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3503 S. Harbor Blvd. Santa Ana, CA 92704

714-957-0600 

http://www.observatoryoc.com  

3503 S. Harbor Blvd. Santa Ana CA 92704

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  • $$ $$
    All Major Credit Cards, cash
    Casual
  • Multi-Level, Smoking, Wheelchair Accessible
    Dinner, Late Night
    Live Entertainment
  • Full bar
    Free, Lot Available
Description

If you visited the Galaxy Theater in Santa Ana a couple years ago, you would've been met by cover bands, one-hit wonders or closed doors. It had its moments, of course, but those moments were rare thanks to a lengthy closure and lackluster booking. Enter Jon Reiser, former partner and booker for Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa. Reiser purchased the venue and made several significant changes: booked popular acts, upgraded the sound system, added a smaller venue-in-a-venue called the Constellation Room. The Observatory now hosts popular acts such as Method Man , GWAR, Tiesto, Waka Flocka Flame and many, many more. That also includes residencies from local acts. Selling out shows is now a habit for this place. Most of all, it provides a valuable service to the whole county by bringing in acts we could usually only see by driving to Los Angeles. Oh, and it even—gasp!—makes Angelenos cross the Orange Curtain for a show.








  • Holy Ghost!

    Holy Ghost!  Recommended

    8:00 p.m. May 19

    New York natives Alex Frankel and Nick Millhiser have hit it big in '80s synth pop wonderland as Holy Ghost!, a duo whose music features futuristic...

  • Flobots

    Flobots

    8:00 p.m. May 20

  • Youngblood Hawke

    Youngblood Hawke  Recommended

    8:00 p.m. May 21

    Youngblood Hawke’s music emanates a youthful sort of charm—a charm worthy of stoplight sing-alongs and impromptu dance parties. The Los Angeles-bas...

  • Presidents of the United States of America
  • Turbonegro

    Turbonegro

    8:00 p.m. May 23

    Torche

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Back to TopOC Weekly Critic News & Reviews | Write a Review
  • Devendra Banhart

    Devendra Banhart

    Freak folk provocateur Devendra Banhart has maintained his musical legacy since his breakthrough album Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon by taking the high road with the two albums What Will We Be and Mala. Breathing with a poetic sensibility and... More »

  • Manic Hispanic: ¡Pinche Punks!

    Manic Hispanic: ¡Pinche Punks!

    The guitar strap ate into Steve Soto's shoulder as he stood with his hands up, seconds away from a hail of bullets ripping him apart. It was Cinco de Mayo, 1999, at the Foothill Club in Signal Hill. Soto, the guitar legend whose bands Agent... More »

  • Kate Nash

    Kate Nash

    British songbird Kate Nash flutters to the Observatory this week, making the only Orange County stop on her current Girl Talk worldwide tour. Nash's poppy anti-lame-boyfriend, anti-mean-girl subject matter made her an instant success with the... More »

  • Manic Hispanic

    Manic Hispanic

    Subversive punk band Manic Hispanic is playing in town again, and you can check them out at The Observatory. This Chicano super-group combines a penchant for parody with hardcore punk with such album names as "Mijo Goes to Jr. College," and "The... More »

  • Raekwon - The Observatory - April 26, 2013

    Raekwon - The Observatory - April 26, 2013

    Like we've said before, Orange County loves their Wu. Then again, when ODB notoriously declared that "Wu-Tang is for the children" he might as well have said "Wu-Tang is for everyone" considering the ... More »

  • Loading More Critics Reviews
  • 2012 | Best Venue for Live Music

    If you visited the Galaxy Theater in Santa Ana a little more than a year ago, you would've been met by cover bands, one-hit wonders or closed doors. It had its moments, of course, but those moments were rare thanks to a lengthy closure and lackluster booking. Enter Jon Reiser, former partner and booker for Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa. Reiser purchased the venue and made several significant changes: booked popular acts, upgraded the sound system, added a smaller venue-in-a-venue called the... More »

  • 2009 | Best Venue Comeback

    Given all the businesses that have closed in 2009, it feels good to single out one that actually reopened. The Galaxy Theatre closed, seemingly for good, back in February 2008, only to rise from its metaphorical ashes a little more than a year later. Not only are they back in business, but owner Gary Folgner also spruced up a good deal of the long-dormant live-music venue, attracting top-flight acts such as indie-rock legends Built to Spill and OC punk-rock vets TSOL. There've been some... More »

Back to TopUser Reviews & Comments | Write a Review
  • boogief1
           (0)    (0) Flag

    | Long Beach, CA | 2 Reviews

    I've played there and been in the audience. Best band showcase in the OC area. Elegant old school decor that puts on punk rock shows one day and Tom Jones the next. Great place!

  • jajarev
           (0)    (0) Flag

    | Santa Ana, CA | 8 Reviews

    I LOVE this place. I've been coming here for gigs for as long as i can remember. :D

  • wcasar
           (0)    (0) Flag

    | Costa Mesa, CA | 415 Reviews

    Larger than I expected. I went there last month for a show. It was a decent venue in the Industrial Area of Costa Mesa.

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