Social Distortion, Billy Idol and KORN to Headline in Its First Few Weeks House of Blues Anaheim
Written By: Elaine Morgan Cutting House of Blues Anaheim
Fireworks, music note-shaped confetti, and Grace Potter and the Nocturnals all blasted over the Anaheim GardenWalk last Wednesday to celebrate the placing of the official House of Blues Anaheim water tower on top of their newest location. Set to open February 28, the iconic House of Blues Anaheim has officially moved from Downtown Disney, and construction is well underway. On Wednesday, January 25, House of Blues held a hard-hat tour of the construction zone providing a look into its future.
The layout of the new venue is split into four sections; the restaurant, the concert venue, a smaller concert and event area called “the Parish,” and the exclusive elevated dining experience in the Foundation room. Each area features a stage with the goal to have live music somewhere in the venue every single night.
Each room is designed and created to provide an intimate, uniquely exquisite setting, whether it’s the worn industrial ambience and spacious intimacy in the restaurant, 40-foot murals throughout the hallways, a hundred-year-old clock in The Parish, or the atmospheric lighting and rich wooden décor in the Foundation Room. Along with the traditional rock and eastern Indian inspired décor, this location has commissioned local Artists Audrey Kawasaki and Johnny ‘KMNDZ’ Rodriguez with full wall murals to add a Southern California feel to the place. “There’s a lot of that familiar feel like the sister venues,” says David Fortin, SVP of Marketing and Business Development for House of Blues. “But it’s also a contemporary modern space. It’s been almost 10 years since we opened up a venue and we kind of get to reimagine it.”
The cuisine of the House of Blues is also being reimagined. “The menu will be evolving into more focused Southern inspired,” says Corporate Executive Chef, Robert Sarstedt. Sarstedt has been with the House of Blues for three years and is excited for the changes. “I want to serve what’s as delicious as possible. Guest satisfaction is my number one priority.” This priority shines through in the menu samples that were available for tasting. Delicious Nashville hot fried chicken salad, fried chicken sliders, the classic house of blues favorite Voodoo Shrimp, Smokehouse St. Louis Ribs, and Bourbon bread pudding offered a fantastic mix of hearty and light options beyond your typical Southern barbeque.
Three new cocktails were also debuted. The Peruvian inspired El Viejo features crème de cacao, toasted pecan bitters, Pisco Porton, and infused cigar smoke for that extra rich feel. The Father Figure features Monkey Shoulder scotch, Cynar 70, coffee-infused Cinzano, Green Chartreuse, and bitters. The sweetest mix came from the Kentucky Bubble Bath, made with Maker’s Mark bourbon, fresh lemon juice, elderflower liqueur, blue curacao, and topped with champagne for that extra bubble.
Of course, the heart of House and Blues resides in the music. The new main concert venue is over twice the size of the old one at 2,200 person capacity. It features a bottom level right at the foot of the stage and an upper mezzanine that overlooks the area. Two bars are scheduled to be added along with several new VIP boxes. Every seat in the house has a fantastic view. “We’ve learned so much about how to build these music halls and how to create intimate spaces and bring audiences close up and personal to the artists,” says House of Blues President Ron Bension. “This really is a culmination of that learning.”
The incredible first lineup in this new venue kicks off with OC based band Social Distortion. The next few weeks include artists like KORN, Anderson .Paak, Chase Rice, and Billy Idol. “I am slightly biased, but I do think that there hasn’t been an opening line up for any club, House of Blues or anywhere around the country that is as strong as what we have.” Says Ben Weeden, COO of booking.
House of Blues Anaheim is coming together in an exciting way to form something incredible and new to the Anaheim atmosphere and is shaping up for a thrilling unveiling at the end of February. “It’s part of our DNA,” says Bension. “Intimate settings, great food, eastern Indian artifacts, and American folk art. All of that combined with great music and you get The House of Blues.”
House of Blues Anaheim
400 West Disney Way, Ste 337
Anaheim, CA 92802
714.778.2583
The Future Looks Promising for the Newest Version of House of Blues Anaheim
