The Waiting Room is the room every Omaha music fan has a story about. Opened in 2007 by local promoter 1% Productions, it’s the city’s best mid-size venue — big enough for national touring acts, small enough that there’s genuinely not a bad spot in the house.
The building has history: in the ’80s and ’90s it was the Lift Ticket Lounge, where Nirvana and Soundgarden played before anyone knew their names. The current room honors that legacy with a booking calendar that’s consistently one of the best in the Midwest.
It’s on Maple Street in the heart of Benson, which means dinner and drinks are a stumble away in either direction. Check the calendar — the mix of indie, punk, hip-hop, and comedy is eclectic in the best way.