By Claire Leibowitz
With the semester coming to a close, now is the perfect time to wrap-up your spring bucket list by breaking out of traditional GW nightlife and taking your friend group somewhere new.
One easy and fun way to start or end the evening is with a more intimate concert. The District is full of venues that offer a wide array of events extending beyond the Foggy Bubble.
Ticket prices can range, but some venues offer shows for as low as $12. Even if you aren’t familiar with a particular artist, small concerts are a great way to explore new music or to get a good vibe going for the rest of your evening.
Spring is the season of “do(ing) it for the plot,” as people online have said, so going to a random concert in an unfamiliar part of D.C. might be the perfect way for you to switch things up, even if you don’t know every song.
In the spirit of trying something new, here’s a list of small concert venues to explore with your friends before the school year ends.
Pie Shop
Pie Shop, whose motto is “Fresh Pie, Live Music,” is located in the H Street Corridor in northeastern D.C. The first floor of the venue serves as a pie shop with wooden tables and unique treats. Looking for something sweet? Try their Chocolate Peanut Butter Chess, Pancake Batter, or French Toast pies. Looking for something savory? They also offer Ratatouille, Mumbo Potato, and BBQ Pulled Pork flavors.
On the second floor, up a narrow flight of stairs, the venue opens up to a dance floor and bar. With a small stage towards the front of the room and roof access in the back, the setup creates an intimate environment for listening to live music. Pie Shop tends to feature smaller artists and boasts an eclectic vibe. The crowd, featuring a wide range of ages, can gather around the stage and enjoy the entertainment for as little as $12. Check out more here.
Comet Ping Pong
Operating since 2006, Comet Ping Pong specializes in pizza and music. Located in Chevy Chase, near American University, their menu offers traditional American food including delicious salads, pizzas, and desserts.
The restaurant also functions as a concert venue. For around $15 a ticket, guests can check out a variety of artists with diverse sounds. One show at Pie Shop was even rescheduled to Comet Ping Pong, highlighting the similar audiences and artists that these two venues cater towards. Overall, the facility has many shows between now and the end of the semester, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to check the place out. Before or after the show, make sure you explore the area surrounding AU for other fun activities as well.
Black Cat
The Mainstage at Black Cat is a 7,000 square-foot space that offers professional sound, according to their website. Black Cat specifically caters to rock fans, so if that’s your speed, this is a great place to discover new artists.
They host monthly DJ events, feature touring artists, spotlight local bands, and even host artists from all across the country. With ticket prices around $20, you won’t want to miss their upcoming shows, which you can find here. Black Cat is located on 14th Street near Shaw and Logan Circle, so there’s also plenty to do in the surrounding area before or after the concert.
Songbyrd Music House
This venue is the winner of Washington’s “Finest Music House” award in 2016, “Best Place for Dinner and Live Music” award from 2017-2020, “Best New Location” award in 2021, and “Best Place to Experience Local Music” award from 2018-2020. In addition to its incredible reputation, Songbyrd features an array of different music genres and events, from DJ and jukebox nights to local live music.
The space can hold up to 200 people, creating a semi-intimate setting compared to larger venues. Songbyrd made its debut in Adams Morgan, but recently moved to the Union Market area in 2021. They have an associated record store called Byrdland Records, also near Union Market. While some shows are free, most cost around $15 to attend. To visit Songbyrd or learn more, you can view their website here.
Pearl Street Warehouse
This music warehouse features rock, country, folk, soul, bluegrass, rhythm, and blues artists from all around the country, according to their website. They claim that attendees of shows will never be more than 25 feet away from the artist, fostering a unique and intimate environment.
Pearl Street Warehouse is located by the southwest Waterfront, otherwise known as the Wharf, so there are lots of activities to explore around the venue. Upcoming shows, some of which are free while others cost between $10-25, can be found here. They also offer bar food and drinks for you to enjoy at the Warehouse.
If you’re looking for a unique way to take a break during this final stretch of school and check out some new music, these venues are a great place to start! It’s easy to get stuck in Foggy Bottom, so make an effort to go out of your way and discover the city through a musical lens. With plenty of local bands hitting up these venues, GW students with all types of musical interests can use this as an opportunity to round out their D.C. experience and capture a new essence of the city.
