“You should see the green room, it’s like a boutique hotel,” says Voxtrot singer Ramesh Srivastava on stage at Pacific Electric. It’s Thursday night and the Chinatown concert venue has been open about week, with Voxtrot’s headlining concert being just the second, open-to-the-public event here. The newness of Pacific Electric is very much a part of the buzz in the atmosphere. You can see it in the way the crowd moves about the unfamiliar space, peeking around corners to see where the bathroom is, glancing up from the ground level to catch a view of the balcony. You can see it, too, in the staff, so fresh-faced and friendly. They’ve yet to be grizzled by entitled party people and messy drunks.
I was at Pacific Electric to see Voxtrot, who I had recently interviewed, but, given that the venue is brand new, this post is focused on the space itself. (Here’s the link for the story on Voxtrot.) You may have read about Pacific Electric previously, as it was featured in the L.A. Times and Time Out prior to the opening, but, maybe you want to read about the experience from someone who went to a show there.
I’m certain that some will skim through this thing to see if I said whether or not it’s worth it go to Pacific Electric. That’s not the point. People go to shows to the see the band or DJ or comedian or whatever. The venue might be a deciding factor if it’s a band you’ve already seen or a tour where you’re torn between two cities, but that’s not the most common situation. Really, the point here is to let you know what to expect when you do go to a show.
Pacific Electric is the first Los Angeles venue from tvg, the hospitality group founded a decade ago by Ben Lovett of Mumford & Sons. The L.A. Times article notes that the venue is “independent” because it intends to work with both Live Nation and AEG. So far, the upcoming show listings I’ve seen had tickets available on Ticketmaster. That said, it’s not operating outside the concert duopoly, like Zebulon or Lodge Room are, and I think that’s important to know in advance. For some people, it might make a difference in whether or not you go somewhere. For others, it won’t.
The venue is located in the same complex that’s home to Majordomo and Apotheke, in the warehouse-heavy part of Chinatown right next to the bridge that heads over the L.A. River and into Lincoln Heights. It is technically walking distance from the Chinatown Metro station, but it’s not a pedestrian-friendly walk. You’ll head down Spring St.- basically the length of Los Angeles State Historic Park – where there are only two crosswalks and plenty of speeding cars. Resist the temptation to jaywalk. As an added nuisance, the side of the street across from the park, which is where the clubs are, has broken bits of sidewalk, construction, etc. That said, if you are going to walk, stay on the park side of the street until you hit the light right before the bridge. Cross there, enter the complex and walk towards the exit on Naud St. to find Pacific Electric. (Also, if you take Metro, be sure to budget for a rideshare home just in case you miss the last train.)
If you plan to drive, there is lot and street parking in the area. I took Lyft to and from the venue on Thursday and didn’t have any issues with drop-off and pick-up points.
When I arrive at Pacific Electric, I am certain of two things. First, I’m late. Second, the sound here is good. Often, outside of clubs, you can hear that a band is playing, but it’s just a gurgle of bass and a cymbal crash. As I walk up to the entrance, I hear distinctly that the band on stage at this moment is Voxtrot. So, now I’m certain of a third thing about Pacific Electric. Their shows actually run on schedule.
Getting into the venue was a breeze- there was no major pat down or bag check- and the staff at the front were friendly. Voxtrot must have just started playing, I surmise when walk into the lobby, because the bar is empty. I scan the room and find the door leading to the theater.
Capacity at Pacific Electric is 750. I don’t know how many people are here tonight, but it’s a good sized crowd. The floor level, where I’m standing, feels full, but not uncomfortable. I’m standing in the back of the room, near the soundboard, and can see the stage clearly, which frequently is not the case for a venue of this size. So, if you’re coming to a show here, you probably don’t need to worry about arriving early enough to grab a spot in the front of the room.
Design-wise, Pacific Electric fits nicely into the L.A. venue landscape. The style is warehouse-meets-art deco theatre, where you have the brick walls that might remind you of an old rave space and the arched stage of a former movie palace. Plus, the venue’s name is a reference to the old Red Cars. (If you don’t know what I’m talking about, go watch Who Framed Roger Rabbit?) I appreciate that attention to detail.
The sound in the theater is very clean and the lighting contemporary and crisp, so you’ll have a good experience in the moment and, probably, a couple decent snippets of phone video to post to your socials. There are speakers in the lobby and bathrooms too, so you don’t have to worry about missing a song if you need to take care of business.
When I venture to the ladies room, I immediately take note of how clean it is. I can’t recall the last time I was in a club bathroom that didn’t smell like decades of bad decisions. And the stall doors! They’re just plain wood. There’s no shit talk or running political arguments, not even a lone “Fuck Trump,” scrawled on them yet. Hmmm, I wonder how long this is going to last?
The bar, by the way, is priced at around what you would expect for a concert venue in downtown Los Angeles, which is more than you probably want to pay. The drink menu and prices are written above the bar, so there shouldn’t be any surprises. Pacific Electric is a cashless venue, so have your credit card or Apple Pay ready. There is food at the venue too, which is typically the case when a venue is not exclusively 21+. (Age limits vary depending on the event. Some, but not all, of the shows are all ages.) There’s been some hype about the grub coming from Badmaash, but I actively avoid foodie news and hate eating at shows/clubs, so I have no feelings on this. Besides, Pacific Electric is just over the bridge from Carnitas Michoacan, which is one of the few places left in this city that’s still open 24/7, so it’s not like getting something to eat post-show is off the table. I didn’t end this Thursday night with a burrito, but that is my best recommendation for what to do after the show.
If you’re looking to keep the party going , you could go to Apotheke. It’s a little posh for my taste, but they do have good DJs. If it’s the weekend, you might want to see what’s happening at one of the other nearby venues. Highland Park Brewery and Homage Brewing are off Spring, closer to the Metro Station. Grand Star Jazz Club and General Lee’s are in Chinatown Central Plaza, at Broadway and College, and Melody Lounge is on Hill, in between College and the freeway.
Liz O. is an L.A.-based writer and DJ. Follow on Instagram or sign up for the weekly, Beatique newsletter for updates on new stories and gigs.
Listen to Beatique, March 2026 featuring music from Grrrl Gang, Peaches, Charli xcx, The Smiths and more.
Keep Reading:
Voxtrot Returns With New Album and Tour