A Clear Channel-assisted LA mainstay lives up to the hype.

When the Wiltern was bought up by Clear Channel a few years ago, longtime Angelenos cried foul, thinking of the art deco venue as one of the last bastions of class in the city and expecting a mega-concert experience ill-befitting of the venue’s intimacy. But, mercifully, they were wrong: The Wiltern remains one of the best places to see a show in Los Angeles, thanks in part to its tiered floor and perfectly angled balcony allowing clear sightlines throughout the venue. Hanging chandeliers and a carpeted floor add to the intimacy; it's given both huge artists (Green Day, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan) a reason to play small shows here, and mid-sized ones (Modest Mouse, Death Cab For Cutie) a place to take their club shows to the next level. —Jeff Miller