D.C. - always considered the capital of politics and international relations - also has a surprisingly thriving music scene. The District offers a multitude of smaller nightclubs and stadium-sized amphitheaters. Here is a selection of some of the best places to see live music.
Nightclub 9:30 815 V St. NW U Street Metro www.930.com
Located in a rather shady corner of U Street, the 9:30 club is one of D.C.'s top music venues. 9:30 features a wide selection of popular bands from D12 to Aimee Mann to Phantom Planet. The club - which offers standing room only - has a balcony, several bars and moderately clean bathrooms. Tickets usually range from $10-25.
Black Cat 1811 14th St. NW U Street Metro www.blackcatdc.com
The Black Cat - featuring the best of indie, underground and local music - is the place to be for all D.C. hipsters. The club has a mainstage upstairs with a black-and-white checkered floor, a hip downstairs bar and lounge, and a backstage that frequently offers Brit-pop dance nights. Tickets usually range from $6-20.
DC9 1940 9th St. NW U Street Metro www.dcnine.com
DC9, a 21-and-over venue, is D.C.'s newest live music club. The club features primarily local bands in its hip and very, very red upstairs bar. Tickets usually range from $5-7.
Blue's Alley 1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW Metro bus (even 30s) from Tenleytown to M St. and Wisconsin www.bluesalley.com
This club, which features jazz and blues, is a perennial Georgetown favorite. Famous musicians including Dizzie Gillespie and Grover Washington Jr. have played here. A minimum purchase from Blues Alley's New Orleans and creole-influenced menu is required. That, coupled with fairly expensive ticket prices, makes Blues Alley an expensive evening out, but the food and music make every penny worth it.
Wolf Trap 1645 Trap Road Vienna, Va. www.wolf-trap.com
Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts is a large, outdoor venue that offers a summer lineup of concerts, plays, operas and symphony recitals. Concerts range from Lyle Lovett to the B-52's to Cyndi Lauper. Tickets for concerts usually cost $25-35 for the lawn and $35-55 for seats. Other venues with mixed genres include Iota (www.iotaclubandcafe.com) and the State Theater (www.thestatetheater.com), both Metro accessible.
Nissan Pavilion 7800 Cellar Door Dr. Bristow, Va. www.nissanpavilion.com
Located annoyingly far away in the flat, empty stretches of Virginia, the Nissan Pavilion brings every major pop and rock star to the D.C. area throughout the summer. Bands like No Doubt, the Dave Matthews Band and Blink 182 and pop stars like Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson grace the outdoor amphitheater. Tickets cost upwards for $60 for the pit, $40-50 for seats and $30-40 for the uncovered lawn. For big names closer to home check out the Metro-accessible MCI Center at www.mcicenter.com.
But if you have a car you may also be interested in visiting these venues: Birchmere Music Hall www.birchmere.com Merriweather Post Pavilion www.merriweathermusic.com Jaxx Nightclub www.jaxxroxx.com Recher Theatre www.rechertheatre.com Jammin' Java www.jamminjava.com
