What's your dream music club?

It’s a pretty simple question: what’s your dream music club? Are you all about live bands, or do you prefer a DJ spinning tracks? Or honestly, does it even matter where you and your crew end up hanging out?
Do you dig a seamless mix, or do you want to hear songs played one by one?

I’ve hit plenty of clubs in Washington, D.C. (the ones that play alternative stuff😁), and I’ve checked out spots back in my hometown too. Personally, I’ll take the D.C. scene any day. Even when the music was questionable, they actually tried to throw in some musical surprises instead of just blasting the same old hits over and over. Back home? Total disaster. It’s just the same repetitive garbage on loop.

For me, the perfect club would spin indie/alternative tracks and run from 6 PM until midnight—extending to 2 AM during the summer. They'd be open Fridays and Saturdays. On Fridays, we're talking retro vibes from various decades, and on Saturdays, everything current from 2001 to now. No repeats allowed. That’s basically the gist (okay, maybe that’s asking too much, but still🤷)

So, you can look at this two ways: either talk about where you actually have the best time without turning it into a bunch of club advertisements, or just use your imagination to design your own ultimate venue. I don't see anything wrong with letting our imagination run wild when discussing music, right?🤷

The dream venue?

Well, here's the deal...

Obviously, it’s gotta be open on weekends and have live gigs. Ideally, they’re playing that real, gritty classic rock, though some original stuff wouldn't hurt either. To be clear, it doesn't *have* to be old school, but that's definitely my vibe.
As for the hours... look, if they start around 10 PM and keep the music going until maybe 3 in the morning, I'm happy.

And one last thing—which is actually a huge deal—they need to serve half-liter bottled beers at a promo price. 😬
That's it. I don't need anything else.

Picture this: some tiny, tucked-away side street right in the heart of downtown, totally pedestrian-only. The entrance would have these gorgeous, rustic wooden doors, maybe sitting a little higher than the sidewalk so you’ve gotta climb a couple of steps to get in. The layout is pretty tight—more of a long, narrow vibe, maybe something like 20 by 12 feet. The doors would be dead center on the short side, and the bar would take up the opposite wall, so the second you walk in, you're staring straight at the bartender.
Along those long walls, it’d basically just be standing room only at the bar, maybe a few stools if we're feeling fancy. I want that real bar-stool camaraderie, you know? And obviously, I’d be the one behind the wood, spinning tunes while old-school rock legends and icons cover the walls in frames. Might even hang a couple of guitars up there too.
We’re talking top-shelf booze at prices that won't kill you, and the kind of coffee that actually wakes your soul up, like a real high-end roast.🙂
There'd be a narrow hallway next to the bar leading to the back, where the restroom, storage, and a tiny little lightwell are tucked away.😍
Everything would be strictly rustic country style.
And man, it would be freaking soundproofed to hell.

Basically, the playlist would be hitting something like this:

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
19
110

and so on, and so forth... 😬(just how I'd torture you guys with my music taste)🙂



Oh, and the place would be called Drake

How could you possibly leave out Tom Waits?
Everything else seems to be spot on.

boldowl4 said:How could you possibly leave out Tom Waits?
Everything else hits the mark.

Not really my vibe, but hey, there's room for him too.
He'd probably grow on me eventually.😁

There he is in Columbus. At the Tempo Coffee Bar. Based on what I'm reading, it's pretty much what Patrick Martin had in mind. There isn't any live music happening right this second, but starting this fall, we'll have Conan O'Brien on guitar and Mike Pence handling vocals for Guns N' Roses. Then there's Adele and Travis Scott from Black Sabbath on guitar, followed by Taylor Swift performing with Conan O'Brien, and so on. And naturally, it’s all being served alongside some Jack Daniel's ;-)

Thanks for all the posts😁

Honestly, I was starting to think my thread wouldn't get a single reply.

👍

Are you getting paid per post or something? 🤣

The Topic:
Back in the day, Spider-Man was easily the absolute best venue in Washington, D.C. for pretty much any kind of vibe... we're talking everything from live shows and local DJs to those late-night indie film screenings... it’s such a damn shame it just sits there gathering dust and looking empty now...

Patrick Martin said:it would mostly be some kind of playlist like this...

I know plenty of people—myself included—who would hit up a bar or club with music like that, yet I honestly can't wrap my head around why those places practically don't exist.

Gregory Rivera30 said:I know plenty of people—myself included—who would absolutely flock to a club or a dive bar playing that kind of music, so I honestly don't get why places like that are so hard to find.

Look, in Washington, D.C., there’s actually a Hard Place in a pretty decent part of town... they even host live shows from some really solid bands, but if you ask me, I haven't seen the place actually packed once...🤷

This is

either

more partying, but you still end up in the exact same spot

Gregory Rivera30 said:I know tons of people—myself included—who would hit up a club or bar playing music like that, and it makes zero sense to me why there aren't more places like it.

Sam Lee2 said:There's a Hard Place in Washington, D.C. right in a pretty sweet spot... they even host live shows from some decent bands, but honestly, I've yet to see the place actually packed...🤷

It’s a bummer, for sure. Either those spots don't exist, or they just aren't "cool" enough. Which, let's face it, isn't surprising given how things are nowadays.

Cool topic, I've always had this vision for my own club 😁

1. Location—somewhere near Los Angeles (I know, mostly industrial zones over there...), maybe off Scranton, a Suburban street, or somewhere along the Coastal route. That would be perfect since you could get there fast from any part of Washington, D.C., or even further out; the highways are right there, I-2, I-3, Bologna, the Suburban expressway...

2. The space—a bit larger, but not like an airplane hangar. Two floors. On the ground floor: right after the entrance (which is free), there’s a cloakroom if anyone wants to leave a jacket or whatever else (also free), then through a small hallway you enter the main area. There's a bar on the left and 3 or 4 booths on the right. In one corner, stairs lead to the second floor (with a hallway to the restrooms underneath), and in the other corners, there are standing tables—not too many, but enough so that (before things really pick up 😁) it doesn't look empty. If there’s live music in the evening, we just move them to make room for a temporary stage, nothing massive. The rest of the downstairs stays open for dancing or just standing around with a beer in hand and listening to the tunes 🙂 Smoking allowed, except in the middle where people dance... let them smoke, but there's no point in doing it while moving. Upstairs, all along the walls, there are seating areas and booths for those who just want to chill. The walls would be colorful—green, red, blue... a mix of everything + murals of rock legends: Jim Morrison (obviously he'd be positioned so everyone sees him 😁), Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Ozzy Osbourne, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, Iggy Pop, plus band posters (Prince, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, U2, The Clash...)

3. Affordable prices. Zack, Indianapolis, and Pan brands ($3.25/0.5l), maybe a few cents more for others, mixed drinks, bamboo cocktails $2.75/0.3l, and spirits at decent rates...
Minors can drink, BUT they aren't allowed inside 😁

4. And most importantly, the music: Mon-Thurs—chillout vibes, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, Bob Marley, Van Morrison, Neil Young, Nick Cave, some old blues players until evening, then it can get a bit louder if the crowd starts getting rowdy 😁
Fridays—maybe a band, if not, then some classic New Wave party
Saturdays—themed parties. 50s, 60s, '70s, '80s, '90s, 2000s 😁 If you dress up to the theme, you get a couple of free drinks or something
Mostly live and lively 😁

Douglas Baker79 said:There it is in Columbus. Caffe bar Tempo. From what I can tell, it's pretty much what Patrick Martin had in mind. There isn't any live music right now, but starting this fall, you'll get Conan O'Brien on guitar and Mike Pence doing vocals for Guns N' Roses, then Adele and Travis Scott from Black Sabbath (on guitar), plus Taylor Swift with Ivanović and stuff like that. And of course, all of it accompanied by some Jack Daniel's ;-)

So, what's happening with the Ball right now?
It used to be like that there once. At least back when I still had enough energy to make the trek out there for the music. So, like, maybe 7 or 8 years ago... ☕

So, here’s my vision for the perfect club:

1. Location—somewhere right in the heart of downtown or maybe one of those newer parts of Washington, D.C.—actually, closer to my place in 😁 would be even better, but honestly, being near Union Station is fine too, as long as I can actually catch my buses on time, you know? 😁

2. Hours... hmm... maybe something like 9 AM to 3 AM? Or just staying open later depending on the vibe. I feel like that’s pretty much the sweet spot.

3. Atmosphere: I’m talking a bigger space, nicely decorated—I’m a sucker for a retro look. Picture this: walls painted in super vibrant colors, with chairs and bars in a total pop or op-art style (you know, those funky geometric shapes from the 60s). Maybe some pop-art pieces by Andy Warhol on the walls, or even a few by Picasso or Dahlia 🙂... or, if you want to go the opposite route, a monochromatic vibe with black and gray walls covered in op-art prints or wallpaper, still with that geometric furniture, but all in black and white. Man, I really have a thing for interior geometry, don't I? 😁
Smoking should definitely be allowed, provided they have killer ventilation 😁... and oh, having a solid fast-food joint right across the street would be a lifesaver when hunger hits.

4. Music—let's make it themed! A little 80s, some 70s, some 60s, an indie day, a synth-pop day... it’d be best to spread all that out over the weekend since I barely have time to get out during the week anyway. On weekdays, just play some mellow rock or ambient stuff—perfect for grabbing a coffee after a brutal day at work.

5. Prices need to be reasonable, and they gotta have a massive selection. 😳 Like, $5 for a beer, $5 for a bamboo drink, $6 for a rum and coke, $5 for a jack and coke, and maybe toss in a cocktail or two from $6.75 at most... the main thing is they need to have plenty of booze. And yeah, I’d love it if they let you smoke hookah, and where you can put whatever you want in it (including weed 😁).

Or even just looking at the vibe: it could look like the Hard Rock Cafe in Barcelona... honestly, maybe one of the most over-the-top spaces I've ever set eyes on... they definitely went overboard with the decor, but what can I say? I’m a sucker for a killer atmosphere no matter where I turn 😁

redbear12 said:In my estimation, the perfect club would exclusively spin international music and operate from 6 in the eveninguntil midnight, though during those warmer summer months, they ought to stay open until 2 AM.

Send me the key, please. ☕

Patrick Martin said:The playlist would mostly consist of stuff like this, for example.

Now you're talking my language!

The only thing I’d change is throwing in some legendary old-school American icons like The Band, The Doors, Button, Atomic Shelter, Cooperative, Electric Orgasm, Hungry Franz, Cold Beer, Ban on Smoking, and Mother...

Patrick Martin said:Picture this: somewhere tucked away in some tiny, hidden little alleyway right in the heart of downtown—a pedestrian zone, you know? The entrance would have these gorgeous, rustic wooden doors, maybe set up a couple of steps up from the street. The layout is pretty tight, more of a long, narrow vibe—maybe something like 20 by 12 feet. You walk through those central doors and you’re looking straight at the bar on the opposite end.
Along the longer walls, people would just lean up against the counter, maybe a few bar stools if I felt like it. I want that real bartender-and-regular hangout energy. And obviously, I’d be behind the stick spinning tunes while the walls are decked out with posters of old-school rock legends and icons. Maybe throw a couple of guitars hanging up there too.
We're talking high-end spirits but kept at prices that won't break the bank, and the coffee? It’s gotta be incredible—real, heavy-duty, soul-warming coffee. 🙂
Naturally, there'd be a narrow hallway next to the bar leading to the restroom, a storage area, and a tiny little lightwell in the back. 😍
Everything would be strictly rustic country style.
And damn, it would be soundproofed to hell.

Basically, the playlist would be hitting stuff like this:

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
19
110

and so on, and so forth... 😬 (just imagine me torturing you with this music) 🙂



Oh, and the place would be called Drake.

Yeah, now we're talking. 😍

A total punk dive bar—think a gritty, underground spot that eventually gets its permits sorted out through the city 😁 but you still need those little touches to make people actually want to hang out (like a decent coat check and stuff). Let the young artists go wild and paint the whole place based on one cohesive vibe. Have some edgy, wannabe punks working the bar. People can lounge on couches and sofas. There should be some light bites, nothing typical for a club, maybe just cheese and grapes. Music would be all over the place—black metal, drone, hardcore, even MTV pop, just not on the weekends. And yeah, lol