birchmere versus nine thirty

[walkonby]

dare do i touch this, but i've been to quite a few shows at both places and both have their positives and negatives . . . but i honestly can't tell which place i rather see a show.  two totally different avenues of music, but for attitudes, food, bar quailty, food quality, music sound, and in an area where i "may" not get robbed and killed just to see a show, birchmere wins by a nose.  boths places rule, and i can't decide.

[markie]

birchmere isn't very RnR though, is it?

[bellenseb]

The Birchere is OK for folkie shows (I saw Loudon Wainwright and Greg Brown there and it was teriffic) but in order to get a good seat, you're generally stuck there early at dinnertime, to eat their very overpriced and mediocre food. If the food was better and/or cheaper I would like it a lot more.
 
 But, it's really an apples/oranges question...for some acts you want sit-down quiet, for some you want to move around and dance.

[Bags]

VERY apples and oranges comparison.  85% of the time, I'd want to see a band at 9:30.  There are occasional bands that are well-served by the seated environment at the Shushmere.  But I never want to eat there, so I usually get crappy seats.  I find I'm usually more involved in a show if I'm standing, can dance or bounce a bit, and have the option of a few beers (which you can do at Birchmere, but I'm inevitably driving...so for weekends, not optimal).
 
 And based on the types of acts booked at each and where each is located, I go to 9:30 about 20-25 times a year, and the Birchmere maybe once or twice.

[J'Mal]

the food at 9.30 is much better.  it is not a comfortable place to eat, but if there is no choice and dinner has to be at 9.30, the food is tasty.
 
 birchmere has nice seats but yuckie food.

[markie]

Originally posted by Bags:
  VERY apples and oranges comparison.  

Yea, you are right, its like comparing a concert venue and err, well, another concert venue. It is so hard to compare such different things.

[ratioci nation]

Originally posted by Deepak Chopra:
  Yea, you are right, its like comparing a concert venue and err, well, another concert venue. It is so hard to compare such different things.

like comparing a fruit to a fruit? fruit!

[poorlulu]

i think if you say you prefer the birchmere you may as well just go and buy the incontinance pants now.............

[markie]

Originally posted by poorlulu:
   incontinance pants now.............

Will they be near the in·con·ti·nence pants?

[markie]

Originally posted by pollard:
  like comparing a fruit to a fruit? fruit!

How about them apples?

[poorlulu]

Originally posted by Deepak Chopra:
   

Originally posted by poorlulu:
   incontinance pants now.............

Will they be near the in·con·ti·nence pants? [/b]

wa-nk-er......................

[Bags]

Originally posted by Deepak Chopra:
   

Originally posted by Bags:
  VERY apples and oranges comparison.  

Yea, you are right, its like comparing a concert venue and err, well, another concert venue. It is so hard to compare such different things. [/b]

Dipshit (though wanker was a good term of art as well).  I think they are substantially different and not comparable on a one-to-one basis, which is why they have very different artist rosters & schedules.  I don't think a majority of the bands who've played 9:30 club in the past year would have played Birchmere, even if it were the right size to accomodate them -- whereas they may have chosen among Velvet Lounge, Black Cat, Iota, places in B'more, etc. based on draw but not TYPE of venue.

[Bombay Chutney]

What about late shows in the bandstand at the Birchmere?  The website says it's general admission with limited seating surrounding the dance floor.  Is it still necessary to get there really early, or is there plenty of room to get a decent spot if you get there shortly before showtime?
 
 "Decent" doesn't necessarily mean right up front, but I'd prefer to at least have decent sightlines.

[eltee]

They are completely different. It all depends on what mood I'm in, or what band/artist I'm seeing. I generally like to move around a bit. Plus, you do have to get there early to get a seat. It is tough for me to get there early and either way, it takes me an hour. 9:30 is closer for me.  Both have pretty smooth operations and a nice staff. I had a little bit of food at Birchmere, I don't recall it being horrible. I saw other orders, they looked okay. 9:30 has good food, but no where to sit and eat. Either way, both end up being a pricey evening. But with the distance to Birchmere, I assume I'll end up eating there causing me to go broke.
 I think I like Rams Head even better than Birchmere - it's a little bit smaller and more intimate with seats closer to the stage. And you can select your seats ahead of time. If Birchmere did that, I might go more often. The both of them are overpriced, Rams Head moreso.

[markie]

Originally posted by poorlulu:
 wa-nk-er......................

Nope!
 
 Its, wank·er!