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Categories: Bars, Music Venues, Dance Clubs [Edit]
1940 9th St NWU St/African-Amer Civil |War Memorial/Cardozo (Green, Yellow)
Fri-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
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So it looks like a hole in the wall...and it kind of is. But if you can get over its unprepossesing exterior/interior, you're in for a good time. The clintele is a mix of hipster and punk-ish. The bartender downstairs is hot. He also thinks I'm an alcoholic. Haven't decided if this is a win or a fail.
A friend told me the drinks were expensive here, but I didn't think that the prices were much higher than anywhere else in the area. I'm a big cider drinker, and they have my favorite Woodchuck, 802. It's 5.50. Same price as the drafthouse in VA. Sure, that's only two dollars less than what I'd pay for the 6 pack at Harris Teeter. But Harris Teeter doesn't serve it to me with a smile. So there.
We saw a couple bands here on a Sunday, and it was far from crowded, but I was kind of hot in the upstairs stage area. I can see how it would get pretty sweaty, especially if you were jiving to the dulcet tones of Matthew Bellamy. Which I plan to do this Friday. I plan to liberate myself DC9 style.
We also ate here, and I was very satisfied with our veggie quesadillas. There was more than I could comfortably eat. Then again, my hollow leg was full of cider. Four big pieces of cheesy goodness for 9$, along with guac, jalepenos, and sour cream.
Its a hop, skip, and a brief jog from the Ust metro, and in the event you should drink too much, it is a very brief ride to Howard hospital.
What I like about their dance parties: instead of gross, sketchy dudes trying to bump and grind all up to your shizz, you have people really dancing it up and not just dry humping on the dance floor. Although that's totally cool if that's your kind of thing.
Things I liked: do-it-yourself coat check, their gin and tonic, and groovin' it to "Fa Fa Fa" by Datarock.
It was so good I didn't mind the $8 cover. So come here if you really want to dance. I danced so much I needed to shower when I got home at 3am. That's serious.
Three words: CANS OF SCHLITZ!
Apparently in D.C., they don't drink pbr at the hipster bars, they drink schlitz, which in my book is pretty freaking cool.
Went here way late last night, like 1:15am ish(late for dc standards) with a buddy of mine who is a chef. It's a small little bar with apparently a dance party downstairs that I missed. It's definitely a "raw" bar. What I mean by this is the music is loud and often metal. Good mix of people hanging out at a few of the booths. Would probably come back here if I actually lived in DC. A solid U street spot.
An open bar from 9-10:30 pm on Friday nights: $8
Coat check: $1
Shaking it to MGMT, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and MIA: priceless.
DC9 is a U St. hangout that attracts a fair amount of hipsters but not so much where it ruins its appeal. It's well known for their Liberation Dance Party held on Friday nights, which can be alot of fun. The playlist consists of mostly indie rock bands. Even though I could only recognize a few songs, all of the music had a great beat to it.
DC9's happy hour I believe is their best deal. The happy hour specials are $2.50 Bud/Bud Light bottles, $3 rail drinks, $3 beer of the week (usually something good) and half off any appetizer. I got a tasty buffalo chicken tender appetizer that was big enough to be a meal in of itself for a little over 3 dollars. Great deal. Also, DC9 doesn't shortchange you by ending their happy hour at 7 like alot of bars in the metro area, but instead goes until 8pm.
The people who work there are down-to-earth, nice and never have an attitude. I'm glad there's still places like this in DC.
Liberation Dance Party:
Man in combat boots and white suspenders getting down with his bad self by himself
A petite man running around yelling bailar and taking pictures of girls
Ladies making out in the corner
Another man with a pervy mustache passed out in a booth around 11:30.
Instead of Twilight, scenes from The Lost Boys on the screen
Songs by artists I'm not hip enough to recognize
Moderately clean bathroom
= $7
They always have interesting bands come through this venue, which is a lot smaller than most of the bars/clubs in DC. A few times I've seen bands finish playing a set at 9:30 Club and later I'll see them having a beer at DC9. So, yeah, it's got that going for it if that's your thing.
The upstairs, where the shows are, is about the size of a large apartment. For my money, I like to see a band up close and personal so this place is great to see someone you really admire. Decent beer selection, nothing to write home about but somewhat above average. I've always had a good time here and I bookmark their site to check the calendar, which updates frequently.
I like this place because it somehow felt less 'clique-ish' than a lot of DC joints. Sure, it's tight (where ISN'T) - but it makes things more conducive to meeting the folks around you and having a quick drink. Even the doorman was awesome about my expired license and DMV paperwork proving I could drink here (unlike a few other places.... )
It's great if you hate to spend $40 on drinks just to get your buzz on - because upstairs is $7 all you can drink Friday nights. It's only from around 9ish-11ish so it's perfect if you want to start your night here and then stroll (or stumble) onwards into the night.
This is somewhere I would feel comfy in jeans and sneakers or dressed to the nines (if I ever decide to do so...)
Haven't experienced the live shows, but overall a good experience thanks to the excellent drink deals and chill atmosphere!
I've seen so many great shows here for cheap (not more than $15). The venue is intimate, holding about 250, which is comparable in size to the Black Cat backstage. The stage is low but the sightlines are still good. Most of the shows here don't sell out so you can see the bands really up close and personal.
Some of my favorite shows here? The Delta Spirit with AA Bondy opening, Plants & Animals, Deastro, Marissa Nadler and Alela Diane, William Elliott Whitmore, The Veils, and Ezra Furman & the Harpoons.
One of the few places in DC to see up and coming national bands before they hit the bigger stages of the Black Cat and 9:30 Club (and the often annoying crowds that go with those places). I've never been impressed by their bar staff, who seem to have a studied indifference to their patrons that I guess the hipster crowd just loves. I could probably recommend 20 places over this one if you're just after a casual drink.
As far as a venue goes however they offer an interesting indie band or DJ night almost every night, across a wide spectrum of sounds and the more adventurous and open minded would do fine there most nights turning up regardless of the specific act.
Having savored one of their burgers tonight, Duffy's is a distant memory. I have officially found my spot for preshow dinner and drinks.
This place is a text book example of management that know how to answer the question, "What do we do and can we do it well?"
The answer is be a small rock club with excellent burgers. And the answer is yes. This is essentially the Coney Island High of DC (in terms of venue capacity) with interesting, well-executed burgers. I had a very generous well whiskey and soda for $3, and that made my burger that much better @ happy hour. Really, a dozen burger arrangements with apparently homemade sauces? Way to be!
The service was prompt and friendly, and I might say more about the atmosphere, but the walls were lined with plastic. I'm assuming some preparation for Halloween festivities. Maybe "Tag Your Favorite Bar Night," and on top of your whiskey buzz, you get a wicked headrush from the spray paint.
Once you wrap your head around the $10 cover to get upstairs on a busy night, you'll realize this place is a blast.
First of all, there's no velvet rope. This lesser known dance club will let you in wearing outfits that'd be turned away by other nightclubs in DC. Second, the DJs are top-notch, in my opinion. They play a great mix of alternative rock and electronic dance music. It's hard to describe, but together with cheap beers, a rowdy dance floor, an awesome music video screen, and a terrific crowd, this place is top notch.
I have to say, DC9 is a nice venue. I mentioned to a friend it reminded me of rock and roll hotel, and the scenester rolled her eyes and said because it's owned by the same person. Sorry scenester, I'm not in the in!
It's small and more intimate. Won't get as many big acts. Think of smaller acts that might open for medium size headliners, with a couple local bands opening. Cover was $10 which I thought was steep as I've bought tickets at Black Cat for legit shows at $15. But the beer selection is also good, and I had alot of fun. Check it out! Support a local starving musician!
Some nights its a 3, other nights it's a 5. Last night was a 4, so that's what I'm going with. For whatever reason when we got there before 10:30, we were able to get free cover upstairs and two free crappy vodka and redbulls. The DJ started out with some really obscure stuff but then as the night went on he went with more mainstream stuff, like good old Snoop Dogg and Jay Z songs which was a little surprising for the largely hipster crowd. Local band, US Royalty, played and were fantastic. http://www.myspace.com...
Friday nights are also really fun here because it's just straight up dancing all night. If you're not in the mood for dancing, then downstairs there's a jukebox and some booths and a bar where you can just chill with your friends. This is one of my fave places on U.
Great place to see a show - intimate for sure. Liberation dance party sounds fun, but I've never been. It's a short stroll from my apt, so bonus for that. It's not that bad of a neighborhood, I promise.
I'm a fan of a low-key happy hour at the downstairs bar. Drinks are cheap - 3 bucks for rail drinks, and 2.50 for bud and bud light. It is usually pretty quiet around happy hour, so you can talk to your friends and hear what they say.
I dig the old microphones that they made into lights above the bar.
DC9 I heard about it quite a bit but had not gone there for a show yet. A friend told me about Dragonet (something like that) was playing and we were going to check it out. When we got there my friend realized he had taken someone else's coat at the previous event and had to go back. My gf and me waited for him at the bar that's when it all went downhill. The two bartenders looked like the world was against them, the woman was angry looking we were afraid to order from her the guy who was wearing two tennis wrist bands on each wrist acting all busy and when I tried to get his attention with my clicking fingers he was outraged and told me I cannot 'do' that. If people acted normal here it wouldn't get to this point. I was quite disgusted to be honest if I hadnt left my jacket in my friend's car I would have left. So I stayed and unwillingly order a drink from the angry woman. Apparently she was so nice to my guy friend who went there before and hooked him up with free drinks. We also orderd some buffalo chicken nuggets cos we were just starving. When we asked for the bill she yelled at my friend for attempting to use credit for her bill under $10. It's one thing to be dive it's another to be totally rude! I hate this place.
I've never been to a concert here but I have been to the Revolution party on Fridays. The first night was really solid, with great DJing and a great atmosphere. The second night was a little off, but I guess if you're going to host a weekly party, you have to mix it up and sometimes you fall short.
The drinks are reasonable and, like I said, when the Revolution party is going strong, it's pretty top notch.
Another great thing about this place is you can keep your tab open and hang on to your credit card. This eliminates the hassle of having to come back the next day and retrieve it if you forget to close your tab.
Nothing to do on a Monday night? Hang out with the currently neighborhood-only crowd and play SMS trivia @730pm -- you won't have time to cheat (ie, look it up on your phone, because you'll be texting in the answers). It's intimate, fun, and win a $50 bar tab! Only a few teams were there yesterday, and we won (beginner's luck) -- so our dinner and drinks ended up being free. 60 questions total, in 6 rounds of 10 questions. Also, the bartender is super friendly and awesome - and they had Bells Oberon beer to boot. Although I'd like to go back and win more regularly, I've agreed to do my part and tell others about it. Hence, this Yelp update. See you there!
My favorite bar to go to in DC proper. Loved dancing there, good crowd. And loved the music videos… Read more »
This place is in the Ghe-tooooo! I hate the U-Street area b/c it feels so slimy and sketchy to me...but I had a really awesome time at this bar. There was a rap-off the night that I went and there were some pretty sweet rappers performing.
Interesting crowd, lots of people in a small space. The only weird part was that the bartender disappeared for about 15 minutes and no one could get drinks...that was kind of...odd.
Otherwise, had a really fun time here! I don't know if I'd come back that often, just because of the location, but for a random night out, it's not bad.
Honestly, maybe it's because I hate the crowd and the music at Liberation Dance Party, but I can't stand this place. The crowd at the downstairs bar seems to oscillate between just-turned-21-idiots and drunk people leaving Liberation. The bar staff is fine, and the drink selection is okay. The upstairs bartenders are usually much more efficient. I saw one of them break a bottle making my drink, cut her hand, wrap it in duck tape and keep making drinks. While some might think that is unsanitary, I thought it was badass. But it couldn't make up for how terrible Liberation Dance Party is.
I love DC9. Good location, good sound (well, better than RNR Hotel), and I like the vibe a lot. It's full to the brim of people who look like they walked out of an American Apparel ad (or a high end coke den), but I've never once gotten the pretentious, too-cool-for-school attitude.
Ashamed as I am to admit it, I love Liberation Dance Party. Some nights it's really good (read: Interpol, Depeche Mode, MIA) some nights it's really bad (obscure Eurotrash fuzzed-out beats and rap). It runs the gamut of what people in DC want to dance to. On a good night I'm there until 2, on a bad night I sit in the bar downstairs which is generally relaxed and more mellow.
I love Liberation Dance Party on Friday nights. Indie and hip-hop favorites. Drink specials, cheap cover (or NO cover before 10), wear what you want, dance all night. I'm going this Friday!
Note: The DJ will not honor your Janet Jackson request, even if it was all in good fun.
Also a fun place for small, intimate shows. No jockeying to see the band.
DC9 post indoor smoking ban is a whole 'nother animal. Like most late night joints in DC, it's divey. But that fits its intended vibe so well. I've spent more than a few drunken hazed nights here, and I'm not even a fan of the space.
Nouveau Riche last night was awesome and it was almost worth the hearing loss. The music was hyphy AND booty shakin' and I'm ALL about hyphy (booty shakin', too). Why go all the way to B'more when you can stumble over to U St? I personally think the crowd, the energy, and the music reminded me of places on the lower east side in NYC, but maybe I'm a hopelessly romantic tourist (or I just really wanna move to NYC) Free Sparx? Hell yeah, I'm there!*
I hate Taint. If I were a [slim] [white] alternaqueer boy, it'd probably be my monthly jam. I just remember too many boring nights, feeling claustrophobic and asthmatic, searching for the A/C vents (which I found!) and other women (who I didn't find) and then leaving really early.
On a regular night in the downstairs bar, I'd probably prefer Black Cat and I feel it's on par with Wonderland. The ID checkers here are definitely nicer than at Black Cat though (those folks are always cranky!)
*Disclaimer: This is a joke. Sparx tastes like cough syrup and gives you 1/2 the high.
This review is for Liberation Dance Party only, as I've yet to see a live performance here. I'm always thoroughly impressed with the music selection and the fact that they show the video on the big screen, or if there is none, some random movie set to the music (last time it was Grease and Hairspray). Fun times.
A tip for those who might be too shy to cut loose: If you are there between the hours of 9:00 and 10:30, there is an open bar on rail mixed drinks. Despite the high demand, the bartenders are efficient, although the free drinks themselves are on the small and weak side. After 10:30, though, they come in standard glasses and standard strengths.
DC9 posts the playlist on their website about one week later so you can go back and identify what you were dancing to.
Not exactly a gay place...except for once a month when they hold the best dance party in the city...Taint...yes you heard right. Not sure if its named after that special place between your you know what and your know where, but it does make you feel about as good! Great djs and they always have some funky old movie playing on the wall that sorta clashes/meshes/enhances the whole experience. My advice go early and get your hand stamp, then go next door to Nellie's for a couple; that way you don't have to wait in the long line that can form, especially on holiday weekends!
BC - Functional...most of the time, but don't expect anything special....I mean lets be honest, pissing on a tree is functional.
I don't know what the best part of DC9 is, I can't put my finger on it. Oh, wait, I know... its the… Read more »
Right on the edge of the U Street Corridor, this place was a nice to place to catch some live music. The happy hour goes through 9pm, and you can't beat $3 Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. I was a bit disappointed with the quality of the service of the bartender. The place was clearly filled with regulars, and she was more interested in chatting with them than providing service to any of the newcomers. So, that was disappointing.
But, the upstairs is a great place to catch a live show. The music was really good, and the restrooms were surprisingly not gross for the kind of divey bar they are.
DC9 is great! They have a fantastic happy hour (7 nights a week...) where the appetizers are half off and have great drink specials. You have to try the wonton mozzarella sticks, they sound kinda odd but are fantastic! It's normally pretty quiet too, so if you are going there to hang out with people you can actually talk to them without straining to hear over loud music or a crowd.
Also, the dance parties upstairs on the weekends are really fun. There is a cover, but it's totally worth it even if you don't take into consideration the open bar (rail drinks only... not beer) for an hour or two after they open it up. The music is really varied, especially depending on what dance party is is (Taint, Revolution, Liberation... all of which can be found on their website), and requesting songs via text message is kind of fun.
Definitely check this place out!
This might be my new favorite place in DC.
To get the more subjective aspect out of the way, I thought the music selection was great. This isn't one of those indie clubs that advertises "Dance Party" and then proceeds to play The Fall and Joy Division all night. I mean I like that music, but c'mon...it's a Dance Party, people. Last night there was a mix of some electro-ish stuff I'd never heard before, some Interpol, and the new Phoenix song "1901" which some guy was enthusiastically dancing to next to the bar, my first "wow this place is great" trigger. They also implement this great idea to allow people to make requests via text messages. There are two TV screens in this place that display the requests you text in, which the DJ will pick from in theory. For some reason, the requests weren't making it up on the screen this particular night, but I won't knock them because I think the idea is so cool. Another great idea they had was to play music videos they can get for all the songs they play, which is something I've always wanted to see at a dance party.
Another awesome quality about this bar is something that seems to crop up in every review about this place: there's zero pretension here. This isn't Pharmacy Bar where the music is low, people congregate to booths, and the bartender acts surprised when you ask "what are the specials?". People are either at the bar or on the dance floor, and they're actually dancing here. Some guy was even dancing on a table by the projector screen. See? Affluent twenty-somethings don't have to be over-read, inhibited jerks.
Also, the bartenders were really fantastic here. OK maybe the fact that there were free rails gives me warm feelings for them, but they were actually really on their game. Drinks came fast, despite the mob crowded around the bar and, without getting these guys in trouble, they were definitely being permissive with some of the rules. I'm glad to see they got recognition for it too; their tip jars were overflowing and I saw a few tens in there.
And finally, did I mention that the Revolution Dance Party is a fucking awesome deal? Normally $6 for free rails from 9:00-10:30, the night I went was $8 because Natalie Portman's Shaved Head was playing (yeah, that's the band's name alright). Even without getting the added benefit of a live band, that's a deal I would still pay $8 for.
My god, people. I'm no musical genius, but seriously...Bad singing is NOT improved when you do it louder; screaming is NOT acceptable (in my humble opinion) as "music"; and the fact that you call yourself something ridiculous like Bleached Blond Punks (I don't recall the actual band name, but it definitely had the words "bleached," "blond," and "punk" in it.) does NOT make you seem more deep and angsty and cool.
My ears are still ringing.
I LOVE Liberation Dance party on FRiday nights! Great music, fun crowd, cheap drinks!
Go to the Liberation Dance Party. $6 normally, $8 when there's a band - open bar 9-10:30. So much fun. That is all.
Lots of fun, great music. I recommend Friday nights for their Liberation Dance Party. It's the electro-dance music night. The DJ is usually pretty good. I heard everything from MGMT and Justice to Calvin Harris.
Drinks aren't all that bad either (by DC standards). I paid $22 for three beers and two mixed drinks.
Only downside is the $6 cover. I spend enough of my money on drinks as is, I shouldn't have to pay to get in.
Would definitely check out the Liberation Dance Parties on Friday nights. Super cheap cover, hour long open bar on rail drinks and usually a great band is playing the same night.
I caught the lovely Phenomenal Handclap Band last night and it was nearly perfect. The vocals were muddied thanks to the wave of instruments playing, but it doesn't really matter when you're watching an entertaining band that close.
Intimate. Totally worth it.
Liberation Dance Party on Friday nights = $6 cover AND THEN open bar on well drinks (rail drinks, if you're from DC) from 9-10:30. Fabulous! I had a great time here, but it was largely due to the crowd I was with... So I'm guesstimating that had I been with a less awesome crew, 3 stars would be accurate. Mostly because I don't think I recognized one song the whole time I was there...luckily the open bar makes that okay.
Other comments: It feels like I'm in Gotham City and DC9 is the Bat Cave.... not that there's anything wrong with that. I'm just saying....
PS- watch your step or you might fall through the floorboards.
What a cool venue to check out an up and coming indie-band. I was lucky enough to catch my new favorite band here the other night, and while they have no difficulty filling bigger venues, DC9 was incredibly close and intimate. So intimate in fact the lead singer called me out on knowing all the words to their trademark song!
Aside from being a small venue, with very reasonable ticket prices, their beer selection is phenomenal. Not only do they have Magic Hat 9 (a +3 stars in my book) but they ALSO have Bells Oberon! Granted the upstairs (where the shows are held) was out of Bells, and I had to go downstairs to procure one, but there was no hassle in bringing it back up to watch the show.
Something to keep in mind-- the owner of Cap Lounge and many of the bars on H Street owns this place as well. Also, I wouldn't recommend parking too far from the actual venue.
Similar to Matt C below- I also went twice for Kids party. Make sure you have cash for cover before you walk in- unless you want to spend an hour waiting for the ATM machine. I guess the downstairs doubles as an antique shop? (you can hear the ATM dial up modem on each transaction). Didnt make it early enough for the free OE but got here early enough to snag a nice spot on the wall near the video screen. Gave me anice panoramic view of the dance floor and bar. The DJ stayed true to 90's hip-hop most of the time; although he did stray a little. DC9 knows how to get down. Not much competition for a late 20's white boy- and if you can hang on to your heineken; you can have your choice of broads to grind on. Plenty of wool for the amount of straight dudes in there. I have yet to try any of the other nights and i will probably just stick to KIDS party. The only thing that sucks is trying to catch a ride back to Bethesds. No cabbies want to take u north bc there is no one looking for a ride back to dc from bethesda. You might be able to catch a free ride if you can do the "stanky leg" under pressure from a car full of caramel honeys....
- Casper, ...... OUT!!!
the bartender was just such a bitch when i went in last night.... just had to put that out there. oh also, the veggie burgers are amazing and they have happy hour til 8! great place to go before a show at the 930.
DC9 is pretty cool. It is almost a hipster establishment, kind of like Rock & Roll Hotel but not as… Read more »
We randomly went here for beers and food because Nellie's was swamped with trivia night players and we were looking forward to the mini burgers. DC9 definitely does not have mini-burgers.
DC9 does have amazingly delicious normal sized burgers with addictive hand-cut garlic fries. They also have some good happy hour deals (Blue Moon was $3 because it was the beer of the week). And they have super cool light fixtures!
I didn't get to listen to any music (we got there too early and had other plans), but I'm looking forward to going back soon for that.
Downsides: They don't have anything on tap and the service wasn't particularly helpful or friendly. Perhaps that's part of the charm.
Seen a couple shows here, had a few drinks here. Nice place to go for beers or to see a show. Relaxed feel. Don't come expecting hand and foot service, but just relax and have a good time with the people and the bar staff.
Great neighborhood bar. They have Taint every so often, which is one of the best if not the best dance parties in town b/c of its music.
Neighborhood: Columbia Heights
Category: Dance Clubs
Neighborhood: U Street Corridor
Category: Dance Clubs
Washington, DC
Category: Gay Bars
Washington, DC
Category: Music Venues
Washington, DC
Category: Music Venues
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