Here at MOVE, we like to think Columbia is a pretty music-savvy place. We do have our own music festival, after all (Roots N Blues N BBQ, for you under-a-rock dwellers). And if you think _music venue_ in Columbia, chances are, you think The Blue Note. But should you?

The Blue Note — Winner
17 N. Ninth St.

While Columbia occasionally seems to get skipped over for STL, KC or even Lawrence, The Blue Note does get some cool visitors. For instance, the venue celebrated its 30th anniversary with block parties starring Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube and Flaming Lips. Yes, these shows weren’t technically in The Blue Note building, but the street shows are just another cool element The Note offers. It also offers a nice bar and a reasonably central location. When it comes down to it, though, you’d probably go see your favorite band play in an outhouse if that’s where they were playing. And, more often than not, if your favorite band is coming to Columbia, they’re coming to The Blue Note. That’s not to say this venue actually _is_ an outhouse. It’s a pretty malleable place: You can mosh if you want to, but you can also have a seat at a table or in the balcony. Also, the size seems to strangely adapt to the size of the show, creating a “wow, I never realized how small this place is” feeling at a tiny show and a “man, _everyone_ is here” feeling at a big one. But again, it’s all about the bands you get, and The Blue Note runs the table in that department.

Mojo’s
1013 Park Ave.

Columbia is really blessed to have two concert venues that get semi-elite talent, and Mojo’s is the smaller half of that duo. While not as intensely intimate as The Bridge (see below), it still offers the valuable chance to catch decent-sized acts in a small locale. It is a considerable walk from the heart of Columbia, and you might have to wait a while before the main act hits the stage, but it’s still a pretty great place to catch some certified bands at a reasonable price.

The Bridge
1020 E. Walnut St.

When it comes to intimacy and coolness of venue, you really can’t beat The Bridge. The building is also a home to the Columbia Music Academy, which often makes the performances more interactive. For instance, you might see a band play a few acoustic songs intermingled with stories from the road before asking the crowd if anyone wants to come up and jam. Next thing you know, there’s a flautist, trumpeter and a trombone player (there should really be a cooler name for that one) on stage playing “The Weight” along with members of the headlining band. Its small scale and inconsistent schedule might prevent The Bridge from topping The Blue Note as the top CoMo venue, but it’s sure a fascinating place that belongs on your Columbia bucket list.