maybe it's just because i'm 15 and quite obviously don't go into the 21+ section, but the Hawthorne has been my favorite venue since i went to my first show there summer of 2007. all my favorite bands play there and love it, so i guess they must be doing something right. the only thing i can think of that went horribly wrong is the two times i've seen Emarosa there, the first time they started the set only for Jonny to realize he had to mic. which almost happened again the second time but they got one at the last second. but i think the common denominator there is whoever is setting that up haha. it's a blast, my favorite place to be. would def recommend to any local show goers. stays cool, which everyone on here is complaining about but seriously when you're performing you want all the AC you can get, not to mention sweating it out in the pit. and whoever said the security guys are jerks, you're right. they're pretty horrible 9 times out of 10 but they're security guys, what else would you expect?

just moved to portland, and been to two shows at hawthorne [people under the stairs and murs] only to be disappointed. the employees know nothing of customer service or even being remotely considerate [the id check people, the bartenders, and most def the security]. the sound sucks - do an intial mic check prior to the show sound man! there is no smoking there [do not try to blaze, they will kick you out, as they are the only ones who do not smoke in portland for some reason]. there is no re-entry, even though you pay you dues of twenty bucks for a show. the bartenders ask for a tip [hint jackass; a tip is something you work for!] as many other posts are showing, this venue blows for multiple reasons, and i will never go to a show there again, and do not recommend any artist to perform there, or any one to attend a show there.

saw islands there on 6/13. one of the worst concert experiences of my life. absolutely the worst sound i have ever heard--so bad that a) several crowd members could be heard screaming at the soundman, b) i NEVER heard the lead vocals...not once, and c) 3 songs in the frontman threw the mic and stormed off stage only to be cajoled back onstage by his bandmates. this wasn't just bad, but fully unforgivable. they should be paying the crowd and band for the pain they caused.

this is all too bad, because the space itself has so much potential. i guess they need new owners/management. i'll likely never return for a show there.

I went to a RZA concert 06/23/08 at the Hawthorne Theater. Let me tell you this place sucks. First of all, if you happen to be one of the people that bought a ticket in advance they still require you to wait in the will call line to get your ticket torn and your hand stamped. The entrance is cramped because there is only 1 Mens and 1 Womens bathroom. The line for the bathrooms extend out blocking both the concert entrance line and the willcall/ticket tearing line. The bouncers scream "clear a path in the middle" about every 3 mins with no respect for the customers. This whole setup if very chaotic and stupid. There is no reason that they could not built a bigger bathroom and organized everything to better suit the customer.

The bar allows smoking and is pretty cool except for the fact that when you need to piss you need to navigate through the chaos outside and wait in the huge infamous bathroom line. I heard some people say they never drink at the hawthorne because they dont want to wait to piss. The owners should see that they lose business by not having the bathroom situation in order.

The venue was very hot and smelled like a fat man's crouch. The sound was very low quality with feedback a lot of the time. It seem to me like they used very cheap microphones and RZA and some of the other emcess commented on this. It also seemed like the soung system did not handle the highs of the beats very well. When Stone mecca came out the play the bass and the drums sounds were on lock but I could bearly hear the guitar or the vocal. The high sound was real "tinny" kind of like if you turn your treble all the way up. I am not very picky about sounds and I understand the soundman has to get into the groove and adjust to each act act but there was too many feedback mistakes and mixing problems for me to count and that ruins the energy of the show.

Other thing was the merchandise booths were impossible to get to which didn't make any sense because they make less money if not everyone can be exposed to the product right?

The 21 and over section was not as packed as the front, but was still muggy and smelled funky. They need some air circulation in that place.

The bottom line is this:

I will NEVER go to a concert at the Hawthorne theater again in my life. If the owners were smart they would build bigger bathrooms, put some air circulation and fix the sound and then the place would be a lot better.

If you are an artist wanting to come to Portland to play, and you care about your fans then please book your show somewhere else where your fans will be able to use the bathroom and enjoy the show. I can honestly say that this is the worst venue i have ever been to in my life.

I enjoyed the Furious and the Hand That Bleeds in November, but you do wanna layer your clothing as it was a bit cool.

There was no one in the "grownup" area, and all-ages area has no seating.

But - I notice a Lotta youngunz lined up for the weekend shows, so they must be doing something right.

I've felt no love when performing at Balcony Bar open mics in the front so I skip that now, but if you see someone you like listed on the bill I think it's worth checking out the Hawthorne. It's a groovy, old building.

Too bad it's still not Conan's. I hate the remodel. The place is COLD (really, no heat!), the layout is awkward for traffic flow. The service is OK. Last time I was there was this past winter. I probably will never set foot in there again.