Arden Gild Hall

Really nice room. First visit last night to listen to Justin Townes Earle. First real big show there and it is clear there will be many more.
Run by hard-​working volunteers, this is a sweet spot fir great music.

Truly a very nice local venue showcasing various genres of entertainment from bands, plays, musicals and even comedy. I saw Evil Dead the musical and their Blues Show with Lower Case Blues. The staff many times perform double duty as both the front of the house and also performing. A hidden gem of a venue that more people need to be made aware of.

What a neat little gem in the outskirts of Wilmington. Cozy, lodge-​y feeling historic space complete with wall-​to-​wall wood planks and a fireplace feels more like a church basement than a concert venue – in a cute way. A small selection of local beers and basic wines were available at the folding table in the back for $ 2-​$ 4 each, (hooray for tax-​free Delaware!), as were free handfuls of chips, nuts and crackers, served up by friendly gild members.
The seating/​dancefloor layout struck me as odd, with 6 – 10 rows of folding chairs starting halfway back from the elevated stage. This did provide a generously sized standing/​dancing area in front of the stage, however, with everyone seated during the more subdued opener, there was quite an awkward distance between performer and audience. This took away from the potential intimacy of the venue, and the performers commented on it. «Hello, everyone… out there. You’re so far away.»
On to sound. The mix for the opening band was spot-​on, vocals and acoustics were full and clear, with great balance between drums, keyboard, and acoustic guitar/​vox. The headlining band seemed to pose more of a challenge for the sound guy. Vocals were barely audible over the drums, bass, synths, guitars and sampling. When vocals were bumped up, the mics squealed. This well-​versed and well-​traveled Brooklyn band usually flaunts lush, layered vocal arrangements, so the imbalance between lost vocals vs. harsh feedback was particularly frustrating. Later in the set sound improved some, but still lacked complete clarity and eq balance.
Sound can be affected by a multitude of factors, of course. Faulty equipment, borrowed equipment, the space, house limitations, sound guy limitations. I can’t say whether the problem was internal or external, especially after the opener’s pristine sound, so I’m only deducting one star. Perhaps the effects-​laden, shoegazey headliners were just too heavy for the venue.
Still, I will be back when another great show skips Philly and lands in Arden. In the interest of improving atmosphere, I will avoid taking a seat.