Southpaw is the best place to see indie bands before they head to The Bowery Ballroom in Manhattan, then rock stardom. Some of the bands that have performed here are The Cardigans, The Kills, Cat Power, Sleater-Kinney, and The Go! Team.
The layout of the club provides plenty of good angles for watching bands. The floor has a couple sets of risers that begin a third of the way back, with seats available for the not-so-young and those who favor fashion over comfortable footwear. The club has a few choice chest-high tables right in front of the stage that you might be able to snag if you arrive early, before the doors open.
Check their website at http://www.spsounds.com for ticket prices and to see a calendar of upcoming shows.