Live music with a dive-bar vibe

Noteworthy for: This hole-in-the-wall venue has a small capacity, which means you get to see bands up close and personal, with great views from wherever you stand.

Word to the wise: This is a cash-only venue.

A dive bar with decent toilets and good service; a door policy with considerate bouncers; a cool venue without being pretentious; and finally, reasonably priced tickets for an interesting and dynamic lineup of local indie acts and big name bands with a good mix of genres from big brass to electro DJs.

Seeing a gig at The Independent is almost always a treat. Perhaps the drinks are a bit pricey, but the crowd is eager to dance, and as it is located in the trendy Divisadero corridor, there are plenty of places to eat and drink nearby before and after the show.