When it comes to live music, it’s usually best for a venue to stick to what it knows. The Verizon Center knows arena pop. The Kennedy Center knows opera. Blues Alley knows jazz. The Wolf Trap knows folk. Don’t get me wrong - each of these venues is phenomenal in its own right. But do they know rock n' roll?
Puh-lease.
The D.C. rock scene is known throughout the country, but not because of the shows staged at the city’s most famous music halls. It’s the rock clubs that drive the scene – those dingy, divey haunts scattered throughout the Metro area dedicated to distorted guitars, thumping kick drums and erratic, unsightly dance moves. So, if you’re more excited by a tall glass of Jack Daniels than a vodka martini, more likely to don a pair of Chuck T's than stilettos or Top-Siders, and more interested in going home with a faint ringing in your ears than that random brah or drunk chick you met at the club, we’ve got a few places right up your alley.
9:30 Club
OK, this one’s a bit of a gimme.
The 9:30 Club is the undeniable epicenter of the D.C. rock scene. Since opening the doors of its current location in 1996, the Shaw nightclub has consistently popped up on nationwide “Best Rock Venue” lists, including recent nods for “Top Club in the World” from Billboard Magazine and “Nightclub of the Year” at the Pollstar Concert Industry Awards.
Can any local venue really live up to that kind of hype? Absolutely. Even if you take for granted the state-of-the-art soundsystem, the impeccable lighting scheme and the space’s impossible blend of intimacy and accessibility, you’ll still be blown away by the club's amenities. Three stocked bars are scattered throughout the venue, each with a respectable premium beer list. A discrete concession stand is your portal to a cheap, creative and surprisingly delicious menu of made-to-order offerings like Vegan Serape. If you're not of age, there's even a full coffee bar on the mezzanine level.
Oh, and then there’s the music. There aren’t many medium-sized venues in the country that can attract the legendary names that have graced the stage of the 9:30 Club. Bob Dylan has played here twice. Radiohead, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Wilco - the name dropping can go on forever. At the same time, the club stays true to its roots by establishing itself as a veritable Mecca for up-and-coming indie bands, staging packed shows every day of the week.
The Black Cat
If the 9:30 Club is the king of the D.C. rock scene, then the Black Cat is its fowl-mouthed, punk-rocking bastard prince. Though it has not attracted quite as much national attention as its notorious neighbor, the Black Cat is a well-known regional destination for independent rock. The venue prides itself on booking huge bands before they get big. The Black Cat built its “indie cred” by staging now-household names like Bloc Party, The Strokes, The White Stripes, The Killers, Foo Fighters, Blur, and Beck when they were still climbing to stardom. Not bad.
Names like that may bring in crowds for the big shows, but it’s the space itself that attracts a steady flow of music lovers to the Black Cat every night of the week. The venue’s “Red Room” is truly one-of-a-kind, installing a chill neighborhood bar directly below one of the loudest live stages in the District. If you’re taking full advantage of the club’s all-ages status, there’s also a full coffee lounge and vegetarian cafe, Food For Thought. Anyone that has ever sat through an especially irritating opening band at an indie show can appreciate such accessible alternatives to the main stage.
Sixth & I Historic Synagogue
Let me start off by pointing out the proverbial elephant in the room. Yes, Sixth and I is a real synagogue - and no, you don’t have to be Jewish to see a show here.
To say the least, the Sixth and I Historic Synagogue is one-of-a-kind. Rock concerts are held in the synagogue’s sanctuary, which happens to be one of the oldest places of worship in D.C. In addition to the mildly ironic appeal of such a concept, the venue’s unique space provides unparalleled intimacy and some up the best acoustics you’ll find in the District. As an added perk, the Synagogue has an independent box office, so for once you can avoid annoying service charges.
Sixth and I began staging shows in 2005 with now-mainstream Jewish reggae/rock star Matisyahu. Since then, the Synagogue has partnered with Live Nation to attract such acts as Bryan Adams, Jenny Lewis, the Eels, Grizzly Bear and Devendra Banhart. Shows are relatively sporadic and range from one to four nights a month.
Rock N' Roll Hotel
here are few, if any, music venues in the country quite like the H Street Corridor’s Rock N Roll Hotel. The name is a dual tribute to the bar’s warm, welcoming atmosphere and it’s diehard dedication to rock music. Cushy vintage couches and cozy private rooms are scattered throughout the space, while floating guitars, portraits of rock icons and flyers from legendary D.C punks shows line the ceilings and walls. Though the entire venue tends to reverberate from the live entertainment downstairs, the second floor lounge achieves a laid back and casual vibe, facilitated by a stellar jukebox and lively conversation.
Despite opening just over two years ago, the Rock N Roll Hotel has established itself as a necessary stop for budding indie rockers making their way through the Mid Atlantic. In recent months, the Rock N Roll Hotel has staged some of the most beloved names in independent music, including Vampire Weekend, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Ben Kweller, Tokyo Police Club, and Dr. Dog.
Sure, the neighborhood isn’t pretty; but neither is rock n’ roll. At the end of the day, both are well worth a trip outside your comfort zone.
DC9
While several of the District’s rock clubs attempt to capture the look and feel of a comfortable neighborhood dive bar, the U Street Corridor’s DC 9 actually is one. It just happens to stage live rock shows as well.
Locals know DC 9 for its eclectic jukebox and DJ-driven dance parties. Music junkies, on the other hand, know the upstairs stage as one of the premier spots to catch bands on their way to indie stardom. The medium-sized venue tends to attract relatively obscure bands (and subsequently the Washingtonians that love obscure bands), so you’ll have to be pretty well versed in the underground to recognize the names on the bill. If you’re lucky, perhaps you can witness a band’s full migration up the neighborhood’s musical hierarchy (DC 9 - Black Cat - 9:30 Club).
State Theater
Falls Church's State Theatre is not the only classic movie theater to be transformed into a rock venue; but it's probably the only one that can tout the fact that the final film to grace its big screen was Die Hard. If that’s not rock n’ roll, I don’t know what is.
The State Theater is known throughout the Metro area for its vintage art deco design and naturally rich acoustics. Since reopening as a performance venue after a series of major restorations in the late 1990s, the State Theater has staged rock superstars representing just about every living generation, from Jimmie Buffet to John Mayer, Greg Allman to...Hanson. Recent bookings tend to be tailored to a somewhat older crowd and are not restricted to modern rock, including tribute bands, blues, funk, pop, and even an occasional comedian. It's also one of the only medium-sized music venues in the area with a full kitchen and table service during most shows.
A rock n’ roll dinner theater? Not quite as badass as John McClane, but a nice touch nonetheless.
Jammin' Java
There’s something to be said about a strip-mall coffee shop that can manage to book a former Beatle for an acoustic set.
Granted, the aforementioned “Beatle” was Pete Best. Either way, Vienna’s Jammin’ Java has certainly found its niche in the Metro area rock scene. In the morning, the venue is a light-hearted suburban coffee shop and café, serving up with fresh, inexpensive sandwiches and salads accompanied by daily family-friendly live performances. In the afternoon, scores of pseudo-bohemian teenagers descend upon the space to sip lattes and soak in its hip, “too cool for high school” vibe. When evening comes, the lights are turned low and the dining area transforms into one of the most intimate concert spaces in the area.
Jammin’ Java is owned and operated by local musicians Daniel and Jonathan Brindley, which explains the scrutiny with which featured performers are selected. Since the Brindley family took over the space in 2001 (before then it was actually a Christian coffeehouse), the small venue has attracted a surprising collection of big names from indie and popular rock, including Rage Against the Machine / Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello, Erin Mckeown, Citizen Cope and Teddy Geiger.
As a heads up - due to limited space and the venue’s strict first-come-first-serve policy, it’s usually a good idea to arrive about an hour before the scheduled show time.
Iota
As you can probably infer from the name, Iota is - well - tiny. Despite its spacial limitations (capacity is capped at around 160), the Clarendon café/club hybrid draws in some huge names from the national indie rock community. John Mayer, Jason Mraz, Jack Johnson and Norah Jones all played their first shows in the nation’s capital on Iota’s cramped stage, solidifying the club’s status as one of the premier starter venues for budding musicians looking to tap into the Metro area market.
Intimacy is the main selling point here. There’s little space between the performers and the crowd, and the mellow ambiance is accented with little more than a strategically hung arrangement of Christmas lights. To account for with scarce seating, Iota maintains a strict first come, first serve policy for all shows (i.e. no advanced ticket sales). The result is a low cover charge, assuming that you show up early enough to wiggle past the bouncer.
Asylum
To most oxford-clad patrons of Adams Morgan nightlife, Asylum is just that loud, Goth-looking dive between Saki and Jumbo Slice. Technically, that’s all true; but it’s also home to one of the District’s most popular rock n’ roll bars, as well as a destination for some of the best up-and-coming musicians our city has to offer.
Sure, Asylum isn’t the classiest joint in the neighborhood - and certain aspects of its ambiance are certainly questionable; but at the very least the venue is uncompromisingly genuine. The tap selection list is short but deliberate. Perhaps playing to its bohemian yet sophisticated clientele, the menu far surpasses common bar food. In fact, this year alone Asylum was awarded accolades for both "Best Brunch in DC" and "Best Vegan Brunch in DC."
Unless you’re either keenly hip to the local scene or a casual friend of one of the band members, you probably won't know the bands playing on a given night – but that doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy the music. Since opening in 1991, the venue has staged their fair share of local indie heroes like The Goons, Supreme Commander, 86 Mentality and Nashville Pussy.
Fredericksburg All Ages
Believe it or not, the Washington D.C. music scene spans well south of the last stop on the Blue Line.
Yes, Fredericksburg All Ages is technically outside of the Metro area (it’s about one hour’s drive south of the District); but you’ll have trouble finding a rock venue in the District that’s so steadfastly dedicated to the city’s musicians. As the name implies, FAA focuses on getting young people excited about local music, attracting crowds that are noticeably younger and much more engaged than most D.C. venues. The performance space is open and bare, illuminated with a makeshift lighting scheme of dimmed fluorescent bulbs and white Christmas lights. All shows are non-profit, alcohol-free and entirely run by volunteers.
Over the past two years, FAA has hosted many of the biggest names in D.C. scene such as Le Loup (pictured), Jukebox the Ghost and Georgie James. The venue stages several national acts as well, including rising indie stars Ra Ra Riot.
