Screen, Fuel, Rage, Repeat.
Published May 1, 2026 by Brady Goodman Williams
LA has at least three things that Jeff Ewing really loves: a massive film history, a solid food scene, and a badass metal scene.
Jeff is a film critic, interviewer, and documentarian. He’s loved movies and metal for as long as he remembers, growing up with horror, Tool, System of a Down, and Slipknot on repeat. His latest venture is a documentary on stop-motion animation, and when he needs to wind down, he fires up for a metal show. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Jeff’s an LA believer, rocking out while basking in the glow of the Hollywood sign.
Jeff has very little by way of ‘chill’. He likes intensity: high-octane action epics, teeth-chattering horror, and metal shows that raise your adrenaline and channel your inner fire into pit glory. LA is always on, always ready, and always passionate, and so is Jeff.
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Here’s the thing, though: he thinks you may need to find the best venues to channel our inner fire. To paraphrase Nicole Kidman’s AMC ad, we come to these places for magic. We come to LA concert venues to rage, to mosh, to scream to the highest of heavens and lowest of voids. Because we need that, all of us.
Here are some of Jeff’s favorite venues to absolutely f*** s*** up and overthrow the Heavens in the City of Angels:
3900 W Manchester Blvd
Inglewood, CA 90305
Amon Amarth at The Kia Forum
It’s hard for me to pick a massive corporate venue named after a car company for my top five, but hear me out: it’s a very flexible space, and that’s precisely why it’s on the list. It’s great for the large-scale theatrics that classic metal bands deliver, like when I saw Judas Priest and Alice Cooper there. When I saw Amon Amarth there, it was a fully different experience. For their show, the venue accommodated a variety of pits, including a specific-to-them row pit (loved it) and one of the largest circle pits I’ve seen in LA. It’s a versatile space, and if you pick the right show, it’s a stellar time.
448 S Main St
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Orbit Culture at The Regent Theater
You can have a great show at The Regent. There’s a decent space on the first floor for raging, and a big upstairs level for accessibility and a different experience. The limitation is that, for popular shows, the lack of first-floor space means it’s easy to get sort of stuck in one space during a show. A bit of an annoying price to pay during a show, but there’s solid room for a riotous pit.
3790 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Imminence at The Wiltern
The Wiltern is a solid space for concerts. The sound is fantastic, it’s beautiful, and the dual levels allow for different experiences. I saw Imminence and Architects there, and they were both absolutely epic. It’s a great balance of showmanship and on-the-ground chaos, and there’s just enough space for a solid pit culture… but get there early for a good spot. When it fills up, there’s little moving closer to the stage.
1011 Stadium Drive
Inglewood, CA 90305
Lamb of God at YouTube Theater
Another larger venue named for a large company bodes ill, but the sound and production values are exceptional. Lamb of God delivered hardcore energy with a massive show, but there was still a badass pit in front of the stage. The sound was excellent, production value's stellar. A great balance of solid pit culture, great sound, and an innovative performance capacity.
1050 S. Hill St
Los Angeles, CA 90015
GWAR at The Belasco
While the amenities at The Belasco are a bit pricey, it’s a great venue to kick too much ass to take names. It’s amenable to a great pit–I injured myself at GWAR because it was so chaotically energetic, and I’d do it again. It’s built to focus attention at the artist (John Carpenter was exceptional there), but the two levels also allow a diversity of experience and some variety in performance (like when letlive climbed their way to the second floor from the stage, which was amazing). It’s a great venue with good sound that inspires solid sets, but make sure you get there early if you want to be in the pit or close to the stage.
Got a better take?
Think Jeff missed something? Love his picks? Email us at [email protected] (subject: LOCAL's LIST) and share your thoughts.
More Local Picks
This guide is part of The Local's List — a series where we ask people who actually live here to share their favorite spots, routines, and opinions about the city.
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