I had the good fortune of seeing the Cocteau Twins play here in the early 90's. The Orpheum (as befitting its name) has always had a distinctly Victorian Gothic quality to it-so it was the perfect backdrop for the haunting, ambient goth music of the Cocteau Twins.
Soon after, the theatre went through a massive renovation , so the tattered velvet, and worn carpet I remember is now long gone. Today, the theatre hosts just as many Broadway Theatre shows as rock acts.
Thankfully, the restoration was a success, and has only enhanced the theatres historic appeal. Prominent alternative acts such as the White Stripes still choose to play in the intimate 2,600 seat space, rather than higher revenue generating venues such as the Target or Xcel centers.
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