Vivarium | A Venue by The Pabst Theater Group — Local services in Milwaukee

The TLDR up front: Subpar venue, disorganized, bad views everywhere, no accessibility for people with mobility issues. If you can see the show in Madison or Chicago at a better venue do it.

The long version, I went in with high expectations I mean it's the Pabst it's going to be good right? Wrong. To start off the show was scheduled to start at 8 doors at 7. So I figured I'd get there around 7:15 so I could just walk in and not have to wait in line outside. Well I get there and they're still doing sound check and saying they're not open yet. Not a big deal but a bad first impression. I did a couple laps around the block and around 7:30 they finally let us in the venue.

When you get in it looks like the banquet hall where your high school hosted their battle of the bands. The space is small and the ceiling is low which means the stage is like two feet off the ground. If you're short like me get to the front or else you won't be able to see anything. Some venues there isn't a bad seat in the house. At Vivarium there isn't a good seat in the house. If you have mobility issues don't come here they have like seven or so high top bar chairs and that's it.

I've enjoyed shows at venues and bars with similar conditions before but I wasn't paying the prices they charged here. If this show was 10-15 dollars it'd be ranked higher. They're charging like this is Turner Hall, which it most certainly is not. Another thing that bugged me is that every band was constantly giving directions to the sound people. After almost every song someone would say "Can I have more of x?" Or point to an instrument and point up or down. The one thing you can usually count on with the Pabst is sound this wasn't there with Vivarium even for the bands monitors it seems.

Overall, I'd honestly rather drive to Madison or Chicago to see a show at a better venue than come back here. I hate to say that but I just can't recommend anyone see a show here. I cannot believe they gave up The Back Room for this gross little strip mall venue. I guess everyone is entitled to a few misses, this is the Pabst's big...

An attempt to recreate their predecessor, the Back Room at Colectivo, but with worse acoustics and even worse sight lines of the performers. The location on Farwell Ave. makes for headaches when trying to park with their street-only parking on a one-way street, and I can imagine the majority of people wanting to rideshare during the coldest months of the year. Upon first arrival, the space struck me with its cool look and interesting lighting from the skylights above. The Vivarium is trying to act like other small venues in the city (like Cactus Club or X-Ray Arcade) but still has the ticket prices and fees from the Pabst Group’s larger venues. The show I attended was $15 per ticket, and when purchasing two tickets, the total after fees was $42.44 rather than $30. By far the worst part about the venue is the stage height, which seems to be barely 2 feet off the floor. It may be fine if you’re there to HEAR the act, but if you’re further back, you are most likely only going to be seeing their heads. The entire experience could be improved upon if it was raised even by 1 foot, but they’d be pushing it with the ceiling height. It’s not the worst venue in the city, but there are quite a few detractors that clearly take away experience. There was still a great vibe to the atmosphere when the music was playing and the crowd was engaged. (I attended a show of Milwaukee-based acts with Collections of Colonies of Bees, Immortal Girlfriend, and Exit...

First time here to see Buffalo Nichols to whom I’d like to apologize (on behalf of Mkeans who love you and wouldn’t dare talk during your set) for this venue’s dreadful acoustics and lack of crowd sound dampening material in the rafters. I was one person back from the stage and the entire show my internal monologue was screaming, “Why in god’s name do I hear the raucous din of the audience as if I’m (ironically) sitting at a coffee shop with Spotify in the background?!” I literally had to cup my ear in an attempt to drown it out during his softer material. Buffalo Nichols confirmed my frustration when he sternly asked his audience to stop talking while he played (sprinkled with a delightfully validating f-bomb). I know from decades of concerts that, for whatever insane reason, people talk during shows. It’s unavoidable. But I also know from decades of concerts that you shouldn’t be able to hear said conversations when a musician is on stage. Unfortunately, when the venue is basically a cavernous mini airplane hanger, something must be done about the echo and reverb of said conversations. Please fix this so you don’t embarrass this town again. (Also, yes, I’ll also add that parking...