St. Andrew's Hall

St. Andrew's Hall is Detroit's rite-of-passage concert room — a Gothic Revival hall on Congress that's been packing in shows since the '80s, with The Shelter sweating it out in the basement and a stage that's hosted just about everybody on their way up. Sold-out nights here are loud, shoulder-to-shoulder, and exactly what you came for.

Now, the restrooms. Here's the twist: these used to be a punchline among Detroit concert bathrooms, and by all accounts a renovation actually fixed them. Regulars who remember the old days say the difference is night and day — more stalls than before, cleaner than a rock club has any right to be, with extra restrooms down in The Shelter and a less-mobbed option on the balcony level if you spring for it. So why not higher? Physics. When a sold-out floor breaks for the bar at once, even a freshly renovated restroom turns into a queue, and crossing a packed floor to get there is its own mosh pit. Time your run between sets and you'll be fine; wait until the encore and you're gambling.

Renovated, serviceable, and honestly better than its reputation — just not built for the crowds it draws. St. Andrew's Hall lands at a 7/10 on Shooki.