There's just something about the Culture Room that feels like home. It's not a particularly tiny venue, but it feels intimate whether the place is packed to the rafters or there are only 20 diehards out for a less popular show. But let's be real: When's the last time you saw Culture Room empty? Like never. Though you may not always be into the performers gracing its stage, there's certainly some people who are. And they've already bought tickets and are waiting in line outside. The tiki feel of the bar seems classic and not corny — which is a hard look to manage. And you can usually catch the show on an outdoor screen if you need to sneak a smoke or breathe fresh air. Seeing the stage from inside is rarely a problem since not much eclipses your view. More important, the sound system allows you to hear the acts the way they're meant to be heard. Culture Room welcomes touring acts like Built to Spill and Dick Dale and has talented locals, like Lavola and the Riot Act, open for the big dogs. It also offers tribute shows, including the darkness of Made of Metal's Tribute to Death, and stages performances by folks from around here who have crossed the threshold to the national stage. Here's to Culture Room lasting many more decades to come and providing us with plenty more quality shows.