One of Charlotte's hippest alternative music venues, the Tremont has a pierced and tattooed vibe geared toward fans of metal, ska, punk, emo and alt rock. A hot concert spot for the under-25 set (and even offering the occasional all-ages show), the Tremont offers few frills. There's no hookah bar, no marble bathrooms and no food, just no-nonsense concrete-floor warehouse chic, with a bar, foosball and pool tables, overstuffed couches and a straightforward, crowd-friendly layout that guarantees that no Saliva fan is ever more than 50 feet from the stage.

While big names definitely land on the Tremont calendar (GWAR, Chevelle, Vertical Horizon, Iggy Pop and even Southern rocker Gregg Allman have all played here), the Tremont also has a refreshing focus on local music. Quality Piedmont bands always have a place to rock out here, especially at the Casbah, a smaller, more intimate Tremont stage that's perfect for local acts. -- Jennifer Saylor