If you've ever driven past the Rhythm Room and wondered what it's like, I suggest you park your car next time and go inside. You won't regret it. The Rhythm Room is a great dive hidden in Central Phoenix and home to some of the best Blues Singers in the Southwest. We're no New Orleans but with headliners like the King of Arizona Blues, Big Pete Pearson, you don't have to travel to the South to get your fix of Blues. If you get there early and you're hungry for some true home-style BBQ, check out Rack Shack BBQ just outside the Rhythm Room. The Rhythm Room is a classic venue filled with true charm and culture. It's off the beaten bath which adds to its charm and I guarantee that you'll have a good time any day of the week. read more

I went here last night to see Polica play. I can't believe I've never been here before, having lived in Phoenix for almost 7 years.. The venue is great for seeing bands perform in a more intimate setting. I don't think there's a "bad" spot in the house. The sound is great, there were only a few times where minor adjustments needed to be made. It's definitely a smaller venue, so it gets crowded quick. I would suggest arriving when the doors open, as we did not and ended up waiting in a line that went outside. The bartender working was awesome, super friendly and the service was quick! Beer was cold..always a good thing. ;) I look forward to a return visit..I love seeing live jazz and blues musicians play and this seems like the perfect place to see it! read more

The Rhythm Room is one of the few places in Phoenix where you can listen to real blues. The bands are very good and they have national touring bands. Bands play on an elevated stage and the sound system is very good. It's not just blues either -- many varieties of music is featured. The cover charges are often too high -- even sometimes for local bands. They have craft beers on tap that are reasonably priced. I like the floor layout but narrow walkways cause traffic wrecks. The railing with the bar stools that divides the room is very cool. It's homey and divey and the best thing is that you can sit near the band. It doesn't seem that maintenance is done very often Restrooms are dirty and the tables and chairs are shoddy. The dance floor is pitiful. It's a parkay wood floor that is usually dirty and often damp with beer. It's too small to accommodate more than about 3 swing dancers at a time but that's no big deal because it's rare to meet somebody at the RR that does anything besides wiggling in place. Given that the stand-alone building that houses the RR is small it would be impossible to improve the dance situation without building an extension. Despite the negatives I love the Rhythm Room, but I don't go there very often. Dancing is important for me and I hate high door charges -- especially when I don't know anything about the band that is playing. read more

I have yet to find a better blues, jump blues, swing, etc... venue in Phoenix. So, on the Phoenix scale of music venues it gets 5 stars. Yes, it's a dive. Which is a good thing. No pretentious personalities at the Rhythm Room. Cheep beer, a decent dance floor, decent sound and great music are all that really matter. Rhythm Room has them all. It kinda reminds me of the Foothill (R.I.P.) in Long Beach, CA. And that's a good thing. I miss the Foothill dearly. Also, what is possibly the best show (Mates of State), out of hundreds I've ever seen in many cities across the U.S., was at the Rhythm Room. read more

Finally had my first Rhythm Room experience last night which is incredible because I moved within walking distance of it 5 months ago. I took full advantage of such for the VHS or Beta/Walter Meego show by getting my pre-party on at my place, walking over, and going through a small kaleidescope of drinks there to gauge their prices and quality. G&T's were 4 dollars, small, and not that alcoholic or tasty. Pretty disappointing for a hole in the wall bar on a Tuesday night. Next I went to Stella which was 4.50, also disappointing. Next, I struck paydirt when I got a can of PBR which was on special for 1.50. 1.50! There was a huge sign too! How did I miss that! I made sure to atone for my mistake by drinking as many as possible during the VHS or Beta performance. The venue itself is not incredibly moving, but serviceable. Just a rectangular, closed off brick building painted black on the inside with no decorations other then some blue tube lighting around the bar and some broken down ceiling fans. I'm fine with a broken down old music venue for a show, but this place doesn't seem like it was ever much. I think they could do a little something to give it more character. Also disappointing was the HUGE smoking patio which has no view of the inside and you can't bring a drink out. Why is this happening at places like here and the Lost Leaf? But overall I still had a great time at the show and was very appreciative of the 1.50 PBR special. Plenty of bar stools around the place (where you can still have a great view of the stage) to sit during open acts and breaks is also a huge plus. 3.5 stars. read more

Maybe I am the most "uncool" person on Yelp, but I HATED this place. A friend and I decided to meet here thinking it sounded like a chill place to have a drink, relax, go down memory lane, etc. We drove separately and I arrived before him. I paid a $10 cover to get inside, only to discover that "inside" was so dark I could not see, so packed I could not move, and playing the most INSANELY loud I-don't-even-know-what-to-call-it music I have ever heard. Trying not to be a diva, I went to the bar and ordered a Jack on the rocks. It took me screaming at the bartender to accomplish this feat, likely through no fault of his own. Anyway, my buddy showed up and miraculously recognized my silhouette in the dark. (I am a perfectly normal size 10/12 so I didn't stand out at all.) He ordered a drink and we stood in awkward, pitch-black, booming silence until we decided to just slam our drinks and leave. That was the most interesting $15+ dollar Jack (including cover) I have ever had. I don't see the appeal. Maybe on a weekday? read more

I have never seen a bad show here, truly an excellent venue here in the valley of no venues! I have seen local and national bands here and they have a great sound system, ample stage room, a large smoking patio and a barbecue truck out back. Big problem with this place is the bar when they are busy. There is no way to navigate the bar without getting bumped, bruised and spilling your drink on people. Largely because there are two barriers between the dance floor/seating area and the bar. This sets up an intersection between the server station, the dance floor, the bathrooms/patio and the bar. It sucks. I have witnessed creepy guys molesting women as they walk through this gauntlet. I won't go here if the parking lot is busy anymore. BoB, knock those damn barriers down! Open your club! read more

The cool thing about they Rhythm Room is the variety of people there. Almost every time I go, there's a girl on the dance floor...on roller skates! Then there will be a few punk-types, rockabilly, country, of all ages. That's the kind of place I like. Also, if you get hungry, there's a guy out back in a trailer selling pork sandwiches. Not the greatest, but perfect after a night of live music read more

I had almost forgot about the Rhythm Room, and then in the space of two weeks I have been twice. I saw Tim Reynolds (best known for his work with Dave Matthew's Live at Luther College) and the witty and wiry electronica band from the UK Fujiya & Miyagi. Neither of these bands would be considered Blues, but this gives you an appreciation for the diverse talent the Rhythm Room brings in. Their sound system is great, the drinks are strong and the staff is friendly. The only improvement this place needs is a Marquee sign to remind us of all the great shows happening on a nightly basis. read more

My first and only visit thus far was many, many moons ago as part of a large meetup group. Many of us started to gather outside around 7p. I arrived a little earlier since I planned on trying some BBQ at the stand located outside the venue. The meat sampler I had was tasty, and it was easier to turn down the cornbread since it looked rather dry. Instead, I said hello to a beautiful slice of peach cobbler :D While I cannot eat raw peaches anymore (a pity really, since I only started eating fresh, not canned, peaches around 2 or 3 years ago and LOVE them!), I've found that cooked peaches are safer for me, which I am thankful for. I recall thinking that the cobbler was good. Musicians started to set up around 8, and the first band began playing at 9p. I enjoyed the many bands that performed that night. The acoustics of the room was very good considering the venue's history. I did notice that the crowd here was an amalgam of various age groups, and everyone did seem to be having a lot of fun. One downside I found was how busy the bar was, esp. since all I wanted was ice water. Perhaps someone should install a bottled water vending machine. read more

Maybe I am just a sucker for music venues in general, but Rhythm Room gets five stars from me. Buried in the heart of Phoenix, it's the perfect place for a band to draw a nice-sized crowd. I've been to RR several times to watching my friend's bands play, as well as to see some other not so local bands. Now, Rhythm Room is quite small, which is why it makes a perfect venue for local bands. Especially when you're there to support a friend play. It's an awesome place to just hang out with friends, enjoy a few brews and listen to some great music. Just like most venues catering to all-ages, they do separate the underage from the of age, which then makes it awkward to try and talk to any one who isn't in your age bracket. The drinks are moderately priced, but they do have some pretty decent daily specials. I think my only complaint about RR is the bathroom. If you've read any of my other reviews, I complain about bathrooms a lot. But, alas, RR gets five stars because I have so many fond memories at this venue and I am a fan of the atmosphere. read more

I caught Azure Ray and Tim Fite here last week and I'm ashamed to say...it was my first time here. Knew of it, drove by it, it's in my 'hood, just never had the opportunity to check it out. The good: I love small, intimate venues! At one point we were sitting on the side of the stage and I was literally rubbing elbows with Tim Fite in his coveralls. Fortunately (and unfortunately, I guess) there was not a whole lot of people at the show so getting a seat at the bar or up close was not that difficult. Slightly irritating: The doormen and bouncers were rather frowny and you can't take your drinks (or even water) onto the patio. The great: Yay for a cool venue/dive that's not in Tempe! Anyway, a great chill show. I laughed and sang, held myself and cried. Definitely plan on grabbing a drink here in the very near future. read more

Went to the Rhythm Room last night and saw a country singer song-writer named Jason Eady. Great show, great crowd and a great venue. I have lived in Phoenix area for 12 years and have complained for most of it of a lack of a good small venue to hear blues, singer songwriter and other genre. I was wrong, we have a fantastic small venue, and it is called the Rhythm Room. Drinks are very affordable and the crowd is lively but friendly. I am in a wheel chair and had no problem getting around the club. Highly recommend this location. I am going back Sunday for some blues. read more

Rhythm Room - Jason Eady at the Rhythm Room 8/22/17 - Music Venues Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

My first visit to the Rhythm Room was about a month ago, (yes, I'm just getting around to reviewing it), and I was pretty pleased. This particular night and particular show didn't garner a huge turnout, but it was decent for a Tuesday show that had a line-up of singer-songwriters (not your typically bluesy feel, but great nevertheless). We had to wait outside until the doors opened, and there was a fairly small line that had already formed when we got there. It was an all-ages show, so the bouncer gave out wrist-bands to the over-21 crowd. And, like other smaller venues that have all-ages shows, the room was divided up for the over-21 drinkers and the under-age-wish-the-could-drink crowd. I hate that set-up, but whatever. The staff was really nice, and the cocktail waitresses were cool. The drinks were pretty weak, but it is probably in the attempt to get you to buy more. The sound system on this particular night was kind of touchy, but the performer worked his way around it. Overall, pretty nice venue, and I'll definitely go back to check out their other musical offerings. read more

The Rhythm Room is a very Phoenix type of place... from a time when Phoenix was desperately trying to become the next Los Angeles - early 1990s - and failing at it. It's a big box in the middle of a crappy parking lot in a borderline crappy neighborhood. I went there tonight to see The Section Quartet - they were covering an entire Radiohead album using only string instruments.It was good, but I was falling asleep in there with the stale air and dreamy music. The sound has always been pretty good at this place which is perhaps one of the saving graces. The last time I was here they allowed smoking inside. I'd say it an improvement. They have fans on the ceiling, but they don't run them. Air doesn't circulate and since there's no smoke anymore to cover up the smells, every 5 minutes you have to endure someones nasty ass gas. Yes, people at the Rhythm Room are farters. Perhaps because they are so full of hot air? The Room draws a bit of an artsy (yet very diverse) crowd. Apart from the lack of oxygen and the dungeon-like darkness with no windows and the boxy prison-like 4 walls and the cheap uncomfortable seating - this place is pretty charming. I kinda like seeing shows here... I don't love it, mind you - but it's a good little venue for certain types of music. They're pretty good about getting you drinks and most of the staff is pretty friendly. read more

We stopped in here Saturday night. This place is a great value for your entertainment dollar. Good music, cheap beer and great people watching! read more

This place has a great little vibe and fantastic music. I have to admit, I'm not very hip when it comes to the Blues but I definitely enjoy listening to it when given the chance. It was a nice change to look into the crowd and see 21-year-old college students, to middle age moms, to retired couples all getting down and dancing. You rarely see such an eclectic mix of people, from every color of the rainbow, and all ages, just enjoying the music. The few times I've been there have been quite an experience, and I always leave very happy to have found a place like this in Phoenix. The drinks are super cheap, the sound is good, and the music is wonderful! read more

Great place for a show. Great place to drink. Very cool staff and the overall vibe is nice. Only problem is that the A/C doesn't seem to be a priority there. :) Go. read more

Nothing fancy here! If it weren't for the great music that comes through this place it would be a total dive bar. But the music and the energy class it up. This is a fabulous place to see a band! During the week they have a great and really eclectic selection of bands - I have seen some of my favorite Indie bands here. The weekends it's blues, which hubby hubster and I love! The dance floor is decent size for such a small club and it can - and does get crowded so if you want to sit, get there early. The drinks are cheap and the crowd is very eclectic and most of the time a lot of fun - usually a little older on the weekends and you get the hipsters and the hipster wannabes depending on the band that's playing during the week. It's also within lightrail distance which is awesome for us since we live in Tempe. read more

Great fun, great music, great beer. What's not to like?! Having listened to Bob Corritore's Sunday night radio show for many years, I finally got the chance to go and see him play live with the ALL-STAR BLUES SHOWCASE featuring ALABAMA MIKE, JUNIOR WATSON, BOB CORRITORE, FRED KAPLAN, KEDAR ROY, ANDREW GUTERMAN performed on Friday Jul 26, 2019. Met some very friendly people, and the table service was great. read more

Very cool venue for live music, mainly because it's small and you can easily interact with the artists. There's also seating, so if you get there early enough, you can get a seat. The pricing seems like it varies depending on who performs. I got to go for free so no complaints from me. They have a bar in the back and there is plenty of parking. When I was watching rehearsal, it seemed like the artists were having trouble adapting to the sound resonating back onto the stage, but once it went live, they sounded amazing. I saw a smoking area, which I didn't go out to, but I assume is where the patio seating is. I also didn't use the bathroom so I don't know how clean it is. One of my favorite venues from Phoenix, since I haven't found many that I like read more

I love this bar !! Been going here since 1985! Great music , great prices , Tons of fun!! Love the Repeat Offenders And there house band . The mix of people is awesome ! If you want a fun night out, this is the Place to Be !! read more

Was at the Rhythm Room again for the Quasi / Sebadoh show and it's great to see the demographics change. I am so glad this show was an over 21 only crowd, we didn't have to deal with cattle guards and an awful corral system that just makes getting around about 13% more difficult (the Sea Wolf show was all ages). Awesome place still to see great bands pass through, Savoy Brown is playing there soon and I am sure the demographics will change once again,. If you are a people watcher check it out, if you are into a diverse range of music and willing to see some indie awesomeness most definitely check this place out. read more

We went to see Frank Turner here and the first thing about this place that I will note is that its a great venue to see someone you are really excited about! You are so close to them, its a more intimate setting and the performers are more personal. Loved that! First impression- Dirty and cheap....just the way I like it! Lol The place is pretty much fueled by PBR and young, society-loathing degenerates....its not the crowd for everyone but for what we were there for it was perfectly fine. For a concert the sound is great, the layout is good for a music venue as it allows for people to not be trampled, and you could get very close to the performers which was neat! The staff was all very funny and nice which was great. Tips: GO SEE FRANK TURNER, you will not regret it. Don't park in Keith and Ginger's spot (especially on a Fri or Sat) Feel free to bathe before going.....its close quarters, don't be offensive. read more

If I could have found a seat I would go 5 stars. Lots of bang for the buck and always a good time, but if you don't get there early you may be standing for 4+ hours. Not complaining, just sayin'. read more

What a great service this club provides to Phoenix bringing many eclectic music venues from Asleep At The wheel to this wonderful blues extravaganza tonight (there are several bands performing). The tickets were free to me and I'm so happy to be enjoying this fantastic music dancing with V. This is great exercise (dancing to live blues music at the rhythm room. read more

Rhythm Room - A great venue to dance and listen to many live music venues - Music Venues Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Yes, it is a run down, dark and stale room but they host some killer music. Plus, if I refused to hear like music in old dark venues I would have missed some amazing music in L.A., Chicago, NYC and even here in KC. I care about the music, so this place did it for me...great night. I will check out who is playing the next time I am in town. read more

Still Dark. Still Swank. Still Small. MY RECENT EXPERIENCE: Rhythm Room is a great place to catch live music. Don't let the location fool you. This venue brings in a wide mix of acts, including Rogue Wave, which I happily saw here last night. What a great show! The parking lot was cramped, but we managed to find a spot (luckily). I don't recommend coming in the middle, between the opener and the headliner, unless you have good luck, which we did. 1. We found one of the last parking spots. 2. We easily got in, though the placed seemed packed to capacity. 3. We found a great place to stand, with a full view of the stage. 4. Two seats opened up for us, so we got to sit down for most of the show! I was disappointed to see RR no longer carries Alaskan Amber - not even on tap, which they once did. They do now offer Kiltlifter and 8th St. Ale on tap, though, which is cool. There's also 2 Hefs to pick from, along with Guinness, of course. But, let me be frank: The Guinness I ordered didn't taste like Guinness, not even the most flat tap Guinness I've had. My friend concurred that her Blue Moon didn't taste like the Hef she loves. Bummer. For $9.50 for two plastic cups, we decided one beer apiece was enough. That's another thing... Plastic cups? Why not recycle? Geez. RR is also a great place to learn about future shows - there and around town. Fliers are posted up all over the front entryway and there's a table near the door just covered in announcements. Plus, here you'll find your staple local rags - New Times, Get Out and Java. RR definitely deserves 4 stars. They could still work to improve their acoustics and the stability of the stage. Poor Rogue Wave. They joked that they just experienced a small earthquake. "Did you feel that? The stage just moved!" (I got that on video!) * * * FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Dark. Swank. Small. This place is a treasure chest of fun. From beer on tap to mixed drinks, have your pick of the bar. Grab a table or saddle up to bar - just be sure you call dibs on your seat before the rush hits. This place gets hoppin' during certain events. I've been here to see Chris Durante, Louisiana Red and Maritime -- all very unique acts. Each time I've gone, the place is happenin'. Don't worry about your hair, your jeans or your first impressions. Save that for Scottsdale. This is a place you go not to be seen but to hear true, genuine, blow-you-away music... all without paying a hefty price. Ticket prices range from $8 to $18. It's worth it. So why not 5 stars? The acoustics. They could be so much better. No, it's not the noise and the volume that bothers me. It's the inability to hear the vocals when the band is jammin' out. So, for slower sets, I definitely recommend this place. However, you wouldn't want to see My Chemical Romance on stage at this venue. Of course, would you want to see those guys on stage at any venue? Ah, I digress... read more

Great time at this venue watching Metalachi. Make sure you know when the doors open for a bigger show and get there in time to be waiting in line when it opens. Options are sitting at a bar top in the back or around the edges of the room. Or there are tables between the floor in front of the stage and the bar top. For a packed show that floor space will eventually fill in and you won't be able to see the stage from any of the seating options. $3 PBR cans. read more

I was last at this place in 2004, and it was great. My favorite band was playing and I had a great time dancing, drinking and just listening to music. It's a must-see for any rhythm and blues fan. Of course, it wasn't open when I just visited. Ah well. But still a good place to catch a show. read more

Since I just poured through a number of reviews for this establishment, I feel ready to brawl. Here goes *dukes up*... This is a great... GREAT blues and rock venue. It's small, it's cramped, it's hot, it's loud, it's junky yet sophisticated, it has alcohol and bathrooms, and it's near a dubious part of town. Basically, without any one of these components, it might not be worth anything. Fortunately, it has all the pieces, and is a complete music venue. I feel my opinion has to be worth something because I'm from Music City, USA (Nashville, TN for anyone who cares or didn't know) YEEHAW! While you're now thinking I'm a hick, I will suggest that living in Nashville brings one close to music and allows one to know where to find it. This place is grade A. Phoenix could use more live music, but www.statesidepresents.com has an incredible list of shows to come in 2010 if anyone is interested... I digress. Rhythm Room is awesome. Saw some crappy Battle of the Bands here and didn't care for the music, but was in awe of the ambiance. Cheers, Rhythm Room. read more

I like this venue for listening to blues and rock. It is intimate and the sound is great. Full bar. Great place.

Just saw the sugar thieves here. Very small venue. Not enough seating or even places to put your drink down so get there early and don't leave your seat. There's a dance floor that always gets used right in front of the band. Large venue sound in a small venue, so it's very loud. You can go out onto the patio and heat the music very clearly though. Bathrooms were out of toilet paper, so that was awkward. read more

Rhythm Room - Music Venues Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Incredible place for live music! Parking is sketchy..but hey that's downtown living. Great staff..knowledgeable about music and visiting artists. A Phoenix gem! read more

Oh Rhythm Room, how I adore thee! I have seen some of the greatest Blues legends play here and have never been disappointed. Whenever The Rhythm Room All-stars play, I definitely try to make it. They are rockin'. I dig the dancing, the bbq (mmmmmm) and I enjoy when the f*ck the police guy is roller skating on the dance floor! I do recommend getting there early if you want a table and a chair. For bands I really want to see I get there before they open, get in line, get a table, then someone in my party goes to grab us some bbq and we start drinking and eating and waiting for the music to start! I always have a great time here! And now that you can't smoke it's even better! read more

I'm still slowly trying to get know Phoenix and I'm happy I found this place. Typical dark dingy music venue. Well, couldn't really tell if it was dingy because it was so dark. I like it that way. I can sit in my little dark cocoon and let the music wash over me. I'm sure if the lights were on I would see all the crusty layers caking the walls, but who wants to see that? Went to see Grand Ole Party. Great show! They were the opening band for some other band, but didn't stick around that long because they weren't my thing. My sister and I got some great seats. Never seen so much seating in all my life. (in this kind of venue) Perfect for lazy people like me. The little pen made out of road construction fencing where they corralled all the teeny boppers was a little funny. I don't think I've ever seen that kind of setup. Those kids must have cooties. read more

Checked out the Rhythm Room for the first time the other day. Cool place. Saw The Sugar Thieves there. Drinks and service were perfect. A++

We went a bit late on a Monday night to find the house blues band playing and various open mic harmonica players accompanying. Maybe 20 people sitting, dancing, milling about. All pretty drunk and having a good time. Clearly a dive bar with a minor kitsch look and feel. Not bad. We probably would have stayed longer had we felt like getting wasted and dancing with the oddball locals hanging there. read more

Hippie Gold Tribute band killed it tonight! Great music! Rachel and Jacque were both fantastic filling in for Jennifer! Debbie and had a great time.Service was great! read more

Rhythm Room- by far PHX's best venue. It will be no shocker in 2010 when every concert goer in PHX becomes acquainted with Rhythm Room. It's going to pick up the slack for Phoenix's lack of venues...which is good, b/ this place is great. Way better than the clubhouse...21+ can actually see the stage! I'm rooting for you Rsquared. read more