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=> GENERAL DISCUSSION => Topic started by: Bags on October 22, 2012, 11:34:25 am

Title: The new Howard Theatre
Post by: Bags on October 22, 2012, 11:34:25 am
So I haven't been to this renovated venue yet.  Tonight is Psych Furs with the Lemonheads (Juliana Hatfield bailed).

I've heard that the venue has tables and chairs, like a supper club -- is this true for 'rock' shows as well?  Has anyone been there, have advice on navigating?  Show starts at 8:00; if I'm fighting for a table, I'd think I'd have to get there earlier than I normally would.

THANKS fellow music fans.
Title: Re: The new Howard Theatre
Post by: showlistdc on October 22, 2012, 12:37:21 pm
We've discussed this a bit before, here (http://forum.930.com/index.php?topic=23001.0), but here's a quick summary.

Sometimes they have tables/chairs set up, and sometimes they don't.  When it's a seated show, there will be a $10 minimum per person charge to sit at the table.  I found the food to be pricey and not terribly vegetarian/vegan-friendly (it's soul food, after all), but I was able to manage by getting a salad and having them not put in the hardboiled egg.

It's not always obvious from their web site which seating/standing configuration they'll have-- sometimes the event page says "standing room only", but the Lemonheads show doesn't have that text.  Bottom line: go early for the best seats, and be prepared to spend $$ on food/beverage on top of the ticket price.
Title: Re: The new Howard Theatre
Post by: Bags on October 22, 2012, 02:08:22 pm
THANKS!  I went back to look for a thread but didn't look back far enough.  AND, I keep forgetting we can search now!

Apparently there will be very few tables tonight, which is good.  I'm way not planning to eat there, though $10 in drinks is easy to accomplish.
Title: Re: The new Howard Theatre
Post by: lagas on October 22, 2012, 08:50:35 pm
their staff sucks
Title: Re: The new Howard Theatre
Post by: lily1 on October 23, 2012, 09:17:15 am
i haven't had issues with the staff consistently. it's hit or miss. when i went there for the first time in june, the service was so bad we had to speak to the manager on 3 occasions. the couple of times i've been there since, including just a couple weeks ago, the staff were great and the service was spot on.

its a beautiful spot and super public transportion accessible. i'm just concerned about its ability to make enough money to stay open. none of the times i've been there have the shows been anywhere near sold out.
Title: Re: The new Howard Theatre
Post by: DeathFromAbove1979 on October 23, 2012, 11:55:49 am
their staff sucks
Really? Been there twice, once for a seated show, another for GA, and neither time did I have a problem with the staff. Even with a busy bar I didn't have to wait very long to get a drink.
Title: Re: The new Howard Theatre
Post by: hutch on October 23, 2012, 01:41:10 pm
one time i went was a very underattended show....the three staff members i dealt with were great.. well two were great and one didn't make an impression..

i will say though that when i called they had no clue as to whether there was an opener or when the act would go on.
Title: Re: The new Howard Theatre
Post by: Bags on October 23, 2012, 04:33:12 pm
Very low turnout last night for Lemonheads and Psych Furs.  You think that's why Evan Dando looked like he was going to fall asleep at the mic?

No service problems for me, though as I say, it was maybe 1/6 full so there was lots of staff to serve customers.

Beautiful place.  Hope it 'sticks.'
Title: Re: The new Howard Theatre
Post by: hutch on October 23, 2012, 05:26:11 pm
Very low turnout last night for Lemonheads and Psych Furs.  You think that's why Evan Dando looked like he was going to fall asleep at the mic?

No service problems for me, though as I say, it was maybe 1/6 full so there was lots of staff to serve customers.

Beautiful place.  Hope it 'sticks.'


They are being idots.. they should price shows lower to fill the place up more

This bill never made any sense.. the Furs have played the market so much .. I think last year they played the Fillmore and this year the State Theatre

The Lemonheads couldn't sell out Iota at this point! They added nothing.. Not to mention they've played DC so much.. only recently at the Black Cat.

It is as if the people booking the NY shows just add the DC show without thinking about the market
Title: Re: The new Howard Theatre
Post by: DeathFromAbove1979 on October 24, 2012, 09:34:39 am
I saw the GZA perform "Liquid Swords" there last Tuesday and I'd say it was about 60% full. I thought it was a steal to see that for only $20.
Title: Re: The new Howard Theatre
Post by: Yada on October 24, 2012, 10:08:43 am
  You think that's why Evan Dando looked like he was going to fall asleep at the mic?

 

That was the heroin.
Title: Re: The new Howard Theatre
Post by: hutch on October 24, 2012, 10:18:31 am
  You think that's why Evan Dando looked like he was going to fall asleep at the mic?

 

That was the heroin.

If he's doing heroin that is a shame.
Title: Re: The new Howard Theatre
Post by: Driveway on October 24, 2012, 12:14:53 pm
I thought about going to this, but I opted for the AWESOME Sea Wolf at DC9 instead.  How were the Lemonheads?  I use to always go see them, but I've grown tired of them always playing the same old, old, songs.  They also seem to get sloppier every time I see them.  The 'Shame About Ray' show at the Black Cat was kind of terrible.  I wish they'd play some songs written after 1996... Is that asking a lot?
Title: Re: The new Howard Theatre
Post by: hutch on October 24, 2012, 12:55:18 pm
I thought about going to this, but I opted for the AWESOME Sea Wolf at DC9 instead.  How were the Lemonheads?  I use to always go see them, but I've grown tired of them always playing the same old, old, songs.  They also seem to get sloppier every time I see them.  The 'Shame About Ray' show at the Black Cat was kind of terrible.  I wish they'd play some songs written after 1996... Is that asking a lot?


They have albums after Car Button Cloth or whatever ?
Title: Re: The new Howard Theatre
Post by: StoneTheCrow on October 24, 2012, 02:09:57 pm
The 'Shame About Ray' show at the Black Cat was kind of terrible.


I think this was the one I walked out of 3 songs into the set.  It was all kinds of awful.
Title: Re: The new Howard Theatre
Post by: hutch on October 24, 2012, 02:16:09 pm
I really think the show to see was the Iota show about two years back with Juliana Hatfield.. still bummed I didn't make it

I saw Evan Dando once -only time so far- at the old Tower Records on Pennsylvania Avenue.. must have been about 1994 or 1995.. he signed my Creator CD or whatever its called..he did a bunch of songs on acoustic guitar (solo)..was real good... I still think It's A Shame About Ray is one of the great records ever..
Title: Re: The new Howard Theatre
Post by: lagas on October 24, 2012, 05:20:51 pm
their staff sucks
Really? Been there twice, once for a seated show, another for GA, and neither time did I have a problem with the staff. Even with a busy bar I didn't have to wait very long to get a drink.

went there to see Van Der Graaf Generator a few months ago, seated show, lots of empty tables unfortunately...which made the constant chatting by the bartenders and waiters and everybody else all the worse. You could not hear the music without feeling irritated by the lack of professionalism of the staff. Several patrons complained angrily to waiters until some higher level guy appeared and he apologized, but the chatting resumed a couple songs later.

I agree the place is nice, but I'm not coming back, unless it's van der graaf again...
Title: Re: The new Howard Theatre
Post by: todd711 on October 24, 2012, 05:30:11 pm
The Howard does use goldstar for some shows. I got Howard Jones as well as Mark Kozelek at 1/2 price. You can get notified from from goldstar when The Howard has new events listed. They didn't offer 1/2 price tickets for The Furs.
Title: Re: The new Howard Theatre
Post by: Driveway on October 24, 2012, 10:38:26 pm
I thought about going to this, but I opted for the AWESOME Sea Wolf at DC9 instead.  How were the Lemonheads?  I use to always go see them, but I've grown tired of them always playing the same old, old, songs.  They also seem to get sloppier every time I see them.  The 'Shame About Ray' show at the Black Cat was kind of terrible.  I wish they'd play some songs written after 1996... Is that asking a lot?


They have albums after Car Button Cloth or whatever ?

yep.  Evan has a great solo album called 'Baby I'm Bored.'  There is also an album called 'The Lemonheads' which is really great.  The covers album 'Varshons' mostly sucks, but at least it's something.
Evan is very talented and does an awesome show when he actually gives a shit.
Title: Re: The new Howard Theatre
Post by: James Ford on October 25, 2012, 08:24:54 am
Remember the good old days when artists actually did acoustic in-stores? When there were actually record/cd stores?

I saw Evan do one in what must have been 1990 or 1991. Indeed it was quite good. Maybe one of my top ten in-store shows of all time. Helped that he played a couple or three of Gram Parsons covers, who I was really into at that time. And he didn't just do like five songs and leave, he played for like an hour or something.

I really think the show to see was the Iota show about two years back with Juliana Hatfield.. still bummed I didn't make it

I saw Evan Dando once -only time so far- at the old Tower Records on Pennsylvania Avenue.. must have been about 1994 or 1995.. he signed my Creator CD or whatever its called..he did a bunch of songs on acoustic guitar (solo)..was real good... I still think It's A Shame About Ray is one of the great records ever..
Title: Re: The new Howard Theatre
Post by: showlistdc on October 25, 2012, 08:39:27 am
Remember the good old days when artists actually did acoustic in-stores? When there were actually record/cd stores?

CD Cellar in Clarendon has regular in-stores (usually local artists).

Soundgarden in Baltimore regularly has in-stores of touring artists.  My favorite lineup was on Record Store Day this year when they had Trampled by Turtles and GWAR back-to-back; I really hoped those two would do a song together, but I don't think it worked out.  Anyway, I generally try to list Soundgarden's in-stores on my calendar, but I think the only one they have coming up right now is Yellowcard.
Title: Re: The new Howard Theatre
Post by: K8teebug on October 25, 2012, 08:42:43 am
Soundgarden in Baltimore also has regular in-stores.
Title: Re: The new Howard Theatre
Post by: James Ford on October 25, 2012, 09:07:05 am
Soundgarden is in Baltimore.

Remember the good old days when artists actually did acoustic in-stores? When there were actually record/cd stores?

CD Cellar in Clarendon has regular in-stores (usually local artists).

Soundgarden in Baltimore regularly has in-stores of touring artists.  My favorite lineup was on Record Store Day this year when they had Trampled by Turtles and GWAR back-to-back; I really hoped those two would do a song together, but I don't think it worked out.  Anyway, I generally try to list Soundgarden's in-stores on my calendar, but I think the only one they have coming up right now is Yellowcard.
Title: Re: The new Howard Theatre
Post by: showlistdc on October 25, 2012, 10:35:04 am
Soundgarden is in Baltimore.

Sorry, what's your point?  I'm up in Baltimore at least once a week for concerts-- plenty of bands play there but don't stop in DC proper.
Title: Re: The new Howard Theatre
Post by: i am gay and i like cats on October 25, 2012, 10:47:24 am
i think james's point was . . . who gives a shit about baltimore?
Title: Re: The new Howard Theatre
Post by: hutch on October 25, 2012, 11:31:11 am
Kemp Mill on Wisconsin Ave used to do instores...

I can't for the life of me remember who I went to see there...if anybody...


Also the old Sugarshack used to be a record store in Arlington and Kristin Hersh did an instore there once..

I think Red Onion has done a few instores....



Title: Re: The new Howard Theatre
Post by: showlistdc on October 25, 2012, 11:38:11 am
Smash does instores too.
Title: Re: The new Howard Theatre
Post by: hutch on October 25, 2012, 11:44:57 am
I want to say I saw Steve Earle and Del Mcoury at the Borders or whatever on 19th street that recenty closed..this would have been around 1999
Title: Re: The new Howard Theatre
Post by: James Ford on October 25, 2012, 01:49:56 pm
I saw Emmylou Harris (with Buddy Miller on guitar) at the same Borders. It was very crowded. I think her daughter was actually an employee and local college student at the time. Or something like that.

The saddest instore I saw in DC was when Alejandro Escovedo played DCCD in front of me, a friend, and the store clerks. And I wasn't really even a fan. Not sure why nobody turned out, it was before he managed to parlay the media attention to his illness into a surge in popularity (sounds mean to say that, but it did seem that way...I'm sure some would argue he had a burst of creative inspiration following his illness).


I want to say I saw Steve Earle and Del Mcoury at the Borders or whatever on 19th street that recenty closed..this would have been around 1999