The Most Intimate Room in Town

© Tracy Block / RumBum.com

The Culture Room sometimes seems as old as Fort Lauderdale itself, but that one of the reason's local music lovers like it so much.

It's always nice to have a venue close to home that is reliable, down-to-earth and complete with a bangin' soundsystem. Fort Lauderdale's famed Culture Room is a home base for tour stops and a showroom for local up-and-comers. It's a place where live music enthusiasts can come to let go of the outside world, have a few beers, a smoke and dance the night away.

From the Patio Floor to the High Bar

Over the past decade, no other South Florida live music venue has gained as much traffic and praise as the beloved Culture Room. Located on the southwest corner of Oakland Park Boulevard and US-1, the joint is far enough away from the hustle of the Fort Lauderdale nightlife scene, but close enough so that it's not a drag to get to. It's smart to arrive with time to spare, since parking for a packed show is sometimes a chore - with concertgoers trying their luck at the bank across the street. The space is neighbored by a bar and a pizza joint, so you can grab a bite or a beer if you've got time to kill.

But the real magic is inside. You enter the Culture Room through a sociable patio, the ideal stop to meet up with your crew, grab a beer and browse band merchandise. Once you enter the main room, you'll want to stake your claim pretty quickly. The Culture Room is cozy, to say the least, and it sometimes feels like you're jamming out at a band's practice jam in their livingroom rather than the real gig.

The stage is on a platform, helping to balance out the sound, which travels all the way up to the second floor bar. From there, you can get a full ariel view of the stage, or relax on barstool and just let the music come to you. Grab a beer - the space has a full liquor license, but with beer this good (they've got Sierra Nevada, Stella Artois and PBR) why bother?

Never Hectic, Always Eclectic

"The sound quality is great no matter where you are on the floor or up at the High Bar," 28-year-old live music junkie Eytan Eilender says. "One of my first memories was seeing Umphrey's McGee with 14 other people in the house, and even back then it was full of excitement and surprise." Eilender claims his recent trip back to Culture Room for the annual Perpetual Groove run was more fun than many other nights in his life. The Room's still got it, that's no doubt.

Welcoming all genres from rock to funk, jazz to jam, the Culture Room's got that 'ma-and-'pa feel to it, which is why it's following is so devoted. The stage has welcomed acts like Iggy Pop, George Clinton, Citizen Cope, Tegan and Sara, Girl Talk, Brett Dennen, State Radio, The Misfits, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, John Brown's Body and The Disco Biscuits, with an exciting roster filled through spring '10.

The only complaint about the culture of the Culture Room is it's 'no re-entry' policy. Other than that, expect quality shows, energetic crowds and sound that is above satisfactory. "I live and die by the Culture Room when it comes to venues that have shaped my show experiences," Eilender says. "It's a second home now, and I'd like to think it always will be."