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Top Cat's
2820 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH

Top Cat's is a nice, small club and bar, a great place to just hang out for a few drinks.  The neighborhood is small, and similar to that of the area around the 9:30 club.  Inside the club is dim, with tables, chairs, and a bar all facing the stage in the corner.  It has a really nice outside area, also appropriately furnished, with little decorative lights around the perimeter.  Small as it is, there is plenty of seating room, as well as adequate standing room for those adoring fans.  Crowd surfing and moshing do not seem to need mentioning at the door, since the club is so small, any rough activity would quickly die out, due to lack of room.  The number of tables and chairs would make it much too crowded to really get any good action from the crowd.  Unfortunately, a website for this club was not found.
Nice crowd, nice club...  a nice place to hang out.

Posted by Addie Heflin

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The 9:30 Club
815 V St, NW, Washington, D.C.
http://www.930.com

The 9:30 Club is definitely a place to rock out.  Once you walk into the club, you take a left through the double doors, into the main area.  There is a lot of space for you to rock out and mosh, crowd surf, stage dive, whathaveyou.  The merch area is on your left, t-shirts and hoodies and other great stuff to buy hanging from the walls, illuminated by lights, convenient for getting your cash out quick and having a good look at what is available to buy.  On your right is a bar, running down most of the length of the wall.  Another bar runs parallel on the opposite wall; both are cash-only.  The stage is in front of you, awe-inspiring and magnificent.  Maybe a little exaggeration, but not too much.  The stage lights in the 9:30 Club during shows are fantastic, nothing ever short of great.  Between the stage and the left-side bar, is a little food-window.  There are a bunch of options to choose from... if you don't eat meat.  For you carnivores out there, there are a few deli-style sandwiches available, but nothing to boast about.  Take a quick turn-around, and there is a little chill-spot, complete with black lights, tables, and a booth running the perimeter of the three-walled room.  This area is sometimes used as a secondary merch area, which is bigger than the usual merch booth, and also used as a sponser-type area.  PETA often has a little table set up there, a mailing list and a friendly face waiting to guide you to the wonderful world of... Vegetarianism... yeah... whatever floats your boat.
Walk down a little hallway, the restrooms are on your right, and once you pass those, there is a little stairway, called the "back bar".  This is a good place for parents to hide out, while their kids go crazy in the mosh pits.  The ATM is right near the foot of the stairs, and little tables and chairs and booths are all lined up in nice little rows.  Another bar downstairs, with a TV, and a little less noise than upstairs.  Once you've had time to relax downstairs for a while, go back upstairs, take a right - no, don't leave!  Instead of going out the doors, take another right and go up another set of stairs!  There is the balcony, running along the three sides facing the stage, perfect for the concert-elite.  This is probably the best place for all of you purse-carrying, skirt-wearing, flip-flop-freaks to hang out.  The most action that goes on up there is a wave or two, a little jumping occasionally, but mostly head-bopping.  Go up another set of stairs, and there is a fourth bar, tables and chairs.  Now this is for the upper-class, "We're here to have a nice drink and watch the show from afar".  Nothing wrong with that.  Now you have seen the 9:30 Club in all of it's glory.  A great place to mosh, but be forewarned:  on sold-out nights, there is nowhere to hide.  People are crawling EVERYWHERE!  An overall great place to hang out and have a good time.

Posted by Addie Heflin

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Black Cat
1811 14th St. NW, Washington D.C.
http://www.blackcatdc.com

The Black Cat is an awesome lounge/bar.  The Red Room has the most squishy couches ever, an Elvis pinball machine, a pool table, Ms. Pacman...  It's great.  There is a little food-cafe where you can hang out while getting a little something to snack on, if you so choose.  However, the cafe has different hours than the Black Cat itself, you might want to check that out before leaving for the night.  Up a flight of stairs is the stage, and another bar, and some tables and chairs for those who wish to remain seated.  The stage is shorter than that of the 9:30 Club, but the Black cat does not allow stage-diving or crowd surfing.  The Black Cat is in a nicer part of town, so a little sign on the door asks that the patrons please keep the noise down, as well as asking customers not to urinate in public...  It's a great intimate little club, perfect for mingling with the artists performing there.  Not only is it a great place on show days, but even when you don't want to see the show, the lounge and bar area is a great place to just chill with a group of friends.

The Scene hasn't visited the Black Cat but once, but we will be sure to give you a more detailed version after future attendance to this location!

Posted by Addie Heflin

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Bottom Line
Top Cat's, 2820 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH
Friday, May 27 2005
Mint 6 Ten
The Interns
The Bottom Line

The Bottom Line plays good music.  And, I found, they are pretty cool guys.  Before the show, they hung around outside with the people in line and talked with them for a while, went out to get food or something, came back and got ready for the show.  When the doors opened, there wasn't much of a line...  More like a peaceful mob, crowding politely to get inside.  Top Cat's is a pretty cool place, with a downstairs area (21+).  While we were all waiting for the show to start, the bands sat around and chatted with the patrons.  The first band, Mint 6 Ten, was pretty good - very enthusiastic!  The guys from the Bottom Line were all chillin outside, and one of the guys from M6Ten poked his head out of the door, and yelled at everyone to get inside and watch the show!  They played fun music, that wasn't too bad to listen to.  Not really worth making a fuss about, but they were alright.
The second band was so good, that I actually went up and talked to some of the guys for a bit.  The Interns are really fantastic.  One of their influences...  is the Gin Blossoms!  You can really tell by their music...  (although, I am biased...  I love the Gin Blossoms!).  Anyways; their crowd potential is way up there; if they played at the 9:30 club, they would definitely get more than a few heads bobbing.  They were friendly guys, not too talkative as to waste a lot of time blabbering on and on about their merch.  The Bottom Line was very friendly, and they played like professionals.  The bassist controlled the stage, jumping and running all over it; the other guys had awesome stage presence as well, but the bassist really caught your eye.  Unfortunately, I had to leave their set early in order to drive the eight hours home, so I can only assume the rest of their set was as incredible.

Concert Guidelines:  did not apply, although...
-too many sluts/groupie whores
-MORE purses from the 70's!!!
-too much skin being exposed for such a chhilly night...

Posted by Addie Heflin

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Butch Walker
Black Cat, 1811 14th St, NW, Washington, D.C.
Monday, May 9 2005
The Fags
Low Millions
Butch Walker

Wow.  If you have ever seen Butch Walker live, then you probably know what I'm talking about.
Wow.
But we'll start from the beginning.  Having never been to the Black Cat before, let it be known that it is a really cool place.  Several bars, couches, tables, chairs, a special cafe/food area, pool table... the works.  The Fags came on around 8:45, three middle aged guys wearing nice shirts, the lead singer in a suit jacket, the bassist in a tie, and the drummer in a vest.  They were fantastic.  Similar to 80's and 90's rock with a modern twist, it's great music with an older appeal.  Butch Walker came in and made a 'special appearance' for one song, which the crowd loved.  Low Millions came on next, only playing three songs.  The bassist seemed to be having trouble with his amp, but the band had wonderful charisma.  The lead singer did the moonwalk, while the band played a piece from Michael Jackson - perfect impersonation!  Musical improv also took it's place, and they all played together very well.  About... oh, maybe half an hour after Low Millions finished and packed up, Butch Walker and his band took the stage, to the delight of the crowd.  By that time, the floor was packed.  Butch Walker was incredible, as usual.  He sang his songs with such emotion and ridiculous power, that right from the start, you were tapping your foot or bobbing your head.  The Black Cat is not one for moshing and crowd surfing, but for a calmer crowd, everyone was moving to the music.  Butch could not be out-done in the Improv area, and showed his 'mad skillz' throughout the show, even playing a song he couldn't quite remember all of the words to.  Butch Walker and his band said their thanks, and left the stage.  The crowd remained, cheering, screaming, clapping, for at least ten minutes.  Eventually, the drummer came out, and started encouraging the crowd, and soon enough, the rest of the band, including Butch, came out to play.  Some Marvelous 3 songs were played - amazing.  A few piano tunes, with the crowd singing along; Butch on acoustic guitar unplugged, walking around the floor, hopping ontop of a bar, breaking a few strings...  Definitely comparable to any show you think was incredible.

If you haven't seen Butch Walker live...
You haven't seen the best.

Concert Guidelines:  did not apply
- The Black Cat is a lounge/bar, thereforee, normal concert guidelines do not apply for this location.

Posted by Punk-Rock Pete!

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All-American Rejects
9:30 Club, 815 V St, NW, Washington, D.C.
Wednesday, May 4 2005
Hellogoodbye
Armor For Sleep
All-American Rejects

Well, due to circumstances beyond our control, the first band will not be in this review, due to a college exam getting in the way.  However, Hellogoodbye has a really good EP out - they are described as "surf rock" and similar to "80's synth".  They're really good.  Buy their stuff.  Anyways, Armor For Sleep was pretty good, the crowd was pretty loud for them.  Average.  AAR was up next, and they played very well.  The drummer didn't do anything fancy, but he played perfectly.  Better to play what you know well, than to play something fancy and sound bad.  AAR tried their best to get the crowd all riled up and rowdy, but to no avail.  AAR was excellent, but the crowd wasn't responding very well.  People were jumping, but only up and down.  No pushing, no moshing, just up and down.  Just a bit on the lame side.  Girls were screaming their throats out (literally) before the band came on, but when they started playing, the screaming pretty much stopped.  The lead singer would yell at the crowd to get them to yell back, but it wouldn't last long.  The poor band would chastise the crowd before and after every song, and yet the crowd still decided to lead the quiet life tonight.  This was an pretty good show, but the crowd knocked it way down.  DC needs to wake up.

Concert Guidelines Followed? 
    - There were some flip flops, but nothing too bad.
    - Major problems with wearing band shirts and merch...
    -  If there is another gold purse that time-warps back from the 80's... DON'T BRING IT INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE CROWD!
       This is the one this that probably bugs me the most out of crowds...  Why are you bringing your purse... into a crowd?
       Well, I suppose that only applies when the crowd is actually doing something...
    - A belt is to hold up your pants.  Exceptions can be made when wearing a belt loosely, dangled over your hips, if it's a novelty belt.
       But why would anyone ever wear two belts?!

Posted by Addie Heflin

Fueled By Ramen Tour/Fall Out Boy
9:30 Club, 815 V St, NW, Washington, D.C.
Friday, April 29 2005
The Academy Is...
Gym Class Heroes
Silverstein
Fall Out Boy

The Alternative Press Presents...  underOATH
9:30 Club, 815 V St, NW, Washington, D.C.
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Fear Before the March of Flames
These Arms Are Snakes
Chariot
underOATH

The doors opened at 7:30, by 8:15 the club was packed.  Fear Before the March of Flames was the first to take the stage, and they weren't half bad.  Their stage presence was admirable - they ran across that stage as if they owned it.  The lighting, which is usually pretty good at the 9:30 Club, was outstanding.  The strobe lights , the flashing, the colors...  Truely amazing.  The guitar sounded excellent.  The bass sounded really good as well.  The drums were...  chaotic (which was probably the desired effect.).  However, when they all played together, it sounded a little jumbled up; a little messy.  But rarely does an opening act get the crowd so fired up...  Bravo.  These Arms Are Snakes was second in line, keeping the trend of the incredibly high-energy.  The lights were not as flashy and amazing, but they made up for it with a soft red light during most of their set, that gave their music a nice, moody kind of feel.  Their music, by the way...  On occasion, they may even be compared to some great Metallica material (not the bad stuff, but the good Metallica), that is how awesome they were.  Chariot called upon many fans to attend this show, and they were not going to disappoint!  When Chariot took the stage, all hell broke loose as crowd-surfers went flying off of the stage, and the mosh pits broke out.  Only after Chariot began, were there people being kicked out of the club - one dragged by his neck wrestling-style, and another kicking and screaming.  Chariot played some great thrash music, even for not-so-big thrash fans.  They chatted a little bit on stage, a pretty friendly bunch.  Then underOATH...  Yes, then underOATH...  You have not seen thrash music until you have seen underOATH.  It was like the soundtrack to the apocolypse that was happening today.  They had great lighting, like the first band, great music like the second, and more crowd insanity than the third.  They knew exactly how to keep an audience moving, and entertained at the same time.  Suspense - some artists can do this, and some cannot.  When underOATH paused...  it was silent, for only a moment...  And then the thrashing began with more force than before!  If you have ever seen Goldfinger or Butch Walker, take the crowd from a Goldfinger show, and the stage from a Butch Walker show, and throw in some thrash...  And that is underOATH.

Concert Guidelines followed?  

Posted By Addie Heflin

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