This is a tough one. I love live music so much that it's tough for me to not sing the praises of a venue that's offering it, especially these days, ya know? It's not a cheap endeavor, running a music venue. So, I do give them props for that. But I have to be honest, I didn't love seeing a show here. The biggest issue, as others have said, is that there are giant pillars in the middle of the floor that get in the way of the view. Luckily we ended up right in the front against the barriers so it was ok for the most part but I was afraid to move at any point lest we lose our spot and I'd get stuck with an obstructed view. As a bar it's also pretty bare bones. Only a few small cocktail tables and chairs, making it a mostly standing room venue. The drink menu is limited and expensive. There's a pizza counter which was a nice option since we hadn't had dinner before the show but at $7 for a slice of NY style pepperoni pizza we couldn't justify having more than one slice each. We also came a bit early during sound check since we were friends with the band playing the venue and the staff was really nice and welcoming to us as guests, so that's definitely worth a shout out. Great people there! Especially security. High fives for that. For the artists there isn't really a "backstage" area perse, nor is there a dedicated artist restroom. The venue made accommodations for bands to take over one of the three bathrooms but unfortunately that meant there was one less bathroom for the near sold out crowd to use. Not sure if this something do for all acts but if so, I can understand how folks would get frustrated by waits for the toilet. WITH ALL THAT SAID, a dive bar with crappy sightlines, bad beer, and a sus bathroom situation is pretty punk rock. I cut my teeth in venues like that. There's something wonderful about sticky floors and sweaty nights. But the problem is I'm not sure if A & R Music Bar sees itself that way. And it's that disconnect that leaves me wanting more. read more

This venue layout is not ideal for a show. The columns are in the way of multiple viewpoints for viability of the stage. Worst of all, the Staff is vile. Bag policies increased since my last visit. You can no longer bring in "noise machines" which I guess includes those keychain alarms. The front bag check, took my alarm, and said I'd have to get it back after the show. My safety is in danger. The food option is a pizza window. It was okay. It was no taste of Chicago. Acoustics were fine, but not the best. Sucks because they get good artists here. The band we saw was so so good. They deserved a better venue. The venue just is not up to par with others. I also am not convinced the fire suppression is sufficient and think the city inspector should review, before someone poisons the waterhole. Also not very ADA accessible, at least not in the front entrance with those concrete steps. The bathrooms were moderate - but it was not as nice as the bathrooms at the Statehouse down the street. read more

A and R Music Bar - People, snake, Column - Music Venues Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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This is hands down my favorite concert venue in Columbus. It's small, so you definitely won't be seeing any mega-stars here. But for smaller artists' concerts, A&R gets everything right. I've seen at least ten shows here, and I'm sure I'll be back. The staff have always been friendly and helpful. The venue feels intimate. There's hardly a bad place to stand because it's a small space, so views are always nice. You don't have to get there hours early to get a good spot like so many larger venues. They have good drink options and a Mikey's Late Night Slice in-house, which serves excellent pizza. Prices are a bit high, but I've never been to a concert venue where they aren't, so this is par for the course. What really puts A&R over the top is their indoor/outdoor setup. There's a large garage-style door that they open during nice weather, which leads to adjacent outdoor seating. This is LOVELY if you'd like to have a smoke during the show, which wouldn't be possible at many other venues. It's also just nice to get the option to stay inside where the views are better and energy is higher or go outside and chill while still getting a solid vantage point. Overall, A&R is absolutely the place to go in Columbus if you like smaller concerts. read more

Went to see Deep Sea Diver here last week. It was my first time there, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Since it's SRO, I showed up just for the headliner. I did see there were a few small high tops placed oddly in the very back, by the merch table. It was a really hot and humid day, with thunderstorms earlier in the evening. I expected it to be unbearably hot and humid inside, but it was surprisingly comfortable! I could even feel the AC. That really helped with the overall experience. The sound was great, even to the right side of the stage. My only complaint was the giant pillars obstructing my view. I would definitely go see a show here again. read more

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We recently attended a show here. I didn't expect much given that it is your run of the mill music venue. The staff was friendly and the outdoor patio area was a nice addition. The stage was a decent size but could be an issue for bigger bands. But the biggest problem I had with the venue was the lack of seating. I understand a music venue wants people to be on their feet, dance, etc but having some seating around the perimeter and even at the bar would have been a nice option for guests that didn't want to stand on their feet for three hours. The other con was the big pillars that could book the view, depending on how packed the show is and where you ended up getting stuck. All in all....a decent venue to see a decent show mm read more

Solid music venue in Columbus. We had no issues with the staff -- everyone was super nice and easy to communicate with. I share the sentiment with others here to make sure you're in the right line!! When we walked up my husband freaked out because there was a huge line outside, but it was for Kemba live. We were able to walk right up to the A&R bar stairs and get right in. I ALSO share the frustrations with the people that complained about the bathroom situation. There are only 2 bathrooms to accommodate this venue -- HOWEVER if the basement doesn't have a show they can open up the stairs and there's SEVERAL stalls per gender down there. It felt like a trade secret every time i passed the potty line and went down the stairs ha. Everything sounded amazing -- great show by UPSAHL and Brightest London. read more

A and R Music Bar - UPSAHL - Music Venues Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Absolutely horrible design. There's giant pillars in the middle of the venue blocking views for a considerable amount of the audience. And worst of all there are only 2 unisex bathrooms available for use. There are over 200 people at the venue and only TWO BATHROOMS are available. This should be illegal read more

A and R Music Bar - Venue - Music Venues Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

such a cute m, cozy and clean place! staff is sweet and the vibes are wonderful! definitely recommend!! read more

A and R Music Bar - Music Venues Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I've been here twice for Upsahl, and it's a great place! I have personally never had issues with the staff here; it's always been quick and easy to pass the ID check and security. No pat-downs, just a standard walk-through metal detector. The bartenders have always been nice too. Most importantly, they have free water (pictured), which always feels reassuring that the establishment cares for the well-being of its guests. There's a Mikey's Late Night Slice kiosk in the back too, which is delicious. (Definitely check out the real place though!) I'm actually surprised that there are so many negative reviews, especially about the size; I think it's pleasantly intimate and appropriate considering the popularity of artists they book. It does make you feel a lot closer regardless of where you're standing and gives the artist opportunity to interact more with the crowd. I will say the sound quality seems to have gone down since the last time I was here (last year), but maybe that's because I was standing right by a speaker this time. Will update next time I go! read more

A and R Music Bar - free water! - Music Venues Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Wtf is the restroom situation here? I've been to over 400 concerts and never encountered anything of the like. read more

A and R Music Bar - Been waiting 15 minutes - Music Venues Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Live music bar. Has a nice sized stage area for a bar. Safe place to be. Some really great bands run through there.

Great venue to see a show as long as you don't want to see the stage or get a drink from the bar!

Some truly terrific acts come through here, and, though the intimacy of this venue can't be beat, the huge pillars obstructing views of the stage are a major bummer. Almost as much of a bummer as the inexcusable lack of quality beverage options. The Ohio Stadium has a better selection of beers, for crying out loud (not to mention less punitively expensive.) Management should spend an evening at Woodlands to see how it's done properly. read more

Went to the Games we play concert. There were only two tickets unisex bathrooms for the entire place. Not cool.

The venue is so cool and intimate, that also attracts really good artists. It's a little on the smaller side, but that's good because if an artist you like is performing there, you will undoubtedly be close no matter where you stand. There's a few garage doors that open onto a patio that overlooks the box office to KEMBA Live area. It's nice for fair weather evenings to have that open and allow for more space or cool/summery air. The staff at the venue are very friendly. There's also a pizza spot located in the back - I want to say it's Mikey's Late Night Slice but I could be wrong (I didn't purchase food) but it smelled AMAZING so that's always a plus. Inside the venue toward the back is the stairway to the venue, The Basement, where many other smaller artists perform. I didn't check out that section, but it's good to note that A & R is basically two venues in one! I will certainly be back for another show soon! read more

To my lovely friends, who introduced me to the artist named Daley, I commend you. And I would like to thank the A&R Music Bar for accommodating such a decent crowd and keeping the drinks light and ready. This night started as we got into the venue quick and easy, there was no long lines a.k.a. lines around the venue but good enough crowd that allowed me and my friends to get in without a hassle. The atmosphere was light and easy, it was a good mood when you walked in the bar plenty of space for dancing and easy access to the restrooms. As the show went on, people could enjoy their drinks outside on the patio where I believe there are two garage doors that can open up so the space can be shared. This makes it an ideal venue for smaller acts in a more intimate setting. We got to enjoy the artist and we got to enjoy hearing the sounds without having your ears blown out. 4 stars! A&R bar keep it up! read more

Terribly rude staff, pillars blocking view of the stage, cramped, and not worth the money to come here. Sorry for the bands booking gigs here because the venue is an absolute turn off. read more

We purchased tickets to see Matty Matheson at the A&R bar, which took place on 5/10/19. The event was advertised to start at 7:00pm, so we arrived at 6:00pm. We joined a line out front of the venue only to discover the person behind us was there to see a MMA bout and the guy in front of us was in line to see a heavy metal band. We looked but found no separate lines, so we stayed where we were until the line started moving. Once to the front, we asked about the show we were there to see and after a moment or two of confusion, the staff pointed us over to a side stairwell, saying we needed to start a new line. So, we moved in mass up the stairway and waited patiently by that door until 7:00pm. The staff then slowly let us in, although there still seemed to be some confusion behind the scenes. While waiting we did see a pizza delivery guy show up, with what looked like dinner for Matty and his crew. Once in the venue, we found a table in the back, ordered a round of drinks from the bar and settled in to wait for the show to start. Right before Matty hit the stage, the band in the venue below started cranking and it soon became hard for us to talk at a normal level. Even when Matty started his show, the speakers did not amplify his voice enough to drown out the music from below and at one point Matty said something like, "The band downstairs is killing me". Matty was funny, serious and at times a bit crazy but everyone enjoyed his show. He talked about his past exploits with drugs, culinary school and jobs at various restaurants in and around the Toronto area. After an hour, he showed a clip from his new You-Tube series, which was full of his usual antics. After the clip, he took questions from the audience for about 1/2 hour and then he went to the back of the venue for meet and greets with the fans. The show was great but the venue had problems. Once we got in, a line quickly formed for what seemed to be the only bathroom for the room. After about 45 minutes, someone from the staff realized the problem and opened up the stairs in the back, so those bathrooms could be utilized. Plus, once Matty took the stage, it was impossible to get to the bar to order another round of drinks. There was no wait staff either, so we made do with some water we found at the edge of the bar. Also, at times, we had issues hearing Matty and saw that others nearby were also having this same problem. I hope if Matty decides to do another tour, his people can get him into a different venue. I think the fans and Matty both would've had a much nicer experience if the A&R Bar had taken the time to set up his event correctly. read more

I don't know why this place is getting bad reviews for concerts. I went here to see Yuno and Superorganism, and considering the small space and stage, whomever was managing the music/sound did a great job, because they sounded perfect. Both sets started on time, and it was great that you could go on the patio to catch some air if you wanted to (because it was hot!). I didn't try the pizza, but I wish I had because it looked delicious, and I was super curious as to what their unicorn dipping sauce tasted like... read more

I don't know if the event staff for the "Japanese House" concert was hired by A and R themselves or if they're a third party, but the security guy who was checking ID's was a total asshole. Yelled at others, told others to skip ahead of others that were....uh...."ready"? And then he would AGGRESSIVELY shine his lights in the crowd who was just trying to enjoy the show. Walking at a fast and aggressive pace too. Finally I see him drinking right when people were mostly done filling in through the door. The other event staff people remained professional and stood by the door. I'm sure this guy has seen some bullshit before. But I'm a 25 year old man. You don't need to start treating me like I'm just some punk kid. He was the real punk. Really ruined my experience last night. Probably never going to a concert here ever again because of that. read more

Intimate location, no matter where you're standing you'll get a great view of the performer

0 stars. Guy in the box office was so unprofessional and rude (pictured below). He was shaking and completely bothered by me asking him for a mask- but didn't tell us we couldn't get in anyways without vaccination cards on us so we bought tickets then has to go back to him to get refunded. He made it a big deal to refund my brother. He refused to give us his name for some reason. He was so frustrated at us for no reason that I honestly thought he was tweaking off something. Hopefully he will get fired and this place can turn around. Worst venue and show ive ever been to. read more

A and R Music Bar - The pathetic box office guy - Music Venues Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Took me and my friends here for an indie pop funk band called Magic City Hippies on a Friday night. Sound was absolutely awful, idk if it was poor mixing or maybe it's just hardware limitations of the bar, but I've rarely heard this terrible of a setup. staff however is extremely friendly!! drinks are moderately priced. read more

Terrible venue! It's basically standing only. They have four 2-person tables and no other seating, not even barstools. The support columns obstruct your view and the sound quality is poor. On the main floor there are two one-holer unisex toilets. People said there are more downstairs but I didn't check. People keep walking in and out to go smoke or to eat the overpriced pizza on the patio and it's very annoying. There is very little space in there where people won't be walking all over you. The stage is also tiny. Never again! read more

PROS: -Late Night Slice Pizza offered in the back. -Drinks not too expensive for a concert venue. CONS: -Terrible sound quality. Sounds like your in a tin can. Too many hard surfaces. They need to some sound buffers. -Few seating choices. Prepare to stand all evening. -View of stage is obstructed by columns. read more

My band played a show here a few nights ago, so I probably have a slightly different perspective than the average review. First of all, I think that A&R upstairs is actually far nicer than the Basement downstairs, even though the Basement seems to generally get better and more respected acts. The Basement is muddy sounding with poor sight lines and layout. A&R has the benefit of a large outdoor patio, a better sound system and you can see the stage from almost everywhere. The bar's drinks are overpriced for Columbus. For elsewhere they are ok, but it fits into the standard LC-influenced price gouging. Zero drink specials for bands (which is atypical, since bands normally get a tab or half priced drinks most places... which still represents a huge markup on alcohol, moreso at these prices). The one sound guy this particular night was terrible at his job and quite odd. He seemed to really hate his job, which was odd because I've done that before as a job and its really quite enjoyable. He had two laptops at the sound booth and rarely looked up from his Google or Facebook queries, was resistant to doing any sound checks, wearing these weird white gloves, and wouldn't even provide the cabling that bands needed. Worst of all, he pushed the sound to a painful volume that many patrons complained about afterward with a horrible mix. The bartenders also seemed a little bit off, not very friendly from what I saw. Took me several minutes to just get water even when the bar was almost empty. Just unobservant. The guys are the door were very nice and helpful. There's no green room at A&R or clear and safe place to put gear. Overall the stage is 'ok' sized, but was just able to fit our 6-piece band. read more

A&R is thoroughly "meh." It's not an especially bad concert venue (I've certainly been in worse), but it's also not good by any stretch. It's got this aesthetic that tries to convince you that it's an old, storied rock club, but it's a thoroughly modern and corporate creation; many of the posters that adorn the walls predate the club by a number of years and are simply from other Promowest venues. It's basically a music club modeled on Planet Hollywood, and in case you think that just means it's got chintzy decorations, it also means you'll be gouged more than a fair bit on the ticket price. The drinks are reasonably priced for a music place, so that's a point in favor. However, I would never just stop in and drink at this place; by the standards of just a bar, the selection is pretty weak and they're not cheap. Late Night Slice is here, but it's a bit more expensive too (and I'm a heretic who thinks LNS is simply average pizza not worth $5 a slice). The sound quality is also pretty bad, which would be one thing if this was just a regular bar, but it's supposed to be a MUSIC bar. I know I'm fighting a losing battle on this one, but the people here have no clue how to properly balance the sound mix, and the bass drowned out the vocals the whole damned show. I know that for a bunch of stupid nineteen year-olds that's what makes a good live show, but some of us actually like to listen to the music rather than just feeling our teeth rattle while watching a good singer pantomime. But even if it was balanced correctly, all of the columns in the building make for some wonky sound quality, not to mention further obscure views of the artist. read more

Concert beer prices without a concert. NOTHING local on tap, and the "bartender" looked at us sideways when my friend asked for an IPA. Not sure if he even knew what that was. If you're going to Lifestyle Pavillion next door and are looking to kill some time before a show, I'd bring a forty in a paper bag and hide in the alley instead. read more

Dumb. This place is next to the Lifestyle Pavilion and would be a convenient place to have decent drinks beforehand, but as the bartender told us, "we're sponsored by Budweiser." Translation: expensive, standard, lame and unimaginative. read more

I've only been to one concert here. It was awesome, but just because it was Family Force 5 and I love them. If you go to a show here, I'd suggest getting there early and standing in the front. Because views kinda suck anywhere else; there's not like a pit or anything, and there was an annoying pole in the way at the one I went to. But it is a more intimate venue, and it's very cheap and they manage to bring in some big-ish names, so if someone cool is coming there I'd definitely go. There's also a small patio to take a breather, and a restroom to use when you're outside in line for a concert at the LC. read more

A and R is a great spot to check out a smaller show coming through town. They have some awesome pizza and bad drink specials (bad for a normal spot, decent for a concert venue). If you get a chance to see an act here, it's going to be an intimate, special experience for you. After one visit, I keep my eyes on their shows because it's a special treat to see someone you'd be hoping to see. read more

Awesome small intimate venue! Very COVID friendly and excellent access to the stage. Nice bar and pizza stand, and acoustics were great for a small place. Loved it! read more

Not a great concert venue. Unless your packed in next to the garage doors you have to content with three large concrete columns to see the musicians. Sound mixing was awful. Tons of bass, lead guitar missing totally. Vocals vibrato so bad couldn't detect most of the lyrics. Two, single person restrooms for the entire place. Standing room only. Just not a great venue in my opinion. read more

You have to take this place for what it is... It's not a bar that you would ever seek out or choose to go to if it weren't for it's proximity to the LC and for the live shows. It's a good place to hang out before or after a show at the LC. As far as a venue goes - I've seen some great bands here and had some great times. But the layout of the bar doesn't lend itself to a good stage setup or a good view of the stage from many locations in the audience. I'd give this place two stars, but there's a Late Night Slice inside so I'm adding a star for that. read more

So the stage has been shifted away from the bar, it can now be viewed from three sides. Its a little higher and a little louder. The backstage area is gigantic and probably more comfortable for the talent. I've stopped in for a few national acts and people seem to enjoy it. There's a lounge-y area in the back with comfy couches. Keep in mind there are more bathrooms down the steps in the back, no need to wait!! read more

This place has one unisex bathroom for a 300 capacity venue. The sound is average but I think that's more the fault of the space than the sound tech. Drinks are average priced. No reason to come unless you absolutely need to see a band playing. read more

This is an okay place to stop before heading over to a concert at the LC. Drinks are a bit cheaper here and you can bypass the line by getting your ticket scanned while leaving the bar. Bathrooms are kind of gross and the drink selection isn't fancy, but it is what it is. I've seen a couple of shows here and it's a nice size for a smaller band who wants to feel like they have a packed house. The brick columns are pretty annoying though and hard to see around. Sound is okay too, kind of hard to hear/muffled at times, but listenable. Still, we always end up here before shows at the LC. read more

Eh, it's an OK bar for a quick pre-show drink. There's nothing very distinctive about it. Prices are average, booze selection is average. I wish there was more seating, but evidently they leave the area open for band performances. The patio overlooking the LC entrance is nice. And it's cool that they have a Late Night Slice installation inside. That's about it. read more

Sound system is not the best, but I liked that it was an intimate venue. Great way to even meet some upcoming artists. read more

Not a bad bar. Stopped in for a bit just before a Janes Addition concert and had some good beer and very decent bar food. The only down side? The bathroom situation was a bit of a disaster. Long wait for everyone, not a big fan of that. read more