I can only review for the non stop bhangra nights here. I havent been here on other nights FOBs of India... Non stop bhangra night is your night. This is the place that you've been looking for. Trust me. We have lived in centuries of oppression when it comes to Indian music club scene. The HOT fob chicks are all imported + married and the not-so-hot-but-i-am-desperate-enough-to-approach ABCD chicks look at you like a disease when you go to a bollywood music club. For far too long we had to decide between Indian music or friendly crowd Not any more. Theres a healthy mix of Indian and non Indian crowd here. The music is Bhangra and the non ABCD crowd is friendly. Unless you approach an ABCD, when you ask someone for a dance, you can be sure she does not look at you like you've just asked her to sleep with you. This is a place where you can chill out , and just be yourself. Its the best of both worlds in some ways The drinks here are cheap. Super cheap. The bartenders are friendly. The turn around time on the drinks counter is amazing. The median turn around time would be 3 minutes. Unlike some other upscale places where you will wait for 30 minutes for your drinks, this is one place where you will get your drink quickly, even when its the most crowded. I guess part of the reason is that most of the crowd is busy dancing and the drinks counter is not as crowded as it is in other places with similar capacity The line outside moves very quickly. If you come early enough (before 10:30 PM) you will find parking on Franklin St or on Hayes. The minus one star is because it gets very crowded and it gets very hot. You should probably come in a single layered T shirt and jeans. It can get REALLY sweaty in there. I am not talking normal sweaty like the other clubs. I haven't attended the Bhangra lessons at 9:00 but if the dancer's performances are anything to go by they must be really good! read more

I've been to Rickshaw Stop quite a few times. You really have to come into this place with the right mentality. You have to know that a.) You will sweat like no other. I'm talking, you better be wearing your good deoderant/antiperspirant. None of that crystal stuff. b.) You have to have your dancing shoes on. Read: flats, sneakers...NO heels. c.) You have to expect your clothes to smell like cigarettes. Although, there is a smoking area upstairs, the smoke makes its way downstairs. So why was I surprised that I left my rainjacket underneath the lit christmas tree downstairs to find that it completely stunk of cigarette smoke? d.) You have to expect to be somewhat sore the next day...that and maybe a combination of sore and hungover. PLUSES: -I have never been disappointed. I have been to Blow Up, Cockblock and Rebel Girl. All great nights. Great music. Interesting people. -$5 tequila sunrise. Bar upstairs and downstairs. Not sure what the variety is like upstairs. -Upstairs, there's plenty of space to lounge around or just stand next to the railing. Please don't jump off. -Great photo ops. -When you go to 18+ events, you can find yourself as one of very few people getting drinks. Not much of a wait. Awesome. -Ins and outs allow for some breathing room MINUS: -Please do something about the floor in front of the bar. That area is slippery as all hell. There really should be someone mopping/drying that area down. -18+ events, watch out for hot messes EVERYWHERE. You can tolerate this more when you have had 2+ drinks in you. You'll (almost) forget that they have pacifiers and glow sticks...again, almost. All in all, I never hesitate to come here. :) read more

The biggest disappointment with the rickshaw lounge was there were no rickshaws and no weathered men with caps and ponytails to give you rides around the room for a couple bucks. And I could have done without those pig and frog carved pedestal tables that look like they were stolen from Mr. Toads Wild Ride. Other than that, it was a decent small performance space with pretty good sound and a small bar and comfortable couches. Is it all ages? They carded me but it looked like there were some kids running around. read more

This place is great, both for concerts and DANCE PARTIESSSSS. Oops too excited. But really...I came here with some friends for cockblock, and left with sore legs and a boosted ego. Here's how it went down: We got to the club, went through easily. The girl at the door was really nice (she later on came to us when we were taking a break outside and offered us gummies!). Inside, the music was pretty good. I danced crazily because I figured, well, no one's gonna look at me anyway - it's a lesbian night after all. But, lo and behold, a girl across the stage points to me and gestures for me to go over... First thought: "It's a lesbian night! What could she want from me?" Second thought: "Does she think I'm a lesbian!?" Third thought: "I REFUSE TO BE JUSTIN BIEBER." Anyway I go over and turns out it's her girl friend who's interested (read: drunk). I politely interact with her (read: avoid being vomited on) to try and see if maybe she thought I was a lesbian, but alas, she did not. Oh well, mission look-like-a-lesbian unaccomplished, but mission dance-your-ass-off? Check. read more

This is the first time I wish Yelp had negative stars. Seriously. I went to the Rickshaw Stop several years ago and it was fine. But I went last night to see the Lovemakers and it was most certainly NOT fine. I felt sick when I got there, so spent most of the opening band sitting and trying to feel better so I could stay with my friends (I was the DD). I was cuddling with my friend on the couch and had a hand over my eyes to sort of meditate and feel better when the bouncer came up and told me i'd have to leave if i wasn't "more energetic." i thought he was joking, but he came back 10 minutes later and said "i saw you napping, i'm going to ask you to leave. the boss said that's not ok." i replied incredulously "what?" and he said "did i stutter?" i told him i wasn't feeling well and he said "that's too bad but i'm still going to kick you out if you don't start showing some more energy." WTF? since when is a club a pep rally? i suspect that they are running a shady deal where they pack their club past capacity, then pick out people to throw out for whatever reason so they can keep their money but not be *too* packed. don't worry, mr bouncer, i'll never darken your club with my floopiness again. read more

Have you ever walked into a club/venue for a show & just felt in that magical music moment? If the balance between band/crowd is right, Rickshaw Stop can seemingly bring you that. After a long week of work & being down in the dumps about some stuff, I joined the once-a-month group of unruly cyclists for Critical Mass. While it was fun getting out on the road & meet some new people, CM just isn't the same as before. Too many self-righteous fixed gear types it seems...willing to start a fight with angry motorists. My friend Tia had mentioned that Mooney Suzuki was playing at the Rickshaw, and I had always wanted but never seen them. So I pedaled my sweaty ass home, cleaned up & onward to Hayes Valley (see upcoming Yellow Cab review) I was. When you walk in the venue, it is narrow & very cramped...but it opens up fairly quickly with a decent sized bar & plenty of standing room towards the stage. If you prefer, you can even head upstairs where there is plenty of seating, a smoking lounge and another bar/coat check. That's right! A bar & a coat check ALL-IN-ONE. Now I didn't have a coat, but if I did...I surely would have checked it and got myself a beer. Shit, I would have checked somebody else' coat if they let me...just to take advantage of this novel idea. The show itself was great, Mooney Suzuki rocked the house & the crowd was totally cool. Everyone seemed pretty down to earth at this joint, as opposed to some other places where you get the stuffy hipster types. Something else I really liked was the weird looking bicycle chair things that were strewn about the venue. You really have to see them to understand what I'm talking about. I am giving Rickshaw Stop 5-stars, BUT I wasn't very happy with the beer selection. I decided to order a beer towards the end of the show & found that they charge $5 for a Fat Tire! Maybe I'm used to having Fat Tire for cheaper, or maybe I'm just a cheapskate. For the type of music this venue usually hosts, it should really have $2 PBR on tap. I would suggest this venue over most any other music venues in San Francisco. read more

Came here on Friday for Blow Up and it was completely dead the entire time. Bouncers here are assholes. Some bitch working coat check pushed me out of no where and told me to leave. Really? Was that necessary? Crowd was awesome as always. I swear, ignore the other reviews, people are crazy nice here. The bartender was awesome though. Don't know his name but he was super nice and made sure we got home okay and everything. Thanks! read more

This much I know is true: the drinks are stiff here, and no one puts on a show like a group of aging Russian rockers. I had spent the afternoon ripping up old carpet and scraping off insulation so I was pretty tired by the time I came here. Within moments, I was feeding off the energy of the crowd and the band. The sound didn't suck (think GAMH, whose sound system comes and goes), the crowd obviously loved the music (ahem, Yoshi's on Fillmore, where the crowd is there to be seen, not to see), and the door man called me sweetheart in a way that didn't make me want to punch him in the eye. Oh, and they have a smoking room in the back upstairs that seemed well ventilated. read more

Event: Non-Stop Bhangra! ** 3rd Saturday of every month ** To preface; the event gets 5-stars; no doubt. The venue itself gets 5-stars; no doubt, so you'd think technically my review should be 5 stars -- alas, the combo of the 'non-stop bhangra' event AT the rickshaw stop -- is slightly over-the-top. The music at this event is always fresh, there's a live performance, there are a tonne of people from all over SF - it's a refreshing change from "those bhangra parties" where a fight breaks out and the event ends before it's even started... The dress is casual, fun, comfy -- nothing obnoxiously dressy, and the vibe is just super fun and down-to-earth... Now, bear with me on this disguised tangent; I love me some oxygen. I love not feeling like I'm in a sticky hot sauna while dancing, and I love not being able to smell the pungent body odour of my neighbouring dance partner -- there is a major lack of oxygen at this venue for this event, and sadly, that ladies and gents is why there's a gaping 2-star vacancy in my review. Check out the event & venue though; it's fun, albeit....muggy. read more

I've only been here for cockblock.... which effin' rules! The dancefloor can get really hot and crowded, but the upstairs allows for a quick getaway if you're feelin' overheated. read more

No self-respecting San Franciscan would be caught dead at Blow Up anymore. Haven't been in over 6 months (happily), due to the horror stories coming out of there -- and even coming from friends back in Sacramento (bridge and tunnel to the max). Long lines, the same tired Bloc Party mashups from 2007, and a crowd that looks like Urban Outfitters threw up on a high school graduation? I'll pass. Blow Up is dead. Moving on... read more

I don't care who is playing at the rickshaw stop, I'd rather my precious ears starve than deal with the hipster shit fest happening all too often at that overpriced dump. Sidenote: The extra star is for the smoking room. I love smoking rooms and have witnessed some embarrassing behavior in there. read more

So - I had one of those pathetic moments last night where I got so angry at a venue that I was left standing there stewing and thinking "scathing yelp review tomorrow, scathing review". This probably won't get me very far, but it must be done. This review is for Cockblock every other Satuday. How do I say this delicately...Ok, here goes - The DJ is Terrible. Her transitions are fine, I will give her that, but, her music selection was atrocious. You have a bunch of sweaty kids drinking and dancing at 1 a.m. on a Saturday. You want to hit people with your best songs, the really danceable, awesome, songs of the moment or the 'never-go-wrong' oldie. You DO NOT play Sheryl Crow's "All I want to do". That pretty much sums it up. Oh yea, about 30 minutes earlier she played that song that goes, "Love me, love me, saaaay that you love me" from the mid-90s. I thought that song was annoying when it came out, definitely still don't want to be hearing it when I'm trying to get my groove on. The thing is, DJing is an art-form, or can be. Playing the B-sides of hits from the mid-90s is not going to get anyones heart pumping. When you do this people walk off the dance floor in droves. I'm not sure if it's trying to be anti-mainstream (Oh, SF, how I love thee) or if it's just music you like, either way, it ain't danceable. read more

I've been coming to Blow up about twice a month for the last year or so. Knowing that I can come here on Fridays to blow off some steam and burn about a billion calories dancing and sweating for a few hours is the only thing that gets me through the week some times. It's $15 for 18+ and $10 for 21+, and well worth it at that. Jeffrey Paradise and Richie Panic are the resident DJ's and are a couple of the cities finest. Let me make one thing clear: Yes, this is an 18+ club, yes this means there are a fair amount of 18-20 year olds there, NO this does not ruin the club experience. This is a hip club. Meaning it's mainly a bunch of hip-kids decked out in American Apparel, Urban Outfitters, and/or various thrift/vintage shop clothing. It wouldn't matter if these kids were 16 or 30, they all act the same. If you're looking for a lounge to sip cocktails and relax, THIS IS NOT THE PLACE FOR YOU. If you're looking a wall to wall dance floor to 'blow up and get down' while getting absolutely soaked in your own (and everyone else's, mind you) sweat, this is your new mecca. And don't worry, if there's not enough room for you on the dance floor, there's a stage and piano you're more than welcome to conquer. read more

I saw The Struts here last night and of course they rocked the house as always, check 'em out, www.myspace.com/struts. Rickshaw Stop is a cool space and they have great sound system. I do have to minus two stars for the rude ass bar service I got when I ordered my first drink... it really pissed me off but I don't want to bore you with a recap. read more

i guess memories and personal experience here make for the four star review. I had one of my favorite nights in the city here at Ming&Ping/Gold Chains. Good friends, had been drinking since 11 in the morning, got on stage, danced with furries, played light as a feather stiff as a board till we got kicked off stage...only to return moments later. good times. last night i went to some Onion event with "free beer" but the free ran out only a few people before me. one keg does not make for "free beer", and it must have been the worlds smallest keg, cuz the event started at 7, and the keg was dusted by 7:08. It was a film festival. Didn't know what i was getting when i showed up. I mean, i just showed up for the beer...but when that didn't work out i stuck around. Turned into a yelp-tastic evening. Hung out with Caitlin D. (went with her), and met Matthew S. Thanks for the memories. oh yah...and there are rickshaws you can sit in, and you can smoke in this weird room upstairs, and they have bendy straws at the bar. sweet. ------------- Update 3/3/07 Came here for noise pop. Saw the Spinto Band and our friends band The Old Fashioned Way. Good place for a show still. Deals on booze that got me way too wasted. Had to excuse myself after deciding i was too drunk, and left without saying bye to any of my friends or the boy i was flirting with. Had to walk across Van Ness just to get enough cash to take a cab home. GET AN ATM!!! that is all i am updating. Still 4 stars. read more

I like Rickshaw Stop on nights when it's not dancetronic 90s club kid wanna be paradise. Granted, those nights are far and few in between. Though I have been to this club when it's been less than packed and had a really good time. I've also seen a band play here and liked the venue for that. I think that I am just too old to really get into the whole smooshed together with sweaty underaged boys wearing no shirts and Oakland A's hats groovin' out with glowsticks and spilling Red Bull and vodka on my brand new shoes. Dude, what's happened to me? Pretty soon I'm going to be yelling at kids to get off my fucking lawn. Ugh, color me old. read more

gotta love the live band music*....$4 beers....$6 premium drinks....it's punk meets the sf norm....with good bar service....be what you want to be atmosphere....casual kick back fun in the city....dive club/bar joint...that caters to all....welcomes all....love all.... *party was sponsored by www.imeem.com tonight...so check 'em out~! read more

Wanna hear some live music from your favorite indie band? This is the venue. It's a fun location with a GA area downstairs in front of the stage, plus a bar, while upstairs you have another bar and seating for those who don't want to stand/dance. You can have a balcony view upstairs or just chill on the back couches with the band playing in the background. The DJ has a set up on the side downstairs, where you can see the likes of Aaron Axelsen spin during his Popscene nights. Since it's a small venue, you can get up close and personal with the band, especially if they're selling merch at the table near the entrance, where a couch is also situated. The staff is really cool and they have a computerized check-in system if you purchased your tickets ahead of time online. *Tip: Bring your own earplugs, as they don't have any here. *Tip: Coat check is upstairs for $3. *Tip: Arrive when doors open if you want a sweet parking spot right in front of the venue. read more

A night out with the gang at the Non-Stop Bhangra... Wow, this place was hoping! Where else can you feel the heat of New Delhi and dance to the Knight Rider theme all in one room? I say this because by night's end, I was as wet as the Hof must have been in his leather jacket in the L.A. sun. The staff was cool too. I didn't wait very long for a drink. The bar staff seem to know the next customer...and did it with a smile. Class-out-of the-ass. I tipped them well. Also, this is the easiest place to dance because the DJ was spot on with his mash-ups. Here are the dance combinations to help you fit in... 1. raise 1 arm into the air to the beat 2. raise 2 arms up beat 3. clap you hands to the beat 4. make an "L" shape with your arms back and forth to the beat 5. hop incessantly to the beat 6. every now and again yell "hey, hey, hey" to the beat 7. twist your wrist around as if you are doing some kind of Filipino candle dance...to the beat 8. if all else fails, just copy what the folks from India are doing...to the beat. So easy, even Bucky K can do it! read more

I really want to love Rickshaw. From the exterior, you wouldn't be able to tell where it was unless there was a line outside, or if they marked their location with their bright pink rickshaw parked out in front. You walk in and you instantly get the feel of an intimate venue, with a few strands of Christmas lights up top on the ceiling and some old-school bikes/rickshaws scattered about. Slightly industrial in its design, but definitely not in-your-face wannabe-Asian-oriented-'cuz-we're-Rickshaw Stop. There's a nice upstairs with sofas, a foosball table, and a make-shift bar. Also, a BIG PLUS to clean toilets. They were so clean, they were sparkling white! And from the minutes I was able to hear the sound system from the band playing on stage, it's not that bad. But here is why I can't bring myself to love this place: It's insanely hot and humid in there. No fans, and seemingly no ventilation system. I was sitting STILL upstairs and I was bathing in my own sweat. As I left the place (had to cut out 20 minutes into the show because the band started 1.5 hours after the advertised start time and my friend and I couldn't stand the heat), we walked by this girl that was being lead by her boyfriend out of the crowd because she was starting to faint. When we walked outside to a nice breeze of cool SF air, we realized how thick the air actually was inside. Even though the outside air was substantially laced with cigarette smoke, it was still better than the pressurized-cooker atmosphere inside Rickshaw--and coming from a non-smoker, that says a lot. read more

*This review is for Friday Nights and Blow Up* 18nUP? It's been years, and I mean YEARS since I've been to such an event but I sucked it up for a friend's birthday. I was plesantly surprized because I ended up having a good time. The whole place reminded me of High School! Not in a bad way, and no, not because I was a couple of years older than the majority of the folks there but because of the setup and decor. The venue set-up reminded me of a HS auditorium because it's a widely spacious dance floor that faces a stage. There's also an upstairs bar + balcony with vintage decorations like old school bikes and 80s looking tables. The crowd was dressed uber trendy. For some reason I noticed a lot of boys in fashionable hats. A good handful of girlies were wearing party or cocktail dresses. Their best threads for the friday night school dance. I keed, they all looked cute, I swear! Electric music. Heard some Kanye, 80s, brit pop, and other uppity beats while I was there. I love dancing to it! Anything goes, and ANYONE can dance to it. Folks were wyling out and letting themselves go to the beats. Good for them for enjoying themselves! Drinks weren't bad: $3 for beer and $6 for wine. Contrary to other reviews, the bartenders aren't jerks either. Don't think I'd come back by choice but Rickshaw is okay in my book. read more

I had gotten mixed reviews of this place before I went here so I was nt sure what to expect of the Bhangra night I was here for. Minus .5 stars for the $20 cover charge - Thats effin pricey! Plus 1 star for the music which was pretty awesome. Rocked my socks, YEEEEEEAAAH!!! Minus 1.5 for the cramped and stuffy experience. The place is Oh-mi-god super stuffed. Its tough to groove without getting stepped on. I thought I was excellent at manouvering and not getting stepped over but in the end I nearly fell on my face. And I was'nt even buzzing yet. LOL Minus 1 for the gin and tonic the bartender made. My honey fell sick after downing that despicable concoction. Its gonna take a lot of convincing for me to go back. read more

WTF happened to Blow Up? Ok, so I'm an avid YELP user but I've never actually written a review. This is my first, I made an account JUST to review BLOW UP @ The Rickshaw Stop. I went this Friday with a few friends. Had a TERRIBLE time. We're all in our early twenties but I felt like I was at a high school dance. HALF of the people there were children. Wasted, drugged, annoying, rude, obnoxious high schoolers. How do these kids get in?! It was Blow Up's "100th Anniversary" or something. It started off with some HORRIBLE 'performance' by two rapping lesbians. They were terrible. Despite the boos, they finished their act. I can't count the number of times I was pushed, shoved, and ran into without acknowledgment. At one point my friend and I were dance-attacked by some savage teenage girl on E. I had to push this bitch off of me numerous times!! Gays, forget it. I've been here about a dozen times and have never met any nice gays worth knowing. Oh, and I can never tell who's straight and who's hipster. HIPSTERS. Oh god! Don't get me started. So many weird, wanna-be indie hipster kids. So many v-necks, lense-less thick framed glasses, and skinny jeans, I wanted to kill myself. Also, if you DO happen to be underage and drinking, watch out. The bouncers here are ROUGH. I witnessed one of the male bouncers SCREAMING in this girls face after catching her drinking without a wrist band. He was yelling at the top of his lungs and screaming profanities for her to get out. And then a long brown-hair female worker there (bartender? female bouncer?) GRABS THIS GIRL BY THE THROAT and pushes her to get out. I couldn't believe what I was witnessing! Hardcore stuff. So yeah, in a nut shell. Don't waste your time on Blow Up. The ONLY saving grace of this event is the music... Not going to lie, its the only reason I lasted longer than an hour... Love the tunes! Oh, and if you go with some easy-going friends who love to dance.. you might be ok. read more

To put it simply, Rickshaw Stop is like an insane asylum, with a stage. It's just a huge box of a room, with cushion-like walls. If not for the stage, the lights, and the bar in the back, I'd think I'd have gone crazy. Instead, you've got some great tunes to go crazy about. Been here just a few times now. Saw the Fratellis and Monarchy here. Sound for each band was pretty great. I think they could have kicked it up a notch when it comes to the loudness, but then again we don't all wanna be deaf right? The venue itself is small enough for you to get a pretty decent view of the band from wherever you are. They've also got a pretty nifty little upstairs balcony if you want to have a seat as well. Perfect for those post-25 concert vets whose knees can't take standing for hours on end. They've got themselves a bar, but that's about it when it comes to that. They usually have a few nightly specials, but other than that it's just a kinda small bar. The Rickshaw is a pretty fun spot for concerts. Yet another reliable venue in the city! read more

Holy Punjabi Sweatshop Batman! O that hits the nail right on the head Bucky K! Who knew so many yelpers were there for Nonstop Bhangra? One of the coolest things I've done in the city that was not cool but totally, totally H-O-T! So freaking sweaty hot, I mean it was worse than a gay dance bar, the way peeps were ripping off their clothes. I was glad to have a sleeveless on, but even still I was about the shed it all. Major props for the free water which is pretty much where my posse parked itself all night. We started close to the stage for the lesson by the wonderfully warn and charming instructor but as people poured in, we slunk back. Even my dance loving date was like "o hells no" it was so packed and sweaty. read more

Ew, smelled like all bars with wooden floors smell like. Like theres been so much alcohol spilled on the floor, its been absorbing it for years... It just STINKS. the place was not too big, but there was an upstairs. People were WAY too intimate with me, like move over! and if youre in the front row, can you please sit down, or at least not be 6ft. tall? GOD. read more

Can't tell what exactly the vibe is here, but this place certainly tops my list on SF venues because it gets all of it right: 1) Cheap drinks (nice and stiff too) 2) Unique vibe (you have corrugated metal and lights and vintage bikes and outdoor chairs everywhere... Maybe the theme is downtown Thailand?) 3) Usually a good crowd 4) Effective layout 5) Nice sound system The acts that pass through tend to be on the underground side, but that tends to be the draw of this place. Go on a random night with some friends and you might find yourself with the next Lorde or LCD Soundsystem. read more

A pleasant, no hassle, all ages club space with efficient but friendly security. Reasonable prices for large stiff drinks, a decent centrally located neighborhood, no fights, no shootings, no trouble. A foosball table, a two-level balcony. Places to sit and a stage for a band or extra action dancing. We need more of this in town. Funny that people complain about hipsters, free spirits, non-dancers etc. Can't tell if this is underhip or oversnob but it misses the point. The place is mellow, really mellow -- you can be yourself, young or old as you want to be, dance like a ferret or not dance, and you're not going to get judged. As informal as Haight Street but without the grunge-snoot attitude. Second, it's all about promoters and shows, not the room. Every night is different. Could be a concert, could be an ethnic club scene, DJs, dancing. You come for a specific party, not the space. What they give you isn't a scene but a blank canvas for different scenes to happen. It's a good blank canvas so when I hear a party is going down at Rickshaw stop I'm enthused. Best thing IMO s all the old bicycle rickshaws. They're cool in their own right, and if you're feeling antisocial you can sink back in one and listen to the music and watch people, nobody's going to bother you all night. read more

The best event ever. Once you go here, you will never feel the same way about any other club again. This event is at the Rickshaw Stop, and there's a lot of good music, cool people, and strong drinks. There are a lot of hipsters/rockers/punks, trendy people, whatever. It's easy to talk to people too. It gets REALLY crowded, since this is a really popular event. Always good djs, and the crowd varies from 18-40. Usually young crowd though. All I can say is, be prepared to get hot and sweaty! **UPDATE** 2.17.08 Okay..so I showed up on Friday night 2/15/08, and this place has gotten hella crowded and shitty. The line was HELLA long, we showed up at like 10:30pm and we were stuck in the same fucking spot all night for 40 minutes. If I didn't use those connections I had earlier, we would've already be in.. The crowd is so stupid, there were hella losers and ghetto people who came and just ruined the atmosphere. AND what happened to all the good looking people!? There were so many creeps that Friday night, and there were guys following me and barging in from behind to dance with me.. really creepy!! The music sucks now, I don't want to hear hip-hop!! I would've gone to any club in the Bay Area if I wanted to hear that shit. The DJs were horrible, and the club rules got really strict. Everything's gotten out of hand now that more losers are coming to this event. Apparently people were smoking pot in the smoking lounge and someone took an ecstasy pill and puked somewhere. There's more security (good and bad, I suppose) but they hella flash you in the eyes with those damn lights. And the fact that Blow Up is now 3 Fridays a month just doesn't make it spontaneous or exciting anymore. It's not something I look forward to now. Also, ... those damn ravers and posers are raiding our club night. Minus 2 stars read more

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I never got the chance to go to Blow Up while it was still a monthly event. I've only been twice now, since it became an almost-weekly event. The first time I came here, there was a huge line, and while waiting in line, there were some very effed up girls who you could tell were not 21 yet. These girls were screaming, doing cartwheels, and falling all over the place. Kind of annoying. The second time I came here was last night, and there was no line when we got there at almost 12:00AM. I was pretty surprised, since I thought Blow Up is usually a crowded event. Anyhow, last night, once we got in, I noticed it was much emptier than the last time I had gone. Almost half of the floor was empty. The first time I went, the crowd was a bit better, but like a lot of people said, the crowd is really not good looking here. Not that I think I am or anything, but the crowd in general is not good looking here. The only hot boys I met were all gay. tear.. Overall, Blow Up is fun though. Although I never really listen to electronic, etc. music, the music here is actually really fun to dance to. (I'm a trance/house music listener). I actually like the fact that they throw in a little bit of hip hop, since I usually go to hip hop clubs, but I can completely understand why other people aren't gunna like it. Just as Frances W. mentions, this isn't a hip hop club. Also, I agree that it would be nice if this event was 21+ once in awhile. I never go to 18+ events anymore, and this is probably the only one I've been to since I've been 21. Don't get me wrong, I remember being 18+ and going clubbing, but now that I'm 21, I can understand why people who were over 21 when I wasn't, never wanted to go to 18 and over events. Last but not least, be prepared to sweat here. Blow Up gets ridiculously hot and sweaty inside, it's almost gross... But if you're dancing up a storm like I was, and sweating yourself, you can't really complain. Last but not least, shots are small here. $8 for exactly a single shot. However, the bartender that made all of my drinks was great. She was super friendly, and I liked how she chilled my Patron, and put the lime inside the shot.. yummmm read more

Rickshaw Stop is, along with The Independent, one of the top live music venues in San Francisco. While their sound system is not absolutely amazing, it's more than adequate and the space lends itself to some pretty intimate experiences. I shook hands with Penguin Prison before he went onstage and thanked him for playing. I saw an amazing set by Tesla Boy (their first ever in the US) and was about five feet away from the stage the entire time. The Drive Tour was fantastic with Anoraak, College and Electric Youth all playing full-length sets. Rickshaw Stop has already provided me with memories that will last a lifetime and I hope there are many more to come. Definitely check out their regular Popscene nights where you'll be sure to discover a hot new act before they go on to play much bigger (and lamer) venues. read more

I went here last night to see the Limousines---awesome band with that song on the radio called "We are very busy people." Also saw the New Trust, and Har Mar---very very funny and talented groups. Ambience is super fun. Good beer on tap. They have Absolut Ruby Red. Crowd was pretty good. Parking nearby. Upstairs seating is great if the dancefloor is packed. Has a similar vibe to the Casbah in San Diego---which is a place I miss, so ya, I dig the Rickshaw---OH! and duh, they have cute rickshaws and bicycley paraphernalia you can sit on/in!! read more

Cheap drinks, cheap tickets, intimate venue and rock n roll. What more could you ask for? There is a great mix of people (rockabilly, motorcycle riding dudes, old dudes, yuppies (is that still a thing?), hippies, etc.) which makes for good people watching. Ended up standing during most of the show, which was nice. Much love to Rickshaw Stop for cranking up the A/C above the stage - vents facing the audience - once people started moving and the interior temperature started rising. Super friendly bartenders. The bathroom was as clean as you are going to find in a bar/music venue. read more

The Rickshaw is a pretty cool place for live music and dancing. Upstairs is a mezzanine with chairs, benches, and couches, in case you don't want to be down on the dance floor and just want to chill back. Downstairs is a low level stage so you're not being towered over by the band(s) and have easy access to jump on stage and dance, if thats what you're into. The atmosphere is super fun and upbeat, and usually have some really good bands performing. They have a small bar, but serves just about everything. They have killer deals on drinks: $5 for a pint of redbull and vodka? YES PLEASE! Sometimes I think the cover charge is outlandish for certain nights and no name bands, but if you're willing to pay the price, you can still have a good time. read more

Venue shmenue. It's really about the act. I've been here for Nonstop Bhangra, and I've seen a couple of bands perform. Dengue Fever? Good stuff. They created a festive atmosphere with balloons and streamers. Other times? The venue just sits on its own, like an Ikea dining table in an ugly apartment. read more

I've been to practically every single music venue in the SF bay area and somehow just managed to check out the rickshaw stop for the first time last Thursday to see an SF Popscene show. Like other reviewers of this place I was a little discouraged to find out the super late starting time of the show (doors at 9:30!) but as soon as I walked in I felt acquainted with the pseudo-hipster yet unique vibe of this small 200-person or so venue. I'm a big fan of the 2 level upstairs balcony if you can manage to snag a seat before the show. The sound quality is decent, the drinks are moderately priced and there isn't really a bad spot in the house. Most acts that play here are relatively underground but that's part of its charm. read more

Second time I've caught a show at the Rickshaw and overall, I love this place. Has some definite drawbacks but not enough to ever prevent me from going to a show. Bar service is fast considering the setup is not ideal as it's in between the main floor and the bathrooms. Congestion happens but they seem to turn over customers rather quick. Smoking room upstairs can get pretty stinky and humid but they allow you to go in and out if you're over 21 for air. Major drawback is the lack of ventilation. Both shows I've seen turned into a yoga hotbox fart factory from hell. Main door in front is the only source of air, time to upgrade your systems yo. read more

A friend brought a group of us into this place for a few drinks, and I really liked it. I didn't have a chance to check out any of the live performances, readings, etc., but I totally dug the look and vibe of this place...you also can't go wrong with a combination of comfy couches and colorful plastic chairs. Plus, they really have a rickshaw in here, even though you can't ride it (my friend discovered it has no chain)! It definitely looks like it would be cool to check out a show here, and I hope to make it back sometime in the future to see what the acoustics and performances are like. That's the beauty of this amazing city...there's always cool new places to discover, even when you're not looking for them! read more

I've come here once for Halloween -- typically, I stay home on such occassions (yes, I'm a very boring person), but last year I decided to dress up and go somewhere low key -- therefore, I stumbled across the Rickshaw Stop. I like the venue very much... the decor, the space, the balcony, and the people. Yes, it is 18+, so you run into kids -- but I don't mind... actually, I kind of prefer it as it sets a more down to earth tone instead of the overbearing pretentiousness that I find at the clubs. I was disapointed that there was no live music -- even though the ad had specifically stated that there was a band playing -- I think I paid a cover too... Nevertheless, I had a good time. I will definately have to check it out again. Good music, diverse / low-key crowds, not too crowded, and easy to get drinks make up for an easy going night. read more