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Recher Theatre
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
10 reviews for Recher Theatre
If B'more venues could walk and talk, Rams Head Live would be the slick-rock-mag Hot Topic-model sister, the Ottobar would be the boho hipster art-school sister, the Sonar/ Talking Head complex would be the tough street-slut tatted-and-pierced sister...and the Recher would be the good-hearted chubby bleached-blonde and teased-hair sister who shops at Wal-Mart (and maybe even works there). Emphasis on the good heart, as the Recher is a nice homey little joint, but you can see where it's mostly going to get the leftover shows that its more popular sisters didn't already snatch up. I don't get there too often because the bands I like usually play one of the other places (especially since Sonar got going great guns) and/or because it's easier to see the DC show of a band than the Recher show, given that I live in the Corridor and work in Georgetown. But if a band I really like happens to get booked at the Recher (or bounced over there by Rams Head when a show doesn't sell well enough for them), it's a fairly decent place to see a show.
The Recher is basically a decaying old movie theater, and when I say "old movie theater" I'm talking about the crap 70s kind with the falling-down acoustical ceiling and cheesy wall coverings, as opposed to the fancy vintage kind full of art deco and rococo cherubim and gorgeous woodwork. The Recher looks like somebody hastily cleared out part of an old department store (leaving the dusty polyester drapes, worn carpeting, metal hanging baskets circa 1971, and a bunch of window dresser's ladders and scaffolds standing around) and installed a stage with lights and a pretty dern good sound system. There are a couple of bars which look like they were whipped up makeshift out of stained plywood but are long and get the job done. Beer selection is OK, booze selection is fairly extensive, and the place supposedly serves food all during shows (and after at the "Rec Room Bar" next door which has a pretty extensive menu) though I haven't happened to eat at a show yet - definitely want to check out all that food though.
The bands booked here seem to mostly be strong regionals (lots of "jam bands") and the occasional "bigger act" that's on its way up or down at the moment. Patrons always seem to be about 1/3 fans of the particular band, including, as others have noted, lots of underage people (which is to be expected at any all-ages show venue); 1/3 Joe State College types guzzling beers in their ball caps, polos, jerseys and khaki shorts (again, expected due to the presence of colleges close by); and 1/3 rural-looking old music heads/ barflies wearing stuff like nylon windbreakers, who seem to hail mostly from surrounding areas of Maryland and Southern PA. The last group can be the most annoying as they tend to do things like walk right in front of you and block the view when you're watching a show, or bump into you while moseying around. It's not that they mean to annoy people so much as they just don't go to that many rock shows and don't get the "etiquette". Once the show gets going, it's pretty easy to ignore these folks or just move to some other part of the room (there's usually room to move) to get away. By the way, at 700 capacity this is not a particularly tiny venue. There are much smaller places around (DC9, anyone?). Also, the Recher seems less likely to be oversold or sardine-packed than its three sister venues in B'more.
The Recher is located in a pretty nice little shopping district with a big mall up the street, a multiplex movie theater a block away, and lots of small shops, bars and restaurants nearby. If you're coming in from a ways away to attend a show then you'll have lots of places to kill time before the performance. It's also a much safer neighborhood than the 'hoods around any of the other B'more clubs.
Even though the Recher isn't spectacularly snazzy and doesn't have the world's brightest rock fans as patrons, I'd still go back to the Recher without too much fuss the next time they offer a band I like. One comment: Recher does not appear to have an ATM inside. The nearest ATM is a block or so up the street, so be aware if you're planning to take some food/ drink/ merch money into a show.
We just came back to the Recher for Lotus' two-night stand this weekend. The space is nice and intimate, but big enough that there's still room to dance. If you're a big fan of whoever's playing, it's not too tough to get up close and personal. Lotus, for example, is amazing band. The crowd freaking LOVED them. And again, there was plenty of room for people to dance in an ecstatic, frenzied way.
The green room/backstage area is pretty nice but low-key, too. Big couches and a TV with an old-school NES system (nice!). There are also two arcade games, a pool table, and tons of portraits of artists who have played at the venue. They had fruit, drinks, coffee, etc., sitting out for the band, which seemed very hospitable.
One thing that seems to surprise me every time is the number of underage kids with black Xs drawn on both hands (no doubt due to the Recher's location). It doesn't seem fair to complain that this makes me feel old, but it does. The younger ones also tend to get really drunk or otherwise effed up, and dealing with the drunk dance floor leaners takes some patience.
I can't tell you too much about the wait at the bar this time, because for these shows I wasn't about to give up my spot in front to get drinks. I remember from last time being served pretty quickly.
Also, this wasn't a problem on night 1, but on night 2 getting into the venue was a MESS. There was no line -- no way to tell will call from re-entry, from coat check. Plus, there was only one dude taking tickets/checking IDs/putting on wristbands. Plus, they also added one guy to pat people down after that -- who asked me if my hat was a purse. That could explain some of the delay...
In my opinion, Lotus could play at a city dump and the place would seem incredible -- which is why my first review gave the Recher 4 stars. However, after thinking some more about the space itself and the serious understaffing...well, let's just say that this place is no 9:30 Club.
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I've been here a few times over the years and always had a good experience. The drinks are well-priced, the bouncers aren't looking to kill people, bathrooms are clean, and the sound system is great. Its a small venue so you can actually see the musicians.
I've heard complaints about the bouncers but really, have you actually talked to an average bouncer? They can barely speak, either from multiple blows to the head and/or because they originate from a very shallow gene pool. They get paid to push little kids around. That's the extent of their skills. Think about that and then, the next time you see one of these knuckle-dragging fools, get out of their way and let them do what they do best: Make complete asses of themselves. You should of seen the bouncers at the old Hammerjacks back in the nineties. wwwwWow, those guys were neanderthals.
Overall, I think Recher is better than Rams Head (the other place to see good shows in Baltimore), partially because the staff is more pleasant.
The Recher's a nice size and I was able to get really close. The bouncers were pretty rude though, pushing people aside and shit. It's a good environment for a concert though, and I had fun. The sound wasn't GREAT, but it was okay, and Escape the Fate rocked pretty damn hard.
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Just went to the new outdoor patio at the Recher. It's a nice outdoor space that has about 30 tables and a long bar. It's a nice change of pace to be outside in the good weather, and they didn't skimp on costs (except the bare concrete floor). Outside modern restroom, no TVs but they do play music. You can eat outside with table service. If you arelooking for a place in Towson to be outside (albeit under a roof), check it out. Service was friendly but as the bar became more crowded the service slowed. Plus there is smoking allowed, so be prepared for that if it bothers you.
Good, local music is always playing at the Recher Theater. Like any live music venue, the Recher has it's fair share of self-absorbed hipsters and angst-ridden high schoolers. The place has a very Towson feel, and the setting is very intimate. They also get a great diversity of music, and tickets are easy to get. I would recommend seeing a show here before any other place in downtown Baltimore.
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I think this is a great place to go see local bands. Everytime I've been there (which is 3) there has always been a great crowd. Maybe it is just because of the band I was there to see. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because it is very smokey in there and there is usually only 1 bartender so service is slow. Otherwise, great!
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I have mixed feelings about this joint. It was tiny, which could be bad or good depending upon the night. It was like $50 for a beer and the service was slooooow. I think it was about $95 for even just a water. The guys at the door were always aholes too as I recall. On the upside, I saw some great bands there and since it's such a tiny venue, I got to see them up close and personal. The location was awesome as well, conveniently located in the center of Towson. Be prepared to encounter tons of little emo kids..
Yeah I agree, I went to a show here last may and thought it was pretty decent. I bought tickets right before the show at the Bar next door. There was a fee of like 5 per ticketon top of the standard 27 dollars, but it turned out to be alright. The Hip and Wintersleep played all night, it was pretty cool, because we came early and ended up meeting Wintersleep, they were nice enough guys, gave us a hooded sweatshirt and another shirt. The theater itself ended up being packed, it was filled inch to inch. 21+ but we were able to buy tickets that day. Small bar inside and an area where you could sell merchandise.
If there's one thing I miss about Towson, it has to be the Recher. I saw some fucking awesome shows here while in college -- including IGGY POP in all his pubic hair glory. Great small venue for all kinds of bands, big and small, and the ticket prices are usually pretty awesome. It's 18+ for the barely legal set (and tickets a bit more expensive if you're not 21+), but be prepared for drunk frat boys of all ages.
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