So just how cool is the new Revolution Concert House and Event Center, which opened Aug. 22?

Just ask the 1,800 or so grinning Idahoans who sang “Life’s been good to me so faaaaar!” along with Eagles guitarist and singer Joe Walsh.

Or grooved blissfully to “In the City” — in Garden City.

“I’m impressed — it’s nice,” said concertgoer Dave Misner, 57, who also had attended the ZZ Top show 24 hours earlier at the outdoor Eagle River Pavilion. “To me, you have a great view of the stage wherever you’re at.”

With a capacity of 2,200 fans, the Treasure Valley’s newest live-performance mecca is built for an evolving music industry. It’s a potential game changer for the Boise market — intimate enough for club-style concerts, yet roomy enough for a bigger draw like Walsh or ZZ Top. Boise’s successful Knitting Factory Concert House holds about 1,000 people.

Because of its medium capacity, the Revolution Center should open the Valley’s doors to a fresh spectrum of artists, according to Gary Bongiovanni, editor-in-chief of concert-industry trade publication Pollstar. “It’s a very good size,” he told the Statesman in January.

Revolution owner Creston Thornton co-founded The Big Easy concert houses in Boise and Spokane, which now are owned by — and called — Knitting Factory. Welcoming Wednesday night’s crowd, Thornton likened the new Revolution to theold Big Easy — except “on steroids.”

The former grocery store at Glenwood and Chinden has been transformed into a multi-level, multi-use music mecca. Thornton, whose CTTouring presents outdoor concerts at the Eagle River Pavilion, is planning for the Revolution Center to host comedians, sporting events and private and corporate functions.

Looking for a more upscale experience? Check out the VIP area, which, at more than 2,000 square feet, has more space than some folks’ homes. It includes a private lounge, bathroom and bar. But the way-cool feature is the view of the stage from a spacious catwalk towering above the audience.

Despise paying for parking? There are 700 free spaces in the Revolution Center’s parking lot.

Not a fan of long lines for the bathroom? Grab one of the 17 stalls in the women’s restroom, ladies.

You’re a smoker? Despite the Revolution Center’s location in tobacco-friendly Garden City, you aren’t allowed to puff inside. However, there is a smoking patio outside.

Thornton said he welcomes patrons to stick around at the Revolution Center after shows for a nightcap. “We’ll be here until the last few people,” he promised.

And the big question: The sound in the room? It was solid. Actually, surprisingly good for an opening-night concert.

Still, not everything about the Revolution Center is quite where it needs to be just yet.

The venue didn’t get its occupancy permit until the morning of the show. Shipments of tables and chairs were still arriving the day of the concert. Improvements are on the way — including wells for the bartenders, which didn’t show up in time for the Walsh performance.

Thornton said he hopes Idahoans will be understanding as the Revolution Center makes adjustments in the coming weeks.

“It’s going to take some dialing in,” he explained.

“A bunch of times, it looked like (the Walsh concert) was going to have to move to Eagle River. But we’ve had a ton of workers putting in a ton of extra hours to make this happen and get open in time. It’s been a group effort.”

Michael Deeds: 377-6407, Twitter: @IDS_Deeds