El Corazon   

Although the greasy music club under I-5 has changed names several times in the past few years (Off Ramp, Graceland, and now El Corazon), it's never lost sight of its focus: to rock hard. Sure, the showroom is only about as big as some living rooms, but the live shows here emit enough reckless energy to fill a stadium-sized amphitheater. And since booking tends to be either rock, punk or metal bands, the in-your-face performances often explode into a volcanic mosh pit of pierced rebellion. Keeping up with the tradition of its predecessors, El Corazon serves up shows that are all-ages. But that doesn't mean the 21-and-over crowd is left sipping Pepsi -- an adjacent bar area is only an ID check away, and it specializes in stiff drinks and cheap beer. Still, once the electric guitars start wailing, everyone packs like tattooed sardines into the stage area, where this well-worn venue still does what it has always done best: rock.