Mann Music Center

I consider myself to be a pretty well traveled Philadelphia concert goer. I've been to scores of live music events over my little lifetime so it was exciting to finally visit one that I'd never been to. The Mann Music Center is in West Philly, near the Zoo, and usually boasts some more classical, less popular artists during the season. Not entirely sure if that's accurate but that's what I thought and I only really noticed the likes of Arcade Fire and MGMT gracing the stage this past summer.

I saw the latter a few weekends ago with Steph and her roommate and boyfriend. I was sick and wasn't really in a concert-going mood but threw back a few beers and started to feel alright. The closest relative to the Mann would have to be the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden. Trade the paved parking lot for the grassy fields at the Mann and they're pretty similar. Expensive beers, expensive seating, and lawn seats for the degenerates.

We had seats about 1/3 of the way up and off to the left side of the stage. The sound was good and there weren't too many drunk idiots around to interfere with my listening pleasure. Luckily it wasn't a hot night or it may have been a little more uncomfortable. Unlike the SBC, the Mann is open on the sides of the seated area, giving it a nice outdoorsy feel.

As for the show itself, it was alright. Obviously Congratulations isn't the pop-radio album that Oracular Spectacular was, so the majority of the concert wasn't suitable for drunken sing-a-longs. However they did a nice job of mixing the old with the new and the slow with the up-tempo tracks. The venue itself I wouldn't have chosen for these guys, a smaller one would've been more suitable, but when you had the success that they did with "Kids" and "Electric Feel" you're going to need a bigger venue.

Fun night overall, would recommend the Mann for future concerts (I heard Arcade Fire was amazing there), would not recommend being sick and going though.

Mann Music Center, check.