Fat Cat Music House & Lounge

Bar tender rude and short change me, looked like he was laughing about it, bar was so dirty my arm kept sticking to it. Security giving everyone hard looks. Sound not clear.

Saturday night we went to Fat Cats in downtown Modesto. Interesting experience....

Where do I start? Well to begin with, the tickets said 6:00, not "doors open at 6:00" so several people like ourselves braved the heat to be there early for seating, only to be told that the doors open at 6 with the show to start at 7. We left, hung out down the street, and came back at 6 at which time we were told that the show would begin late as the promoter wasn't there. While we were sitting, a guy came by to tell us that they had food to order. (But no menus were on the tables on in sight on the bar.)  In addition, there was no wait staff taking drink orders from the audience, though we did see one lady taking drinks to what we believed were the comics backstage. If you went to the bar, the bartenders were competent and polite, but don't expect anyone to take tableside orders. The other staff members were nice enough, but some patrons said it was they who were making the most noise during the performance.

After sitting until 8:15, the show started. Well, saying started is incorrect. The MC/promoter came out hawking raffle tickets and said that they would be sold during the next three songs. Finally the show began with a good opener and several good comics that followed.  During the performances which were pretty good and definitely got better as they went along, the patrons and was I was told was some of the staff started talking so loudly at the bar that patrons had problems hearing the comics. This got so bad that the final comic asked the audience if the noise from the bar area was too loud, to which many said yes. He then led the audience in a choral response telling the bar to quiet down. (Which they did for all of 2-3 minutes, then went back to carrying on.)

I haven't even mentioned the condition of the mirrorless bathroom, the roll of TP lying atop the dispenser, the empty soap dispenser, and the toilet seat that was hardly held on at all.

What was the lesson here? For good comedy, if you don't mind a noisy bar area intruding and distracting the talent, and little or no wait staff, go to Fat Cats. If you want good comedy presented in a club that values the patrons, go to SF. It's worth the drive.

I'm a fan of small venues. In fact this place reminds me of a place I used to go to in Houston all the time, Engine Room. I don't think it's around anymore, but needless to say it was pretty great! I saw Otep here and was introduced to One Eyed Doll and Picture me Broken. I had a fantastic time and the staff was organized and that's all you can really ask for in a place like this. The sound was great and I would definitely attend some more shows here. Especially when they pull great acts like Otep!