The two story venue and bar Rock N Roll Hotel is a bit out of the way of everything. Metro stops are nowhere near and bus stops aren't much nearer. In addition, there isn’t much going on at night around the place. That being said, it is still a relatively new and unique venue that deserves to be put on your hip DC spots radar. Plus, the place seems to know that they are a bit off the map and offer shuttle rides via Union Station on Fridays and Saturdays.

So last Friday I decided to check the place out with a couple of friends. We opted to head upstairs to the bar instead of checking out the bands and ended up spending our evening dancing to a DJ spinning hip-hop and funk at the bar upstairs. Drinks were relatively well-priced and the place looks and feels like an old western hotel or saloon. The best part about it? It was free to get in.

Two days later, I found myself downstairs at the all-age venue. King Khan and His Shrines from Hot-lanta, Georgia put on an amazing show that made what seemed like a relatively stiff crowd shake down to their strange mix of garage-rock soul with a voodoo spin. Sound system was great and there wasn’t a bad place to stand and D.C. The best part about this night may have been the sudden appearance of DC pseudo-legend and fromer lead-singer of such bands as Nations of Ulysses and The Make-Up, Ian Svenonius. You could probably learn a dance-move or two from this guy. Be careful though, he might steal your date.

This was my first show in the nation’s capital and despite the not-so great local bands that opened up; my two nights at Rock N Roll Hotel this weekend will definitely get the honorable mention to my friends back home on the West Coast.

A long corridor in the back will lead to rooms filled with pinball machines and lounging couches. The floorboards squeak and there is a hint of grime everywhere. White-pant hipsters to kids with face tattoos to cargo-short New Englanders fill the place. It’s an eclectic place with an eclectic mix. Check it out next Tuesday when Los Angeles freaks No Age and Abe Vigoda exhibit their noisy L.A. bliss rock. It will be worth it for sure.