El Rey Theater

The Place

The El Rey is the mid-size room downtown, a restored theater on Central with room to breathe and a stage built for a full band with a full crowd in front of it. Bigger than the club rooms up the street, smaller than the halls, which makes it the sweet spot for an act that has outgrown the dive but is not playing arenas.

The bookings lean toward touring bands and the occasional local bill worth the room. The building has the bones of an old Central Avenue theater and the feel of a place made for live music. Doors and cover shift by show, so check the night before you go.

Everything else on Central is on the full calendar.