Ramshead isn't so bad. I saw a few good shows there. I've yet to go see a band at the ottobar though. I've heard that the Ottobar is more like the Black Cat. Sonar size wise holds just as much as the 930 club. Ramshead live holds I think about 1,100 or something.
Merriweather is DC... Just ask Dave Gahan from Depeche Mode haha. When I saw dm there back in 2001, he said "What's up Washington?" to the crowd.
As for the birchmere and the orignial ramshead that match up is pretty damn close. I've noticed that they book a lot of the same shows days apart from each other.
One thing I was wondering, do they still have shows at Fletchers? I remember back in the late 90s, 930 club used to post info about Fletchers and Bohagers.