Newport Music Hall   

Billed as the longest continually running concert club in the U.S., the Newport has been a rite of passage for the youth of Columbus since it opened as a performance hall in 1970. Recent renovations have hardly detracted from its faded but roomy ambiance, which consists of ample balconies and 10,000 square feet on the first floor, including a space for dancing. Aside from new bathrooms and a wheelchair ramp, the interior remains dark and artfully shabby, all the better to enhance the intimacy of the 1700-seat venue. The Newport has hosted now-legendary stars like Kiss, Queen, U2, Talking Heads and the Police, and continues to draw everyone from O.A.R. to Busta Rhymes. Built in 1923 as an ornate movie palace, it has provided students a cultural awakening for decades, somehow surviving the onslaught of drug stores and fast food chains on High Street. Shows are general admission, so it's best to get there early -- although considering the layout and the relatively small size, there aren't too many bad views.