This place would probably garner more stars if I could better tolerate the standing, the too-loud soundsystem, and the questionable bathrooms. That is to say, if I wasn't old. The Grog Shop does its job well. It's an intimate venue and you can just about touch the performers. Also of note, they have an excellent beer selection and a quality pinball machine.
Review Source:This is one of my favorite Cleveland venues. Â The bands are usually great and the tickets are always cheap. Â Sometimes I wish the stage were a little higher. Â There are no elevated areas and the stage is quite low. Â If you're not up front, you're probably going to miss a lot of the show. Â However, the low stage combined with the small venue makes for an intimate experience. Â I guess that's the trade-off. Â There's something special about being able to stand almost next to a performer while they release energy into the crowd. Â Just make sure you're aware of your surroundings. Â Intimate is great, but it comes with its cons. Â This place can get packed if the show is sold out. Â If it's a high energy band, be prepared to deal with concert goers who want get wild and toss beer. Â I don't usually see this happen with the softer bands. Â At any rate, this is NOT a venue for people who just want to sit back and watch a performance. Â This is dive venue built for a dive experience, which is often very fun if you want to be an engaged member of the crowd. Â There's not enough places like this anymore. Â
They take credit cards, but note that buying a concert ticket with a card will result in a dollar service charge. Â
I think the sound quality is hit or miss for me depending on the type of music. Â I've heard amazing sound and I've heard some shitty sound. Â At this point in my life, I'm wearing ear plugs to save what little hearing I have left, so it doesn't really matter to me.
I've found the booze cheap for a concert venue. Â Some dive bars are cheaper, but those joints don't have bands. Â Even well booze isn't overpriced given this is a venue and not a bar that happens to have bands. Â
My only big gripe is the how the shows usually go very late. Â I don't really like getting home at 2 am when I have to be up for work in four hours. Â If the shows started on time, and there was better stage management for changing bands, this wouldn't happen. Â But at least it's not like Peabody's where the shows go late because they booked six local high school-aged bands to open for the two main acts. Â Those shows are like marathons.... the marathon experience never happens to me at the Grog Shop. Â
I really like that this venue has been getting more harder rocking/metal acts as of recent. Â It's not a metal venue at all, but being able to see the likes of Jeff Loomis, High on Fire, Goatwhore, Municipal Waste, Hank III, and many others at this kind of venue is amazing. Â
Ultimately, this place gets five stars from me because the ticket cost is low and it provides an intimate space to enjoy a performance, and it allows for a high energy crowd experience.
Visited with some trepidation the other night based on the Yelp reviews, and happily found the bulk of them to be wildly off base. Great neighborhood, totally unexpected for an underground rock club, and the subterranean, "cave" vibe of the place is largely intentional and ironic. Solid bar with fair prices and a good selection, and the sound was excellent. Visibility probably is an issue when the club is near capacity, but otherwise I saw nothing to complain about.
Review Source:Ok...the bathroom is ridamndiculously cool...and yes, I drew on the wall...cool A.F!
I first went here in 06 for a Little Brother concert (what happened to them, btw)...a local group called The Muamin Collective opened...they still perform here from time to time...it was a great concert and they crowd had awesome energy...still does...
My only gripe is that it can get crowded and claustrophobic, buuut, the bartenders seem to help keep the drunkards from crawling all over people sitting at the bar...
The Grog Shop is a priceless gem to the city of Cleveland!
They have been booking the best shows lately. At least in my opinion. I had to write this review because on Wednesday night, I saw Action Bronson perform. It was one of the best shows ever. The security team threw more people out for pot then I have ever witnessed. And if you work early the next day, I feel sorry for you because the shows here are never on time. They have good drink prices and a decent beer selection. The mural by Jake Kelly in the front is awesome and worth coming here just to see.
Review Source:I've been going to shows at the Grog since probably around 1994, when I was too young to get in but I got in anyways. I have seen hundreds of shows at the Grog Shop over the years, both in the current location and the old one.
Shows rarely start on time, so expect to have a long night. And if it's sold out, don't expect to be able to see anything. Maybe it's just the type of music I like that attracts every seven foot tall man in the Cleveland area, though. And they always want to stand in front of me. What the hell is that all about? I wish there was elevated spots in the club, sort of like at Musica, or the old Agora Ballroom. Alas, there's not.
Best thing going at the Grog Shop right now? The comedy. This is a great spot to take in a comedy show. I prefer the dive bar atmosphere to a squeaky clean, two drink minimum, terrible opening acts comedy club. And lately, the Grog has been bringing in some of the best names in alternative comedy. If you're looking at the listings and see a Chucklefck night, you should check it out. Who knew Cleveland had so many great comics?
Why didn't I grow up in Cleveland!??! Â The 14-year old version of myself would have been obsessed with this place.
Ok, ok. Â The acoustics are kind of terrible. Â And some of the opening bands are REALLY terrible. But the place just has that something that makes you keep coming back.
Grog Shop brings in a diverse offering of really great bands. Think "up and coming, we're gonna play Coachella then blow up" kinda bands. A lot of bands I saw there did just that so I'm glad I went to see them in such an intimate setting.
And that's exactly what the Grog Shop is. They offer intimate shows with really good bands on the cheap. An extensive beer list from awful and cheap right on up to the good stuff. And if you get sick of the opener or just aren't feeling the show, the B-Side lounge downstairs is a great place to chill out and offers a smoking patio that's usually filled with a decent crowd of interesting people.
This place is dingy, sticky, and gross. Â However, you get to see great bands at reasonable prices. Â They also have heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer. Â They serve free water.
This is a way better deal than any other venue around. Â I would always choose to see a mediocre act here rather than a great act at House of Blues (which I hate with a fiery passion).
I love the Grog because I've seen such a diverse amount of bands over the years both at this location and when they were down the street. Â They also don't rip you off with service fees like a certain place downtown *coughHOBcough* does. Â My only gripe is I've noticed recently they have gotten into the habit of starting shows later than listed. Â I'm okay with it when the crowd is really small because I know they have to pay the bills with their patrons getting intoxicated. Â But when the place is pretty full and they are running over an hour behind it is on the annoying side. Â I'll go hear for a show 99% of the time over a show at the HOB.
Review Source:I have a love/hate relationship with the Grog Shop.
The Grog is notorious for not starting gigs on time, running late (and I mean LATE). I think every time I have gone to see a show, the main act goes on about 11/12. If you are 20, cool. If you are 40, well, it's not as cool.
That being said, the Grog does bring in some great bands. I've seen some awesome shows there. And there's AC, a definite plus! I can do without the huge support beams in the way though.
You definitely have to be assertive at the bar. To get served, you just may have to kick the knit-cap wearing/PBR Tall Boy swilling dude next to you in the shin.
It kind of bums me out that the Grog has been around as long as it has. Â
Not because they are a bad place to see a show, nor due to the fact that they consistently book some of the best local and national music around. Â
It's not that I have a ton of great memories of seeing (or performing with) my favorite bands in both the old and new spaces. Â
It's not that the Grog has provided opportunities to see acts that in other cities play in much larger venues. Â
Nope, what bums me out about the Grog's longevity is that I remember when they opened,and have been going to shows there for so long, that it provides a very clear and quantifiable measure of how old I am getting.
Seriously, there aren't many better places to see a rock show. Â If a band you like is playing at the Grog, make it a point to go, or just go ahead and kick yourself preemptively before all your friends tell you how awesome it was.
Still starting shows late as fuuuuuucc...I don't mind if it's my night off. The problem is the parking situation in Cleveland Heights. I pumped three and a half hours of coins into the 24 hour meter(really, Clev Hts?) and had to bounce at midnight, because the show started an hour and a half after the posted time. Members of the entourage were super pissed. I was happy that the air conditioner that looks like a part that fell off a jumbo jet was blowing right on me. I had blowing, flowing hair indoors like a Beyonce video. Funny that they need air on a 20 degree night, but that place can get uncomfortably hot quick. Sound was good, bartenders were non assholes for once and served me the three dollar Balantines efficiently. Still nowhere to sit, but that didn't bother me. I love the framed picture of Anton Newcombe on the wall. Someday he'll probably throw a beer bottle at it.
Review Source:The Grog Shop, sadly and despite its history, is a horrible venue for almost anything. I really wish it could get more stars, but I almost gave it one, so yeah.
They're able to book some pretty great music, which is the sole basis for two stars. Oh yeah, and it's ridiculously affordable.
It's dingy, drinks are weak and overpriced, the employees are mostly burned-out hippies (in a bad way; I've nicknamed one of them "Father Time"). It's always packed, probably way over fire code (ever heard of "sold out?"), and there's really no ventilation to speak of. I don't mind sweating profusely while hearing great music, but only if I'm on the fields of Manchester, Tenn.
Oh yeah, and the patrons are horrible, often throwing beer and what not onto stage (which is also not cool because it ruins instruments).
The Grog Shop is that grungy, hole-in-the-wall music venue that every city should have at least one of.
That being said, it's exactly how it should be: a small, dark space with graffiti-covered walls, a hipster beer selection (lots of PBR tallboys), teeny stage and tattooed staff adorning old band t-shirts. If your head is as bright-blonde as mine, expect a little bit of judgment for not seeming "cool" enough. But, hey... I don't mind.
I love seeing live music and yes, I used to be a musician... but I'm not one to sit here and talk your ear off about the acoustics of a dive bar. The Grog is a cool place to see a band because of it's intimacy and atmosphere, not because it's Severance Hall.
If you're looking to see a band and relax around a table with your friends, don't come here. There really aren't many places to sit and when the show starts, it's time to rock out.
One thing I love about this place is the bathroom. I could literally sit in there forever just reading the walls. That's how you know this place is a legit spot to see a band.. all the graffiti!
If there was one thing I could change about the Grog though, it would be the age limit on show nights. I don't mean to sound like a snot, but I'm not paying a cover charge to hang out with 18 year olds. If you serve alcohol, you should be 21 and over. Period.
I love that the prices here are so great! I've gotten to see some of my favorite bands for under $20!!
Overall, I've had nothing but good times at The Grog Shop. From meeting crazy Canadians at the Ok Go show, to fighting of 12 year olds trying to mosh by the bar at the Big D show, I'm always pleased at the end of the night!
The only problem is the time management. I went to a show for my birthday last summer and the main act didn't go on until welllll after midnight. It becomes a little difficult to remain energetic by the time the main act comes around. Portugal. the Man didn't get much craziness out of me that night, but I was still happy to see them.
The Grog Shop fills a void in the Cleveland Concert Scene. Indie, rock, punk, hip-hop artists in a venue that has less than, say 300 people. The ticket prices have been reasonable every time that I've went anywhere from $10-20 each. Plus, you can purchase tickets at a few places around the city for a $1 surcharge.
Its execution is flawed but satisfactory. Like Murray said, there's very little seating there, besides the dozen bar stools and a small pleather couch recently installed that seats 4-5. Unless it's the main act, I'll play the Simpsons Pinball machine on the side (although some of the time it's blocked off, whatever).
The sound system is all right (being a music junkie, I should know more than just that) although I would love the GS to sell live recordings of their shows. They never have in the 10+ times I've been there. They have a full bar, with assorted microbrews (I'd guess 5-6 on tap) and domestic with advertised $3 PBRs [other domestics $3 as well]. The bathrooms are functioning with graffiti and bands' stickers all over the place. The service at the bar ? Ok. I never had any problems. There's a self-serve container of free water, nice.
The layout is ok, there are a couple pillars that can block your views and make you choose whether to be standing in front of a pillar or a loud speaker. There is a circulation fan system there although that only helps if you're standing in a few select spots.
I usually show up about 45 minutes after the show starts, and I usually catch the end of the 2nd unadvertised opening act. Their time management can also be improved; I'd like to see the start of shows moved earlier as well. If I stay for the main act [all of it], I usually leave around 12:30-1ish. I remember one time I went to a Little Brother show 2-3 years ago there and they weren't even on before 1 AM.
I guess I could go on and on about the bands I have seen here, but I won't. Â It is rare if ever I go to the Grog Shop anymore. Â I think the bar service isn't bad and they usually have a special or two on beers. Â The sound of the room is pretty good, and it has a nice vibe to it when I actually go here. Â I think the service is friendly and I have never had any sort of problem here at all. Â As a matter of fact I had some great times here over the years.
I saw the review Rachel did of the place and have to agree the start times are ridiculous. Â Until they start bumping the start times of these shows I will not be going there. Â It would have to be an amazing band for me to go here I should say. Â I won't say I won't come back because I will be going to see Nomo in a couple weeks. Â However the only reason I am going to see Nomo is because I am off the next day from work to go to the Home Opener. Â I'll never go on a weeknight because I know 2am is probably the time the show would be over or when I will be getting to bed. Â
I am not 100% sure why they feel the need to start shows so late. Â Other venues in the area like the Beachland or even HOB will start at 8 or 9pm. Â The Grog obviously want to cater to the young school crowd in the area who drink the $3.00 PBR can specials or drink the cheapest thing in the cooler. Â I think if they started shows at a decent hour more adults would be willing to come out and make them just as much money drinking one of there many fine microbrews. Â Stay open after the show and spin some records or something if you still want the kids to stay. Â Â
I want to love this place. Â I really do and there was a time when I did. Â Unfortunately that was a much younger me when I could stay out until all hours of the morning to see a decent rock show. Â Now as a functioning adult with a full time job I just can't do the late night thing. Â So, I only come here if it is a band I "have" to see and usually only as a weekend night. Â I think they are incredible supporters of the local Cleveland music scene, and I salute them for that. Â I just don't think they do a service to a large segment of the people who want to see shows there.
The music: awesome.
The bartenders: eh. Not that attentive unless you have dreads and/or cleavage.
The clientele: a mixture of drunk-off-their-ass losers who literally knocked into people all night, and really nice people. Â We came across both last night. But I guess you'll find that in any bar.
My only regret is that I forgot to bring a Sharpie into the bathroom.
(Also, call me a lame-o, but I think I'm a little too old to wait until midnight for a show. Just sayin.')
I actually want to either give the Grog one star or five stars, because it's an infuriatingly inconsistent venue. Â Yelp should make their rating scale an animated .gif where you can elect to have it twinkle back and forth between two different star ratings instead of just choosing one.
Last time I went to the Grog I fled in tears and you would probably have to gently bathe me in Cristal and wrap me in snow tiger pelts and give me a pedicure and deep tissue massage in the back of a limo for three hours to get me to go back there. Â The bartenders ignored me while pouring tequila shots for throngs of rapey frat boys and and the door guy wouldn't let me back in to find my scarf 5 minutes before closing and basically snarled at me until I left. Â SOMEONE didn't go to Waldorf school. Â It's called "using your words," jerkface.
That said, I have also had a really good time here. Â Some of the bartenders are total sweeties and some of them, uh, aren't. Â It's a rock bar in Cleveland. Â Go to Portland if you want a vegan Ph.D. candidate to ask how your day was while making you something with house-infused raw ginger bourbon and fennel pollen and imported marasca cherries. Â The security/cooler dude is menacing and amazing; he trained at the Kremlin and apprenticed at the bar from Road House before coming here and is an adorable combination of feral and cuddly and I want to give him a high five every time I see him.
The Grog Shop feels like home to me. Â It smells slightly of vomit and bleach, just like a rock club should, and often has $2 PBR tall boys, also like any rock club should...this last bit is severely lacking in Chicago...Um. Â The bartenders aren't A-holes in my experience. Â They're usually just busy as f***. Â When you get their attention, they get you your drink, you tip them, and everyone moveson. Â The only reason a star is deducted at all is because the stalls in the women's room don't lock. Â They never have, not even in the old location. Â Since their move to the new location, locks have been reinstalled on the stalls, and they don't line up right. Â How hard is that to mess up? Â I don't like being walked in on whilst mid-wipe, so...star deducted for lack of locks. Â I miss you GS. Â xoxo Marion
Review Source:This place has been a part of my life since I was eighteen years old, and I continue to frequent it as often as I'm able. Â
I have strange, convoluted memories of the old location, with everything ranging from a hole in the floor that they called a toilet, layers of encrusted filth and stickers coating the walls (constituting a veritable walk down musical memory lane), Cleveland's ever-present hecklers verbally assaulting many a band or musician, and occasional possibly mentally ill persons ducking and weaving in bizarre, oddly entrancing dancing directly in front of everyone during shows whose music wasn't conducive to that dancing at all. Â The place used to be a dump, but it was our dump, and we loved it. Â At times, it got so crammed to the gills and sweat-filled that I went outside and sat on the sidewalk instead of paying the entry fee. Â I happily enjoyed an excellent Jimmy Eat World set without paying a dime that way.
The new venue is much cleaner, larger, and generally better overall. Â It can still get crammed, but at least you're able to breathe in this place (as compared, at times, to the old one). Â As mentioned in other reviews, there's definitely a red vibe going on, accentuated by the prerequisite dim lighting, low staging, and odd wall murals (someone's sexualized version of stuff along the lines of Rat Fink). Â I still generally avoid the restrooms (although these are better than the other location), but the beer is affordable, the merch area is relatively easy to access, and I've been able to genuinely enjoy ridiculously good music in the Grog's still-intimate dynamic without coughing up tons of cash.
Thinking of this place makes me want to sit down and attempt to catalogue the shows I've seen here over the years. Â Dang. Â Everyone from Tristeza, 16 Horsepower, Him (ex-June of 44), Pedro the Lion, and early Death Cab to being one of approximately six Gentiles at a phenomenal Matisyahu show... yeah. Â The Grog's a great place. Â The only venues in town that would combat it in my book in regard to foundational musical experiences would have been The Euclid Tavern and Speak in Tongues, but The Grog has outlived them all.
Good stuff.
I was in Cleveland and happened to see that a friend's band was playing the Grog Shop, so I went to check it out.
I was told that it had formerly been in a different location and had moved to the new spot in recent years. I can tell it's new because it's clean, it's airy, it feels young. These are good things--most venues are filthy!
I think it's probably the best place to see smaller bands/underground shows in Cleveland. All the kids were out-- I felt old. It seemed like about 5 people were old enough to drink there. Everyone was so excited and smiling! Being from Chicago, city of apathy, it was refreshing to see.
The area surrounding the Grog Shop is trying to be hip, so walk up and down the street, eat at Tommys, be young again.
I used to go to the Old Grog which was up the street. Â Now I go to the New Grog, which is at the other end of the street. Â It's still quite rock n' roll despite having nicer bathrooms (which are, I must admit, a plus). Â
Good things about the Grog include very nice, swift and cute bartenders and door people, decent beer selection, occasionally a good show, and did I mention decent bathrooms?
Bad things about the Grog include too many "alt-rock" college/ frat types (I know they buy beer, I just really don't want to see shows with them), the parking nazis on Coventry (do not let your meter run out if you park at the grocery store because they'll give you a ticket even at 3 am), police who come wandering in heaven knows why (probably looking for underage drinkers to bust), repeated band booking errors and problems with the local acts (I know a lot of local acts who wrote the place off after their show got accidentally cancelled, double-booked with someone else or they didn't get paid at the end of the night), Â a certain snobbery about who gets booked (nowhere as bad as, say, Peabodys, but still not cool) and spotty sound (it's either good or it's really really bad). Â
Overall it's not a bad experience but it's by far not my favorite Cleveland club either, and the drive to Coventry is a bit of a hassle when there are so many good clubs on the West Side and less and less to do in Coventry these days. Â I'll stop now before I start in about the Good Ol' Days.
The Draft / AVAIL playing to a nearly packed house at the Grog. Everyone singing along to "Model" and "Belief's Pile". Glorious.
Hot Water Music kicking through the jams on their final (!?) tour. Hearing Chris Wollard, after a dozen beers, call everyone a "turkey". Five guys in the back of the room responded by gobbling loudly.
Captured! By Robots doing a full tribute to Star Trek: The Next Generation, complete with projector screen and Starfleet uniforms for all the 'bots.
Some really hot girl grabbing my ass. When I turned around, she just smirked, batted her eyes, and then ran off to join her friends. Never saw her again, but felt like a million bucks.
With the exception of feeling like the oldest man on Earth when I showed up to interview Anti-Flag amidst an ocean of 13-year olds, the Grog is nothing but wonderful memories.
Looking forward to seeing my buddy Chuck play there on Jan. 29th.
My mini-Saturday Cleveland DYL had:
A cool Coventry location... check.
Cheap admission to see four hours of live music in a cavern like bar all decked out in red... check.
$3 Rolling Rocks... check.
No line in the women's bathroom at any time... check.
Hot alt-indie Cleveland guys... check.
Rose L. making me laugh so hard I snorted... check.
Clinton K. *cough* I MEAN DJ Charlie Kilo *cough* lookin' fly in a Run DMC trucker hat... check.
And, a good time was had by all.
(Useful information: The Grog Shop is a cool little music venue that has pretty good bands, cheap beer and friendly staff. Â If you're ever in Cleveburgh, check it out - you'll have a good time, too.)
This is a great little venue. Lots of character and a pretty great line-up from month to month given the place's size and capacity. Whatever person working scheduling there is on point.
I've seen a couple performances there so far, a Whisky Daredevils show last month that was 80% empty (though it was a great show, with two really good openers and an energetic performance by the aforementioned headliners) and last night's comedy show with Michael Showalter and Michael Ian Black (from The State/Stella). Coming up soon is the show I've been waiting for since about 5 minutes after the last time I saw them play at Emo's in Austin: Electric Six.
Yes.
I simply don't understand why everyone finds this place so exciting. Â Like the other reviewer remarked, it's basically a bar with a stage, even in their newer space (which is laid out in a somewhat strange and impractical fashion, I might add).
The atmosphere? Â Very dark and very plain. Â There's really not much going on...just a space that you can throw a bunch of people and a band into...it's not particularly well laid out or anything. Â It doesn't do anything for me.
The only thing I really like about this place is that they half a half-decent beer selection. Â Besides that, I think it's totally lame the way everyone gets so worked up about how cool this place is.
Since the Euclid Tavern is long gone, this (along with the Beachland) is one of the last great venues remaining in Cleveland. Â Oh sure, it up and moved to a bigger location a several years ago, but it was for the better. Â And a lot of the old artwork moved with it.
It's a good place to catch great national bands before they get big and play larger sold out venues (Broken Social Scene, the Decemberists, TV on the Radio, to name a few), and of course it's fun to see your friends in local bands here as well.
Basically - great small venue with cheap beer. Â Can you really go wrong? Â And, at least last time I was here, the bathrooms were clean. Â Bonus.
Outstanding shows in a small venue makes for a more intimate concert experience. I agree with another reviewer that some shows attract a younger crowd (high school), but most of the shows I've been to also have a large college crowd (from Case and John Carrol).
Check their website periodically; you never know who will be coming to town:
<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.grogshop.gs%2F&s=8eef086e3dcee96ef878b9fb2015a3d5344044ebafb454fa5cf1b6b7da25636f" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.grogshop.gs/</a>
You'll Leave Here Groggy...
THE UP-SIDE:
Great place to catch up and coming acts. Â Small enough that you can really get a good view (if you push your way up to the front of the standing crowd.) Â
THE DOWN-SIDE:
If you're old enough to have graduated high school, you'll be older than 98% of the people surrounding you. Â And, since you'll be feeling "old," you'll be justified in complaining that they have no room for chairs to sit in.
THE SUM-IT-UP:
Great place for intimate shows. Â Go there, but expect to feel ancient (if you're 30 or over) in relation to the kiddy-crowd.
The old Grog has made a permanent indent on my heart and probably a larger one on my liver. Saw some amazing local and national bands there and spent many a night with the company of friends and the stellar jukebox. The new spot is far better ventilated and the batthrooms are a major improvement. Above average beer selection ( more choices than a PBR tallboy). The bartenders and door guys are some of my favorite people in town. Consistently books the kind of shows that I would want to see...(don't bother if you are looking for the Sublime tribute festival. Please see the House of Blues for that.) Brought Whitehouse to town- in the top three shows I've ever seen in my life. My home away from home. Just stick wad of toilet paper in the stall door, and the broken lock'll stay closed.
Review Source:
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,915 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
