New to the D.C. area

Hey, im going to school At CUA this fall and im into the whole jam music scene… just coming back from all good 2005 and being a follower of Chad in his State radio as well as all my locals… Just curious hows this venue? Packed? Fun? whats the whole deal (9:30 CLUB)

GREAT venue. Packed when sold out but very comfortable when not, just like many other places in that regard. It's mostly a standing venue with very few chairs. The place rocks! More or less, state of the art as far as showcasing the bands. In fact, the bands tend to love the place. Several bars all around the place. In the club itself, there is the main floor and then an upstairs which is more like a mezzanine that wraps around the walls with a very big hole in the floor that allows you to see the crowd down below.

There's also the Backbar which you cannot see the bands play from but it's downstairs as oppossed to in the back. You see, it was the Backbar from the old club that was brought over to this newer one. It's very tiny, or intimate, and nice to hang in after the show or during if you can't handle some band onstage or whatever reason you choose to go there.

It's a very professionally run place so don't expect any half-ass shit to have to deal with. And don't bother asking about if you can light up there. As in, the Jam bands favorite brand of smoke. Your ass will feel the sidewalk faster than you can take a toke if you do try. They aren't going to loose their club for that so don't even try.

As far as Jam bands go, I'll leave those details to Redsock, aka Big Jamsock, as he is the man with anything and everything that you would ever want to know about Jam bands. :D

yes, it is a wonderful place.
there are wonderful places to see music all over DC.


welcome to the area

Since you're probably wondering…Yes, they let you smoke weed at the 9:30 Club. sometimes they even pass it out at the door.

…and in addition to info. from nice people like at the top of this thread, you will also be fed a lot of crap from a bunch of hostile, elitist pricks (most of whom are just old and grouchy cause they're losing their hair, their hearing and their minds) who believe you should only like THEIR fav. bands/genres/ancient idols…It is usually very funny, unless they come after YOU…so just remember the playground and all the bullies…If you run away, they chase you more. Welcome to dc. 930 is the BEST club - the musicians' and fans' gold standard - but there are many more live music venues…check out:

www.blackcatdc.com
www.velvetloungedc.com
www.dcnine.com
www.jamminjava.com (this and the following are out in the burbs…which many hate);
www.thestatetheater.com
www.iotaclubandcafe.com

and many more in Baltimore which I'll allow the baltimorons to provide. Welcome to DC and the forum.

Sorry, S.Hook - Also:

www.warehousenextdoor.com/

Originally posted by BadSushi:


www.blackcatdc.com
www.velvetloungedc.com
www.dcnine.com
www.jamminjava.com (this and the following are out in the burbs…which many hate);
www.thestatetheater.com
www.iotaclubandcafe.com

and many more in Baltimore which I'll allow the baltimorons to provide. Welcome to DC and the forum.

You forgot JAXX

for the record there is very little hostility and thinning hair on this forum, more instigating then i'd like, but in general a pretty civil… sure i'd like people to like the bands i pimp here, but understand they aren't exactly everyone cup of tea… and so what if i thought the Kaiser Chief peformance was subpar

Who's talking about you? You have more hair and better manners than the bunch of 'em added together. ;)

whatever.
as i hope is widely known information; anybody who has the nerve to be a jackass on a message board is truly lame. it's one thing to be rude in person; but online??

don't put up with the high horses.


(well, don't put up with them in person, either, but…you get what i'm saying)

Yes, it's much worse to be rude online than in person.

Originally posted by you be betty:
whatever.
as i hope is widely known information; anybody who has the nerve to be a jackass on a message board is truly lame. it's one thing to be rude in person; but online??

don't put up with the high horses.


(well, don't put up with them in person, either, but…you get what i'm saying)

Originally posted by you be betty:
whatever.
as i hope is widely known information; anybody who has the nerve to be a jackass on a message board is truly lame. it's one thing to be rude in person; but online??

but what if i am just a rude person? am i supposed to be abnormally polite just cause its the internet?

you americans complain about people being mean all the time, and then make fun of Canadians cause "they are all nice" you people are never happy.

and if you want crappy jam band music. check out

the funk box in Baltimore

no, you aren't supposed to be abnormally polite.
if one is generally rude, i wouldn't expect them to be any nicer à l'internet. i'd HOPE they would be, but wouldn't expect it.

i just happen to find it ridiculous that some people (i'm not finger pointing…) power-struggle in their everyday lives, so they enjoy being rude on the internet for no apparent reason.

i personally have not had a problem with any of you on here; you are all wonderful.
i feel like i've scared our newcomer…

Originally posted by you be betty:

i personally have not had a problem with any of you on here; you are all wonderful.

Obviously you've never met Sonick in person.

Originally posted by Rob_Gee:

Originally posted by you be betty:

i personally have not had a problem with any of you on here; you are all wonderful.

Obviously you've never met Sonick in person.

come on, those charges were dropped!

I am also new to DC and have a few questions. I just moved last week from KC, but have already been to a couple shows at the 9:30 (Teenage Fanclub/Rosebuds, Kaiser Chiefs/Cribs). I liked the venue and DJing, but wasn't really impressed with the live sound - especially during the Fannies, where it was far too bassy on the floor). Is this a recurring problem or an isolated event? Is the sound generally better on the balcony?

I am also trying to locate the best CD stores in town. My wife and I had a list of 25 things and we were only able to find 6 or 7 of them after hitting a few places on Saturday. (My tastes are aging hipster - Big Takeover magazine-ish). So far, Melody seems to have the most comprehensive indie selection but the prices were just ok. Crooked Best was pretty small but I noticed they had some good imports and a liked the atmosphere and help. Nothing else I have visted was very good. I still haven't been to Tower.

So are there any other stores, especially good used discs stores in town, or should I stick with ordering from Parasol and Insound?


Thanks for your help.

try the cd/game exchange on wisconsin. i'm not sure the exact address; but it's accross the street from best buy and blah blah blah…hopefully somebody else can hook you up with an address?
i think they have another one elsewhere…
pretty good prices.

there's also CDepot in college park, which i have mixed reviews for. sometimes you can find good stuff there, and sometimes it is steeply overpriced…it really depends.

i usually don't really buy cds here, though.

Originally posted by sonickteam4:

Originally posted by Rob_Gee:

Originally posted by you be betty:

i personally have not had a problem with any of you on here; you are all wonderful.

Obviously you've never met Sonick in person.

come on, those charges were dropped!

oh, and.
ha ha ha.

CD Cellar in Clarendon and Falls Church.

Good selection of used CDs. Prices aren't bargain basement, but they generally have a lot of fairly recent releases between $8 and $10.

Originally posted by falconetti:
I am also new to DC and have a few questions. I just moved last week from KC, but have already been to a couple shows at the 9:30 (Teenage Fanclub/Rosebuds, Kaiser Chiefs/Cribs). I liked the venue and DJing, but wasn't really impressed with the live sound - especially during the Fannies, where it was far too bassy on the floor). Is this a recurring problem or an isolated event? Is the sound generally better on the balcony?


So are there any other stores, especially good used discs stores in town, or should I stick with ordering from Parasol and Insound?


Thanks for your help.

Well the sound at the Fannies show was anomaly for the club and it only lasted for a short period of time. Not quite sure what happened but it could have easily been a equipment glitch, like what happened at the Walkman show awhile back.

For record stores checkout Joe's Record Paradise in Rockville, CDepot in College Park, or CD Cellar in Falls Church. CDepot is ok with newer stuff, good back catalog choices, prices on some used stuff high compared to other stores. Hadn't been to CD Cellar for awhile but will be checking it out more frequently now that my brother will be living near by. Nice selection of used imports picked up Johnny Thunder, The Rich Kids, a Japanese version of Led Zep III with the rotating wheel.

In general the CD stores in the DC area suck… The best local chain is Record & Tape Traders but it's in and around Baltimore. Soundgarden in Baltimore has a great selection.