Black Cat

Went to see a Wash DC local ska-punk band Kill Lincoln at the Black Cat a couple weeks ago and had the best time. My friend and I brought our high school sons with us and heaved them into the punk mayhem.. 😅. We all had a fantastic time thanks to the Black Cat venue, the guy in the banana outfit, & the masterclass in punk that wrecked the house - Half Past Two, Omnigone, & one of my new favorites The Maka Sticks. The masses at the show rolled some crowd surfing throughout all the acts and it was just the best vibe all night. Not too packed, & bar tenders were super cool, which made it a good casual feel at the same time for us watching from the wings. Thanks so much for the experience. We will be back!

What a great small concert venue! Good sound, every spot is a good place to watch bands. Once you get addicted to small venues like the Black Cat you'll never want to go to a big venue again. Saw the Linda Linda's here just saw Mark Robinson (Unrest) and will see Bob Mould.

Cool small venue along 14th Street, unlike other venues, its easy to get up close to the stage and chat with the bands.

Great live music. Every time I have been recently though, the audio mix is off. You can't hear lyrics at all because they are 100% drowned out by the instruments. Still, one of my favorite venues on the planet!

Great venue, staff was very nice, plenty of room with a really nice layout, clean bathrooms and was pleasantly surprised they had seating which was very nice. Perfect for small rock shows where you can bring your kids to experience a good show. Bright my little brother for his first concert and we had a great time. So glad we came through, can't wait to come back again.

The first time I went out in DC to hear music & felt resonance with this city - before even living here, and years before accidentally falling in love with it - it was at the Black Cat. I've made out with exes here, gotten way too drunk and lost on my way home, witnessed friends get way too drunk and pick fights with tire rims and mutual friends, celebrated multiple birthdays at their annual dance-off night of The Smiths vs. The Cure, met comedian and professional lesbian giraffe Chris Fleming post-show, danced my ass off to Boy Harsher's Jae Matthews belting out her live unhinged version of Pain, flirted with crushes, seen a close friend (& trans queer poet) who I grew up with read poetry from her published collection during Pride Month when the first floor back performance room still existed, seen a friend I'd later have a falling out with perform with their 3-member alt-punk Riot Grrrl-adjacent band (& admittedly kill it), facilitate friend connections between disparate friend groups and meet new friends who are still in my life, help raise money during a raffle fundraiser for the community-based org HIPS when I worked there, leave black lipstick marks on countless plastic cups of red wine, learn how to properly order a drink at the bar after one too many bartender staff members pointedly told my younger and more quiet and sensitive self, "Honey, I can't hear a word you're saying," dance for hours with ride-or-die friends (and ones who should just die, tbh) with chemical cocktails swirling through my veins, dance with beautiful, smiling strangers whose in to joining me or my friend circle was often some very gracious compliment of my goth aesthetic, feel my body pulsate to the night's music with an emotional kaleidoscope of joy, social anxiety, self-consciousness, self-confidence, passion, Love, and gratitude for my awareness of the present moment. Simply put, I love the Black Cat. It's a DC staple for me and so many of my friends, and been a safe haven for a variety of subculture weirdos over the years. Its existence is a nod to the ongoing legacy of DC's underground/alternative music scene and as a locus - alongside NYC, Seattle, LA, San Francisco & others - of the punk scene, initially as the birthplace of groups like Minor Threat, Fugazi, Bad Brains, and Teen Idles. The Black Cat remains a vital community hub for platforming newly formed alternative/punk bands in new generations and hosting more famous acts. It's probably the first space wherein I realized that - contrary to outsiders' perceptions - DC is actually a friendly city. Thank you for all of it - including all the way back to '93, the year both the Black Cat and I were born. <3

There's not much I can say that you probably haven't already read about this place. If you like live music, this place has been one of the best in the city for decades. The main stage has larger acts, and the Red Room is an intimate setting for smaller local acts. Just a few blocks off the Green Line in the heart of U / 14th Street, there's plenty of nearby options for food or drink before the show.

Nice little venue, has been for years, mid/late 90s for me. Staff are awesome, service good. If someone is playing that you want to see, I wouldn't skip it. Go check out someone new. The show prices are unbeatable these years.

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.

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 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!

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.

Love this place. Never had a bad time here. So glad they made it through the pandemic. It feels so personal because of the design of the place - the audience is very close to the band. Every time I go to some new slick corporate venue in town, I start thinking about how I'd rather be at the Black Cat. And such cool & kind people are in the audience and among the staff. There is a reason this is a beloved Washington institution. Especially loved the Messthetics show, they get some of the best bands out there.

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.

Went once to see Del Water Gap and its an incredibly intimate, small venue. I loved it! The people at the show were clearly big fans and he really vibed w the small venue. It did get extremely hot, but there's a bar and more space on the far end from the stage!

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 had a very good time here by myself for maybe less than a decade where i ended was coincidentally around the time of the dc caps and the nats championships when i moved (and quit alcohol) i tried to build a little rapport with some of the regular owners (i tried to be a good guest punctual and paying for alcohol knowledgeable a good audience member social friendly approachable and i even documented some of my experiences) though i didn't only go here there were other nightclubs (rock and roll hotel was unbelievable before they closed) i'd pick a night out during that golden era of beer and music and some new beginnings with me and my hobbies what was really good was i drank safe with no issues and seemed to make progress and taught myself some stuff from the entertainment (i had some projects i was proud of as a creative personality like my movies or the album i made in germany being a big one lots of productions) though i learned from complaints and maybe got hardened from that and even upset before but let it roll off me and continued to move toward successes so the mental stimulation was really good good live sounds expensive guitars playing good singers the band set up drums bass keyboard sometimes available merch um the people at the bottom of it the real punk people or other genres those people the experts um i really liked the look of some of it like picturesque rock album references and real leaders legacies good conversational pieces so i think my big 3 influences after all of this were richard lloyd of television roky erickson of the 13th floor elevators and lee ranaldo of sonic youth another one to add on just as a bonus was i was really impressed with loud boyz who i thought had a impact around the capital so it'd be maybe use their site to book some events on the calendar um take an uber round trip in case if you like drinking um i actually took the yellow line metro here before from my old neighborhood um also by the way the way some of the nights acts were presented was very respectable and dignified for me as a admirer of some of these famous names as opposed to other stuff i've seen before for individuals or artists

The show I went to here was very fun while I was in DC. The staff and general atmosphere was pretty cool too.

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!

I am writing this review on behalf of my friend and myself, as I believe we were treated rather poorly despite the situation that my friend admittedly caused. My buddy and I for the very first time had received the opportunity to see a band that had not toured in the last 20 years. Because I am well aware as to what kind of person my friend is, I take it upon myself to read the venue rules as stated before attending each show online. Upon researching the venue "Black Cat's," seemingly minimal rules, I found that there was no policy on vaping and or smoking. Because of this I informed my friend that a simple buzz, as far as I'm aware should be fine at the venue. Upon reaching the venue my friend consumed whatever the hell he had in his pockets (as there was also no search at the door) during the first set completely uninterrupted. As the second set began my friend decided to once again procure an object of vape/smoke inhalation (I apologize for not being aware of the difference upon writing this review.) And as he inhales, immediately as staff member appears in front of him and whilst calling him things like "Stupid, sense lacking, brain lacking" walked him to the entrance of the event. I followed my friend to the entrance in hopes that I would be able to explain the scenario and how it occurred, especially since if anyone were to be aware of the lack of policy, lack of search, and lack of any vape prohibiting signs, should be the very owners of the venue. Upon reaching the entrance, I (even though I was not the one consuming anything) was berated by the front staff, while standing silently. My friend was told to exit after his hand was marked without even the chance to offer an apology, and when the staff member following my friend realized that I had joined their journey, she told me that because I "Was brain lacking enough to come with my friend" that I could either leave with him or return to the concert. While I understand that the staff at Black Cat have likely dealt with disrespect, and cruel treatment, I do think it was a egregiously unfair to apply any of those things to myself, the non instigator of the issue. I would argue, upon copious research on yelp and other reviewing platforms, that the "Black Cat," is as venue for non DC natives. As a person born & raised in this city, I would actually assume that one is allowed to at least vape in an indoor venue, such as "Echo Stage," "Anthem," & "The Filmore" alike all either have indication to their policy, no policy, and or are willing to give a warning to any person who has unknowingly broken the rules for the first time. I believe this to be an issue of anger, ignorance, and lack of awareness, be it that (as mentioned above) this could have very well been my and my friend's only chance in our lives' to see our favorite bands perform. I would like to add that at the time of writing this review, there is still nowhere "Black Cat" affiliated that claims to have any issue with vaping, especially not issue enough to no warning kick out.

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.

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.

Went for Halloween and was dressed as a Chippendales dancer. Got let in by the bouncer with no objection to not wearing a shirt but then got scolded by another bouncer once I went in, who followed me to make sure I put on a shirt and threatened to kick me out if I didn't. What a dumb bar.

I was really unimpressed by Black Cat. Showed up early for happy hour before a concert, but everything was closed and the kitchen was preparing food for the band/saw the sign they put up through the blinds which said they're not serving anyone while cooking for the band. They made us wait in the freezing cold for 30 minutes after doors were supposed to open, and then wait again inside another 30 minutes. During our wait inside, they opened up the bar. After the 30 minutes, we were allowed to go upstairs to wait for the show to start. Can't blame Black Cat for this, but the band didn't start until 10 PM and this was a work night...in D.C.! Also, this is a cash-only establishment, so come prepared! I also recommend you buying your ticket in advance to avoid any hassle. Honestly, the biggest draw to Black Cat is that it's a pretty intimate venue if you're into the music that night.

Black Cat has been hitting it out of the park on shows in the past couple of years. Likely, they've always been hitting it out of the park. [I remember seeing some great shows here over a decade ago, before moving away from the DC area.] Unfortunately, the "Backstage", where local and rising musicians used to play is closing to make room for some "retail stores." It used to bring out bands like Chris Farren, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Mister Heavenly, ... The Backstage was downstairs, and the "Mainstage" where the more well known musicians play upstairs. The one downside of the old Backstage was the acoustics were not great. It looks like the Backstage will continue, upstairs. Hopefully so. Despite worst acoustics than upstairs, it was more intimate. The Food For Thought Cafe downstairs served vegan/vegetarian options, but I believe that is going as well. Also, pinball. The bar is "cheap". PBR tall boy $6 tecate tall boy $7. But to its detriment, cash only.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I was super excited to find a spot for my husband to play Pinball. This place has a number of varieties that will satisfy your inner child. We had a few drinks at Happy Hour and were excited to learn about Jameson Caskmates Stout edition. I had never had it before, but our bartender hipped us to it and did not steer us wrong. This 80 proof darker version of Jameson is so smooth and has hints of chocolate, coffee, and overall goodness that I had to order it neat to not interfere with its tastiness. Our bartender was super friendly and helpful in pointing out that Tecate tall boys ($4) might pair nicely with the nachos we ordered. I was happy the nachos came with real melted cheese and not the 7-11 fake weird stuff. We ordered our Tecate tall boys in addition to our tasty Jameson Caskmates shots and proceeded to some rounds of Pinball. We plan to return for a show - with earplugs in hand because even the music was blasting in there. Excellent sound system and cool establishment with character and positive, fun vibes!

went to black cat to see drain gang and waited in line in the freezing cold. other than the bartenders the employees were all extremely rude. security constantly flashing lights in everyone's face and on top of that the audio stopped working for almost an hour. i didnt pay money to stand in a nasty venue with no music. on top of that the ceiling dripped on me all night

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!!!

3.5 stars - not quite 4, not quite 3. I like this joint - it's laid back and fun. However, it's also become well worn around the edges, and not for the better in every sense. This is a fun music venue though, because it lacks the hype and fanfare that surrounds some other establishments. When you come here, you're just here for the music. Because the acts are generally more under the radar, the people coming here are here for the music - music that is probably on the verge of being far from mainstream. So, that will reflect the crowd, too. That's what makes this place somewhat less than pretentious. It feels like the music is being performed just for you and the other people there- pretty cool. The venue is cash only, but advance tix can be purchased for most shows on-line with a fee. They do also have a lot of seating outside the musical staging area, so you can chat and hang out in between acts of a multi-act show. Cool place to catch up with your peops after the show- cause you will not be able to hear much conversation during the show. Music for vocals and instrumentals has always been well balanced when I have been here. If I know a band I like is performing, I wouldn't hesitate to stop on by to see the show.

This is DC, the real DC! Great music & funky people!! Love the Backstage!!! Seen so many great bands & good beer too!

Decent beer choices, a good venue. You can make your way closer if you like to be upfront or stand on your toes to see over the crowd. Reasonable size room to handle the heavy bands, be assured you won't have trouble hearing. I wasn't offered a menu so I'm not sure if there's food. Show is kinda after the dinner hour so step out on the street after and eat on the street.

Red lighting at a bar (or the illusion of such) tends to mean one of four things: 1) There is a velvet furniture piece nearby 2) There is slight lingering scent of sex musk 3) There is a slight lingering scent of Mary-Jane 3) PBR is on tap Although it was probably a little early for 1,2, or 3 there was definitely PBR on tap for only $3.25. The perfect price for chugging! Just remember to keep the plastic in your pants. The bar here is cash only. Surrounded by pool tables and loungey areas to sit and enjoy the predominantly rock & roll music, the laid back vibe was cool, calm and unpretentious. Our group kind of just did out own thing, got rowdy and enjoyed ourselves without any interuption. Although a cool alternative, I didn't really feel that Black Cat had a whole lot to offer without a live band or performance. There were no drink specials or additional allure for me, so although I had a great time, I was very aware that it was due to the company I was with. Probably not a place would come to on my own unless there was a live show I was trying to check out. There are plenty of places on U Street that I would rather drop by to grab a quick drink.

There are very few places where I could go in a long tank top, tights and kicks so I can just sweat it out and dance with girlfriends, and not care about being glammed up. I can't believe I overlooked this place for so long. I love this concert venue. The upstairs concert area is pretty intimate. Literally the stage doesn't feel so far away. The security is pretty light and not in your face at all times, which makes this place pretty laid back and comfortable. If you don't feel like dancing, you can still have a pretty good view of the festivities from your bar stool at the bar. If you feel the need to dance there is plenty of room, and they have some industrial strength fans/AC going so you don't really sweat your outfit, although I did emerge with some big hair with all the body heat and humidity. I came here for the DJ Rekha, and at some point in I was dancing alongside her on the dancefloor, during her set. Also, I bumped into the opening DJ Dredd (of Prince party fame)who I was too shy to talk to. This place is definitely the type of spot where the artists roam the audience. Be warned, the bar is cash only (the ATM is next to the bar), and apparently the coat room has a capacity limit so get here early. The most popular beverage is the PBR tall boy (shocking), they offer craft-brews and imports, just a smaller selection. If you don't feel like seeing a show or paying a cover, the Black Cat also offers the Red Room which is a great spot to kick back and relax.

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.

Went to an indie dance party and showed up pretty early so it was a little empty. However around midnight is really started picking up! It was a good time a a cool scene. Kind of wish they accepted credit cards.

Went to an 80's theme party during the Halloween weekend. Nothing special about the place, but music was good. Large dancing floor packed with people. Crowds were pretty good too. I didn't get any drinks or food. The place is very gay-friendly - there's a side bar (with pool and some arcade games) and semi-hidden dancing floor filled with gay people.

Oh Alex Trimble!! He's too adorable. The baby face and red hair - phew!! enough to drive me crazy! I hadn't jump up and down all night in a while! Two Door Cinema Club was worthy of that. They were simply the best, every song had people going crazy, all that waiting with Group Love (by the way they will become big!!) and Penguin Prison (electronic 80s style but too cliche!), TDCC (Alex Trimble, Kevin Baird and Sam Halliday) were the stars of the night. Funny I sold my extra ticket to a Mandarin-speaking exchange student from Hamburg and friend of my other friends. It was great hanging out with a bunch of people most of the them were in their early 20s, all enjoying the same music. What You Know In a few weeks I will get time To realise it's right before my eyes And I can take it if it's what I want to do I am leaving This is starting to feel like It's right before my eyes And I can taste it It's my sweet beginning And I can tell just what you want You don't want to be alone You don't want to be alone And I can't say it's what you know But you've known it the whole time Yeah, you've known it the whole time Maybe next year I'll have no time To think about the questions to address Am I the one to try to stop the fire? I wouldn't test you I'm not the best you could have attained Why try anything? I will get there Just remember I know And I can tell just what you want You don't want to be alone You don't want to be alone And I can't say it's what you know But you've known it the whole time Yeah, you've known it the whole time And I can tell just what you want You don't want to be alone You don't want to be alone And I can't say it's what you know But you've known it the whole time Yeah, you've known it the whole time More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/t/two_door_cinema_club/#share

My friend invited me for a late happy hour at the Black Cat on 11/25/16 to celebrate her birthday. Although I have lived in the Washington DC area for over 10 years (and had heard of the Black Cat many times) I had never been there. It is a pretty basic bar. It is somewhere between a mix of a dive bar and a concert hall. I liked the fact that the Black Cat had the feeling of a DC institution (like Ben's Chili Bowl) rather than a bar/restaurant catering to the newest trend. On the flip side of that comment, the Black Cat's ambiance (or at least the room I was in) felt a little run down. It was odd to me that they did not accept credit cards. I can fully understand not accepting credit cards under a specific amount (due to the fact it costs a business money to process a credit card transaction). However, it was my understanding that no credit cards were accepted for any amount. If I hadn't been told ahead of time about the cash bar issue I would have been caught completely off guard. In full disclosure, a concert experience at the Black Cat may be entirely different than what I experience due to the fact I only stayed in one room. In a nutshell, worth stopping by but might be a better pre and/or post bar stop than spending the majority of your evening (with the growth of great places to visit the U Street neighborhood).

I'm sitting at the cafe waiting for food right now and am in awe at the guy making my food. He is the only one in the kitchen and he is taking orders. He is polite while working his ass off. Black cat get this guy some help but guy whoever you are, you're awesome.

Black Cat is a great venue. I've been a many of the venues in and around town and black cat is among the best. They have two venues in one, upstairs and downstairs. AND a fun games room full of pinball machine. Cash bar though, if you don't mind it. Good lineup of shows generally and very well placed on U street. tl;dr - great venue, good shows, cash bar, good location on U street

Of course everyone knows this as a great concert venue. They have a great selection of nationally known indie bands and singers. The most recent concerts I've seen there are the Bird and the Bee, Bleached and Shura. But what some people may not know is they have a really cool bar on the ground level called the Red Room which is a great place to hang out with locals for a drink. Their name is appropriate since all the walls are red. It has that grungy but cool feel for rock/alternative types. No fancy cocktails just your basic mixed drinks and beers. But I recommend it for a unique DC experience that reminds me of the old edgy 14th Street. Originally the Black Cat was in another building a few doors down, they moved but kept almost exactly the same decore. Nice to know in an ever changing city some things stay exactly the same!

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.

I came here for a law firm battle of the bands event, and it was a lot of fun! I'm not sure how the venue is usually arranged (perhaps the same), but it has a stage and then a big space for people to stand. There are two bars. Downside: cash only. Great that this place is opening itself up for a charity event.

The Black Cat is a pretty cool concert venue. I saw the Boxer Rebellion here last week and had a really great time. It has a capacity of about 600-700ish people, which makes for a pretty intimate show. Pretty much the whole place allows for clear sight lines to the stage. Shows are loud and can be packed. I really liked that there was a bit of an older crowd for the rock concerts (mid-20 somethings, instead of teens). I found the beer prices reasonable for a concert venue, but if i had gone here on a non-concert club night, I think they would be a bit higher than normal. Good times and a great place to see a concert. Like Tara L. said, I probably wouldn't come here to drink unless there's a band playing.

Came here on a friday night to the Bar/Lounge The place wasnt to crowed and there seemed to be a good mix of poeple here. The bartender was friendly and the drinks were average. I really liked the couches they have in the one area gives it a nice feel. Overall i would come back here for a drink and if someone was playing check out a show.

The Black Cat is a nice balance between the hole in the wall venues and larger spots like 9:30 club. They are big enough to get well-known artists but you won't have to worry about not being able to see them since the area itself is quite small. I've been to three shows here and watched from all angles and it's always been a great time. Bring some earplugs if you want to go up close because they pump most of the sound from the stage.

This review is strictly for the dance parties they have Backstage. I've been to the Black Cat once- to attend their Hellmouth Happy hour (I LOVE Buffy!!!!). That was a cool experience. Last night, however, was such a great experience! Tired of the Adams Morgan scene, I decided to find something in the U Street area that would seem like a blast, so I chose Black Cat based off of reviews on Yelp. I'M SO GLAD I DID. I normally refuse to pay a cover to party, but the $5 was worth it. We got there pretty early, so it wasn't very crowded. As the night progressed, it definitely got crowded (not in a bad way like I couldn't even dance). The musical selection was great (it was a disco/90's pop/hiphop/house night)!! The DJs were cute (the shorter one was REALLY cute- heyyyyyyyyy ;)). The crowd was cool. ANYTHING goes when it comes to dancing lol. I was thoroughly entertained by some of the crazy moves I saw earlier in the night... but everyone was looking to have a great time and just be themselves and that was awesome. I love the fact that there's no dress code and you don't have to be dressed up to party. Such a relief!! I had so much fun yesterday. I found my new party spot. I'll definitely be back!

Not much to this place. There's plenty of standing room and the sound is BOOMING. There's a parking lot across the street, in case you don't wanna circle the block for 30 minutes.

What an awesome place for a concert. Recently saw God is an Astronaut upstairs. Sound was amazing. Service from Bartenders was impeccable. Special kudos go out to Al, the upstairs mixologist, who was the best bartender ever. Chris, the downstairs bartender, who is the second best. Chris, the door man, who made sure Joe and his scooter had a way to get upstairs. And finally to Ben and Sam, who helped Joe throughout the night. It's also located in a very happening part of town. If you're looking for a cool place to stay near the venue...check out AirBnb and search for "English basement yana"

I've been here many times over the past several years. The decor inside in the back bar hasn't changed and that's a good thing . . . it's a dive bar for a reason. It's a diverse crowd and the bar is pretty chill. We hung out here ordering beer and nachos. This time around, I didn't go here for a concert. For those that haven't been to main concert area, it's pretty good. Probably not the same acoustics as Rock and Roll Hotel or U St, it's still good.

I attended the sold out Snail Mail show with a disabled person. I have to say that the staff was exceptional. We were asked to wait downstairs and then a staff member took us in the freight elevator upstairs. We got to walk by the green room backstage and then were taken to a table in the back at floor level. At the end of the show they reversed the process. I'm am not a fan of stand up venues, this show was sold out and I think there was enough space that everybody could have sat down. It is hard to stand up for 3 hours.