"Astropop" - LOURDS

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky

Live Original Music

Alchemize

We'll see.  They just moved.  I hope it doesn't suck.

Annie's

Really friggin' huge.  Known as a metal haven, but it's not always true.  Transfusion Productions has most Fridays set aside for original music.  They do a lot of nationals and to be honest, you are going to get a lot of heavy music there.  Has a great outdoor stage area though.  I saw George Thorogood there once.

Bogart's

Where are the nationals go on the more underground side.  Not stadium size, so it's a bit more intimate.  Still a huge venue though.  There are 3 places you can stand to get decent sound though.  One of the worst sound systems in the city surprisingly.  A wee bit too congested for me.  I've seen Coheed & Cambria and Clutch there along with a few locals.  Like the website says though, if you don't know how to get a show there, don't even bother trying.

The Comet

A lot of people like this place.  I for one, hate to go down there.  It's not that it's not a good bar with good music, it just gives me the heebee jeebeez for some reason.  It's always congested, hot and smokey.  The "stage" is on the same level as everyone else and the ergonomics of the room is just upsetting to someone with as many problems as I have.  Free cover though and they put together good shows.  From what I understand they have killer burritos as well.

Cooper's on Main

Well, Cooper's is pretty cool although not always for live music.  Shame really, it would be a great original music bar.  Great stage and nice size room.  They still do some original shows, but gave in to the hippie cover bands a while back and do more of that.  On Sunday night though, they have the best karaoke ever.  It's one of the few bars left on Main Street that isn't full of hoochy.  Very relaxed atmosphere and fantastically friendly staff.

The Holy Grail Down Under

The underdog of all the clubs if you ask me.  It's a decent size room with plenty of space.  The ceilings are too low and made of metal which makes the sound hit or miss, usually depending on the person.  They've done some upgrading to the lights and sound system though.  Outrageous Productions has a show there once a month on the 2nd Saturday of every month.  The bar and staff are very nice and you can get there early before a show for a yummy dinner upstairs.  Get some Saratoga chips.

The Mad Frog

Another underdog on it's way back up.  All the Clifton clubs have a hard time because of parking and car break ins and the like.  It's not so bad though.  Everyone just needs to quit being a wimp.  One story circulated around a while back about how badly they treat the bands, but it's not true at all.  They are just as fair as anywhere else and you're going to get the best sound in town!  You know, one story starts and all the old, bitchy people get involved.  Just ignore them.  This is a great club to play

The Mad Hatter

Almost too big if you ask me.  Really nice club, but when I walk in I think there should be tables with tablecloths and candles and jazz or blues playing.  It's decorated really strangely.  Pool and video games though, never congested and set up rather interestingly.  You can almost seperate the huge room into sections.  Sounds pretty poor though.  Great room for nationals, but they mostly stick to originals.

The Madison Theatre

I don't even know what to say about this club right now.  It's open, it's not open, it's open, it's not open.  Huge, national size room with decent sound when it gets going right.  Nice bar and all just tough to fill.  I'm not even quite sure what they're up to right now.  I guess it's a secret.

Northside Tavern

Another free cover bar.  I like that they do that, but they only seem to do one thing and seperate themselves from the rest of the world.  It's not a bad place to watch shows, but you get  little smooched in.  Business is doing great though if you like the same old thing and the same old crowd.  Not doggin' it, but variety is the spice of life if you ask me.

Poison Room

Probably the best job of running an original music club that Cincinnati has seen in a few years.  Tony and Ryan (the owners) are open to just about anything and trying it once.  They like to run specials, put together theme shows and make it happen for original music.

Rohs Street Cafe

Quiet, intimate coffee shop ran by University Christian Church.  No, you're not going to walk in there and get preached to though.  They're open to all music, but want you to keep it clean.  No smoking joint if you like that sort of thing.  It's best for more singer/songwriter and acoustic performances.  No alcohol, but great Italian sodas.

Southgate House

Everybody's favorite bar.  Potential for 3 stages and everyone loves the ballroom.  While the ballroom is beutiful and boasts the best sound system in town, you almost have to be part of a certain group to be involved and run your show the way it needs to be run.  Everyone loves to play it, but it's hard to fill as well.  Beautiful room for pictures, but bad lighting to do it in.  They do quite a few national shows as well.  Chicks Rockfest was run there for 3 years.

Top Cats

Great room, great bar, decent staff most days.  Bathrooms are all the way upstairs though, so be careful how many you drink.  Great, elevated stage and a wonderful, outdoor patio.  It can get really hot though because they have to keep the doors shut inside because of the bitchy neighbors.  The patio is so large and fun that you risk your crowd all running out there to get some air.

Just hangin' out and drinkin'

Latitudes

Newer bar in Anderson.  A little swank with a bunch or really stinky cover solo David Matthew wannabe's, but they have a stellar cocktail called the Latitude Adjuster (I think).  Nice little porch outside to keep you away from all the covers.

Madonna's

Cool little bar with some pool.  Rumor has it that a few famous people have been known to hang out there, but I've never seen them.  Bartender's are very cool and it's not pretentious in the least bit.

McFadden's

If you're a complete choad, you'll love hanging out here, but you'll never work here.  The coolest staff ever with the best food on the planet, but the clientele is a bunch of suit-wearin' choads.  I just try to hang out at the end of the bar with my face buried in my computer and not look at people.

O''Malley's in the Alley

Only been here once, but mostly because it is off the beaten path.  It's literally in an alley in downtown Cincinnati.  The one time I was there though, I adored their hole in the wall atmosphere.

Play by Play Cafe

Run by Satan and Satan's chump.  This place is the most wasted piece of revenue I've ever seen.  One owner is an ass and the other does whatever he says.  The good news is that they'll hire you with no bartending experience whatsoever if you will put out.

Plum Street Cafe

Great place to go drink when the bands at the Poison Room suck and you're just waiting for the next band to come on.  Mick is a great bartender and it's generally fairly quiet in atmosphere.

The Pub

Great when the weather is nice.  A little hoity toity, but has a beautiful patio.  If it wasn't in the parkin glot of a strip mall, it would remind me of places in Europe to hang out and drink at.  Good food though, not over-roced and the staff has always been cool.

Rockin' Robin's

Used to be my favorite place to hang out that wasn't a rock bar.  The bartender's were flawless, truth be told.  Now, there are a lot of flaws if you ask me except on Sunday where you can go see Hal and ask for a Jerry Juice.

Uncle Woody's

Used to be another Sunday night hangout until they fired one of the best bartender's in town.  I don't go there anymore out of principle, but it's an okay place to hang otu when it's not after a UC game or on a weekend night.  They also serve Barrelhouse Honeysuckle Blonde.

When in Rome

Blackstone Brewery - Nashville, TN - Restaurant/Bar

Just get the beer sampler, then get hte beer sampler withthe beers you want.  It's awesome.  My favorite is the Nut Brown Ale

Buffalo Billiards - Nashville, TN - Hangin' and drinkin'

Great prices, great staff, right on the 2nd Ave. strip there, plenty of pool and foozball

Casa Nueva & Cantina - Athens, OH - Live Music

Haven't been there in a while, but they put together some good bills if you can actualyl get on one.

Fat Tuesday - Key West, FL (although I'm fairly certain you can get the same drinks at all of them)

I don't care how girly it is.

Iron Cactus - Austin, TX - Restaurant/Bar

Trust me, just get the Cactus Juice Margarita

The Island Tiki Bar - Marathon, FL - Restaurant/Bar

I seriously cry that I may never have the opportunity to go back to this place.  It's right on teh coast in teh Keys adnd has the best honey-stung fried chicken.  I'm fairly convinced, I couldn't put anything in my mouth thtere that wouldn't make me happy.  I'd eat it off the ground with no utensil but my tongue.

Lion's Den - New York City, NY - Live Music

I hear they mostly cater to jam bands, but when we did our rock show there, it was a great place for rock.  The staff is very friendly and accomodating.  Drink prices are typical for the Village, but not outrageous.

Momo's - Austin, TX - Live Music

Hands down probably my favorite bar setup of all times.  Granted I'm biased with Austin being my favorite place to go in the US.

Oldfield's on High - Columbus, OH - Live Music

Great people, great bar, great prices, great bands, etc.

Ravari Room - Columbus, OH - Live Music

Attached to Houndogs's Pizza, makes for a great built in crowd.  The club only seems to work with a lot of the sam e

Sweetwater Bar & Grill - Duluth, GA - Live Music

Last time I was there, this place had it goin' on for Friday nights and local music.  The staff was wonderful as well.