Thunderbird Café & Music Hall
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One of the coolest, small, intimate music venues I’ve ever been in. I love the brick walls. And speakeasy feel upstairs and walk down stairs to the venue on the floor. Super awesome how it is a tier level. Hardly any room in the upper tiers besides Standing on the balcony. The floor seemed like it could get very packed. I went to the hip abduction in May 2024 and had a blast. I eventually weaseled my way to the front row and met lots of cool people. Yuenling pounder was seven dollars Craft beer I had was eight dollars… so not bad. I’m no audio professional but I do have some minor experience and also work as a stage hand. They have two tall speakers that are suspended above the stage, so I’m sure it sounds great on the balconies, but I could barely make out the vocals on the floor. They need to have a low lying speaker behind the band stage level. Other people around me agreed that they couldn’t really hear his vocals at all either. which was a bummer because I was trying to intently listen to the lyrics but I couldn’t make out hardly anything being sang. Overall had a blast. They could’ve definitely use more bartenders. There was only I believe one upstairs and one downstairs. And when I went upstairs to get a drink, thinking I would save time, I guess the girl was outside, smoking a cigarette for a while, so me and a few others were waiting, super thankful that they have multiple water jugs around. I meant to take a picture, but that diet water jug was fire. Hahaaha y’all rock. Thx much!
Daniel GennaroDaniel Gennaro
00
I have always loved the Thunderbird Cafe, but since it's renovation, I absolutely LOVE it. The sound system is much better IMO, the venue is bigger, has a very acceptable bar that's quick to get a drink at, and the stage and venue overall can hold more people. Next show i hit there and record at, im going to try to get a SEAT on the balcony so I can record from up there, which is parallel to the stacks/speakers. I have always loved the intimacy of this venue, and it STILL has that feel even after its renovation when it was finally made bigger and the T-Bird bought the building next door. IMO, its a great place to see a show at, or just go to grab a drink or two with some friends!!! But since it's renovation, the "taper" in me really loves it. It's better sounding system translates EASILY onto my recent Perpetual Groove recording from 10/19/2021, and its NOT filled with an abundance of crowd chatter, which was ALWAYS a staple at the old venue. It used to be one of the absolute worst venues to try and record audio at, and now its one of the easiest. I'll ALWAYS have a special place in my heart for the now defunct Rex Theater, because it was an amazing venue all-around with incredible sound AND staff, but if the shows that used to happen there, now go down at the new Thunderbird Cafe, I won't be quite as heartbroken as i was when the Rex Theater closed 😎👍🙂🕺🕺🕺
Brandon 'Bean' FisherBrandon 'Bean' Fisher
00
Had an overall great time at Thunderbird for HUNNY. Draft list was more than generous in range, had an Arsenal Cider and a Dewey Beer Co goze. Wish they said prices and pour Size on menu, but at 8 and 7 bucks respectively, seems like market price, as long as I'm not paying that for Bud Light I'm happy. Service very fast and courteous. Easy viewing for everyone, balcony was nice to have the option. bathrooms surprising clean. Crowd had some good energy, but nothing to let me know how they handle a heavier crowd w/ moshing or crowdsurfing if that were to happen. Bouncers, doormen, stage dude, bartenders are all professional, amicable chillers seemed like a nice working vibe on easier nights like that. Sound was better than expected, they played to the room and it was a comfortable but not underwhelming level from right on the stage to the bar seating where you could even have a conversation. For sure looking forward to a next show
Dylan IsleyDylan Isley
00
The Thunderbird. I don't know all of its history, but I've spent a few NYE evenings here over the years listening to some great blues artists. An intimate venue and a ton of fun that fills a niche that Pittsburgh otherwise lacks. Then they closed in 2016 for renovations. After multiple delays and revisions, it's finally open again with a much larger capacity (382 is the official number) but smaller than the original proposal (~1000) as part of a new promotion company (Roxian Live). I am dumbfounded with how well they built the new space. It's both large and open, yet still intimate and full of its original character. The brick and unique mural, the lighting, with wealth of bars and restrooms. They got this really right. The front area bar is widened too, which was a problem with the old layout. It includes a front stage too which could be used for smaller "coffeehouse" type shows. Go check out the new Thunderbird!
John YackovichJohn Yackovich
00
Great venue, good vibes, nice staff. I loved the setup, but the sound was off a little. All the niceties made up for the fact that nobody showed up with food like they were supposed to at 5pm. It wouldn't have been a big deal at all, ever, except it was over 90° out and I have been having a bad medical condition that prevents me from walking easily, and we bought the tickets way in advance. So that was a bummer. All in all though, they were VERY accommodating to my needs and I could sit for the show and use an elevator to get downstairs. Thank you staff! We only came to see Dexter, and he wasn't on point as he usually is. He sat in a chair most of the time, and his mics were weird. I look forward to coming back here another time when I am feeling better. It is a very cool place and highly recommended! 🎸
Colleen DColleen D
00
First time there! You walk into a nice little bar with bathrooms off to the side and a small box office window down a hallway. Okay so it looks nice but where is the venue? After we showed our tickets at the box office window we were ushered through a door I hadn't noticed before. That's when I saw it. You enter the venue at about mid level once you pass through. Its big yet cozy. We found the only booth on the bottom level and planted ourselves for the night, right next to the push button for pizza counter. The way it is built into the ground allows for amazing acoustics. The show was great! Walter Trout plays like he's 25 again! The whole band played well. Posting videos, not sure of the quality but I hope you enjoy! Thanks for a great night Thunderbird!
ashley ritchieashley ritchie
00
Nearby Attractions Of Thunderbird Café & Music Hall
Row House Cinema - Lawrenceville
Arsenal Bowl
Millvale Riverfront Park
Arsenal Park
The Clemente Museum
Wildcard
TRYP by Wyndham Pittsburgh/Lawrenceville Boutique Hotel
Mix Candle Co Lawrenceville
Bloomfield Community Market
Kiln N Time

Row House Cinema - Lawrenceville
4.8
(416)
Click for details

Arsenal Bowl
4.1
(407)
Click for details

Millvale Riverfront Park
4.5
(320)
Click for details

Arsenal Park
4.4
(275)
Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Thunderbird Café & Music Hall
The Church Brew Works
The Abbey on Butler Street
Industry Public House
Walter's BBQ Southern Kitchen
Geppetto Cafe
Caffé Mona La Bistro
Piccolo Forno
Round Corner Cantina
Morcilla
Driftwood Oven

The Church Brew Works
4.3
(2.4K)
Click for details

The Abbey on Butler Street
4.3
(1K)
Click for details

Industry Public House
4.2
(798)
Click for details

Walter's BBQ Southern Kitchen
4.1
(775)
Click for details
Basic Info
Address
4053 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201
Map
Phone
(412) 682-0177
Call
Website
thunderbirdmusichall.com
Visit
Reviews
Overview
4.7
(430 reviews)$$
Ratings & Description
Description
This bi-level bar/live music venue presents touring & local bands plus bar food & craft brews.
attractions: Row House Cinema - Lawrenceville, Arsenal Bowl, Millvale Riverfront Park, Arsenal Park, The Clemente Museum, Wildcard, TRYP by Wyndham Pittsburgh/Lawrenceville Boutique Hotel, Mix Candle Co Lawrenceville, Bloomfield Community Market, Kiln N Time, restaurants: The Church Brew Works, The Abbey on Butler Street, Industry Public House, Walter's BBQ Southern Kitchen, Geppetto Cafe, Caffé Mona La Bistro, Piccolo Forno, Round Corner Cantina, Morcilla, Driftwood Oven

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