed the whole show.. I get that you can't have outside alcohol but I digress.

As I was miserable without my husband during the show, I watched a girl give her friend a handful of blue pills and they took them right in front of the security dude at the front. Then I watched head security guy doing a poor job trying to hide the vape him and his crew were puffing on. THEN I watched security not GAF about the obvious blunt cloud and the roach being passed around.

I ended up video chatting my husband the show while he listened from the outside. One of the security did let my husband back in to see the last 4 songs of Alestorm, hence giving 1 star back. I appreciate that guy but I've never been so targeted by ironic and hypocritical security like this venue. Even the security guy that my let husband back in even said to not drink anymore... You're literally acting like we were the belligerent, knocking people over and screaming type.

When leaving the show, we were sober.. While we were watching other patrons literally stumbling for the door.. But we're the problem

Like.. if you're not gonna follow the rules either, don't be like that to the first people you see. I really hope the security gets paid well for as much as they care.. or kinda care.

Never coming to this venue again. In fact, both times we came to Tucson were horrible experiences, so never going to...

I was extremely disappointed in this venue and its lies. I paid alot of money for the best possible tickets for a show there because I just had knee surgery and my fiance just gave birth to our daughter and because of these things I purchased the most expensive tickets/VIP package because one of the main perks besides the M&G stuff was that it included the first front rows (VIP only) gets seats. They did not use the seats at all. VIP package also included early entry which obviously cost extra and yet the General Admission tickets holders (the cheapest tickets) were allowed in with the VIP and they forced their way to the front (because there were no seats for VIP as promised) and they got to be front row while wedging themselves between the front row fence and the actual VIP holders. When security realized me and my fiance were in alot of pain (being crushed up against the fence in the first row) and offered us the opportunity to sit in the disabled section that has chairs since realizing I was actually disabled. Once seated there we couldn't see anything on the stage at all (because the first rows were supposed to be seated) and all the people standing against the first front row section were blocking the view. Long story short this ruined what was supposed to be an unforgettable night for my fiance since Jesse & Joy were her idols and this would be her first time ever seeing them perform live in concert, me aswell have special attachments to these performers since I already been following them since they started but the first day I met my fiance she was performing a cover of one of Jesse & Joy's hit songs. This evening that was supposed to be amazing and unforgettable turned into torture and disappointment. This venue was hands down the worst experience I've ever had at a location for shows and concerts and that includes all the locations in LA that I've been too. Won't recommend this place to anyone, ever. Better off finding other options for your concert or show experiences that isn't interesting in just...

In Arizona...the North continues to fight the South in more ways than just the athletic duel in the desert.

Within the last decade, downtown Phoenix has truly risen from its own ashes and completely transformed itself into the modernist city it wants to become.

Being the fifth largest city in America has its challenges and they are meeting them head on with new innovations all the time....just like ASU, who's number one in the country in that category...you don't even recognize the main campus in Tempe anymore as a traditional college campus.

Contrast that to Tucson, and it's night and day.

The UofA campus is a traditional looking campus that's a beautiful site to behold. When you're on site, you know you're on a college campus. Hope that never changes...

The same can be said for the downtown district. Tucson is Tucson..... there's houses throughout that were built in the early 1900's and are still in use today...same goes for the business structures....they may have changed owners and venues, but the structures are still pretty much the same...

That finally brings us to the review of the old Realtor Theater.... All the seats shown in the photo are gone... it's now just an open space for standing room only to view the particular group that happens to be playing on the particular night you go .

We went to see the Yachtly Crew....they played to a full house of fans, most of them in their Love Boat style costumes, or at least with their Captain hats....and they enjoyed the concert and had a great time. There's no place to sit, so you have to be prepared to stand for the entire performance.

The theater is a perfect place for this type of venue and it certainly adds to the flavor of Downtown Tucson.

If there's a group scheduled that you enjoy and would like to see...and don't mind standing, then this is a place to come to have fun at...and enjoy the evening....plus there's lots of lounges close by with live DJ's to dance to after the concert is over and you're not quite ready to go home...