The Summit does a good job of booking local and some national acts along with it's more dingy twin location - the Cafe Bourbon. Its mostly rock-n-roll but they manage to get other types of music, though its odd at times how they pair up some acts.
It's pretty much what you would expect from a local club/venue that's in a university area. Dark, dingy, and decent prices for shows. They do not have a very good beer selection, but they always have PBR - the essential beer for cheap-n-loud music. Â
The sound is average at best, but the small size of the venue can always get you a spot up front with an up-n-coming music artist. Shows are pretty late and headliners typically do not get on till midnight. Parking is also a big issue and you could be driving around for a while. All in all, this is a good place for a night of music.
This place is a true dive bar. I went to see valient thorr and howl play here, the show was badass but to no thanks to the sound guy--or the sound system for that matter. The one good thing was the bartender--a guy named Donovan. He introduced himself as we got there, ran his ass off the whole night, and for a packed bar I don't think I went more than a minute or two waiting at the bar for a cold one. Beer is cheap...$1 black label cans and $1 PBR. The location of the bathrooms pretty much so suck but shit happens...this is a dive bar--remember? So if you're out with your buddies and want a cheap beer at a dive bar with a good bartender, stop here.
Review Source:I wanted to give this place a two-star, I really did...but then I realized that the Yelp description of "Eek! Methinks not." is probably more appropriate than the "Meh. I've experienced better."
Someone else on Yelp said the sound system sucked. Â You know what? Â It did. Â As a photographer, I usually bring earplugs to gigs, because I'm right up next to the stage, close to the speakers (inches!) and I like to protect my hearing - but I also like to hear the performers. Â It's generally a good balance. Â When I first walked in, and sat down at the booth which seemed equidistant from the stage and the door, I was assaulted with bad sound. Â The music itself was awesome, expertly mixed by a local DJ group. Â I know their gear is good, and I know their music is choice...but the sound system was hurting my ears. Â Now, I know I should have just put my earplugs in, but I failed to do so. Â I know I should have moved to a booth farther away from the speakers, but I did not. Â When I go into a place, I shouldn't have to wear earplugs unless I'm pretty close to the stage.
So the place is small, kinda dirty and dark. Â This is the complete opposite of the place that I generally go. Â I can deal with small, clean and bright. I can deal with large, dirty and bright. Â I simply cannot deal with having all three, and my ear drums assaulted by bad sound mojo.
I usually like to read the graffiti in the bathrooms of places I go, in fact I recall that Circus had pretty funny guerrilla art...but I was so uncomfortable in this place, that I was primarily focused on leaving (I stayed for an hour or two, then left) and much less on my bladder - which is usually not the case for me.
There was the confusion between where the DJ's were playing: Cafe Bourbon Street or The Summit. Â A friend assures me after the fact that I was, indeed, in The Summit. Â I actually went into CBS, where there was a pretty bad band, and was told that the DJ's were next door. Â I thought "whew! thank God I don't have to cover that crap in that place!" and then I was equally dismayed moments later. Â DJ = good. Â Place = the suck.
Parking...it really sucked. Â I think it took me about 30 minutes to find a parking spot, and it was a few blocks down. Â I know, I know...I live in the suburbs, don't take public transportation, and expect parking to be available where I go. Â I don't live downtown, so I don't know all the secret hiding places. Â But what I do know is that the Saturday night that I went there, this place did not have parking convenient on any street within a two block radius - and it sucks to drive around and around when I'd rather be enjoying myself.
I noticed a person or two mention that there are specific types of gigs that play here, that you can't get anywhere else. Â I understand. Â If they bring their own speakers, amps and equipment, that takes care of the Very Bad Sound situation I experienced when I went. Â If you can't see a band anywhere else, by all means, go for the band. Â This review is not about your favorite band, this is about the venue.
You know what? Â If this type of atmosphere is something you enjoy, then please totally ignore or refute my rating and review - I'm always into intelligent discourse. Â If you go here all the time, and you like it, that's cool. Â This review is not for people who go there regularly and enjoy the place (you already know it's a five-star establishment, right?), nor is it for people who are brain-dead and could care less what they do on a Saturday night (because every place is freakin' awesome!!! PBR, yeah!!!). Â With enough alcohol, some places become more attractive, right?
No...this review is for people who want to find a fun place to go with the limited amount of recreational free-time that they have. Â If you like me, like my other reviews and connect with who I am as a person, I offer you one word: Â avoid.
Dear Summit and Summit sound guy. You owe me an eardrum. When other reviewers mention the bad sound system they're not kidding. A few days after attending back to back concerts at this north campus dive bar, I found my hearing flickering in and out. Repeat: A FEW DAYS later.
I want to like the Summit. It's one of the few places that comes close to the vibe of the old Stache's or Little Brothers (including the music line-up, cheap drinks and never know what you're going to get bathrooms). Good shows come through here: up and coming Scottish band We Were Promised Jetpacks, a surprise show from local boy made good RJD2, etc. Why ruin good shows with bad sound? Please, fix the sound!
The Summit is a dive. In my mind, it's fairly indistinguishable from its Siamese twin, Bourbon Street, except for the fact that, as Lisa S. pointed out, the bathrooms suck at Summit. In fact, when the boy told me where the show we were going to Friday was, I said, which one is that? The one with the bad bathrooms? And lo and behold. It was.
Summit is fine for what it is, but don't expect more from it than your standard dive. (The sound isn't great, no, but I wouldn't expect that from this type of place) I wasn't around for Little Brothers and all that (yes, I miss the "glory days" of all places I've lived, including my hometown, which is apparently "coming around" these days)... but presently, the Summit is a good place to go see rock shows, and there are an increasing number of metal shows here and at Bourbon Street (which I prefer for its better bathrooms, nicer interior, and general feel).
Prices for booze are cheap, but I still hate the fact that there's no lock and no real door on the ladies' bathroom (and yes, it's up some weird ramp behind the stage). Other than that, nothing remarkable. Good music leads me here, and I'm always happy to enjoy cheap beer and well whiskey when I'm in good company.
It's all thanks to Maya C.'s review of The Summit that got me Yelping once again. Sorry Maya, I've just gotta disagree with you!
The Summit is my replacement for Little Brothers. I can't find any other place in Columbus that brings regional and national touring acts in such an intimate atmosphere. From the slew of gorgeous Swedish rockers like Dead Man and Dungen that have graced the stage (keeping bringing 'em back, Benco!) to the soulful and childlike Jonathan Richman (who used to take the stage at Little Brothers), The Summit hosts the best range of bands in Columbus.
I see Maya's complaint is about sound, and I had heard about the show in question. And yeah, I hear it was terrible for the band. But any time I've been to The Summit, the sound has been great and powerful. Now, I'm usually front and center at any show - but the Dungen show especially great. The band played everything from drums, guitar, bass, piano and flute. I heard and felt everything.
I only have two minor complaints about The Summit. First off, the heat at every show I've been to has been unbearable. Spring and Summer I had sweat clinging to every part of my body. I can't figure out if The Summit is sans air conditioning or if they just like to torture their patrons. If it wasn't for the non-stop rock, I'm positive I would have passed out at the Dungen show. Second complaint, the bathrooms are almost nonexistent, and you have to travel up a ramp past the stage to reach them. I'll usually just hold it.
So thank you Maya, for giving me the desire to Yelp again! I hope you'll give The Summit another chance!
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