Not a fan of big families for any number of reasons. I prefer the way plants reproduce, like by…read moregerminating seeds or even better by grafting. Seriously, or nearly so, think how much better, as compared to standard issue childbearing, grafting would work for humans, like first of all no more Lamaze breathing classes for dads (after all of which are done, many moms go for the drugs anyway). then as one generation runs out of things to do in life, rather than uproot the whole parent just insert the next generation into the trunk, thereby hopefully eliminating adolescence when most of the body develops. Fungi and molds are even better as they mature in hours, are much more resilient and easier to distribute plus they're totally anonymous: parents don't have to see how their best intentions didn't bear fruit, and their offspring have no one else to blame. the spores of these life forms are quite durable, even tolerate the conditions found in outer space. Future myco-human lifeforms could be launched by the billions from earth unceremoniously, hoping a few might land somewhere favorable to germinate rather than being sucked into and incinerated by a star. And no alphabet or arithmetic to learn in grammar school. Being a family mammal on the other hand has major downsides. an example being that if you're known to be ever-ready to venture wherever someone will buy your plane ticket, they call upon you to go see how cousin Luke or uncle Amos or whoever is doing. The boring relatives stay put back home but the black sheep migrate over the years to places you would likely not otherwise go. So it is that I was driving through central Virginia on a moonless night, on just such a family mission and frankly need a roadie, a restorative for my lagging spirits, which is why I turned off the state highway and onto a county road to see where it went, and came to this town which is how I happened onto rocky mount's finest establishment, The Alley Cat Bar. It's great to find places like this and is the reason I prefer to drive in unknown territories using old outdated AAA maps instead of gps. Not every side road exit brings you to an historic and quaintly cool town like Rocky Mount, but it's the occasional one that ends in Rocky Mount that keeps you in the wanderlust game. It' was just what I was looking for at this moment, a break from driving the dark rural Virginia roads, local music and a friendly beer crowd. I was ready. Most small towns, not much to do, so can't be too choosey but lucky here to have this place, among others by the way but none so much my kind, live music potentially a little rough around the edges crowd but, after all, it's central va. Incredible selection of beer. I missed the Tuesday nite trivia contest as well as a visit to the moonshine distillery but I had miles to go before I slept.

Awesome atmosphere with a heck of a drink/food menu! Live…read morebands, trivia nights! Worth a visit!

He Said: 5 Points is the perfect venue. Incredible staff, an amazing selection of music (especially…read morethe dank jam bands), great sound, a bouncy dance floor, and an all around amazing vibe. She Said: He forgot to add that they also have good quality drinks available at reasonable prices. Plus the bar minders are kind and patient and awesome. We go to a LOT of music venues, and the beauty of this aspect of 5 Points cannot be overstated. Potty Points: 4/5 potty points. Do I wish there were more? Yes. Do I have to stand in line sometimes? Also yes. Do I meet some really interesting people in line and appreciate that as well as the cleanliness of the bathrooms once I finally get to use one? Absolutely yes.

Really cool place to see a band play. Gets crowded. Their drink service area could really be better…read moreorganized such as using a line organizer/velvet ropes - no one knows where the line is and you're constantly in someone's way or randomly standing in the middle of the bar line if you're in the back. That part was annoying. Also plan to be squished like sardines when watching a show if you haven't paid for seating. Of course some clutz/drunk guy spilled his drink on my shoes while standing towards the back watching the show. Definitely buy a seat upstairs if you want your personal space and don't want to constantly be in other people's way. General admission style on the ground floor. It also got super hot with crowded capacity of people they allow in. Downstairs bathroom and basement area was nice and cool. Outside the front area for smokers and fresh air. There was also a food truck parked outside the front of you get hungry. The building itself was really cool, old but maintained and remodeled to keep the antique architecture preserved.

Great music venue -- really intimate, which was nice. Appreciate that the performers hung around…read moreand interacted with the crowd. Fast drink service too. One FYI: they charged an extra $5 for my brother at the door because he's under 21, which wasn't disclosed during online purchase or listed anywhere on the site.

GREAT place to hear music. Great atmosphere and stellar sound!! Drove over from Winston Salem and…read morewell worth the short drive.

Just a pretty good time. Enjoyed the free music. Parking was tough but everyone was chill. Bar…read moretender was responding!

I've been to see two recent music shows at this charming roadhouse. Both shows (Onyx Club Boys and…read moreCarolina Cutups) featured great music and a fun crowd. This cool old school roadhouse is far enough outside downtown Chapel Hill to be a non-college kids hangout of welcoming locals. The music is good, the beer is cold and pretty cheap, and the bartenders are warm.

Great smaller concert venue! I'm sure it depends on the show, but I felt we had plenty of standing…read moreroom during the concert we went to. Thank you to this venue for offering $1 bottled waters - that is truly unheard of these days! Free parking garage and several great restaurants right next door. I only wish that for a Sunday night 20 year reunion show with a middle aged crowd that they would start a show an hour earlier!

Great local music venue! Easy to park and very decent prices on drinks. Can easily see the stage…read morefrom any vantage point. Had a great time seeing Carbon Leaf , a favorite band from college.

Great small venue! I recently did generally admission for the Morgan Wade show. There were some…read moreissues with the sound equipment that produced some feedback for part of the show (not sure if that was due to the artist or the venue). However, the quality of the performance more than made up for it. There were a lot of specialty drinks available, but I just opted for some sodas. Service at the bar was friendly and they were making their way through the line quickly. The energy in the space was good and it seemed like a true music lover's haven. One challenge I had was that there didn't seem to be any seating options for general admission. Even offering a couple of off-to-the-side seats for a rest would be handy, since staying on your feet for a few hours straight can get a little tiring. Perhaps that was a possiblity and I missed it. There was seating in the VIP sections though and the price differential didn't seem too dramatic. Seriously, no bad view in the place due to the venue being so small. I'd absolutely recommend checking out a show here!

Got to visit the Ramkat again recently for Somewhat Petty, a Tom Petty cover band out of Asheville…read more I really enjoy going to shows at the Ramkat. It's small, making for more intimate performances, but not too small, so they get some decent acts coming through. They offer a full bar with beer, mixed drinks and even THC seltzers. They've got some tables and seating, though you have to pay extra for the seating. Ramkat is located in a great part of town with several dining options, and breweries near by. There are paid lots for parking, but also plenty of free street parking if you arrive early enough.

I attended a concert here and the inside is beautiful. Enter was easy. Parking was a nightmare but…read moreI eventually found parking for free! The staff was nice and the drinks were very affordable even the alcohol!

This place is ok. I've been twice in the past ten years, most recently this week. It feels very far…read moreaway, and the parking is sprawled out and really annoying. Their website threatens that you'll be towed if you park on the side of the road yet tons of people do it anyway. The front door is a bottleneck because they have a paper list that they're checking for your name on. Also the bar only takes cash so they have an ATM on site. What year is it? The staff were friendly, but since I want about to use an ATM I didn't really interact with many of them. I'll go there if there's an artist I really want to see, but I don't think the venue alone would draw me.

Over the years we have watched this place really up their game. Then music has always been a big…read moredraw but it's also a great place to grab lunch or a sweet treat, and next door there is a soda shop type place as well! Barrels of candy, locally made items for purchase, including gorgeous cutting boards. Clean restrooms too, which is always a plus!

The Floyd Country store is a go to for lunch. They have a variety of menu options from sandwiches…read moreto hummus salad plates. You order at a counter and seat yourself with a number for your food to be dropped off swiftly. The sweet tea is excellent and there are a variety of delicious baked goods that change week to week. If you go on a Saturday at 12 you will be pleasantly surprised by live music as a part of their Americana Afternoons program which features local musicians from folk to bluegrass and blues. The atmosphere is super laid back, everyone is very friendly and welcoming. Make sure you tip the band and support their musicians-life is better with music! As they say.

Friendly staff, awesome band, chill vibe! It was smaller…read morethan I'm used to but it made the experience seem more personal. Will definitely go back!

I came to see a tribute band and I was certainly among the younger people in attendance. By no…read moremeans is this is a plush, swanky venue. It's a little gritty, but hey, that's ok. The acoustics were solid, lights worked fine. The venue offers a reasonable variety of beverages for fair prices. And I'll just say you can park for free if you know where to go and get there early enough

Had my first visit here last night all thanks to Yelp events!…read more I love how they have remodeled from previous tenants. Industrial/rustic type atmosphere. The auditorium can be customized for any even from cocktail tables to standing room only. They have balcony/pew seating on second level. And they have a lounge to order drinks. Parking available is street parking or nearby parking deck. Security was good but not overbearing. Sound quality to my taste was good, not extremely loud but very clear. Look forward to my next event here.

Attended a Morgan Wallen concert on a Thursday night at Cone Denim. Had to wait a while to get in…read moreafter doors opened. It was a 35 degree evening so that was unpleasant. It did seem like efforts were being made to get people in as quickly as possible while still checking IDs and completing a security check. As others have mentioned, the venue is pretty narrow. In light of recent events, I had some concerns about how to respond in case of an emergency. Those quelled eventually but it was my first thought coming in. Sound and lighting were good. The floor has just enough of a slope that I didn't feel bad about blocking someone else's view. As with most places, if you're in the front and you need to get a drink or go to the bathroom, getting back to your group is going to be next to impossible. There definitely aren't designated aisles or pathways to allow for crowd movement. Beer prices were reasonable given the venue/event. Tallboys help prevent having to return to the bar frequently. Best to go to the bathrooms upstairs as they are much larger. I'd go back to an even at Cone Denim.