9:30 Club, I.M.P. Review

Just saying, having water at the bar was a huge boon for me.

There's probably not much to say about the 9:30 Club that hasn't already been said (Dave Grohl visited it growing up) but I'll put in my two cents. 9:30 is a nice cross between a bar and a stadium: big sound without big crowds. The sound system is hands down the best in DC: bone-shakingly loud if used at max volume but also very refined and rarely distorted. You can tell a lot of thought and money went into their setup. The Food Food is surprisingly satisfying usually, though a couple things I've ordered have had a cold corner or two. I'm not a big fan of the 9:30 Club's bar- the beer selection is good but it's probably the most expensive I've been in DC and the glass size is maybe 3/4 what you'll find at a regular bar. You're reeeeally paying for convenience if you get drinks at the 9:30 bar, which I never do. The staff is always friendly- I lost a sweater once and though they ultimately couldn't find it they were happy to help out and seemed to have a good lost and found system. The bands that come through 9:30 are really diverse, ranging from party music to your 40-something targeted stuff. All in all a great venue, would recommend over any other unless you just have to drink something, then Black Cat is your best bet.

Hate driving here, but it's worth it. Good acts, big space.

A wonderful venue with not a bad seat in the house. My girlfriend recently purchased tickets to vance joy and we loved it.

They also serve great coffee!!!

The lineup is great, but every time I've been there, the music is ruined by the extreme volume. It's so loud it's impossible to listen to properly. It's an insult to anyone with an actual interest in music beyond just a magma of noise in your ears. (This applies only to headliners; during the opening act, the sound is great.)

The sound is great all over the place. There's really not a bad place to stand in the house and it's a great venue to see up and coming artists. Ticket prices are generally pretty decent.

My all-time favorite music venue in DC. I love the size of it and the artists that they book to come through here. I'm a big folk/country/roots fan, and most of my favorite artists perform here. The beer prices are a little pricey but in line with the DC/U Street market; however, the selection is pretty good. Water is always easy to get since it is self serve. Traditionally, I like to be on the first floor ground level with the stage, but as with any concert it gets packed and people get pushy. In my older age, I have settled on the balcony level where there really isn't a bad view from up there. It's just a setting where you feel intimate with the artist whether there's 10 people or 1,000.

they kept my ticket money and my parking money even though the band I bought a ticket for was cancelled. Also I didn't get an email saying the band cancelled .sketchy

This is the best standing-room only venue I have been to.

Great shows, great beer selection. Each bar has different selection. During the week, go to the downstairs bar if you need a quiet moment! ( Weekends though, dance parties are held down there. You have been warned...)

Been around forever, and I've been going since they were at 930 F Street. They know how to do a show.

I don t know what the hype is all about after at 930

I came last night to watch a show and was angry I never came here before. If you live in the DC area, please make a trip here to see a show. I had so much fun last night as the show was fantastic, but also there were plenty of drink options. Getting here- driving there are street parking spots in the area. There is also a metro, U st., which is walking distance to the venue. There are bars inside, but I loved that they have a coffee bar. Perfect for the DD. The staff was friendly and helpful with getting us tickets and drinks. One of the best music venues in the area. 930 is able to attract talent and amazing performers. The bathrooms were clean and well maintained.

the venue is pretty dope, the lighting is great and the drinks are awesome the staff are pretty cool, not big on the security here, they could be a bit rude at times, but let that ruin your even here.

Fantastic venue. Just the right size. Small and intimate, but not so small that people are on top of you. Big enough to have room to move around, but not too big where the music gets muddied/too many people are talking. Plenty of bars to keep lines short. First venue I've ever seen to have a coffee bar, and the irish coffees are fantastic. Been to 3 shows, and they've all been great! Can't wait to see another.

Always have fun going here. The back bar area is good.

Always love coming to this venue for shows. The people who work here are nice and professional. The restrooms are clean. It's DC so drinks are pricey but that's just how it is and I imagine that's what they make their money from. It's a safe place and I've never had an issue in all the years I've gone. They have pretty good underground metal acts there on a regular basis and it's easily accessible by Metro.

Nice concert venue and the bathrooms were nice and modern. Limited seating in the upper balcony area.

Went to see Owl City and loved it! One thing was that parking was not explained very well and also the VIP's sat on the second floor balcony instead of being right next to the stage. Also the building lacks any form of identification. Other than that I loved it!

We brought our high school age kids to see the Weepies. The people who work there are great and we all had a fantastic time.

Have seenbmore acts than I can mention here, definitely one of my favorite places to see live music since the 90s. Pregame or bring extra money if drinking however, as booze is not cheap. Free water though, so no reason to die of dehydration.

Small venue but great acoustics. Strong drinks and very good food. Very limited seating

Good upper area. Ample bars. Not a bad angle. Good for anti social people.

Security here sucks. If you have an issue you re basically on your own. I had a beer poured on me and they did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. They also don t check bags or persons for weapons which makes things very uneasy. Will not return!

Not a bad place to jam but the sound, specifically the vocals are sometimes hard to understand due to its size. Maby the management should consider not letting people in with back packs. I saw a number of people including myself getting slammed by them in the crowd, very annoying and so were the ones wearing them.

DC's own Thievery Corporation invariably own the night at The 9:30 Club.

Great venue for live shows. Small so even near the rear the view is good.

Great views and sound as always. Been going here since 1996 and it has managed to improve without changing to drastically. Parking attendants for the official 9:30 lot could be tossed and replaced, but probably a prerequisite that you'll have some BS if you ever try to park a car in DC . Put the phone down, get out and go see your bands people!

What a great club! Much nicer than Black Cat. Reminds me of First Ave back home in MSP

bar very nice . nice place for 2 dinner, game night

The show was good, and it's within walking distance of lots of bars.

930 is great. Good drink selections that aren't an arm and a leg at a venue like this is rare and worth mentioning. More importantly they have great shows and great security. Sound engineers also get a . See a show here - you won't be disappointed.

I never go to DC/VA without see8ng a show at this historic club.

Loved the show with Grammy Nominated Chris "Kingfish" Ingram

the 9:30 club is the spot to see live music shows that range from unsigned, up and coming bands to established bands you already love. the acoustics are wonderful and you get a quality show from almost anywhere inside the building.

They get great bands in this place. It can get very packed. They don't do a good job of preventing people from standing in places where they will be in the way of places people need to be. People kept blocking stairs, blocked the merchandise booth. My friends had no idea there was a merchandise booth for the band we went to see, not marked well. The bartenders were good, and fast for the number of people. Coat check was full, and could not use.

Perfect place for a concert. Tank and da Bangas shut it DOWN!

An indie music mecca, this place is known not only across the country but around the world. Unless you never want to hear your child's first words, bring earplugs because it seems like some of the opening acts are chosen by how many eardrums they can split. The headliners, though, can compete with many of the big arenas around the world with Willie Nelson and George Clinton topping the playbill in a very short time span. Reasonable drinks and a management that limits the crowds so everyone can enjoy the show makes 9:30 club one of the East Coast's great venues.

I saw Big Freedia and Low Cut Connie perform. Their shows were amazing!! The tickets were $33/per person. However, the security was terrible. If you're physically assaulted while there, you should call the police and bypass security.

Classic club with a lot of character. Standing room only. Coat check at very top of stairs.

Great venue, with decent acoustics. I liked the fact that they have a bunch of the albums of bands that have toured there, and the fact that there are multiple bars, and bathrooms on the different levels. The bathrooms were also amazingly clean, which for most venues is unheard of. The staff and clientele were awesome and amazingly friendly..

Great vibe and very clean! Staff were also wonderful

Had a great experience here, fairly clean venue with intimate space. Would come back here again

Lots of bars + coffee bar. 3 floors. Really cool venue

One of my absolute favorite small venues in DC. Parking can be a pain, but it's an easy metro to U Street and then a short walk. My favorite place to watch the show is upstairs from the balcony.

The stage has great sound and lighting but booze is way over priced. The venue takes a cut of the band's merch so the bands all have to raise their merch prices to compensate. You can avoid most ticket fees here by going to the box office and buying in cash.

Shout out to head of security, Jason Hamm, for kicking me and my friends out because I "shared a drink" to underage guests, which never happened. He cited accounts from his staff, who did not speak with us or corroborate the story. We were dragged out before we could get an explanation or even a word in. Jason ended up practically telling us we were right but there was nothing he could do (some head of security, I know). Super glad I didn't get to see an artist I've been waiting for on a faulty claim that obviously lacked true grounding. Won't be back.

Fun, intimate place to see a show. It feels a little raw, but it adds to the atmosphere I guess. Good sound quality and you feel like you're caught up in the music. I'd recommend.

If you're looking for an intimate place to see your favorite band/artist play, 9:30's definitely something to check out. I've been here for a ton of shows and no other venue compares...it's just one of those quintessentially DC things to do.

I love it because even with a barrier, you're definitely up close and personal with the band. Sometimes it's a little hard for me to see since I'm on the shorter end of the scale, but there's really not a bad view from wherever you're standing.

If you get there early, check out the Backbar downstairs (it's around the corner from the box office on the left of the building, where the tiny set of stairs are)...they're usually open an hour before the main doors are, and most times you can get into the venue first.

Favorite place in DC to see a show. Multiple bars, good sound setup, upper floors give you a good view of the bands.

best place in town to see a show. double-decker old school venue with tons of bars on every floor, and a beer selection to rival some beer bars in the area. prices are not too bad given the fact they have you trapped for the concert. might think it would be hard to find since its not labelled outside at all but just follow the train of indie rockers and you'll find it.

Great venue and really cool crowd. Definitely worth checking out. Drink prices decent and staff friendly.

Go inside. Grab a drink. Stand and watch a concert. Leave and you don't have to walk very far to get to a bar, bus, or metro. It's a very no-frills venue that really lets you feel connected with the artist*.

*Depending on the artist. Your experience may vary.

We brought our high school age kids to see the Weepies. The people who work there are great and we all had a fantastic time.