Location: 3609 Forbes Ave., Oakland, (412) 682-2050.
Atmosphere: Love it or hate it, this is one of the few places where big-time national acts can play to all-ages audiences without the price and spatial distance of arenas and amphitheaters. Love it, because it's a big room that actually has - mostly - clear sight lines, and a second tier for those who'd rather sit than twist, pogo or mosh. Hate it, because if you want to drink, you have to get locked in the cage in the back with the bar, while the young whippersnappers get to party up front with the bands. It's a half-baked solution to Pennsylvania's curious liquor laws, but really, have you got a better idea?
Party People: Depends on the night. There's nights for skinhead punks, black-clad vampire kids, long-haired metalheads, baggy-panted raver technophiles, jam band freaks, pensive indie-rock hipsters, new-school hip-hoppers and just about every sub-genre of the above imaginable.
Eats: None.
Tunes: Live music just about every night. Independent promoters such as John Rinaldo bring in a fantastic array of original national bands and artists. Usually, Laga does a good job at putting good local bands on the bill with the showcase act as well. Tonight, hardcore punks The Casualties play a show at 7 p.m., and local hip-hop crew Grand Buffet has a CD release party at 10:30 p.m. Saturday is hardcore band 18 Visions, and Thursday night brings pop-punkers The Ataris.
Specials: Drink specials vary nightly. The beer selection is mostly domestic, but isn't nearly as overpriced as it is at most bigger concert venues.
Cover: There's always a cover charge that varies depending on the band. Check the concert listings or www.clublaga.com .
