It’s alive! Vivarium, the Pabst Theater Group’s new concert venue, has opened its doors. The company commemorated the occasion on Tuesday with a first-look private party, and then a free public show from local hip-hop artist Wave Chapelle and opening band Adorner.
I was lured by the chance to attend something momentous – the opening of a possible musical fixture. Pabst Theater Group built the 450-capacity East Side venue from the ground up to replace The Back Room at Colectivo as its space for traveling mid-sized acts and rising local musicians. At the event, CEO Gary Witt said it came together in only three months. With a new sound system, a new console, a larger stage and amenity-filled green rooms, Vivarium is an ambitious investment in Milwaukee’s music scene.
So, now that it’s open to the public, what’s it like?
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For its first night, Vivarium visually impressed me. The venue’s plant theme is singular and cohesive, although the metaphor for growth certainly isn’t subtle. Beams near the ceiling carry plenty of pots of them. Artificial greenery by Milwaukee company Interiorscapes adorns a wall behind the bar. Big leafy plants sit at the corners of the floor near the stage, also artificial. And the white arched ceiling with rows of large square skylights resembles a greenhouse.
But it’s the other details that make the venue feel refined. Custom-made metal lamps by local artist Charlie Niedzalkowski feature the V logo in firefly yellow on one wall. Another wall is made of gorgeous wood sourced from 100-year-old trees in northern Wisconsin. The men’s bathroom has groovy, light-trimmed rectangle mirrors with rounded corners and a long undecorated wall screaming for stickers and scribbles. And one of the bar’s coolers spells out the venue’s pronunciation: Vai-Ver-Ree-Uhm.
The venue is general admission, and the wide, rather empty floor is easy to navigate. As for the stage, its height of about two feet gives it a sense of intimacy while having considerable space for performers. And a floor-to-ceiling neon V as a cool backdrop ties it all together.
Only a few elements from the initial renderings are missing, such as the bright outdoor sign and bike rack; other details like slightly unpainted wood beams and chairs and sofas feel a bit rushed. But overall, Vivarium already has character.
However, a venue’s ability to hold a good show determines its true character, and therefore, its true vibe. When psych-rock band Adorner took the stage, the crowd had to be beckoned closer by lead singer Madeline Stadel. But the three-piece took flight, and the sound system did good in delivering Adorner’s celestial soundscapes.
There was a decent crowd, but it never hit half-capacity. Some spellbound audience members swayed to the soaring numbers, but others stood still – not a good vibe indicator. Although, I must admit that my own scribbling into a notepad during performances probably did not contribute positively to the vibe environment.
Wave Chapelle brought the energy. With a full band backing him, his commanding stage presence made clear why he was chosen as a headliner for the occasion. He coaxed most of the crowd out of its collective shell, engaging them in call-and-response and commands to bounce.
It was in these moments that the venue’s vision was most evident. Stellar lighting, balanced sound and unobscured sightlines in the front and back of the venue meant every spot felt connected to the music on stage.
Some more sound-proofing might be in order, based on early noise complaints from neighbors. As a concertgoer, though, Vivarium passed my vibe check, and I look forward to seeing how the venue continues to grow.
For a list of future shows, visit Pabst Theater Group.
