CIA
North Hollywood, CA 91601-2441
Phone: (818) 506-6353
- Cross Street:
- Lankershim Boulevard
- Hours:
- Fri-Sat 9pm-2am
Editorial Review for CIA – by Tara de Lis
The Scene
Located in an industrial area of North Hollywood, the California Institute for the Abnormalarts (CIA) is a strange circular maze of funhouse decor and bizarre relics. Somewhere between the shrine to a dead fairy, the skull of the smallest Freemason and the body of fishboy, one begins to question if it's really a live music venue or artifacts from Ripley's Believe it or Not museum. Co-owner Carl Crew is a lifelong lover of the unusual, and an ex-mortician; both traits are evident in his carnival-like club, which he refers to as a "multidimensional art space."
The Draw
The majority of the crowd falls into one of two categories: Under 21 or circus performers. Expect to see many of the former outside smoking. Booking policies celebrate indie music, but genres range from rock to electronic, along with cult artists like Girlie Freak Show, who can emit 20,000 watts from her body.
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Insider Tips
ParkingThis isn't the safest neighborhood around, so try to go in groups. Single women would be well advised to get an escort to their cars at the end of the night.
Know Before You GoAfter a very long wait, the bar finally has a license to serve beer and soju, but still no hard alcohol.
User Reviews for CIA
05/30/2008 Posted by babieshay
This venue may look 'interesting' but it's a RIP OFF and the owner is a SLEEZE who will LIE to get people into the door. BANDS BEWARE!
Pros: looks cool
Cons: everything else :(
07/24/2007 Posted by redhalo
Myself and some other bands tried to book here and were successful in doing so; unfortunately the owner, carl, doesnt offer contracts. BE WEARY! The establishment was extremely hard to initially contact, and they generally are only operating during the weekends. This is definitely a venue for bands with the ability to pay to play, however, if not; DO NOT BOOK HERE! write down everything the owner says, as he speaks rather quickly. He was incredibly rude to the management of our bands that booked to play here. So, needless to say the show was cancelled and the bands nor the management plan to gig here, ever.....unless new management at CIA takes in effect. The owner seemed very unprofessional and yelled at managers that came in 2 weeks prior to the show. The band finally hired managers and the managers knew they couldnt afford to play here. no contract was offered and the band management finally asked for one. when they got one the band realized they COULD NOT meet the requirements. Lesson Learned: Ask for contracts, or offer them from the get-go to avoid "wasting peoples time".
Pros: the venue looks cool.
Cons: the Owner, Carl
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