Detroit's Masonic Temple Theater, or simply "The Masonic" is as intimate as you're going to get in the local concert scene and is acoustically near perfect.

The last time I was there was too many years ago to see the Moody Blues, but the most memorable concert was a 1978 Return to Forever show. The crowd and band were really into it, and as I've already mentioned, the sound at Masonic is superlative.

It's a shame that it's size works against it. Too many acts looking for smaller venues go to the Fox or the State Theater (now the Fillmore). Neither can match the Masonic Temple Theater.