Portland is about to gain a really awesome live music venue, and the other day I had the great luck of scoring a behind-the-scenes tour. Called Port City Music Hall, it will soon open at 504 Congress St., where the Stadium used to be (prior to downsizing) and before that the Keystone Theater. Right now the exterior doesn't look like much, but you can see where they've added ticket windows.

Inside, the space is huge and will be have a maximum capacity of 660 people standing. Smaller shows could set up row seating (capacity 350) or four-top tables (capacity 240). Construction is still in full swing, but you can see part of the giant bar to the left. Plans don't call for a full food menu, but light fare will be offered, and in the summer there will be sidewalk seating. Beyond the frame of this snapshot, there's an entrance area, a coat check and a door to a hallway that leads to the offices upstairs and provides private access to the stage for the musicians. In front of the glass windows, there will be a a cozy lounge area.

Portland-based interior designer Joshua Bergey is working on making a really hip interior. Here publicity manager Ceci Gilson shows off one of the cool '70s-era couches Bergey picked up at an auction in Boston. This couch is stored in a huge room downstairs that could be used for private functions. Next door there's a room that will have pool tables and more couches.

This board of paint samples was in the same room as the couch. It wasn't clear if this is the final color scheme, but there's a good chance that stencil will show up around the club.

Don't be fooled by the paint color. This is the green room, where the band members can hang out and get ready for the show. The room includes a full bathroom and a dressing room. Outside this room, there is a sweet roof deck for use by the bands and staff.

Back downstairs, I took this photo of the roughed-in stage. Since the crews were working on sanding the drywall during my visit, this dust-obscured picture was the best I could get. To the left of the stage, there will be a raised VIP area with its own bar. Due to delays related to the recent ice storm, a definitive opening date has not been set. But owner Rob Evon is aiming for the week of Jan. 15. Right now the Port City Music Hall MySpace page lists a few of the acts lined up so far. The always-fun Boston group Lovewhip is booked for Jan. 22 and internationally-acclaimed OK Go hits the stage on March 13. It's clear that in just a few weeks, Congress Street will really be rocking.