Star Tribune photo by Rich Tsong-Taatarri
Many Minnesotans whined when Rolling Stone's recent list of the 20 best clubs in America did not include Minneapolis' revered First Avenue.
Turns out that our favorite club apparently is considered a "big room" by the big magazine, which lists First Ave at No. 3 on its new list of 20 best big rooms.
Somehow our iconic 1,600-person nightclub is on the same list with New York's redoubtable 6,000-seat Radio City Music Hall, Atlanta's renowned 4,700-seat Fox Theatre, Nashville's landmark 1,300-seat Ryman Auditorium and the 2,100-capacity Surf Ballroom in Buddy Holly, Iowa, er, Clear Lake.
Topping First Avenue are the 1,200-capacity 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C., and San Francisco's legendary 1,100-capacity Fillmore.
To our way of thinking, the "best clubs" list probably should have been labeled "best bars." This is all part of Rolling Stone's series on "Venues That Rock." Amphitheaters, stadiums/arenas/ dance clubs and "readers choice" lists are yet to come.
But what does Rolling Stone know?
As a "fun fact," it mentions that Prince reunited with his "Purple Rain"-era band, the Revolution, at First Avenue last year.
