Transformed from the blue-collar Breakroom in 2002 by club queen Linda Derschang (whose previous ventures include her namesake tavern and the Baltic Room), Chop Suey‘s warm red glow lights up this Cap Hill corner, and shakes it nightly with a diverse array of noise. With opium den styling and a spacious layout, it’s a comfortable venue to see both local musicians and hyped national bands, particularly if it’s their first time through town. Though packed—especially if the show is all-ages, when they rope off the slim bar area—the sold-out concerts convey an electricity that’s sometimes missing from other area venues. Booking has skewed toward hip-hop and dance lately, with better results for the former due to an iffy sound system. Singer-songwriters, droning psych bands, and pop stars also take the stage, along with the bombastic Comeback monthly and the occasional laptop battle. For a successful hipster club, their “anyway you want it” vibe is refreshingly non-elitist. 1325 E. Madison St., 206-342-8000, www.chopsuey.com.