Rock And Roll Hotel

[serpent boy]

Hey everyone,
 
 Can I get some reviews of the Rock and Roll Hotel? Who's been there and what did you think?
 
 I'm heading there tomorrow night for the first time to check out Nicole Atkins (and I'll be at Ambulance LTD and Local H soon), and I've read mixed reviews of the venue.
 
 Some say it's a sketchy neighborhood (dodging crack dealers, nothing but barred up liquor stores around); others vehemently defend it. Some say the sound is WAY too loud; others say it's great. Some say parking is inaccessible; others say it's readily available on the well-lit streets. What's the verdict?
 
 I'll probably be driving, but I'm a terrible parallel parker. Am I in for an adventure?
 
 Finally, if the venue says show at 8:30, do they mean opening band hits the stage at 8:30, headliner at 9:30? Or are they pulling a Black Cat on us (8:30 means show starts at 9:30 - maybe)?
 
 Thanks!

[Driveway]

The place is nice once you get inside.  It is not in a good part of town, go with a group and you'll be fine though.  I wouldn't go solo or anything.

[MonkeyPants]

It is in an "emerging" neighborhood.  Think the 930 club like 9 years ago.  I go by myself all the time, have no problem finding parking right on H street as long as I get there early.  Just be smart.  I'm so tired of people saying "don't go alone!"  
 
 As for the venue itself, it kinda sucks.  Get there early, stay by the front of the stage and vigilantly guard your space.  Otherwise you won't be able to see, it will sound pretty bad and you'll be too distracted by people pushing through you to pay attention to the music.  If you want a drink, get it early.  
 
 I think the theme here is do everything early.  

[Vas Deferens]

The area doesn't bother me at all but definitely get there early for parking (kinda hard, I had to park 3 blocks away last time). I also agree that you need to get there early esp. during a sold out show or you will never see the performers (stage is low). I love the acoustics at this venue - it's better than the Black Cat's.
 
 I'll be at Nicole Atkins as well.

[HoyaSaxa03]

tony williams lives there now!
 
 it's really not that bad of a neighborhood, can just be kind of deserted at times, which seems a little creepy ... doesn't seem any worse than U street area to me
 
 some of the best bars in the city are over there, lately been loving granville moore's
 
 EDIT -- and R&R's second floor is far-and-away better than their concert space, it's too bad they wiffed so badly at getting a good space for shows, because they almost perfected the "bar" part on the second floor

[Julian, Alleged Computer F**kface]

What? "Hoya Round Of 32" doesn't roll off the tongue?

[killsaly]

My ears are still ringing from the Sons and Daughters show.  I dont like the neighborhood, but it is what it is.

[Herr Professor Doktor Doom]

Originally posted by serpent boy:
  Hey everyone,
 
 Can I get some reviews of the Rock and Roll Hotel? Who's been there and what did you think?
 
 I'm heading there tomorrow night for the first time to check out Nicole Atkins (and I'll be at Ambulance LTD and Local H soon), and I've read mixed reviews of the venue.
 
 Some say it's a sketchy neighborhood (dodging crack dealers, nothing but barred up liquor stores around); others vehemently defend it. Some say the sound is WAY too loud; others say it's great. Some say parking is inaccessible; others say it's readily available on the well-lit streets. What's the verdict?
 
 I'll probably be driving, but I'm a terrible parallel parker. Am I in for an adventure?
 
 Finally, if the venue says show at 8:30, do they mean opening band hits the stage at 8:30, headliner at 9:30? Or are they pulling a Black Cat on us (8:30 means show starts at 9:30 - maybe)?
 
 Thanks!

Jebus christ you pussy, just get in your car and go there.  Nobody's gonna kill you.  One of the things that used to make indie music interesting was a sense of the unknown and discovery, whatever happened to that?

[azaghal1981]

It died with the sense of risk-taking and experimenting in most indie music I guess.

[Vas Deferens]

I thought you're at Acid Mother's Temple tonite? LOL
 
 

Originally posted by azaghal1981:
  It died with the sense of risk-taking and experimenting in most indie music I guess.

[babystew]

Have a question that no one I know seems to know the answer to -- is it OK to park in the lot of the Auto Zone on H St.?  There are signs up saying that you have to be a customer to park there, but on Thurs/Fri/Sat nights the lot is always packed.
 
 As for R&R Hotel itself, I'd agree with the above poster -- they got the idea right, but not the execution.  There's a stretch of about 15 square feet in the room where you can stand and both (A) see the band, and (B) get pretty good sound.  If you're anywhere else, you're kinda screwed.

[azaghal1981]

Haha.
 
 Decided not to go at the last minute.
 Germantown->DC is a bitch of a trip to have to make 3 nights in a row as I'm sure you know.
 And I'll definitely be doing it next weekend.
 
 

Originally posted by wanderlust j. marshmallow:
  I thought you're at Acid Mother's Temple tonite? LOL
 
   

Originally posted by azaghal1981:
  It died with the sense of risk-taking and experimenting in most indie music I guess.

[/b]

[Vas Deferens]

It only takes me 45 mins if I use 495--> New York Avenue. I hope that's what you're taking??
 
 

Originally posted by azaghal1981:
  Haha.
 
 Decided not to go at the last minute.
 Germantown->DC is a bitch of a trip to have to make 3 nights in a row as I'm sure you know.
 And I'll definitely be doing it next weekend.
 
   

[azaghal1981]

Yeah takes about that long.
 

Originally posted by wanderlust j. marshmallow:
  It only takes me 45 mins if I use 495--> New York Avenue. I hope that's what you're taking??
 
   

Originally posted by azaghal1981:
  Haha.
 
 Decided not to go at the last minute.
 Germantown->DC is a bitch of a trip to have to make 3 nights in a row as I'm sure you know.
 And I'll definitely be doing it next weekend.
 
   

[/b]

[Herr Professor Doktor Doom]

If I were coming from Germantown, I would come in through the underbelly of the city, taking Clara Barton Pkwy - Whitehurst - K St - 15th - U St - Vermont - 930 Club, but that's just me.