Phoenix Theater - Information

Information

• The interior walls of the theater are covered in graffiti. A review on networkoftheapes.net describes them:

"The walls are tagged up and painted with everything from the simplest one color tag to entire paintings of mushrooms and other Alice in Wonderland-themed drug references that gave the place a raw feel."

• There are skateboard ramps on the sides of the two walls that run perpendicular to the stage.
• The number of steps from the dressing room to the stage is three. This is usually satisfactory to national bands whose tour rider designates a certain number of stairs.
• During the day, the Phoenix serves as a safe place for local kids to hang out after school. After-school tutoring as well as a free health clinic are offered a few days a week.
• The Phoenix is also rumored to be haunted. Ghosts have been seen in the bathrooms, on the balcony, and in the backstage area. These sightings are rumored to be a reason why the balcony is closed and locked for most performances.
• AFI wrote a song about it called "The Days of the Phoenix", referring back to when they got their start at this theater. Members of the band have mentioned The Phoenix and even the manager, Tom Gaffey, in numerous interviews. In one such interview, Adam Carson, after being asked his favorite venue to play, proclaims:

"The Phoenix in Petaluma is probably my favorite just because that is where I saw most of my first punk shows and there will always be a special place in my heart for it. Tom Gaffey, the guy that runs it, is a really, really good person who has given so much to Petaluma and the Nor Cal scene. He gave me five bucks for gas once before I ever knew him when I was stranded..."

According to the band's lead singer, Davey Havok, The Phoenix is where the band had their initial reunion show in the 1990s; an event which would inspire the band to get back together and give full devotion towards a musical career as a band.