Shelter

This is a decent small venue that’s actually the basement of st andrews hall. It’s larger than some as it holds over 300 and a number of bands play here before going on to bigger and better things. One major plus is the bathrooms are nice and you wouldn’t expect it with everything around it. There’s limited seating here and the stage is pretty close to the floor so you can get close, very intimate venue stage-​wise. I’ve seen shows that were well attended and ones with 50 or less. It’s always a good time and the sound is average. The intimacy makes up for most of this.

I feel like my original review of The Shelter deserved an update as the sound system has vastly improved! They seem to have gotten some lighting new as well. The 2 shows I went to this past summer weren’t nearly as sauna-​like either, leading me to believe that the Heating/​Cooling has seen some updates as well!

Based on the previous reviews, I feel like your experience here will be a hit or miss.
I went here for the first time on June 26 to see Geographer. There were only about 50 people there, but the place can hold more than 300.
I was in the front row and I thought the sound was pretty good. Everything was clear and honestly not too ear shattering.
I didn’t drink so I can’t comment on the bar.
Some reviews said that the venue is hot during the summer months, but I was actually cold, and I was wearing a windbreaker over my tee. This may have been because there were only 50 of us, so we weren’t very cramped.
If you’re seeing a smaller artist/​band as opposed to a sold out show, I feel like your experience will be much more pleasant.

Smells a little funky in this joint

I went to The Shelter for the first time ever yesterday with my girlfriend. The Sheepdogs were playing, we waited until the last minute and tickets were sold out. We waited outside and hoped for the best, and sure enough it did. The manager was super cool and let us and the other 13ish people in and we got to see the show. Super cool of em’, nice venue, cold beer, good music.
Protip: The wait is much shorter at the smaller bar in the back.

Ladies, if you jump in the mosh pit here, you’re gonna get molested. Actually you’ll probably get molested no matter what. I always seem to witness fights here too, so maybe this place is just Testosterone Central. The advantage of The Shelter is what has already been stated: you can see up-​and-​coming bands up close and personal for a dirt-​cheap price. The downside is that you’re going to be packed in like sweaty sardines, groped by sleazy Fred Durst wannabes and then accosted on your way out by homeless guys aggressively wanting your change and refusing to take no for an answer. Good old Detroit.

They used to be cool. All you can drink for $ 6.00 on Wednesday was the shit! Three Floors of Fun on Friday was a hoe-​fest. Nothing last forever, alas.

The Shelter was my CBGBs from my middle school to college years. When i was younger I thought the Magic Stick was for snobby hipsters and their indie rock (though I now find myself attending concerts there frequently), and the Shelter was for good old alternative rock music. I’m sad that I wasn’t born early enough to witness Bookies in Hamtramck but I am satisfied with this small, cramped venue.
The Shelter features relatively underground touring bands and sometimes some bigger headliners. As the other reviews have mentioned it is located in the basement of Saint Andrews Hall. Some have complained about the sound quality, but the way I see it, this venue is about grungy, ear drum bursting noise. Music you can jump up and down too. If you want sound quality go see Aerosmith at the DTE Energy Theatre or better yet go see a show at the Fox Theatre or The Ark in Ann Arbor.
I personally never saw a bad show here, and got to know the manager and he’s pretty cool. I’ve never paid more than $ 15 to see a show here, and many shows were under $ 10, so you definitely get your money’s worth. I generally don’t buy drinks at concerts because of the high price so I can’t comment on the quality of the drinks or the barstaff. All in all, I would highly recommend seeing a concert at the Shelter, it’s a good night out.
Some band’s I’ve seen here: American Hi-​Fi, Fallout Boy, Trust Company, Simple Plan, 96 West, All American Rejects, Three Days Grace, Billy Talent

Bwahaha. My first review of this place was pretty basic.
The staff at the Shelter do not care if you drove 35 miles to see your favorite band and they canceled the show. They do not care if you’ve been waiting for 15 minutes for a drink.
Other than that. The sound at the Shelter is pretty good, and you can get really close to your favorite bands. Maybe even too close. The bathrooms are usually clean and nice.
When I first tried to go to a concert at the shelter, it was canceled and I had no idea. I hadn’t been there before and I didn’t realize that the door was not marked. Needless to say, I was circling the building a good 4 times before I gave up and just drove back home.
Lately, they’ve been a lot better (at least St Andrew’s has) about answering the phone to answer questions, so I definitely recommend calling. Shows get canceled here all the time because of poor ticket sales and other things.
Neither the Shelter nor Saint Andrew’s (to my knowledge) are handicap accessible, so be aware.

The Shelter is a venue I frequented when I lived on the east side. It’s a great place to catch a local show or some very good small bands tour through here as well. I have seen Lucky Boys Confusion play there multiple times. It is an intimate venue, which is great when seeing a band you love. I also saw Slightly Stoopid open here one night years ago and they are one of my favorite band. It’s a small, cramped concert venue and I love it.

The basement aka the shelter is a place I spent a large amount of my free time when I was in high school. It seems that ever band that I wanted to see was playing here on their way through the Midwest.
When I was older and could drink the prices for beer was a bit high, but not that bad for a Detroit venue. As Michael C. says the sound system can leave you wanting and in some cases wishing that next time the band is big enough to either be moved up stairs or to another Detroit venue.

The movie Eight Mile did a great job depicting the Shelter. The only unrealistic thing about it in the movie was the space. The Shelter is much smaller than what it appeared to be in the movie. The Shelter is one of those spots that you have to be in the mood for. It’s nothing sexy about it; believe me when I tell you. It is a great place to catch up and coming acts and hear the best of underground music. I would strongly advise against a first date to this place unless you really don’t like your date.
On the positive side, you can really have a good time with a large group of friends. Ladies, don’t wear your best. Some old tennis shoes, jeans and a t-​shirt will do; and that may be doing too much. It can also get really loud here so be prepared to be face to face with speakers as well. Again, make sure your in the mood for the Shelter when you go.

I’ve seen a lot of great shows at the Shelter.
The Shelter is in the basement of St. Andrew’s Hall, which is a much larger concert venue upstairs. It’s fairly small and «basementy» and has a bar. The stage is basically at floor level, so you are standing face to face with the bands. The sound is not the greatest in here, but this is a pretty small place in a basement after all. Sometimes the bass from the show or event upstairs at St. Andrew’s will overpower the band downstairs in the Shelter. The bass from upstairs will start to rattle the ventilation system downstairs pretty seriously sometimes. I saw Ocean Blue down there once and they stopped mid-​song and said «In light of the extra bass from upstairs (it was hip-​hop music for a club night), we will now play our dance version of this song». They then broke into a different version of the song they were playing to go along to the beat of the club upstairs. It was pretty funny. That was a great show by the way, I was in the front row and mere inches from the band.
For a very up-​close concert experience, check out this unique little venue.

I’ve been to the Shelter a couple of times, and I can say a few things about it.
The sound system, when compared to other venues, is… lacking. It’s muddy and sometimes mixed very poorly. Granted, the Shelter does have a lot of punk bands, but that’s besides the point.
Also, I’ve found that a lot of riff-​raff comes through the door, more so than St. Andy’s. Now I don’t want to invoke ideas of the ground floor being where all the bad people live… but come on. Last time I was at the Shelter I almost got into a fist fight — which would’ve been my first since I was 9 — and if a place can get me to almost get thrown out of a place, then something is awry.
I do have to say that they bring in great bands, and I’m happy that these artists don’t end up in Ann Arbor. Saves me gas! But also that they come to the Shelter and we’re able to see them so cheap. $ 15 a show is pretty good in my book. A lot of these bands wouldn’t be able to play considering either there’s an event going on at St. Andy’s, the Stick, etc, or the Shelter is the right size for them.
Hopefully the next time I’m there, it’ll be a happy time with no fights, verbal or otherwise.