9:30 Club

Consistantly rated one of the best club venues in the country, the 9:30 Club has certainly kept me coming back. The sound is always excellent, the sight-lines are second-to-none, the staff is friendly and there's always good music being played over the PA between acts. The only (small) negatives are that sold-out shows tend to seem incredibly over-sold (so get there early and plan on staying in the same place), and the drinks are rather expensive. However, these are only minor inconveniences compared to seeing your favorite acts play here.

Easily accessible from the Metro. Green line ~ U street exit. Make a U-turn after you get off the escalators and walk two blocks straight and it's right there. The bottom is an open floor with two bars on either side, the stage in the front, and the merchandise section in the rear. During the winter there is a coat check so feel free to dress for the weather. :) The second floor has an additional bar and a narrow viewing area overlooking the main floor on three sides. By narrow I mean three to five people deep. Some performers I've seen actually climb on the equipment and scale the wall and hang from the railing around the rim of the top floor, so don't worry if you aren't immediately infront of the stage. You might get a surprise visit! There is a small area in the back, next the the bathrooms, on the ground floor where they have some seats, but you can't see the stage from there and during the winter that's where the coats are put. On the top floor there is the railing, space for one or two people (deep) then a step up and the rest of the floor. Between sets that step can act as a seat, and it usually does for many people. Of course, drinks are going to be expensive in DC. This is not a 21 and up club, but I imagine some bands might be age appropriate. You'll have to check the site/ticket sales for that info. It's not the most intimate of settings to check out your favorite bands, but it is a good venue.

815 V St. NW

the best venue to see a show in DC.