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When I was eight years old, I had to attend a family wedding and my parents dressed me in a child's suit, complete with a clip-on tie and black leather lace up shoes. Even though I was supremely uncomfortable for the 2-3 hours, I remember feeling very adult since my mom kept telling me I was in my "grown up" clothes. Decades later, through my wardrobe choices I was again attempting to revisit a different stage in my life, but in reverse. For this past weekend's show at the Black Cat where DC legends Tuscadero and Velocity Girl were the headliners, I dug out my old Nirvana T-shirt, the Carhartt flannel shirt which is usually reserved for yard work, faded Levi Jeans, and of course, the Doc Martens which have been gathering dust in the back of my closet. This was the standard "uniform" for the DC music scene in the late 90s and early 2000s. I've been seeing shows at the Black Cat for over 25 years. And at the risk of sounding like every other "aging cool guy," when I tell people that U-Street used to be sketch, and the now trendy Garden District Beer Garden actually used to be A REAL garden and hardware store, I'm usually met with stares of incredulity as U-Street continues its never ending march down the road of gentrification with a bookstore, wine bar, and coffee shop now neighboring the Black Cat. But I'm not going to be a hater, since The Black Cat has been beacon for local and national independent music since it was started in 1993 by former Gray Matter drummer Dante Ferrando, and a group of investors which included future Foo Fighters front man Dave Grohl. The "new" Black Cat (since the smaller Backstage and Red Room closed downstairs and only the second floor Mainstage exists now) is still an intimate space where fans can get up close and personal with the acts. There were three bands, but my group didn't arrive until 9:30, when Tuscadero went on. Even though they haven't played live since 2014, the melodic vocals and guitar riffs of lead singers Melissa Farris and Margaret McCartney still sounded amazing. They played a ridiculously tight set. This is the second time I've seen Velocity Girl this year; with the first being at the Bowery Room in NYC back in October 2023. Once upon a time, the DC scene was fertile ground for creative edgy music; unlike nowadays where most of the venues are pumping out over sampled generic crap with overly autotuned vocals from heavily stylized bands. 20 years removed from their last performances, lead singer Sarah Shannon still sounds great; and Archie Moore and Kelly Young are still guitar maestros. At their peak, Velocity Girl was described as part "shoe gazer" with equal amounts of "clean" guitar harmonies. Both bands sounded amazing!!! In another sign of the times, I counted no less than 30 kids (between 12-17) who accompanied their Gen-X parents to this show. I don't care if these kids listened to this music via CD or on a Spotify playlist, it was cool to see these youngster swaying to the music and doing the requisite 2000's "bounce" with their parents...dare I say there were having some quality "family bonding?" I'm so glad the Black Cat survived the pandemic because it really is one of the more underappreciated music venues in DC. Good acoustics, decent prices for drinks (as of this review, draft beers are $10), and even seating if you get there early enough. At the end of the night, we Uber-ed home since parking in DC on the weekends is a nightmare these days, and I recalled that famous book by American author Thomas Wolfe, "You Can't Go Home Again." While it was fun playing "dress up" in the clothes of my youth and listening the old familiar tunes, returning to places and times from your past may be enjoyable for brief stretches, but inherently, you realize the present is an entirely different reality. So the flannel goes back to its "day job" of cutting grass and raking leaves, the Docs got wiped down and placed back into the closet. My 12 year old nephew has ironically been listening to lots of 90's grunge (he went to see the Smashing Pumpkins with his parents this summer) and asking if he can have my old Nirvana T-shirt, so might as well give it to someone who'll wear it more often than I.
80s Halloween Dance Party This was my first time ever attending this event as well as visiting this club, so for those considering going to one of their Eighties Mayhem nights, I'm going to give a quick assessment of my experience. Don't bother trying to find street parking in one of the surrounding neighborhoods on a Saturday night (especially Halloween weekend). Totally packed and a lot of signs seem to indicate a parking permit is required, so unless you want to take a chance of finding somewhere to park several blocks away, either take an Uber or there's a parking lot across the street ($30 for three hours, and $10 per each additional hour. Woof!). The club's staff was very friendly, there are bathrooms upstairs and downstairs, pinball machines and quite a few benches and tables with tall chairs if you need to sit down somewhere. The bar accepts credit cards, but there's also a couple of ATMs. Bring cash if you can (and small bills); I'm sure the bartenders would appreciate that. For the Halloween event, lots of great 80s music (a mix of top 40 hits and alternative artists), the crowd was eating up one song right after the other and everybody was cool and friendly. About 95% of people there were wearing costumes which made it all the more fun. So my first time was a fun experience and I definitely would attend another one of these events in the future; though next time, I'd prefer to be in a more comfortable and casual outfit.
I've been here many times and always have a pleasant experience. Bathrooms always clean, drinks are ok and the staff very nice.
We went to see Yumi Zouma last night and it was our first time at the Black Cat. LOVED IT! This is a great venue with really great staff and a nice space to see a show. We brought our teenage daughters and felt like the space was 100% safe and fun for them. God drinks at the bar for a fair price, solid service and engaged staff that constantly made the rounds, picking up empties and making sure everything was in order. I didn't use the bathroom and can't speak to that but noticed the coat check was open on a chilly night. We will be back!
First visit to Black Cat and it was a memorable one. Mortified live brought us to the city and what a great venue for the show. The Black Cat staff made the entire night a smooth and enjoyable one by the professionalism and attention to detail throughout.
The Black Cat is my favorite venue in DC! Punk rock will always have my heart. It was the music that I first saw live when I was growing up, and so these types of venues will always have my heart. Black Cat does exceptionally well by hitting a few key points: water available, AC blasting, good sound, and low capacity. I love the crowds that come to shows here. Both of the shows I've been to have had crowds with tons of energy, who don't feel awkward dancing. That's a bit of a rarity nowadays! The bartenders are fast and pretty nice. They have a great selection of beers on tap. This venue also has pinball machines!! How cool is that? They're located towards the back. From what I understand, when a show is sold out, they open up the certain to the back bar so you can watch the show from a bit of an elevated perspective. Otherwise, it's just a door you open to go to another part of the club. This is such a nice touch and really gives the space character. The legendary bands that have played here, the years it's been in business, the character of the space, and the friendliness of the scene - you really have to experience it for yourself.
I love Black Cat. I drive up from RVA to visit whenever they have a show I wanna see, and never regret the trip. I most recently saw Softcult and had an amazing time. Their drinks are strong and good, tickets are reasonably priced, their restrooms are always clean, and staff are chill. They have some barstools and high top tables if you need seating, sound is great, and it's walking distance from a TON of restaurants/bars. Highly recommend the venue, they get some really cool acts!
We went to Black Cat recently when Sebadoh played there with Eleanor Friedberger as opener. This is a great venue for live independent music. It has the expected dark and cool, yet unpretentious, vibe and an in-your-face stage where you can get super close to the performers. We also found the staff, from the front door to the bar, to be courteous and attentive. There is a sign as you walk in stating that crowd surfing and stage diving are not allowed but I wish it also added mosh pits to the list. Some jerky guys kept trying to get one started when, clearly, no one wanted one and the music didn't really lend itself to one (I have been to many punk concerts in L.A. back in the day when they were pretty much routine). Are mosh pits still a thing? Know your audience, boys!
SUPERSTITIONS A decent punk rocker hangout with plenty of pinballs and beer taps. As soon as I set foot in this establishment, my mind immediately raced to the look & feel of Brauerhouse in Lombard, IL. Both are combination live music venues with food and drink, along with a smattering of pinball tables. The clientele base was similar, too. The only difference? These dudes are cash-only. Walking in to your left is the food counter, where Black Cat serves lots of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free items. How nice of them. This room also had four pinballs and a couple cabinet arcade games. The stairs straight ahead lead to the upstairs where punk rock bands jam out hard. The room to your right has the rest of the pinballs (I counted five), a billiards table, and the main bar. I got a few pints of red ale ($6 each) and cycled through their pinball collection, quite honestly the only reason I came here. 'Twas not my best night of gaming but I enjoyed it nonetheless. The tilt sensors were VERY sensitive, far more than at most other places I've been. Replay values were set reasonably. A few games had upgraded color display screens. Eventually I ordered some grub next door at the counter. I chose the sriracha sliders ($9), which turned out to be a trio of small meatball-like sandwiches. They tasted OK (nothing great), but the placement of one itty bitty ring of red onion on each was odd. I was told each order came with chips and a pickle, which pleased me greatly since I prefer chips over fries anyday. I would've been better off with fries; their "chips" were the cheap ass nacho variety, you know the type that come in huge plastic bags? Yeah. It was those. I ate every last one, but I wasn't happy about it. Oh, and just like Brauerhouse, it's super freakin' loud (earplugs sold, but not included). Bread = 3 Circuses = 4.5 Not accepting credit cards is whatever, it doesn't bother me that much. Even the lack of a change machine is okay (and since several of the pinballs don't accept bills, this means you'll have to go to the bar and ask for quarters, which seems silly). I've no doubt that the upstairs gets pretty rockin' when bands take the stage. One of D.C's better spots for pinball.......just remember to bring plenty of paper money!!
Cheap drinks, great shows, small intimate venue, and a room that pretty much hasn't changed since I became legal... What's not to love? As others have mentioned it's cash only. But the bartenders are fast and friendly. There is usually band merch set up in the back in the area in front of the lounge. The crowd completely depends on what type of music is playing. You will get to know your neighbors in such a close space, but it also makes for a really cool experience if you are seeing a band you love. Parking is either pay for the lot across the street (not affiliated with the venue) or cross your fingers for a neighborhood spot-but what the posted signs. Usually it's really not that big of a deal though. Seriously, walking through the doors and up the steps to the main room gets me nostalgic every time... I've seen a lot of great shows here over the years.
The show I went to here was very fun while I was in DC. The staff and general atmosphere was pretty cool too.
The guy checking IDs was hilarious. There was a teenybopper couple in front of us in line, and he takes one look at them as they start pulling out their IDs and starts teasing the hell out of them. More importantly though, those handstamps smear too easily (why didn't you have my back, Jeff W?!). I have yet to really take the time to appreciate the Red Room downstairs. Vodka tonic was weaker than the misheard g&t, but that's more of a discussion about weaker evils. Cash only bar is a liver-pleasing handicap for the plastic-dependent. Schedule tends to see some decent bands touring through (I think my most recent few here were Antlers, Freelance Whales, Electric Six), and it's a small enough space that it feels like a pretty intimate show. Pillars have tiny bar shelves where patrons discard drink glasses, and are themselves unconducive to clear viewing. The floor is not for the hygienic. Pricing's reasonable but sound quality is a little lacking. Crowd varies a lot in tone from show to show, but I've had some cool random conversations there. None of the cons are particularly bad enough to keep me from coming back for the right lineups. I've found parking at tiny lots down the street, but more lately I've been Metroing it since the hike's quite reasonable.
Old school bar good for old shool shows. Saw SOIA there last night. Lighting, floor space, sound, and AC all very good for a place that size. The uncoordinated nonsense of showing id, giving your ticket and being given another ticket and then getting two different hand stamps was silly. Whole place could use some cleaning. The bar needs help. No one helping the tenders keep stuff stocked. Some of the beer went funky too. Would go back for a good band but wouldnt go out of my way to go there otherwise. Oh yeah and the bar had a fuck yelp bumper sticker. So much for a working class bar. Guess the people are not allowed to have opinions.
2 months ago
Came here to watch a concert. My friend had bought tickets. We realized that we were there the wrong day but decided to stay. The band was great. The service efficient. Very casual venue- everyone standing and in jeans. I particularly liked the size of the venue. read more
1 month ago
2 years ago
not my first Black Cat rodeo, but first time going to an internally organized event rather than a show. Depeche Mode dance party was so sick, so fun, honestly just what i needed. trad goth prom almost? many oldheads (og DM fans perhaps?) groovin, the ambience was perfect to relax and just boogie like you do in your bedroom. thank you Black Cat, please do a Joy Division/New Order night next !! read more
When I was eight years old, I had to attend a family wedding and my parents dressed me in a child's suit, complete with a clip-on tie and black leather lace up shoes. Even though I was supremely uncomfortable for the 2-3 hours, I remember feeling very adult since my mom kept telling me I was in my "grown up" clothes. Decades later, through my wardrobe choices I was again attempting to revisit a different stage in my life, but in reverse. For this past weekend's show at the Black Cat where DC legends Tuscadero and Velocity Girl were the headliners, I dug out my old Nirvana T-shirt, the Carhartt flannel shirt which is usually reserved for yard work, faded Levi Jeans, and of course, the Doc Martens which have been gathering dust in the back of my closet. This was the standard "uniform" for the DC music scene in the late 90s and early 2000s. I've been seeing shows at the Black Cat for over 25 years. And at the risk of sounding like every other "aging cool guy," when I tell people that U-Street used to be sketch, and the now trendy Garden District Beer Garden actually used to be A REAL garden and hardware store, I'm usually met with stares of incredulity as U-Street continues its never ending march down the road of gentrification with a bookstore, wine bar, and coffee shop now neighboring the Black Cat. But I'm not going to be a hater, since The Black Cat has been beacon for local and national independent music since it was started in 1993 by former Gray Matter drummer Dante Ferrando, and a group of investors which included future Foo Fighters front man Dave Grohl. The "new" Black Cat (since the smaller Backstage and Red Room closed downstairs and only the second floor Mainstage exists now) is still an intimate space where fans can get up close and personal with the acts. There were three bands, but my group didn't arrive until 9:30, when Tuscadero went on. Even though they haven't played live since 2014, the melodic vocals and guitar riffs of lead singers Melissa Farris and Margaret McCartney still sounded amazing. They played a ridiculously tight set. This is the second time I've seen Velocity Girl this year; with the first being at the Bowery Room in NYC back in October 2023. Once upon a time, the DC scene was fertile ground for creative edgy music; unlike nowadays where most of the venues are pumping out over sampled generic crap with overly autotuned vocals from heavily stylized bands. 20 years removed from their last performances, lead singer Sarah Shannon still sounds great; and Archie Moore and Kelly Young are still guitar maestros. At their peak, Velocity Girl was described as part "shoe gazer" with equal amounts of "clean" guitar harmonies. Both bands sounded amazing!!! In another sign of the times, I counted no less than 30 kids (between 12-17) who accompanied their Gen-X parents to this show. I don't care if these kids listened to this music via CD or on a Spotify playlist, it was cool to see these youngster swaying to the music and doing the requisite 2000's "bounce" with their parents...dare I say there were having some quality "family bonding?" I'm so glad the Black Cat survived the pandemic because it really is one of the more underappreciated music venues in DC. Good acoustics, decent prices for drinks (as of this review, draft beers are $10), and even seating if you get there early enough. At the end of the night, we Uber-ed home since parking in DC on the weekends is a nightmare these days, and I recalled that famous book by American author Thomas Wolfe, "You Can't Go Home Again." While it was fun playing "dress up" in the clothes of my youth and listening the old familiar tunes, returning to places and times from your past may be enjoyable for brief stretches, but inherently, you realize the present is an entirely different reality. So the flannel goes back to its "day job" of cutting grass and raking leaves, the Docs got wiped down and placed back into the closet. My 12 year old nephew has ironically been listening to lots of 90's grunge (he went to see the Smashing Pumpkins with his parents this summer) and asking if he can have my old Nirvana T-shirt, so might as well give it to someone who'll wear it more often than I. read more
80s Halloween Dance Party This was my first time ever attending this event as well as visiting this club, so for those considering going to one of their Eighties Mayhem nights, I'm going to give a quick assessment of my experience. Don't bother trying to find street parking in one of the surrounding neighborhoods on a Saturday night (especially Halloween weekend). Totally packed and a lot of signs seem to indicate a parking permit is required, so unless you want to take a chance of finding somewhere to park several blocks away, either take an Uber or there's a parking lot across the street ($30 for three hours, and $10 per each additional hour. Woof!). The club's staff was very friendly, there are bathrooms upstairs and downstairs, pinball machines and quite a few benches and tables with tall chairs if you need to sit down somewhere. The bar accepts credit cards, but there's also a couple of ATMs. Bring cash if you can (and small bills); I'm sure the bartenders would appreciate that. For the Halloween event, lots of great 80s music (a mix of top 40 hits and alternative artists), the crowd was eating up one song right after the other and everybody was cool and friendly. About 95% of people there were wearing costumes which made it all the more fun. So my first time was a fun experience and I definitely would attend another one of these events in the future; though next time, I'd prefer to be in a more comfortable and casual outfit. read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
3 years ago
I've been here many times and always have a pleasant experience. Bathrooms always clean, drinks are ok and the staff very nice. read more
1 year ago
We went to see Yumi Zouma last night and it was our first time at the Black Cat. LOVED IT! This is a great venue with really great staff and a nice space to see a show. We brought our teenage daughters and felt like the space was 100% safe and fun for them. God drinks at the bar for a fair price, solid service and engaged staff that constantly made the rounds, picking up empties and making sure everything was in order. I didn't use the bathroom and can't speak to that but noticed the coat check was open on a chilly night. We will be back! read more
First visit to Black Cat and it was a memorable one. Mortified live brought us to the city and what a great venue for the show. The Black Cat staff made the entire night a smooth and enjoyable one by the professionalism and attention to detail throughout. read more
The Black Cat is my favorite venue in DC! Punk rock will always have my heart. It was the music that I first saw live when I was growing up, and so these types of venues will always have my heart. Black Cat does exceptionally well by hitting a few key points: water available, AC blasting, good sound, and low capacity. I love the crowds that come to shows here. Both of the shows I've been to have had crowds with tons of energy, who don't feel awkward dancing. That's a bit of a rarity nowadays! The bartenders are fast and pretty nice. They have a great selection of beers on tap. This venue also has pinball machines!! How cool is that? They're located towards the back. From what I understand, when a show is sold out, they open up the certain to the back bar so you can watch the show from a bit of an elevated perspective. Otherwise, it's just a door you open to go to another part of the club. This is such a nice touch and really gives the space character. The legendary bands that have played here, the years it's been in business, the character of the space, and the friendliness of the scene - you really have to experience it for yourself. read more
I love Black Cat. I drive up from RVA to visit whenever they have a show I wanna see, and never regret the trip. I most recently saw Softcult and had an amazing time. Their drinks are strong and good, tickets are reasonably priced, their restrooms are always clean, and staff are chill. They have some barstools and high top tables if you need seating, sound is great, and it's walking distance from a TON of restaurants/bars. Highly recommend the venue, they get some really cool acts! read more
7 years ago
We went to Black Cat recently when Sebadoh played there with Eleanor Friedberger as opener. This is a great venue for live independent music. It has the expected dark and cool, yet unpretentious, vibe and an in-your-face stage where you can get super close to the performers. We also found the staff, from the front door to the bar, to be courteous and attentive. There is a sign as you walk in stating that crowd surfing and stage diving are not allowed but I wish it also added mosh pits to the list. Some jerky guys kept trying to get one started when, clearly, no one wanted one and the music didn't really lend itself to one (I have been to many punk concerts in L.A. back in the day when they were pretty much routine). Are mosh pits still a thing? Know your audience, boys! read more
SUPERSTITIONS A decent punk rocker hangout with plenty of pinballs and beer taps. As soon as I set foot in this establishment, my mind immediately raced to the look & feel of Brauerhouse in Lombard, IL. Both are combination live music venues with food and drink, along with a smattering of pinball tables. The clientele base was similar, too. The only difference? These dudes are cash-only. Walking in to your left is the food counter, where Black Cat serves lots of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free items. How nice of them. This room also had four pinballs and a couple cabinet arcade games. The stairs straight ahead lead to the upstairs where punk rock bands jam out hard. The room to your right has the rest of the pinballs (I counted five), a billiards table, and the main bar. I got a few pints of red ale ($6 each) and cycled through their pinball collection, quite honestly the only reason I came here. 'Twas not my best night of gaming but I enjoyed it nonetheless. The tilt sensors were VERY sensitive, far more than at most other places I've been. Replay values were set reasonably. A few games had upgraded color display screens. Eventually I ordered some grub next door at the counter. I chose the sriracha sliders ($9), which turned out to be a trio of small meatball-like sandwiches. They tasted OK (nothing great), but the placement of one itty bitty ring of red onion on each was odd. I was told each order came with chips and a pickle, which pleased me greatly since I prefer chips over fries anyday. I would've been better off with fries; their "chips" were the cheap ass nacho variety, you know the type that come in huge plastic bags? Yeah. It was those. I ate every last one, but I wasn't happy about it. Oh, and just like Brauerhouse, it's super freakin' loud (earplugs sold, but not included). Bread = 3 Circuses = 4.5 Not accepting credit cards is whatever, it doesn't bother me that much. Even the lack of a change machine is okay (and since several of the pinballs don't accept bills, this means you'll have to go to the bar and ask for quarters, which seems silly). I've no doubt that the upstairs gets pretty rockin' when bands take the stage. One of D.C's better spots for pinball.......just remember to bring plenty of paper money!! read more
Cheap drinks, great shows, small intimate venue, and a room that pretty much hasn't changed since I became legal... What's not to love? As others have mentioned it's cash only. But the bartenders are fast and friendly. There is usually band merch set up in the back in the area in front of the lounge. The crowd completely depends on what type of music is playing. You will get to know your neighbors in such a close space, but it also makes for a really cool experience if you are seeing a band you love. Parking is either pay for the lot across the street (not affiliated with the venue) or cross your fingers for a neighborhood spot-but what the posted signs. Usually it's really not that big of a deal though. Seriously, walking through the doors and up the steps to the main room gets me nostalgic every time... I've seen a lot of great shows here over the years. read more
4 years ago
The show I went to here was very fun while I was in DC. The staff and general atmosphere was pretty cool too. read more
The guy checking IDs was hilarious. There was a teenybopper couple in front of us in line, and he takes one look at them as they start pulling out their IDs and starts teasing the hell out of them. More importantly though, those handstamps smear too easily (why didn't you have my back, Jeff W?!). I have yet to really take the time to appreciate the Red Room downstairs. Vodka tonic was weaker than the misheard g&t, but that's more of a discussion about weaker evils. Cash only bar is a liver-pleasing handicap for the plastic-dependent. Schedule tends to see some decent bands touring through (I think my most recent few here were Antlers, Freelance Whales, Electric Six), and it's a small enough space that it feels like a pretty intimate show. Pillars have tiny bar shelves where patrons discard drink glasses, and are themselves unconducive to clear viewing. The floor is not for the hygienic. Pricing's reasonable but sound quality is a little lacking. Crowd varies a lot in tone from show to show, but I've had some cool random conversations there. None of the cons are particularly bad enough to keep me from coming back for the right lineups. I've found parking at tiny lots down the street, but more lately I've been Metroing it since the hike's quite reasonable. read more
3 years ago
Old school bar good for old shool shows. Saw SOIA there last night. Lighting, floor space, sound, and AC all very good for a place that size. The uncoordinated nonsense of showing id, giving your ticket and being given another ticket and then getting two different hand stamps was silly. Whole place could use some cleaning. The bar needs help. No one helping the tenders keep stuff stocked. Some of the beer went funky too. Would go back for a good band but wouldnt go out of my way to go there otherwise. Oh yeah and the bar had a fuck yelp bumper sticker. So much for a working class bar. Guess the people are not allowed to have opinions. read more
11 years ago
Cool little place I found on the Internet for live music. Well no live music I guesstimate due to the holiday weekend. The DJ spinning 90's Hip Hop in the Backstage area still had me try this place out. No cover unless you want the Backstage access then it's a $5. Since the doors didn't open until 10, I went next door to Masa 14 had a glass of wine on the rooftop (very nice) to pass the time. Went back & I ended going next door to the Food For Thought (sells a light menu of Vegan options) for a quick bite & a mini bottle of red wine for $7 & waited for the doors to open to the DJ....opened doors, peeked through & decided to keep it moving. Happy I did as I went walking around the U area & had more fun popping my head in & out of places. Perhaps I'll be back when a live show is actually playing...until then, I'd only be back for the Vegan Food next door. read more
3 years ago
10 years ago
I had never been to the black cat. Went to the bar, the woman tending said very caustically "I can't hear a word you're saying" in a very aggressive tone. I was caught of guard, so I took out a pen to write my drink order on a napkin, to which she snapped "you don't have to write it down" in an even more aggressive tone. I put up my hands and backed away. No drink for me, apparently. I didn't realize a bar and club would be far too cool to take my money. Look, I don't care how cool a place purports to be, treating a new customer like the dirt on the bottom of your shoe. I'll be certain to share with my friends circle and associates my experience, and will think twice before coming back. read more
The Black Cat is a competitor of the 9:30 Club. When it opened in 1993, it made the old 9:30 Club obsolete. Thus, the new 9:30. As a DC native and an indie rock junkie, I'm ashamed to say that I've never been here before. Quite frankly, they don't really get many acts that I'm interested in, and when they do, it sells out too quickly. So, when I learned that Rocky Votolato & Matt Pond (who?) were playing acoustic sets here, I waited 'til the last minute and bought $13 tickets at the door. It was a rainy Tuesday night and the show only had approximately 350 attendees. Which meant that it would've been better suited for the 400 person capacity Rock & Roll Hotel. It turned out to be a dissapointnig show, but I like the venue and will now pay closer attention to who they are booking. They have a capacity of 700 and the acoustics here are surprisingly good. There's plenty of strategically placed sound dampening on the ceiling. It's quite a spacious bandstand area, with bars on either side of the venue. They also have a coat check! The only real problem is that there are support pillars throughout, and some obstructed side views as a result. I experienced this when I walked over to an open spot at the left bar and thought I had scored a prime seat, only to turn around and find I could'nt see anything. Ha! Nevertheless, I had no problem getting a beer. I like the venue, it's on the metro line, and there's late night food nearby. I'll be back for sure. read more
9 years ago
Beers are affordable. For example a bottle of Yuengling merely costs $5. Good bands play here. Sound can be super loud and clear in the back room. The most in vogue bands play here (e.g. Bell and Hunter, Bon Jour Ganesh and hopefully Turtle Recall,. I am not sure if the ticket price of $10-$12/show here is always worth the band so I recommend reading up on who will be playing here ahead of time. However, this is a cash only place so be prepared to pay $2.50 in ATM fees if you do not bring enough cash. Seeing the music costs extra money. Be prepared to pay $10-$12/show. The walls are black so if one is depressed, I recommend going to a bright and more cheerful place. If you like the color black, you are going to like the interior decoration. If you do not like the color black, I recommend going to another bar up or down the street that is NON-black. read more
18 years ago
Attached to the main building is the vegan/regular dish Cafe "Food For Thought" IT IS DELICIOUS and inexpensive Bands you want to hear play to intimate to moderatly large crowds. Upstairs is the mainstage room which includes: two bars with ample stools / a bathroom / a table and chairs area. Downstairs is the Red Room bar which includes: Pinball machines / a table and chair are / a back stage room with a tiny bar. Try a Red Room Ale, the house beer. Or have another fairly priced drink from their eclectic array of beverages. Sometimes the staff gets sour, but you'd get a little sour too if it was your responsibility to clean up after Virginia assholes, and rowdy under-agers. Still, often I feel like that is no excuse. To avoid the sourness (and get a game in at the pool table) the best days to go are: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. read more
11 years ago
15 years ago
I caught the M83 show here a couple of weeks ago and had a blast. You enter downstairs at the street level and get checked in and stamped for the concert. Then we hit the "Red Room" bar on the ground level for about an hour while they were setting up for the show. There's also a small intimate performance room on the back left side of the bar that allows for a small audience of a dozen of so. Upstairs is where the action was. The concert room runs the entire span of the building and has a full bar upstairs. The restrooms are sardine cans, however the intimacy of the concert room is unparalleled. You can get right up on the stage. If you want to dance there's plenty of room to do that too. I thought the sound was pretty good, I was on the stage left and had the speaker right behind me. While I didn't notice the bass vibration during the show, you can see my camera shaking to the beat when you view the video's took. All in all I had a good time there and who knows maybe I'll catch a show there in the future. read more
10 years ago
Came here for pinball. 4 pins in the front and two in the back. Ask for Pierce, the bartender, if you have any questions. Cool dude. They now have The Hobbit:LE!!! read more
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1811 14th St NW
Washington, DC 20009
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(202) 667-4490
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http://www.blackcatdc.com
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Ask the Community - Black Cat
Is it 18 and over or is it 21 and over?
Most of the shows are all ages, check the web site.
What is the entrance procedure like?
If it's a smaller show in the Backstage you just go to the 1st floor bar to the right ( after getting carded at the door) & they just have someone at the door after the end of the bar collecting money for entrance. If it's upstairs you can pay at…
Review Highlights - Black Cat
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